-Chapter Twenty-Four-
Alpha Dinner: Part Two
{ Braxton }

"Dinner was absolutely Delicious Luna to be Harper, I want to thank you so very much once again for having me."

"Please it's just Harper." My beautiful mate said with a smile.

"Thank you Gorgeous," I said as she came around to remove my plate, "I'm going to speak with Alpha Trace and Beta Ryder in the office."

"Actually if you both don't mind I need to excuse myself, last minute assignment due." Ryder announced as he got up and thanked Harper for dinner as well, "It's always a pleasure but if you'll all excuse me."

I nodded my acknowledgment and he left after that, Trace followed me into the office and I motioned for him to have a seat as I took my own seat at my desk.

"I know I came over here to discuss Alpha business but to be honest, I can't even remember what I was going to discuss with you." He admitted with a sly looking smirk.

"What's up man...something distracting you?

"More like someone...I found my mate." He admitted.

"Well Congrats man, I'm sure you two will be happy." I smiled as I got more comfortable now. "So why don't you tell me about her?"

"I don't know." He shrugged, "I was hoping you'd tell me a little about her."

I was curious now,  "Is she one of my pack members?"

He shook his head, "I don't know, I couldn't detect a wolf really...sassy red head from earlier."

"Val?!" I asked humored. I should have suspected that if one sister had a Mate with power the other would follow suit as well.

He nodded, "I think Ryder had mentioned her name was Valerie...What can you tell me about her?"

"Uh, not much...But I know someone who knows all about her."

"I'd really love to speak with them, do you think they'd come over on such short notice?" He asked almost desperately.

I smiled, "yeah hold on," I left to find Harper already starting a pot of coffee.

"Hey." She sounded as I approached her. I took the moment to kiss her and for once she didn't blush, but I didn't miss the fact that she also was willing to let it grow into more, but I pulled away knowing Trace was in the office.

She pouted and I chuckled, "you're getting greedy Love."

This time she smirked, "I didn't know what I was missing out on...anyways, did Alpha Trace leave?"

"No, actually I wanted to ask you to join me in the office."

"Of course." She sounded.

I grabbed her hand and walked us into the office, Trace rose from his seat to acknowledge our entrance.

"Harper my Gorgeous...Alpha Trace would like your personal help on finding out as much as he can on his new found mate."

"Absolutely, I'll do what I can." She said looking at him and then back at me with more than a little uncertainty.

He smiled a genuine smile, "Thank you so much Alpha Braxton, Luna to be...what can you tell me about Valerie?"

________

{ Trace's POV }

"Valerie?" Braxton's mate asked for clarification before looking to him almost for answers.

He smiled, "Yeah, Val...I told you."

She shook her head but smiled before she looked at me. "Valerie is my sister." She said kindly.

Her words had definitely taken me by surprise. The two from what I can tell even brief though the encounter with Valerie was, the two are nothing alike.

"I'm sure you're trying to figure out how we're actually sisters, but I can assure you that even if we don't look the same, we are sisters." She smiled. "Furthermore, You are all Valerie has thought about since finding out all about Weres and mates."

"I'll give you two some privacy." Braxton sounded.

I knew as an Alpha this wasn't exactly second nature, to leave ones mate alone with an unmated Were, but as I can see his mark on full display, I can see how he'd be cool with leaving her alone. Plus I just admitted to finding my own mate.

"So your sister, she knows about Weres?"

She nodded, and then explained the majority of it. "Look, I don't know you personally so I have no reason to prejudge you...but when it comes to my sister...she's had her share of hardships and heartache and has always been very unlucky in love, if she lets you in she will give herself to you completely."

"I hope so."

"If I may...it isn't my place, but all I want is my sisters happiness."

"And all I want is to provide that happiness." I smiled before I got real with her. "Luna to be, your sister isn't the only who's been excited about find her mate...she's all I've wanted for as long as I can remember."

"I know you two could be happy, but honestly I don't know how you'll both get the chance to run into each other again any time soon." She said.

I nodded, "I have a presenting coming up...I could open it up from just Alliance and council members to my pack as a party, then maybe she could blend in a little easier."

This time she smiled her own mischievous smirk, "I think I have an idea."

We talked about details for my new upcoming party. Yes it would be my presenting, but more than all of that, it would be the main stage to get to meet my mate officially instead of just in passing.

Once I excused my self from their home I went straight to my own pack house.

Unfortunately for me, I wouldn't find peace tonight...not only was my mind consumed with the lovely Valerie...but my sister Yvonne and her mate were a constant shadow filling the packhouse these days as she sulked about and indirectly challenged me at every turn.

I walked past the both of them, even Yvonne's spiteful looks couldn't ruin tonight for me. I had found my mate and I was completely entranced by her wild spirit. I went into my office with the every intension of getting some work done as I sat behind my desk, but I quickly found myself distracted as Valerie already began to consume my every thought.

I resigned with a sigh as I had to shake her from my thoughts long enough to get some emails out. I was going to take the Luna to be Harpers advice, I would use my Presenting to get to know Valerie better, and to make it more fun, she suggested to make it a masquerade party.

I smiled as I contemplated how her reactions would be upon me singling her out through out the evening, would she be giddy, nervous, excited, maybe put off, crowded. Would she look up at me with unknown pride as I am presented as the Alpha of this pack.

I shook my head, she may know about Mates but she doesn't know she's our mate.

'Mate' my wolf whined for her already.

"I know." I sighed.

Once more I was pulled from my thoughts from the loud sounds outside of my office.

I immediately sent out an email to all attending party goers from other packs as well as my own pack members to inform them of the slight change in attire for the party, while it was always a formal event, this time I would have a little fun just to see my new mate smile (as Luna to be Harper had I formed me on how much my mate had enjoyed a masquerade party not too long ago).

"Morgan." I called from my office doorway.

She stood in the foyer with her best friend Zoe, the two girls had been best friends since they were in diapers.

I watched as my baby sister hugged Zoe goodbye for the evening before joining me in my office.

"What's up?" She asked, her smile still lingering from hanging out with her friend.

I moved to close the door to give us some privacy, I smiled at my baby sister, "I just wanted to check on you...are you okay?"

She shrugged, "I'm alright...can't bring him back right?"

I knew she'd taken dad's death hard, at 19 she is the baby of the siblings and always had such a close connection with dad.

"I know dad passing is hard Mo, but I was actually referring to me being presented as the Alpha this weekend."

She nodded, "I know it's what dad truly wanted, for you and Ryder to take over when he left...he use to talk about it all the time."

He never mentioned anything to me." I pointed out.

"Did you ever ask him what he wanted?"

I shook my head and she smiled, "get some rest Trace, you look tired."

I smirked, "and so the stresses of Alpha have already begun to show on me."

"She hugged me, "don't worry, soon Ryder will be here and he'll be helping you run everything." She said before she wished me a good night and left me alone once again.

But this time I only had one thing on my mind now, and it wasn't Valerie.

Ryder.

He seemed to be very well acquainted with Valerie...she couldn't be his girlfriend could she?

My wolf was angry now and I was all but ready to challenge him for her, but I reigned it in as she had confirmed that she wasn't his date tonight. That had to mean they'd never messed around too...right?