-Auggie's POV-

I sat down to manage our books and go over inventory really quick...I knew I needed to make notes on what all to order for our truck on Wednesday, I also needed to finalize the staff's schedules.

But knowing my mate was downstairs was a huge distraction for both my wolf and I.

Before I could even get started on any of my work, I got up from my desk and looked out the window.

I immediately saw her.

She was dancing alongside her friends, the three of them definietly seemed to be having a good time and I couldn't help but smile in response to the lovely smile on my mate's face.

But as I was finally able to tear my gaze away from her, I looked around and actually noticed all of the guys in the club tonight...and of course not only is my mate gorgeous..she's also unmarked.

My wolf growled and I knew work would have to wait.

Not wanting to look like an absolutely possessive psycho, but also wanting to shield my mate from other males I instantly made my way down to where the girls were.

"Having a good time ladies?"

The trio all smiled prettily at me and I couldn't help but feel better.

"As honored guests to the club...How about we move your party to VIP?" I offered. "More fitting for you lovely ladies."

The girls gladly accepted and began making their way up the stairs where I signaled for bottle service and then joined them.

Once up there the girls had their own private dance floor in a more sheilded space...up here I knew they couldn't be seen, but they could see everything if they so choose to.

I text the security and informed them the VIP section was closed off for a private party no matter how much anyone wanted to pay to gain access.

A bad business move maybe, but as a Mate I'd do anything to shield Gracie from other men.

'She may not like that.'

I knew my wolf was right.

Gracie is a strong willed woman and may very well get pissed if she realizes what I'm doing, I was risking pushing her away by trying to keep her so close, obviously I was being a little overprotective...but I couldn't help it. And things would be different if she bore my mark...

'Mark Mate' My wolf sound like a starving man desperate to sink his teeth in.

I shook my head, we both knew that wasn't even an option right now...if ever.

Once we got to the private area the girls got comfortable quickly as her friends began to dance... Grace pulled me over to the long sofa before she had me sitting down, and taking her own seat upon my lap.

"Something tell's me You may have gotten a little jealous of other guys watching me dance?" She sounded flirtaciously.

"Mmm, you have no idea." I said as I could smell her scent heating up from dancing.

"What an overprotective mate I have."

I could feel my gums starting to ache as my growing arousal from being so close to my mate while her scent was so overwhelming...It also didn't help that she was basically grinding on my lap with the rhythm of the song.

"Blame it on my Alpha Blood, Beautiful."

She giggled and got up just as Gio had come up with the drinks I'd requested.

I let out a heavy sigh knowing my mate was teasing me and loving every minute of it.

I sat there and watched her for awhile before I got up. "If you ladies need the restroom there is one up here..." I gestured toward the area of the private restrooms. "Have fun, but try and stay safely up here."

They all smiled and then ignored me for the song playing, but even as I walked away from the group I knew I wouldn't be getting much work done tonight.

_____

As I wrapped almost everything up...despite not really getting anything fully accomplished I went to leave my office.

I made my way over to the VIP section but could feel that the girls weren't up there, so carefully I looked around and found Grace sitting at the bar holding a conversation with Gio. There were no other men around as it was already pretty late and the club had stopped serving drinks almost 40 minutes ago.

As much as I wanted to be concerned that she hadn't stayed up in the VIP section where she'd be safe...I also knew my Mate wasn't one to take orders, even soft orders from her worrisome mate.

"It was a good night Ace." Gio said as he finished washing the glasses.

I nodded, "Glad to hear it..." I said before turning to Grace now. "If you don't mind sticking around just a little while longer, I've just got to make sure all of my staff is out of the building for the night before I can lock up."

"Of course" she smiled and nodded, and thankfully it didn't take long for everyone to get their jobs all finished up (Registers counted, equipment unplugged and put away) and soon we were telling Heath, our DJ goodnight.

"You ready?" I asked.

I could sense her nerves but she nodded anyways, "Yeah."

I finally ushered her out and locked up behind us before taking off.

As I drove I couldn't help but smile as I watched her looking out at everything, taking the pack's views in...and as we pulled up to my house she looked over at me, "Your pack...your home, it's so nice."

I chuckled, "thanks....you should see it in the daytime, we've got the best views of the lake."

She smiled, "I bet it's beautiful around sunset."

I nodded. I wanted to say "I have the perfect spot I can take you to see the sunsetting over the lake yourself..." but the truth was I couldn't offer her that, not while I'm still contracted to another person and my family has ordered me to not pursue my mate. It's also why no matter how badly I'd wanted to just go over to her pack after I knew she'd be off school just to see her, hangout with her, talk...I couldn't, not without her asking me to do, and unfortunately she hadn't asked.

We sat in the car for a moment longer after I'd shut off the ignition.

'Tell Mate about betrothed.'

I didn't want to...not that I wanted to keep secretes from Gracie ever, but because I knew I was potentially risking our evening together.

'Mate will be made if she learns the truth, but we didn't tell her.'

I knew my wolf was right.

"Before we go in there I want you to know I've met her."

I could see she was going ask who before she instantly realized who I was referring to.

"Oh."

Her single word made my heart race because I didn't know how to process it.

In one sense she seemed caught off guard, but also saddened by my admission, but judging on how she wouldn't look at me now she was hurt or mad.

"Gracie..." I said in an attempt to get her to look at me once again. "I didn't want to let you go in there without knowing the truth." I admitted. "It's also something I neither wanted or had any control of."

Silence surrounded us for a couple of minutes.

"So what..." She finally sounded, her head still turned away from me as she spoke. "Were you just bringing me here to tell me in person that it's over?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

she looked straight ahead now before she dropped her head down."I get it...I know this is a lot for you to handle...-"

"Gracie stop it..." I said before I reached out and touched her chin. I hated to see he hanging her head...the action didn't sit well with her character.

She lifted her head and finally looked at me, I could see her sadness now and my heart broke. I sighed heavily, "Gracie, I'm not giving up on us, I will NEVER give up on us." I said honestly, my wolf hurt that she'd think we'd just so easily move on from her...as if I could ever. "I only told you because I don't want us to have secrets...and to be honest I always knew I had to meet her, but I was hoping that she, like us, wouldn't be down for this whole marriage thing...and I could never want her over you, or any other woman for that matter."

She nodded, "were you able to talk to her one on one then?"

"I wasn't, but I was more than a little surprised and pissed to find out that this was unfathomably...her idea."

"Wait, what?" She asked confused.

I nodded, "Not with me per say...but apparently she approached her parents with the idea of marrying herself to a strong Alpha bloodline...and they took it to her grandfather who just so happens to be their pack's Alpha...he was all for it as it is an older tradition for stronger bloodlines to be united and he just so happens to be good friends with my family."

"But...Why?"

"From what she said...she's an only child hasn't found her mate and was tired of the heartache of the search...she knows one day she'll have to step up and become the inherent of her packs title and she'll need an alpha by her side...with a betrothed she knew she'd have her own husband and they'd mark each other and they'd be 'as good as mates.'"

"She's fucking insane." She growled, "She's selfish....did she never once stop and think by taking a husband she was also taking someone else mate?"

"I don't know Gracie...and honestly I don't think she cares." I admitted. "She's young, probably only fully shifted a year or so...but I get the impression she does everything for herself first and foremost...and from what I can tell, after her father takes the role, the next Alpha wouldn't be her husband as their pack isn't allowed to be ruled by a female."

She listened on in silence.

"I'd bet anything that's the real reason my brother pushed the marriage contract ahead without me even knowing...not so much that I'd be the Alpha of their pack someday...but that an Andolini would have power in more than one pack." I sighed and began venting a little. "Of course my brother and father thought it was a great idea...I mean why not, I am of an Alpha's bloodline but as the youngest, I would never have my own pack... but being married off to an Alpha's daughter...moreso her since she doesn't have any siblings to challenge her claim, I'd run the pack as my own...my brother even told me how he'd put a clause in the marriage contract, said I'd break with their traditions and once we're married shed HAVE to take my name and we'd HAVE to rule their pack in MY familial name."

"So they've got this all figured out then." She said emotionlessly...She just sat there and shook her head baffled. "I'm almost afraid to ask because I don't want to make her more real than I have to...but what's her name.

"Corrine... Corrine De La Garza."

"De La Garza?" She asked for clarification, "I've done all my Luna studies including Were histories...and know I've never come across an Alpha bloodline with that Surname."

I shook my head, "And you wouldn't...no it's her mother who has the Alpha's blood, but as I said...female's do not rule their pack, their husbands do, so when the time comes for her husband to become Alpha it's their tradition for any and all Alphas (bloodborne or marriage-bound )running their pack to take their familial name, Holmwood."

"I have heard of the Holmwood family, they're notorious for being very...secluded." She sounded as she shook her head, "They're mountain folk with little to no known allies."

"Just us." I confessed. "They are a proud pack who believe themselves higher than needing alliances."

She looked at me and sighed, "Maybe tonight was a bad idea."

My wolf whined, of course we both want to ask her to stay...but given the situation and my brothers fucking orders restricting me, I knew I couldn't keep her here. "If you'd like, maybe I could take you home."

She nodded sadly before she re-buckled her seatbelt and then refused to look at me once again.

I sighed and turned the car back on, "I'm sorry Gracie."

Still looking out the window she let out her own small sigh, "Stop...You don't have any reason to be sorry Auggie."