Chapter 4

Damien’s POV

Well, we are finally due to arrive at the blood moon lack today. Brandon’s birthday day is today and he is grumpy. I keep reminding him I have to spend my birthday at this lame aloha and Luna ceremony. I’m dreading going there and him finding his mate. These past few weeks have been great. He’s been sleeping in my room and helping in the shower. But since we've been on the road we haven’t had much alone time. Brandon’s been overly grumpy today he keeps staring at me and getting even more upset. I’ve tried linking him to find out what is up but he keeps shutting me out saying “later”. It’s driving me crazy.

Brandon’s POV

I woke up this morning and my wolf was going insane. He’s been jumping around in my head like a pup on a sugar high. It’s giving me a headache but he won’t tell me what has him going crazy. I shower and pack my things to leave the hotel. It’s my birthday and I’m spending it on the bus and at the stupid blood moon pack. Can you say the worse birthday ever? My morning got better when Damien linked first thing wishing me a happy birthday and what he wish he could do to me. He has my pants feeling tighter until that knock and let’s go ice bucket was thrown on me.

Walking out of our suite with my parents, beta Jeremy hemming, and my beautiful mother Julie, I smell the most amazing scents oranges, and dark chocolate with our pack undertone of spice. So I know my mate is in our pack but who? It’s not so strong. I can’t resist it meaning they are still underage. Great, that’s only a few of our warriors that makes it easy. Then Damien walks out of the suite they were in and that sweet smell is him. I’m overjoyed then I remember he won’t know till tomorrow. Fuck me running. How do I not just grab him and kiss him into tomorrow? I want him to find out on his own. I know I’m being short and bitchy right now. I’m sure he will forgive me tomorrow.

The first few times he asked what was wrong I tell him it was cause it was my birthday and we are stuck on this bus and having to have dinner with the blood moon pack. He reminds me that tomorrow is his birthday and the Alpha and Luna ceremony. I have to agree his birthday is worse. I can't wait till tomorrow morning though.

We get to the blood moon pack and are met out front by the alpha. He walks forward “Alpha Stone it's nice to finally meet you. I'm honored you came and have agreed to help my warriors with our rouge problem,” he says. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Anderson. May I introduce my Luna and mate Alice, my beta Jeremy hemming and his mate Julie, my son and future alpha Damien Stone, his future beta Brendon hemming his gamma and delta James and Zane storm and last but not least my daughter Alex” he says introducing us then says “ we have brought 10 warriors to help with the training? I'm sure you'll all meet in time, they felt cramped and went for a run to stretch.” “I can understand the need to stretch. Ah, here we are let me introduce my mate and Luna Ellie, our son and future alpha Samuel, my beta Robert Winters and their son and future beta Daniel Winters.”

Damien POV

The whole time he's introducing people I notice the red-haired lady holding hands with his beta. Funny he didn’t introduce her and he put his son above his beta, weird. And unlike every other alpha father included, he called her his mate first, then Luna. Something is off here. Every alpha I've met introduces their mate as Luna, then mate because being a mate comes second to the pack. Not in how we feel but in the role. My mom is the Luna of the shadow pack and will protect everyone first then she is my father's mate and my mother. This is what most pack wolves are like when I get my mate. I'll introduce her title first so they know to respect her. In her own right not because she is my mate. I link Brendon “Does something seem off here to you?“ he answers back with “Ya, the way he put his son first barely gave his mate her title, and who is the redhead?” I have a feeling I'm going to hate it here.

Alpha Anderson calls an omega to take us to the guest house.

Aria POV

Why can't things go my way? I'm walking past the front door getting to my room fast after cleaning the last of the guest house when I smell it, orange dark chocolate, rain, and fresh grass with an undertone of spice. It's so amazing there's only one thing that can smell that good “Mate mate mate our mate is here, go find him now he can help us go go” Ava is screaming in my head. I have to remind her the alpha Samuel will never let me go. I have a debt to pay. Running past hoping he can't smell me so I can hide until tomorrow night when they are all busy.

Just once moon goddess please be on my side I pray. I know that the food is done and waiting for the omegas to serve and by the time they are fully at the guest house my scent should be gone. I've always wanted a mate but knowing they are guests of the alpha means they are friendly packs. So I've decided if he does find me ill reject him before he can reject me.

Damien POV

We get to the guest house, it's nothing special that looks like every hotel we have stayed at, but with a full kitchen. “Hey Brendon, wanna go for a run Drake is jumpy today?” “I would but I've got a killer migraine I'm just gonna lay down for a while.” He says. I'm starting to feel rejected then I remember it was his birthday and he might have found his mate and tried to figure out how to tell me. So I grab James and Zane to go for a run with me.

We have been running for about thirty minutes when all of a sudden, Zane stops so fast, he trips and falls on his face. Letting out a wolfish howling bark of laughter I link him “ you okay man?” James is staring at him like he's lost it. “Mate I smell my mate.” He says standing spinning around than shooting off. We follow hot on his tail I'm not leaving anyone alone here. Zane stops in front of a red hair girl shes is probably about 5’6 fits a warrior's body. She's staring at his wolf in awe. Reaching her hand out stroking his gray fur staring him in the eyes “Hello mate. Who might you be?” she asks.

James and I have shifted back and put shorts on. James tosses a pair to Zane which breaks the spell. She then notices us her eyes getting big bowing her head “Alpha my apologize I didn’t see you there.” She rushes out. Laughing “No worries I believe you were a bit busy with something “ wiggling my eyes brows she turns a bright red when I hear a growl. “Leave my mate alone and don’t make me hurt you,” Zane says causing both of me and James to double over laughing. Then I notice she was not laughing her eyes are huge and she shaking. ”What has her so scared?” I link both James and Zane. They both shrug. “What's your name little one?” Zane asks at this, she turns, then turns back, and back again. If she doesn’t stop she's gonna get dizzy “Twins?” she asks.

Zane replies “Not by choice but yes. I'm Zane and that there is my clone James.” He says then James has to add his two cents “We only look like clones til you get close I have green eyes asshat over there has hazel eyes.” “asshat huh I'll show you asshat bitch” “Hey you're scaring your mate.” Zane pales and drops to his knees “ I'm so sorry little one I didn’t mean to scare you. Now can you tell me your name?” smiling and giggling a little T his antics she says “Kari Winters.” Snapping my head to her “Winters like the beta?” “Yes, he's my father.” “Will he have a problem with you coming with us when we leave?” “No, I bet he will be happy to be rid of me. But I'll miss Kade the most.” “Who is Kade?” Zane asks with a growl. She pales but answers “ My twin brother.” You can see all the fights leave Zane as she says, brother.

All of a sudden James starts growling. Looking at him I raise my eyebrow. When we hear “Kari where are you? Dad is looking for you. She pales and starts shaking she says “Ooo…ov..over here Kade.” A tall well built red haired git walks through some trees. You can see the resemblance. “What are you doing over here? Why are you these guys? Who are these guys? Better not have touched her and got your scent on her, 'cause if you did I'll kill you.” He's growling taking a breath his head whips to us sniffing deeply.

Mine!!!!! He growls storming to James pulling him into him. Well, this just got even more fun. “Well Kade, this is Zane my mate and that’s his brother James. You have to distract father so I can shower please I touched Zane. I couldn’t help it “she's crying now. “ I want answers right now why is Kari crying and why must she wash her mate's scent off,” I growl out using my alpha tone. Bowing their heads, Kade is the one to answer “ he wants to keep her pure to use as a gift to an alpha for his support. It's been arranged for a while. Since the alpha doesn't have a daughter and the beta does. He promised him, Kari.” “Like hell. She's MINE!!!!!” Zane roars. Holding my hand up I say “ according to our laws if she finds her fated mate, any arranged marriage is canceled” looking her in the eye so she knows I'm serious. “I'd you'll follow us to the guest house. We can talk things out with my father. He knows the laws better than I do right now. I still have a few books to read.”