I kiss Sam on the forehead, those sparks igniting the moment of contact. Mmh, will I ever get tired of that? I've only met her over an hour ago and I feel as if I cannot live without her. Is this how the mate bond works? Does everyone feel like this? Instantly? I understand the hype now. It's electrifying, literally. I feel as if she shoots bolts of electricity through me. Igniting every fiber, bringing to life every molecule, connecting every atom within me. As if she were the foundation of who I am, of whom I'm meant to be. It sounds crazy, I just met her. And yet already all I want is her. I just want to get her in my bed, in my arms and never let her go. Sounds like perfection.
"I'll see you in a few, let me deal with this first and we will head home." I said to her, while turning to address my beta.
"Callen, you know what to do." I walk away before he even gives a response.
As I head to the back room through some hidden passageways I know this packhouse holds. I remember them from when I visited once as a teen with my father. I had visited here, how come I've never seen Sam? What was she doing? What was she like as a youth? Sparky? Adventurous? Rebellious? She doesn't seem like the kind to rebel. Not to submit to weaker wolves, yes. The kind to not take bull shit from anyone? Yes.
Yes that I see in her. Although I don't feel her wolf's aura. I don't feel its strength, I don't feel it at all. Usually even weaker wolves I feel their aura no matter their strength. But not my mates, why is that? I sense her wolf, can she be hiding it? Suppressing it? I've heard of wolves doing that, but it's extremely hard and takes years of concentration. Why would she do that? Who would want to hide their strength, we shifters it is all about the strong dominating the weak. I hate that mentality. The strong should protect the weak. The weak should help empower the strong, so they can protect them some more. A healthy cycle. Not the nonsense bullshit my fathers and the Elders have made.
I had mindlink Enoch, my head enforcer, he is in charge of all the guards, training of the warriors and war defenses. He is also my lead strategist, and war advisor. I'm planning on making him my gamma, he does everything a gamma should be doing and more. The male has earned it. I just haven't sat down and asked him. In due time, I suppose. I have more pressing matters to attend to, such as my mate. I had asked him out in the woods to learn what he could about Samantha. I didn't know her last name but after a few minutes he confirmed there wasn't any other wolf with the same name, so it made the search a bit easier.
"Enoch, where are you?"
"Outside the pack house, I just finished our perimeter check with the rest of the guards. Also finished what you asked of me Alpha. Is there anything else you need?" He asks
"Yes, come to the back room behind the dais, I want a report in person." I quickly shot back. "Right away Alpha".
After a few minutes I arrive at the back room right off where the dais is. It's a small room surrounded by grey cement walls and no windows. It's more of a large storage room in my opinion, but it holds nothing here besides a round table and chairs. I can hear the light music of the orchestra playing and soft murmurs of the guests enjoying the festivities. I fix my tie and adjust my cufflinks out of habit more than necessity when Enoch walks in, he is a tall bulky muscular male with black hair and scars from fighting. To any other wolf he would bring fear into his opponent. I know the male personally, he is a tough motherfucker and will rip the throat of any wolf who messes with the crown. But I have also seen a rare soft side of him when he speaks to his mother and sisters, a gentle side. He is wearing the Royal Guard uniform. Being head enforcer is a bit different. The regular guards wear black leather fighting pants with a dark forest green leather jacket. A Royal emblem patch on their right shoulder. Dark royal blue pendant with a tan wolf howling at a silver moon. As enforcer he wears the same only his leather jacket is dark royal blue with a tan pendant, and a forest green wolf.
"Enoch, you've done what I've asked, report your findings." It's not that I'm spying, or that I don't trust her. Weirdly I do, though we just met I do trust her. Especially after I assumed her to be a power whore. Something I ruefully regret.
"There isn't much to report, Alpha. Overall most of all homes in the pack seem decent. Not many seem to be run down or in need of much repair. The people I've spoken to have said that most have jobs and stable living. Although I noticed the high ranking homes are lavish while others are just bare minimum to livable, but stable. Some of the younger pups around those areas could use new clothes from what I saw them wear, but it's good compared to other packs we've seen. They seem fed, healthy. Also the pack house is only for the highest ranking families." I scuff, typical power grabbing assholes "I did see a whipping station at the corner of the pack territories, but it seemed to not be in use for such time. As to your other request, it was hard to get information without being so forward, but the young she-wolf's parents died in a fire when she was a pup. I don't know all the details, but they saved some kids that were in the building before the building collapsed on them. The alpha family took in their daughter, the she-wolf you speak of. Here is where it gets a bit interesting." At this I perked up, I knew her dad died because she told me herself. I did not know her mom perished as well, and she has no other living relatives since the alpha family took her in. I took myself out of my thoughts to let him continue. " If her parents saved the kids you wouldn't think they would treat her a bit better." I scrunch my face in confusion . "What do you mean? How do you know they miss treating her?"
Enoch cleared his throat and continued " well a servant girl showed me the she-wolf's quarters. It was a small room such as this one, on the servant's floor. The worst of the rooms that I saw. Plus the servant who I spoke with explained that, although they never hit her, they verbally dismissed her and mistreated her." Anger building up in my chest. " They made her cater to the alpha family whenever they pleased. Their daughter Seraphina was the worst of them, there was something about an ex boyfriend that I did not get to explore more about. But I did find out that the she-wolf has a medical degree Alpha." At this my anger subsided . I looked at him in shock. A medical degree? She's probably in her mid 20s. How does she have a medical degree? My mate has to be brilliant. Pride swelled in my chest and I smiled profusely at that. "Also, the lower ranking families and the ones who live in poverty hold her parents in high regards. From what I was told they were much respected. So the she-wolf, but because she was made to stay mostly in the pack house not many of them interacted with her, besides the servants in the pack house." He added. "I do apologize I could not get any more information Alpha. But while in her quarters I did ask that servant to pack all her belongings up, as you asked. The other guards are loading them into the jet as we speak." I look at him in approval.
Dragging a hand threw my hair, "Thank you Enoch, you are dismissed." I stand there pondering the words he said, I have a few minutes before needing to address the other alphas. When I notice Enoch hasn't left and is nervously watching me. I narrowed my eyes at him " What is it?". I rasped out, not liking him ignoring my dismissal.
"Alpha, I-I found my mate here. I am formally requesting that she leave with us to the Royal Pack." Shocked. I did not expect that. After experiencing finding my own mate, I know how blissful the feeling is. It's amazing. I'm happy for him. Truly. I walk up to him, put my hand on his shoulder and smile. "Of course Enoch! If she is willing she may come, I would not dare keep mates apart." The thought of being separated from Sam, no I will not dwell on it. He smiles, bows, gives his thanks and leaves.
Walking up to the back entrance of the dais, I can hear Alpha's Jered voice trying to get the crowd's attention. I ponder how Sam will react to me being king. She must have an idea, most of the pack knows my name. Although out in the woods she didn't recognize it, and asked if I knew the king. The irony. Then she was worried, worried the king would hurt me. Me, Kieran not me the king. I haven't had someone see me in such a way in a long time. Not even mother, though I know she will see me as her pup for as long as she lives, but there are times. Times in which I see her unconsciously submit, even when I don't demand of it. She reacts to the king. Not Sam, that whole time she reacted to the male, to me. Closing my eyes, I remember holding her in my arms and the taste of her lips, the soft strands of her hair. I adjusted my stance, feeling pressure in my pants. This is not the moment to be aroused, once home I'll have my fill of my little wolf.
"Hello everyone. It's an honor to have all the neighboring packs join us in this lovely celebration to honor my beautiful daughter's birthday. Seraphina." The other Alphas's voice came through. I open the door ready to address the corrupted Alphas and Elders. I will be telling them I'm leaving this dreadful party early. I bet Elder Silvester would be going insane, I think he wanted me to be seen with Roxy, his great niece. That's not happening, ever again. Not that I was ever seen publicly with any she-wolf. Privately or not it will only be my little wolf from now on. Crazy how the bond makes you only want one she-wolf and no other. "I hope everyone is enjoying themselves on this lovely night. We have a special guest with us and it is my honor…." Fuck here we go, pompous dick heads sucking up every chance they get. "To announce our sovereign High Wolf King. Ruler of all wolf packs within the continent and Alpha of the Royal Pack. Alpha King Kieran James Valerian."
I straighten my back and walk onto the dais, among the hundreds of wolves in the crowd, my eyes instantly find the most beautiful set of brown eyes. Opened in a round shocked expression, mouth slightly hanging. Mmh that beautiful mouth, glistening. How lovely it will look glistening with other… I shift discreetly, letting go of my aura, wanting the crowd to bow their heads in submission, mainly so I can hide my erection bulging out of my pants. Dammit. When I notice everyone is bowing in submission except one, she's staring right at me, into me. Her gaze pierced deep and I felt a flicker in my chest. Is that the mate bond? Is it stretching? Fortifying? A tall lean blonde she-wolf grabs my mate's hand and drags her attention away from me. Pity, I could stare into the ocean of her crystal brown eyes forever without ever tiring.
" Evening everyone. It is a pleasure to be here with you….." I begin.