Chapter 1 - Late to meet her mate

Mina POV

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“Goddess... Mina. Slow... Down!” Chloe puffs, as she tries to keep up. 

“I can’t,” Mina shouts over her shoulder. “My mum’s going to kill me if I’m late for my presentation.”

Chloe might have answered but after a couple hours of training, the woman looked about ready to keel over, let alone try and speak through her wheezes.

It is only the adrenaline pumping through Mina that keeps her going. She knows they should’ve stopped earlier, but once she got into the flow of their sparring, nothing was distracting her. Not even the tugs of a mindlink, trying to snag her attention. 

Well, not until Alastor butted into her thoughts, unrelenting like a bull charging a red cape, making her drop her guard and take a punch to the face. Her tongue runs over her split lip, tasting the tang of blood that she hopes feels worse than it looks. She needs to look her best when meeting her fated mate and would lay into Alastor if anything got in the way of that.

Williamina, where are you? Her mother’s sharp reprimand comes through.

Just doing the final touches to my make-up, I’ll be down in a minute. Mina reassures her, just as she rounds the last corner to the packhouse.

Just a little further, and she could sneak upstairs, get ready and be downstairs before her mum knew she was missing. Well, before her mum could prove she was missing.

“Over here.” A voice calls to her left, and she quickly changes paths to go down the side of the packhouse where Owen is waiting with his hand outstretched. Mina takes it with a smile and lets him pull her into a hug. She tries to sink into his embrace, but just as quick as his arms are around her, he is pushing her away again. “Goddess, Mina, you stink. Why didn’t you answer any of my mindlinks? Your mother has been going crazy. Do you know how hard it was to keep her busy?”

“I’m sorry, but I was just in the flow and...”

“It doesn’t matter. Come on, I’ve got your brother keeping your mum at the front greeting the guests, so we’ll have to sneak in the back.”

Mina snaps her mouth shut and nods, feeling his reprimand almost as harsh as her mother’s. Though it was a small blessing that he is still holding her hand as he pulls her along. Firm, and squeezing if she slows too much. Keeping her moving even though she’s tired. She smiles and imagines the evening to come. Owen beside her, their hands locked before a clapping crowd as they are declared as fated mates.

“Thank you, Owen.” She whispers.

He looks back at her and softens his scowl to a smile. “Anything for you, Babe. Now come on, before we miss your presentation ceremony.”

Mina chuckles and follows after him, letting herself think over the night they had planned together that evening. It would be their first night together, and it would be perfect. Candles and chocolate covered strawberries, and then they’d kiss and mark each other and...

Suddenly an arm snags around her waist and yanks her back, just as she is about to step around the back of the packhouse. A hand snakes over her mouth to stifle her protests while the other presses firm to her hip, keeping her rooted against the large body behind her. Only his familiar scent stops her from freaking out. 

Alastor shushes her when she grumbles through his fingers, and nods towards Owen, who stands frozen for a few long seconds before his expression splits into a grin.

“Luna Laura, lovely day today, isn’t it?” He walks out of Mina’s sight, but keeps his voice loud enough for them all to hear. “What are you doing back here? Sam said you were greeting the guests.”

After a long, contemplative pause, the Luna replies. “Have you seen my daughter?”

“Not since she went upstairs to get ready.”

“She’s not in her room.”

“Maybe she needed some air, it’s a big day today, after all.” His laugh is strained.

“And why do you think I’m out here, Owen Hayre? For a bit of fun? Go and find my daughter. Now.”

“Yes, Luna.” 

The sound of Owen scampering off has Mina relaxing back into Alastor. 

That was a close one. One more step and her mum would’ve taken full liberty in banning Mina’s training, doubling her Luna lessons and Goddess knows what else to punish her. As if it was that important to learn exactly how to hold a fork and chew demurely. 

She tries to pull free from the older Hayre brother, but his hold doesn’t break. Instead, he leans close, hovering his lips next to her ear.

“Wait.”

The brush of his breath chases down her neck, dragging an unexpected shiver through Mina. She Goddess-damned hopes he didn’t feel it, because what the hell was that?

Then she hears her mother’s voice. “If you’re listening, Mina...” Mina’s eyes fly wide and look up to Alastor, but he shakes his head to say the Luna doesn’t know they are there. “Don’t make me wait any longer.”

With that there are the clack of heels and the slamming of a door, hard enough to rattle the frame.

Finally, Alastor removes the hand from her mouth, but the other stays at her waist. He shifts it slightly, accidently raising the hem of her t-shirt, letting a single finger press against her skin. It is cool against the flush of her workout. Mina sucks in a breath and jumps clear of his touch. 

“Nervous, Princess?” He asks, a smile dancing on the edge of his lips.

“Nervous? Nervous of what? Of you?” She snorts. “Of course not. Why would you make me nervous?” 

His brow arches. “I meant for your presentation.”

“Oh, right. Yeah, a bit.” She twists her hands together, awkwardness gripping her with no way to dispel it. “I guess I’ll get going before, you know, my mum kills me.”

“That would be wise.” He laughs, but when she looks up to see if he was mocking her, his smile falls away. He closes the space between them in a heartbeat and cradles her face in his hands. “What happened?”

Mina doesn’t answer, her voice catching in her chest. He is so close, concern sparkling in hazel eyes that analyses her split lip like she’d been wounded in battle. She stares at him, unable to find the words that usually come so easily - cursing him for distracting her during training, or smacking his hand away and ordering him to leave. But now she is just silent.

It takes Alastor a few moments to realise she hasn’t answered. When he looks up from her lips and finally meets her gaze, he too freezes. It is like his behaviour finally hits him, hits the both of them, and neither know what to make of it.

The man clears his throat and steps back, but she can still feel his touch on her cheeks. “The coast is clear, our brothers will be distracting your mum. Go make yourself look decent for once.”

Ah, there it is. Familiarity.

Mina snaps out of her daze and glares. “You’re an asshole.”

“An asshole that just saved your butt. Now, unless you want both of us kicked out of the pack for missing your presentation, get going. Can’t keep your fated mate waiting.”

“Or my mother.” She grimaces, but something deeper twists in her belly at his words. Maybe she really is nervous. “It has to be Owen, right?”

She tries to make the question light-hearted, but there’s a strain to it that lays her fears bare as she refuses to meet his eye.

Alastor sighs. “If it isn’t, the lucky wolf will still be your fated mate. The perfect partner chosen for you by the Moon Goddess. That’s more than a lot of wolves get, Princess. Not all of us have the chance to wait for our fated mate.”

Mina swallows the lump in her throat. She thought he was happy with the mate chosen for him by the pack; a strong match to secure a strong alliance. But there’s something in his expression that makes her think otherwise. That almost makes her reach out to him.

The urge freaks her out and she steps back with a forced smile which she hopes looks natural and barks a laugh. “Because it’s so hard to be promised to a drop-dead gorgeous red head who will make you an Alpha someday.”

“I didn’t say it was hard.” He huffs, then a dirty smirk pulls at his lips. “We haven’t got that far yet.”

“Ew!” She punches his arm, hating that she probably hurt her hand more than him.

“Wow, Princess, your training is really coming along. I almost felt that one.”

Mina sticks out her tongue, turns on her heel and strides away from him, the move immediately making her cringe, but she doesn’t turn back. Not even after she scales the packhouse wall and slips into the open window of her bedroom. Not even though she knows he watches her the entire way.