Chapter 8 –– She Is My Mate

Daemon's Point of View

The expression on James' face shifted from shock to concern as I informed him that the woman in question wasn't registered on our books as an authorised employee.

"She is not a rogue and is certainly a member of your pack," he said hurriedly, his tone laced with worry. "I was friends with her mother. She was the pregnant woman whose pack was slaughtered by rogues years ago. Adriana was born here in your territory. There is no way she would be a rogue. I didn't realise she didn't have formal permission to be here."

I watched as James fidgeted nervously. His hands clenched and unclenched, and his eyes darted around the room as if seeking reassurance. Let him stew. While I wasn't a cruel Alpha, I also knew better than to let anyone think I was soft. If I showed even the smallest sign of weakness, people would seize the opportunity to push boundaries. That wasn't something I could afford to tolerate.

"So, she's performing tonight?" I asked, my voice calm but firm.

"Yes, Alpha," James replied, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "She's about to come on stage for her second set of the evening. Adriana is exceptional. Wait until you hear her." He paused, his expression brightening with admiration. "She plays a range of music, from classical to modern, and even her own compositions. Her talent is unparalleled, and her music—it's like magic. Everyone loves her performances. Honestly, she's the main reason this place has grown so popular."

I leaned back in my chair, considering his words. The restaurant's ambience was cosy and intimate, the kind that made you want to linger. The dim lighting cast warm shadows, and the gentle hum of conversations blended seamlessly with the faint melody playing in the background.

"Interesting," I murmured, nodding slightly. "We'll see if her talent matches your praise."

As James continued to extol Adriana's virtues, a waiter approached our table, pen poised over a small notepad. He stood silently, waiting for us to acknowledge him. I glanced at the menu briefly before giving my order, James following suit.

Just as the waiter disappeared into the kitchen, the lights in the room dimmed further. A hush fell over the crowd as a spotlight illuminated the small stage at the far end of the restaurant. A figure stepped into the light—a young woman with an air of quiet confidence.

The stunning woman caught my eye as she made her way onto the small stage at the back of the dancing area. This must be Adriana. She was tall and tanned like most Wolf-Shifters, but her dark brown hair was up off her shoulders. Her face was heart-shaped, and her skin flawless. Her pale pink lips had this little pout that just begged to be kissed. The black evening dress she was wearing hugged her slim curves, accentuating a faultlessly shaped butt. It was low cut in the back, showing off her perfect skin. The scent of orange entered the room with her.

"That's her," James whispered, his voice barely audible. "That's Adriana."

Adriana sat gracefully at the grand piano, her fingers hovering just above the keys as the spotlight bathed her in a soft glow. Her other hand rested lightly on the edge of the microphone stand as though grounding her amidst the audience's silent anticipation.

I watched her closely, taking in every detail. Her presence was captivating, her posture poised but not arrogant. As her fingers descended onto the keys, the first haunting notes filled the room, wrapping around us like a spell. The melody was both powerful and delicate, a testament to her extraordinary talent.

It was clear within seconds that James hadn't been exaggerating.

Her music was extraordinary. And yet, as I listened, a question lingered at the back of my mind: Why had someone with such talent and lineage chosen to remain off the radar? Something didn't add up, and I intended to find out what.

I noticed that all of the men who'd been ogling our sisters had turned their attention to her. She had their complete, undivided attention, and it made me furious, for some reason. As for me, I couldn't take my eyes off her as she gracefully settled onto the piano bench, her fingers poised above the keys. It was as if the rest of the world had faded away, leaving only her and the beautiful music that she began to play.

"Mine!" cried my wolf Theo, rather angrily and aggressively at all the males who were now staring at her. "Our mate!" cried Theo. What? Was Adriana our mate?

Our mate was the graceful, beautiful she-wolf I had no idea existed in our pack. Surely, I would have remembered if I had met her before, but I had no recollection of her. Her looks would definitely equal or surpass those of other Lunas, but was she a suitable mate? If she weren't a fitting match to be Luna, there would be problems. It would make our pack, and I appear weak if I were to take someone unfit to be our Luna.

"The Goddess doesn't make mistakes!" chided Theo.

I was not happy with the situation, but I would wait until after she finished entertaining before speaking to her. So, for now, I would sit back and listen to her. I would also need to watch my body language and facial expressions so the rest of the party wouldn't know what was happening. However, I would lie and say I was checking her out solely because she had broken pack rules. They would understand that. Hopefully, Theo would, too.

"Our mate sings like an angel," Theo purred.

I had to agree. Adriana, as I refused to call her our mate, certainly was a talented pianist and had a beautiful voice. I noticed that she lifted her nose slightly and sniffed the air partway through an instrumental piece. Still, Adriana kept on playing without looking around.

I wondered if it was because she couldn't detect me. I didn't know her rank, and if her wolf wasn't a strong one, there was a chance she wouldn't be able to detect me. If that was the issue, I wouldn't need to tell her I was her mate. Problem solved.

At the end of her set, she sniffed the air again and turned to face me during the applause. The look on her face when she saw me angered me. I wasn't entirely sure if it was surprise or horror, but how dare she react like that! I was an Alpha. You didn't look like that when you discovered that an Alpha was your mate. She immediately got up and hurried backstage.

"I'll return presently," I said to my friends and left to follow her. "I need to check out Adriana and discover why she was not registered to work off the pack lands." Tyler raised his eyebrows and looked at me with a knowing look. I just ignored him. As long as he just suspected nothing more than me checking her out or just wanting to fuck her, that was fine. Not that I was likely to fuck a lowly Omega. Although she and her mother had lived in the Omega Quarters, there was no way she was one of them. Omegas didn't have fated mates, so I couldn't be mated to one.

Walking down the backstage hallway, I could smell oranges quite strongly now, and it was leading me straight to her. There was no doubt she was my true mate. "You need to come here now, Adriana," I mind-linked to her, but she didn't answer.

Silence. This was not looking good for her. She had broken pack rules and was now blocking me. Me! The Alpha! I was getting angrier by the second. She should be able to hear me.

In our pack, pups could only mind-link with their immediate family until they reached adulthood and participated in the Joining Ceremony at eighteen. This ceremony wasn't just a celebration; it was a sacred tradition that officially bound them to the pack. It strengthened their loyalty to me and to the pack as a whole, solidifying their connection to our collective mind-link network.

Before this, their abilities were limited—a protective measure that ensured the young weren't overwhelmed by the constant buzz of pack communication. Once they became adults, however, they could mind-link with all the pack's leaders, including the Alpha. To ignore or block an Alpha's link after the ceremony was not only a display of disrespect but a serious offence.

I could faintly hear her voice, speaking to someone inside her room. My sharp ears picked up snippets of the conversation. Anger surged through me as I strode toward her door. Before I could knock, it opened. She stood there, defiance in her eyes.

I growled, my patience at its limit. "Who are you talking to, and why are you blocking my mind-link?"