More To It

                     

               Alpha Zane’s POV

               Even before I see her, I know she is on the other side of the door.

Her scent hits me in the face like a warm blanket, I can't wait to see her face, to walk up to her and take her in my arms.

               My mate!

I still can't believe that finally, after three years of waiting, she is here. With me, where she belongs. My pack longs for her, like my subjects, I want my fated and no chosen. A fated mate makes us much stronger, mentally and collectively. And tomorrow I will make them happy when I announce that the Luna has arrived. I know this party will last a whole week and Eric is already making preparations.

Claw howled with joy to the wide door, waiting for her appearance to tell me the good news. She must appear quickly now before I suffocate here with my bated breath.

'Zane, what's taking her this long? Maybe you should face her, this is taking too long,' my wolf complains. But Eric is right in front of me, obstructing my every move. Of course, I am stronger than him and could push him aside with ease, but with so many guests around us, it is not the right thing to do. He probably wants to prevent me from doing something crazy, like in the lobby. I'm hot-tempered and have little patience with slackening.

               I show the expected respect to the King and Queen but don't lose sight of the door. Until one of the protocol ladies finally steps out and points out to the group still hanging outside that the conference is starting soon.

               And then the Alphas enter, moving very slowly because each of them stays standing first to bow to the Royal couple. Impatiently I rock my legs, only men come through the door and I am sure Selene will never make the mistake of pairing me with a man. I am very definitely not gay, although I have nothing against the LBGT group.

               And then her scent gets stronger, she is closer and could appear any minute now. My heart beats like mad in anticipation.

               Then I see a woman walking in with a warrior at her side. Thick black curls adorn her small face, which looks grave. Her skin is tanned as if she is often out in the open. She is relatively tall for a she-wolf, and despite her tight clothing covering most of her body, it is clear she has curves in all the right places. She is perfect.

               'MATE! MATE!" roars Claw madly in my head, wagging his tail. 'Let's go get her and hold her. We can take care of her as much as she wants. Our pack will love her and protect her,' he babbles on.

               Then I notice how she stiffens.

Her eyes go big and I know she realizes she is in the same room as her mate. I wait impatiently; according to the traditional script, she should now run to me and throw herself into my arms. And then we leave this meeting for an hour or more to return with the announcement that we have accepted each other as mates.

               I get so hot thinking about being able to have her in my arms in a few seconds.

Finally she looks up, our eyes embracing each other. Silvery eyes stared at me startled, her lips lightly parted. A hand goes to her neck as she fights an inner battle. Uncertain of her strange attitude, I push Eric to get out of my confined space. I want to go to her to help her over the threshold.

               But then I see her flee.

Before she disappears completely among the rest of the presence, she looks back once more, her face dripping with confusion and pain. How is that possible? How did she manage to resist the mate pull to turn away from me? I can understand that she was surprised to meet me, but then whence the pain? Meeting your mate is the best thing that can happen to a werewolf.

               "Eric, she left. She looked at me for a moment but did not come to me. Is she rejecting me?" I whispered to my Beta, glancing in disbelief in the direction where my mate left.

               "Do you mean Luna Ariel?"

"The black-haired woman who just entered the room with the warrior who is now standing with a glass of water."

Eric looks at the warrior and then back at me.

               "Zane! That was Luna Ariel. She is mated with Alpha Gorgio as I informed you earlier. She is not your mate, you are confused," he hisses at me. "Don't make a fool of yourself. She is not your mate". I shake my head in denial.

               "Damn sure she is. I don't know what's going on here, but I won't let her go. I've waited too long for her, she's my Luna," I insist. 

               "Okay, let's finish the official part of the conference and then we'll go to her to talk this out," he suggests. "You can't leave now, the King and Queen will never forgive if you do, you are the host". Unfortunately, he is right.

               After another longing glance at the closed door, I go to the speaking stool to initiate the opening ceremony. With all my energy, I push back my restlessness and do the job I am assigned to. I want to get this over with as soon as possible to go after Ariel.

               Half an hour later, I can put the conference in the hands of a ceremony master. Eric take me by the shoulder and we leave the room unnoticed.

               "I have requested the information we need. She is staying in room 1404 on the fifth floor. We can go there immediately". We run into the elevator and as we walk in the hallway of the fifth floor, we rush to the room. I knock on the door and wait timidly. Seconds pass, no response.

               "Luna Ariel!" I shout now, my heart pounding.

               'Zane. She is not there anymore. She is gone,' Claw sounds broken.

               'Gone? No, she can never have disappeared. She wants to be with us'.

               'No, Zane. There's more to it'…