Chapter 3: Introductions

Will

Stephanie and I spent hours making love, then we’d curled up together and talked until the sun came up. I told her about my parents, and about how my father took Samara in at a young age to hide her and keep her safe.

“We grew up as brother and sister. My father knew who she was from the very beginning. Even at my young age, I knew she wasn’t an omega. When I asked my father about it, he just said that sometimes people have secrets that they need to keep and as an Alpha, we are meant to help them keep those secrets. So, I never said anything about my suspicions.”

“What was it like growing up with a white wolf?” she asks.

I shrug. “I didn’t know she was a white wolf. I just knew she was more than an omega, and she was a good person. Samara always had a good heart. It didn’t matter if you were an Alpha or an Omega, she treated everyone with the same level of respect. I really liked that about her,” I say, laughing.

“What?” she asks, looking up at me with those beautiful green eyes from where her head is laying on my chest. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this content in my life.

I tell her about watching Samara attempt to reject Alpha Roman in a room full of Alphas.

She sits up and looks at me, her mouth dropping open. “WHAT?”

I laugh. “You should have seen his face. The northern Alphas have always been a bit arrogant, especially when they visit us in the south. It always felt, and Roman actually said it at the time, that he had just come to remind the rest of us that the north held all the power. Our pack wasn’t strong, definitely not compared to Alpha Roman’s or any of the northern packs, but our packs’ commitment to my father made us strong in a different way. Anyway, it felt really good to see the look of horror on his face when she rejected him. Of course, she didn’t do it properly. She was still hiding her identity at the time, so it didn’t work, but it was still satisfying to watch.”

“And now you’re allies,” she says. It’s not a question. She’s friends with Sloane, so she knows we’re allies.

“Yes, and that was a huge turning point for our pack. Alpha Roman announced our alliance at Samara’s Luna ceremony. Every pack who had attended the Alpha meeting where Samara tried to reject Roman was there. Our little, insignificant pack suddenly became much more powerful and protected. Since I’ve become Alpha, I’ve worked with Roman to strengthen our pack internally. Initially, I borrowed money from him to build our pack’s finances. I’ve since paid him back and our pack is thriving. So, don’t worry, Stephanie. You won’t be Luna to a pauper Alpha,” I say, grinning.

“I wouldn’t care if you were, Will. I would just assume that we were mated so that we could build our pauper pack into something fantastic.”

I don’t know how I can fall in love with this woman again and again, but it just keeps happening.

"Goddess, I love you so much already," I say, before kissing her softly.

“Tell me about your family.” I’m interested in knowing more about the family I’m going to meet later today. I’ve heard of Alpha Steph, but since we’re not in an alliance, I haven’t spent any time with him.

She tells me about losing her mother, about how her father took Luna Lysa as his chosen mate, and how she brought her daughter, Elena, with her into their home.

“Are the two of you close?” I ask.

“We’re oil and water. I honestly didn’t care that my father was mating himself to a woman who wasn’t mated to an Alpha before, at least, not until I realized how lazy she is. She and her daughter both feel that the world owes them and now that Lysa is mated to my father and she’s a Luna, she demands respect she hasn’t earned and doesn’t deserve.”

I kiss the top of her head, thrilled that we agree about earning the respect of our pack members. “Spoken like a woman who knows exactly how to be a good Luna to her pack.”

“I try. I’m sure there are things that I could learn. The pack will struggle without me there to run things, but Lysa has had years to learn the Luna role. It’s time she stepped up and did her job. I’m sure that I’ll get blamed for anything that goes wrong after I leave anyway.”

Later that morning, we say goodbye to our friends, wishing them well and letting them know they’ll be invited to Stephanie’s Luna ceremony.

Based on our conversation about her family, I ask her on our way to her family’s pack if she wants to stay the night or if she wants to make this a quick trip.

“We could use the excuse that I need to get to our pack, since I’ve already been away for a couple of days,” I tell her.

“Do you need to get back to your pack?”

“Our pack?” I clarify and I’m rewarded with her sweet smile.

“Do you need to get back to our pack?” she asks again.

“Yes, but one more night away won’t make a huge difference. I’ll call Eddie and let him know. I guess I should tell him I’m bring his Luna home with me,” I say.

“Or you could just surprise him,” she says grinning mischieviously.

“Oh, you are so perfect for me! So, what will it be? A short trip or overnight?”

“Let’s plan for one night. I want to spend time with my father, but I’m not sure I can handle being around my stepmother and stepsister much longer than that, especially knowing Elena will most likely throw herself at you.”

“I doubt I’ll even notice,” I say. I can tell she’s worried about what her sister might do to try and interfere with our mate bond. It doesn’t matter. I meant it when I told her that she will always be the only one for me.

“Oh trust me, she’ll make sure you notice,” she says, confirming my suspicion.

“You underestimate how much of my attention you have, my mate,” I say, grinning when she blushes softly.

When we arrive at her pack, I realize two things very quickly. First, Stephanie is loved by this pack. I’m thrilled. I already expected that our pack would adore her as much as I do, but seeing her with these pack members, watching how they interact with her, I realize what an amazing Luna my mate will be for our pack. The second thing I realize is that Stephanie isn’t the only one who doesn’t like her stepmother and stepsister. The pack is careful not to say anything outwardly, but their lack of commentary speaks louder than any words ever could.

I’ve barely been introduced to Alpha Steph, Stephanie’s father, when I hear a whiny voice calling out for ‘daddy’. Even without Stephanie going rigid beside me, I would have guessed it was Elena.

However, the whining tone turns sultry the moment she sees me. I knew there was no way that Elena could compare to my mate, and I was right. Personally, I don’t even find this woman attractive. However, that could also be because I have a bias against whiny women in general, and I already don’t like Elena based on my mate’s concern for what she’ll do or say to try and upset her.

I wrap my arm around my mate, letting her know she’s not alone facing her stepsister.

“You must be Elena,” I say, ready to stop whatever this is she thinks she’s about to do.

“I am,” she purrs, swaying her hips as she saunters toward me. Her ability to switch from whiny to giving me ‘fuck me’ eyes is impressive – if you’re into manipulative women, which I’m not. Whoever ends up with this woman will have his hands full. If it were me, I’d always feel the need to sleep with one eye open.

Her father tries to jump in, to keep her from making a fool of herself, but I already know from Stephanie that it won’t matter, so I introduce myself.

“I’m Stephanie’s fated mate, Will," I say, turning Stephanie so Elena can see that she’s standing beside me with my arm around her.

She instantly drops the seductive ploy, and I get to see the ugly underside of her as she glares at Stephanie. Well, that didn’t take long at all. Stephanie must really love her father to have even considered staying here one night.