CHAPTER 2 The Perfect Age for Breeding

　　Thomas's POV

I sit in the car outside of the ballroom in the very center of the Moonshadow Pack. I can tell that Alpha Aiden spared no expense when it came to this particular matchmaking party for his middle daughter. From what I understand she is quite the wild child and not really Luna material.

If I am honest with myself this is the last place that I want to be. If it weren't for the elder council breathing down my neck about producing an heir I wouldn't have even bothered to show up. But these old men have been relentless since I returned from the Paxton Pack without a mate on my arm.

My Beta, Dylan, comes out of the ballroom and knocks on my window with a smirk on his face. Still refusing to exit my car, I roll my window down just far enough for him to speak to me.

"Dude," Dylan laughs at me. "You have got to get out of the car. The elders are inside waiting for you to show up like you promised."

"Did you catch a glimpse of her?" I ask Dylan.

"I did," Dylan says but does not elaborate.

"And!" I yell at him.

"She is young," Dylan replies.

"You are less than helpful," I groan as I roll up the window and finally exit the car.

I throw my suit jacket on as I walk towards the ballroom. It is almost midnight, the party should be winding down by now. Perhaps I can slip in and out quickly without being noticed.

As soon as I walk into the building, Elder West corners me.

"I am glad to see that you finally decided to come inside," Elder West says with a grumpy look on his face.

"Did I have a choice?" I groan loudly.

"I suppose you did not," Elder West says with a smirk on his face. "You need an heir and Mia Turner is a perfect choice. She is still young. The perfect age for breeding."

"She is a person, not breeding cattle," I snap at Elder West.

Elder West ignores my outburst and looks over his shoulder. "You should get in there," he says, turning back to me. "Alpha Richard is sinking his claws into the girl as we speak."

I snort loudly. "Alpha Richard from the Night Moon Pack? Isn't he like sixty?"

"His age doesn't matter. Miss Mia seems to be quite taken with him," Elder West says as he pats me on the shoulder.

I think that he is going to walk away but instead, he pushes me into the ballroom. A hushed silence falls over the ballroom as soon as I step in. All eyes turn toward me and I can't help but feel incredibly self-conscious. Standing in the doorway of the ballroom, I let my eyes glance around the ballroom.

I am about to make my way to Alpha Aiden and his mate Madison when my eyes fall on a beautiful young woman in a hideous yellow dress. Her golden hair falls in soft waves down her back. Her green eyes sparkle with interest as they meet mine.

Her eyebrows knit together and it is almost like she is begging for me to come to rescue her from Alpha Richard who is chattering loudly in the quiet ballroom. There is something about the look in her eyes and I know that I cannot deny her so I walk over to where she and Alpha Richard are standing.

"Alpha Thomas, I am surprised to see you here after the embarrassment that you suffered at the Paxton Pack." Alpha Richard's voice is seething with anger over the fact that I interrupted his conversation with the young lady in the yellow dress.

It takes every ounce of my energy not to roll my eyes at this elephant of a man that is standing in front of her. There is no way that this young lady is interested in him.

"This is Mia Turner. I plan on making her my second chosen mate." Alpha Richard says with a growing smirk on his face.

Suddenly, Mia turns to me and wraps her arm around the back of my neck. "I am sorry," she mumbles quietly before she presses her lips to my own.

I stand there in shock as Mia keeps her lips pressed to mine. When it is clear that she is not going to let go any time soon, I decide to give old man Alpha Richard a show. I part my lips and run my tongue over her bottom lip. I hope that she opens her mouth so I can deepen the kiss but she doesn't. Instead, she pulls away from the kiss and turns her attention back to Alpha Richard.

"I am sorry. But I am afraid that Alpha Thomas is the best suitor here for me." Mia says with a smirk on her face.

"Your mother will hear about this," Alpha Richard scoffs as he storms away.

Mia turns to me with a blush rushing to her cheeks. "I am sorry about that," she tells me. "But there is no way that I will be his second chosen mate."

Mia sticks her fingers down her throat and pretends to gag. Despite this awful colored dress that she is dressed in she is cute.

"If you will excuse me," she says as she turns to walk away. "I need to run damage control with my stepmother."

I grab onto her hand and pull her back towards me. "I think that can wait," I say to her. "Let's dance."

Mia's face turns several shades of red. "I don't think so, Alpha Thomas. I think my evening has come to an end."

I refuse to let her hand go and I begin to walk toward the door of the ballroom. Dylan is waiting for me outside. Mia begins to shake uncontrollably and I know that she is frightened.

"Dylan," I say curtly. "If you will show Miss Mia to my car. I want to have a private conversation with her."