Chapter 3: Surprise

Easton’s POV

I really don’t want to attend another mating event. I’m almost 25, and it seems pointless to look for my fated mate at this point. My parents insisted I attend Blue Moon’s gala this year since I haven’t been to their pack in four years.

As we pull up to Blue Moon’s event hall, my wolf, Dallas, perks up. ‘What has you paying attention tonight?’ I ask, but he doesn’t answer.

Ryan, my future Beta and best friend, wiggles his eyebrows at me as he opens the door. “You ready to find your mate tonight, Alpha?” he asks. I roll my eyes as I get out of the car. I quickly mindlink Ryan, ‘We’re staying one hour. That should be enough to appease our parents.’ He just chuckles back at me through the link. He hasn’t found his mate either, but he’s in no hurry to do so.

Right before we walk in my phone starts ringing. I sneak a glance at the screen and see it’s my younger sister, Megan. “Go ahead, Ryan. I’m gonna take this real quick.” I say before turning away.

Megan found her mate the summer after graduating high school. She’s been busy with her first pup lately, so I try to answer whenever she calls. Before the word ‘hello’ has left my lips, Megan is excitedly telling me to take pictures of the event. “And don’t forget to take pictures of your mate and send them to me! And video chat me so I can meet her before anyone else!” She says before hanging up the phone.

I let out a sigh and put my phone back in my pocket before heading in. I scan the room, but I don’t see Ryan anywhere. I see Jake from the Conecuh Forest pack at the bar, so I decide to go talk to him for a bit while I try to stay low profile.

I’m stopped by four different she-wolves on my way to the bar. I manage to escape them rather quickly when I tell them my name is James. It’s not a complete lie because it is my middle name.

When I get to the bar, Jake is trying to seduce a young she-wolf. I look between the two of them when I catch the faintest whiff of an intoxicating plum and vanilla.

“Hey, man! Didn’t expect to see you here tonight!” Jake comments. “Yeah, well. I can’t avoid it forever.” I reply. My wolf is jumping and pacing in my head. ‘She’s here! I smell her! Mate’s here!’ ‘Is it her with Jake?’ I ask. I notice she is trying to bat her eyelashes at me and quickly look away as my wolf replies, ‘No, dummy. Not that trash.’ Well, that was rude but ok.

Jake must notice something as I continue to scan the room again because he asks who I’m looking for.

“Just Ryan.” I swiftly reply. I notice the door leading to the back lawn, and tell Jake I’ll catch up with him later. The plum and vanilla smell is getting stronger with each step towards the back. When I step outside I pause to look around. I see a breathtaking woman in a royal blue dress. Her long hair falls softly down her back, and I notice that it’s stunningly straight and the light brown seems to shimmer beneath the moonlight.

I gasp while Dallas stands alert with his ears and tail pointed straight up. I know it’s my mate before she even turns around. I watch as she looks beside her to her friend and then across the pool. I feel a flash of jealousy when I see she’s looking at another wolf, but I quickly realize that wolf is Ryan, and that Ryan is looking at her friend.

It looks like we both found our mates tonight. As Ryan and his mate start to walk towards each other, my attention goes back to the gorgeous woman now standing alone. Her tall figure seems to be glued in one spot. She moves very slightly to tilt her head and I can tell she’s sniffing the air. I freeze as I wait for her to turn around.

She slowly turns towards me, and as her blue-gray eyes meet mine we both softly exclaim, “Mate.”

I didn’t see this coming, especially not tonight.