8. THEO

Chapter 8

THEO

“Nightwalker wolves… Welcome,” I address as I stand in the center of the fighting ring.

Liam and Jarrod have done most of the introductions. As the Alpha of the pack, it's left to me to begin training.

“... As part of a set of new rules, we'll be taking recruits for training. All those who wish to volunteer, remain behind the first line of the ring.”

As everyone steps out of the ring, I close my eyes to invoke my wolf. But instead of the image of the dark Alpha wolf, I see Mia's face behind my eyelids.

Startled, I peep through the slits of my eyelids to ensure that no one has picked up on my surprise. Luckily for me, everyone waits patiently for my transformation instead.

Closing my eyes again, it's Mia's face that appears once more. Deciding to look beyond it, I focus on my wolf who finally appears behind my eyelids.

I shift into wolf form, but before I can open my eyes, I see Mia's face as if it won't go away. My wolf brows furrow as I finally part my eyelids.

That's when an unfamiliar yet sweet scent infiltrates my nostrils.

My head turns automatically in the direction of the scent. Though faint, it's enough to spark my curiosity. But just as quickly as it appeared, it fades.

I put my head back in the task at hand, distracting myself from external forces. Like the strange scent.

Or what I'd done with Mia Alverez last night…

Training ensues with the first recruit being a young werewolf in his first year. Our sparring proves promising, but there's a lot of work to do.

If Nightwalker has any chance of winning the war against whatever lurks out there, we need to be better prepared.

‘Jarrod, take over,’ I instruct the Delta as I step out of the fighting ring. I nod at the Beta, who follows me to the back of the bleachers.

‘Do a headcount at the end of the day,’ I tell Liam through the mind link. ‘We'll develop a new fighting strategy based on our new numbers.’

Liam nods his wolf head. ‘Are you leaving already, Alpha?’

I snarl in response to his question. I'm never this abrupt when it comes to leadership.

It's only because I can't be entirely honest with the Beta. My best friend and closest confidante knows me better than anyone.

And I can't tell him that I slept with the Blackclaw Omega who now resides in Nightwalker land. No one even knows that she's from Blackclaw.

Just that she's Anastasia's guest. A visitor who'll soon leave.

Liam surrenders and heads back to the fighting ring. Finally alone, I head to the dressing room and shift just outside. I head in and climb into the shower stall, relieved when the spray washes away my worries for the day.

I still haven't quite figured out why last night happened. After all, I've never really been one to entertain baser desires. Or give into carnal pleasures just for the sake of pleasure.

It'd been a strict belief I held onto up until last night… finding my fated mate was my only quest.

But something happened last night. Something I can’t explain. As I step out of the shower, wrapping a towel on my hips, I get it.

But…

It can't be.

“Hello, Son,” Father greets me as he emerges from the left corridor. He's wearing a million-dollar smile.

He's just gotten back from Hawaii.

“How're you doing, Dad?!” I greet back, pulling him into a hug. It's been two weeks since he and our mother left for vacation.

And since then, I'd brought a Blackclaw Omega to live in Overton.

“Great!” He pats my back. “We had a great time.” Dad leans back and stares warily into my eyes. “We heard about the war.”

“I'm glad you and Mom are back,” I tell my father with a pat on his shoulder. I turn to the lockers to get a clean pair of clothes. “We don't know what we're facing, and it's unsafe out there.”

“We're glad we're back too,” Dad assures. “Your mother has already begun preparing dinner for tonight.”

“Of course,” I chuckle as I throw on a sweater. “But we're five tonight.”

“Five?” Dad asks with a quizzical frown. “Are we expecting Liam for dinner?”

I shake my head. “Liam is too busy preparing for his wedding,” I remind Dad with a chuckle. “We're having a friend of Ana's over. A wolf she went to college with.”

“Ah, I see,” Father jests. “Let me get going. Your mother asked me to pick up bell peppers from the market.”

“See you at dinner, Father,” I bid him as he left the training center's dressing room. Slipping on my sneakers, I make my way out in search of Mia.

With my parents back, I can't keep her in the main house. I hadn't thought as far as that – if my parents came over.

I have to find Mia. To tell her not to reveal who she is to my parents.

Ana…

‘Ana…’ I send my sister a mind link.

‘Yes, Brother?’ she replies. There's a gruffiness in her voice, indicating that she's in her wolf form. Though I didn't see her at training, I know she's out with Mia. Showing her around Overton.

But that means…

‘Is Mia with you?’ I ask, pressing a finger to my temple.

‘Yes, she is,’ Anastasia replies. ‘We were racing.’

‘Racing?’ I jerk abruptly in surprise. ‘You're both in wolf form?’

Anastasia's response echoes in my mind, knocking around my skull like a marble between a metal bucket. I'm rushing out of the training center, bolting for the stone path leading toward the woods.

Panic erupts from the recollection of what happened to Mia before. I run into the forest, about to invoke my wolf when I hear rustling up ahead.

Slowing down, I see two wolves emerging from the shadows. One is Ana, the other is the dark chestnut brown wolf with a silver streak across its back. But we're not in the clear yet.

Ana nods as a gesture to give them privacy. I turn away, listening to the sound of her flashing back to human form.

The second flash that slices the air warps my sense of time. It freezes time over, and a split second turns into an eternity. Every sound slows down to my eardrums. Every passing speck of oxygen can be felt.

I'm compelled to turn just in time to meet Mia's eyes. Everything around us fades, until it's only her and I. Not her naked form nor the forest's green riches is evident in my vision.

It's just her, with her captivating brown depths pulling me in.

I'm drawn to her by a magnetic force that has me taking a mechanical step forward. She doesn't move, simply stays frozen in place as if she waits for my closeness.

That's exactly what I give her. Closing the distance between us, I drown my senses in the sweetness of her scent.

It's so distinct, it sends sharpness through my jaw as if it touched my sweet-tooth. Frowning deeply, I take another step forward when I'm interrupted.

“Theo?” It's Anastasia.

Snapping my head in her direction irritably, she hops over. Whatever invisible bind had me in a trance, it's cut now with Anastasia's interruption.

“Yes, Sister?”

Anastasia offers me a wide grin, while Mia dresses.

“Why were you looking for us?” she asks.

“Mom and Dad are back,” I informed her matter-of-factly. Mentally, I'm searching for that scent in the air. The one lost the moment Mia put her clothes on.

“They are?!” my sister claps her hands joyfully.

“Why don't you go ahead and meet them?” I suggest.

Anastasia throws a glance at Mia. “Mia, I–”

“It's okay, Ana,” I assure her. “I'll walk her back. Just remember, Mia is your guest. A friend from college from a pack in South America.”

Anastasia nods her acknowledgement before leaving. When she does, it's just me and Mia in the meadow.

The rising tension in the air only grows because of the silence that stretches. Still seeking that sweet scent, I turn my head slowly toward her, relief washing over me when I find the faint trace of her scent.

When our eyes meet, there's one thing I'm certain of. It's not as intense as it should be – at least, not as deep as Mom described it.

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that she's an Omega. Unlike Mom and Dad, who were both Alphas. Still, Mia's scent is sweet enough to recognize.

Her presence is powerful enough to enrapture my soul. To wrap the air around me like a warm embrace. Though I hadn't ever imagined that it would be with an Omega wolf, it's here, in the palm of my hand.

Mia Alvarez is my fated mate.

Tha acknowledgement comes with the realization that she also belongs to an enemy pack. But the heavy suspicion that she's not who she says she is still lingers.

It's almost… impossible that she's my fated mate if she's just an Omega.

With my mind and heart at war, I grab Mia's wrist and pull her close to me. She startles with a gasp as her chest goes flush against mine.

“Alpha Th–”

“Shhh!” I command, pressing a finger to her lips to keep her quiet. The warm, plushness of her lips infuriate me with the intense desire to kiss her.

That baser desire wins over, and I remove my finger from her lips. Replacing it with a crushing kiss, I'm desperately devouring her lips.

Goddess…

I have no idea what I'm doing. Just that it feels right. Perfect, if perfection was an attainable feature in this lifetime.

Before, I could only imagine that perfection would be found in a fated mate bond.

That's exactly what's going on here.

Breaking the kiss only to stare into her eyes, she's still a stranger.

“Who are you?” I ask through hot pants of breaths.

Who are you?” I ask with enough ferocity in my voice to have her shuddering. She tries to pull back from me, but the force of my hands keeps her cemented to the spot.

“Wh-what do you mean?” she whispers with a frown, shoulders quivering with fear. “I’m Mia.”

I shake my head fervently, denying what I already know. It’s the unknown I’m not sure about. Uncertain if my feelings are right. If my instinct is guiding me in the right direction.

It’s never led me astray before. Even now, staring deeply into Mia’s eyes, I’ve never been more sure of this.

She is my fated mate. It makes sense.

“I know your name, Mia,” I purr, leaning into her face. Her breath hitches in her throat as she stares back with wide eyes. “But who are you?”

The fear that crosses Mia’s eyes is powerful enough to fill me with remorse. She wrestles against my grip until I free her from my clutches.

Her brows furrows with accusation as she steps back, hands smoothing her arms where I’d been holding her.

“You’re scaring me…” she croaks as she keeps moving backward.

Scaring her?

The notion is unfathomable, considering what I’ve just discovered. Shaking my head slowly, I follow her, reaching out one hand.

“Mia…” I beckon gently, hoping she’d stop being afraid. “Listen to me…”

“Why should I?!” she suddenly spits venomously. “I don’t need to listen to a word you say!”

Taken aback, I frown at her as she visibly fumes in front of me. “Mia, I–”

“No!” She lifts one hand in the air to stop me from speaking. “Just don't!” Mia huffs angrily. “You have no right to do what you did then demand I take orders from you!”

My eyes soften when I realize why she's angry. But even when I'm about to open my mouth to apologize, she goes on fuming.

“I'm leaving!” she declares boldly as she spins on her heels and turns toward the forest. Fists curling at her sides, her shoulders tense.

I can only imagine that she's trying to shift. Considering that she's a late-bloomer, she probably hasn't quite gotten the hang of it yet.

“Mia…” I whisper tenderly as I reach out a hand on her shoulder. She shrugs my touch away, but I remain persistent, touching her again.

“No, The–”

“No, Mia,” I cut in sternly. “This time, you will listen to me. I need to know who you really are.”

“I've told you already…” she sighs as she turns back to me. “... I'm Mia Alverez, Omega of the Blackclaw Pack.”

I shake my head slowly, since there's one thing I'm sure of. “It's impossible.”

Frustration flashes in Mia's eyes. “Why won't you believe me?”

“Because…” I sigh as I hold her gaze. “... You're my fated mate.”