I cocked my head from side to side and stretched my arms. I yawned as I watched men start to train. I prepared myself to start my training too. Today, I was planning to shift in my wolf form and run through the forest. I want to test my strong legs and fix how keen my eyes were. It has been three days since I last saw Casey and Alpha Storm's news about Casey's big brother going in here. I had been paying my attention and expected if there would be anything looking suspicious about the upcoming of Casey's brother. Storm said that he was an Alpha too and he hasn't told me the right description about him and what his features or his look like. I didn't assume anymore if Casey wanted to battle with me or not. Maybe Alpha Storm warned her not to go here to the training gym.

I stepped to my feet and walked towards the forest. I mind-linked Alpha Storm that I would go for a run in the forest and wanted to be alone. As I shifted, I wiggled my fur and enjoyed the air penetrating it. Then I started to run through the forest.

I couldn't help the happiness I am feeling right now. Running into a wolf form made me feel that I am free and alive. I felt I was in a free place that only I could recognize. My four paws dug into the ground to make me run faster and faster. My wolf and I were very happy that we were doing this. It was a carefree feeling.

I didn't feel jaded and it's alright to feel it that way. This was the way I could train my wolf by just running into the forest across the pack borderline. It was neither risky nor dangerous for me to go outside the pack line. I was certain Alpha Storm sensed it and he would be mad at me again that I am doing this. He hates that I was crossing the pack borderline where that was the limit of his territory. But I actually didn't care about it.

I evaded the trees that passed by me. I almost grinned at myself at how good I was at doing this. I also looked at my surroundings, cherishing every moment I was running in the forest. Everything was a blur each time I ran. I dug my nails into the ground to stop myself from running when I noticed I'm too far away from the borderline and needed to go back again.

I haven't felt breathless but I need to rest. So, instead of hurrying up to go back by just running again, I chose to walk towards the path of the border crossline. As my paw stepped on the borderline, my smell senses automatically smelled something. I sniffed the air and it smelled like after rain and mint. I growled lowly because I admitted that it smells so good.

I had never smelled something strong like that scent ever. I could tell it has a scent of after rain and mint. I sniffed again and it really was so addictive. I started to walk and find where that scent came from. I keep on walking. My legs never felt tired so I came on pacing and smelled the scent coming from somewhere. When I continued walking, I noticed that the scent instantly smelt well. I noticed too that I was walking towards the brook where some of my packs were. Sometimes they take a bath from there.

As I sniffed again, I realized I was too close to the scent of after rain and mint. Why did it smell so alluring and addicting? Promise, I never smelled something like that anymore. As I was continuing the path towards the brook, the scent became so stronger and I kept on sniffing it. I didn't realize that I was now in the brook. If I haven't treaded in the cool water of the brook, I wouldn't really realized that I was really here.

I looked at my wolf form in the crystal clear water. I sided my face and then I came closer from the water to stare at my midnight blue eyes. I love staring at my eyes because of the eye color my wolf and I had. Next, I scanned my fur in the reflection of the water. I smiled mentally. My fur was truthfully colored white but the end of the strands of my fur has a different color. It was an auburn. Sometimes, I noticed my fur glowed in the dark and it became red and sometimes emissions a speck of golden dust whenever I walked.

I am weird. But that's how I described and saw my wolf.

My wolf is a big, massive, strong wolf. She wasn't an ordinary wolf you could only imagine in your life. I was thinking I am the same size as all the Alpha wolves. Alpha Storm knew about my wolf form. But I told him to find any ideas why I am so different from other wolves who usually had gray or black color. All Alphas had a black color in their fur whenever they usually transformed into their wolf form.

My ear heard some snap off a twig so it means there was an intruder. I started to growl lowly and turned around slowly to see who was behind. I narrowed my eyes when I saw a wolf larger than mine. I sniffed the air to see if he was in my pack or not. As I sniffed the air, my wolf and I froze that the scent that came from that wolf is the scent I'd been looking for. It was the scent of after rain and mint. I instantly glared at the wolf who was looking at me.

I sniffed the air again. He wasn't in my pack. I knew it. I growled at him even though I couldn't stop sniffing the scent that came from that wolf. I examined the wolf. He had a red eye color that was intensely looking at me. My brows creased when I scrutinized the wolf. As I said, he was more massive than me. He was a male. I'm sure of it. His fur was pure white but at the end of the strands it was very different from the color of it. The end strands of the wolf's fur were striking blue and I found it so beautiful to stare at it.

I heard a low growl coming from that wolf-like it was saying that I should pay attention to him. Then, he started stepping one step and he stopped. Then he did it again, stepping one step and stopping. I looked at him weirdly. What was that wolf doing?

I saw the wolf sniffing the air as if the wolf sniffed my scent and he scanned me the way I do. I growled dangerously when he started walking toward me. So, I stepped back. Don't you dare to come with me? I said furiously to myself but more on that stranger wolf. I growled loudly that that wolf is a stranger so he must keep off in our territory. But it seemed that the wolf didn't even care whether I gave him a dangerous growl. He kept on pacing toward me. But despite giving him a warning, I could smell his alluring scent that penetrates my nose.

I started snarling when he stopped right in front of me. But I suddenly stopped when he came closer to me and sniffed me again. I did what he did. I sniffed his scent. Goodness! Graciousness! It was so addictive! The massive wolf was surely strong. I didn't understand my wolf when she started purring like a kitten and she rubbed herself onto the huge body of the wolf. I was shocked. We kept on smelling. Then my wolf whispered something to me that made my heart pound in shock and panic.

'Mate.'

I glared at the elephantine wolf with beautiful striking fur at the end of the strands of his fur directly to his eyes. We both do the same staring at each other. And then I realized, that my wolf kept on howling that he was my mate. I know that he knew that I was his mate too. I saw the intensity in his red eyes. I shook my head, disagreeing with him. I stepped backward.

No! No! This can't be right! He wasn't my mate! No! No! I stepped back again and I heard a low growl come up from him as if he was saying that I mustn't go away. I hesitated to take it back and walked towards and nuzzled my snout at him... to smell his alluring scent. But I chose to step back again and stay away from him. I don't want him. I didn't expect to meet my mate here. No, please! Not now. Not this time.

I turned my back to him and with my powerful legs, I ran away from him very fast. I even heard him howl loudly when I was not in his sight. I ran and ran and ran till I reached the packhouse still in my wolf form. I mind-linked Alpha Storm and Casey in a hurried tone that I'm going to enter his office. I was too afraid of what was happening to me. I didn't expect that I would find a strange wolf who seemed to have entered our pack's territory. Why did Alpha Storm not move a muscle or notice that there's a stranger wolf right here?

I felt startled as I felt my mate's presence. Shit! I cursed as I noticed that my mate was following me. I could smell his scent not too far away from where I am. I hurried up again and forcefully slammed open the door using my wolf's head.

I almost ran through the Alpha Storm's office chanting hurriedly that I am going in. When I saw that the door was slightly open, I went in. I saw them standing up and talking like they were colleagues and they were shocked as I ran to Alpha Storm and I went back to my human form. "Rachelle!" they said in unison.

"Brother!" I said. I instantly hugged Alpha Storm as I locked my arms in his waist and was afraid to let go of him when I felt my mate's presence at my back. My body shook in fear. Alpha Storm locked his arms with me as if protecting me from any harm. I heard the strange wolf growl lowly and hid behind Storm's back.

"Brother!" I heard Casey squeal from God knows who she was indicating about. I was feeling nervous and at the same time fearful. I was afraid to face my unexpected mate that was behind me, a few meters away from me. "Oh! Brother, why are you in your wolf form?"

I was stunned by what Casey said. Brother? Wolf form? Is that... Casey's brother?

I slowly gaped my head to meet the strange wolf whom Casey said was her brother. As I slowly glared, I met a pair of dark hazel eyes that were strangely looking at me. He was in human form and I could see his features. He had a beautiful pair of dark hazel eyes, and a chiseled face, and his lips were slightly parted. He was looking at me intently as if I was the most beautiful he ever met. I felt the bond that was connected between us.

I could smell his scent of rain and mint. It was so really alluring. I am sure of it. He was my mate and I knew he knew it. His eyes twinkled and he smiled at me. I just hid my face at Alpha Storm's back and hugged him tightly causing him to growl again.

Alpha Storm cleared his throat. "So, how's your stroll in my pack, Claude?" I could feel Alpha Storm's arms locking me tightly like he was really protecting me. He mind-linked at me. 'Are you alright?' he asked me worriedly.

'I don't want to meet him, brother.' I pleaded with him not really wanting him to be my mate. He knew it. I realized I called him 'brother'. 'Sorry, I called you 'brother'.' I bowed my head at him.

I heard him chuckle. "It's alright. You are my little sister after all." He spoke it aloud. My cheeks flared from embarrassment from calling me a little sister. Then I felt his head turning sideways. "Claude, meet Rachelle, my little sister. Rachelle, meet Claude, Casey's brother."

I glared at Claude. He was looking at me again. I looked away and hid again. Claude growled again and I could feel the tension between us. The tension broke as Casey shrieked. She came over to me and hugged me. "My brother mind-linked me that you're his mate," she whispered.

I paced back and forth. I ran my hand in my hair, frustrated very much from meeting Casey's brother, Claude, as well as my unexpected mate. I groaned and wanted to mess up the conference room of Alpha Storm but I stopped myself. He was just watching me and he was smiling like an idiot at me.

I hit the table and paced back and forth. This couldn't be! This shouldn't be happening! This isn't right! I paced again. Shit! Shit! Shit! I cussed in my mind. What should I do? What should I do? Should I leave? No! This was my pack where I live. Why would I leave? Because Casey's big brother was here? No! That was absurd!

"Will you please stop pacing back and forth, Rachelle? I was the one who felt dizzy about what you were doing, not you. Oh, come here. Calm yourself and sit down," said Alpha Storm but I didn't listen. I kept on panicking. I know that some other werewolves dreamed of having their mates unexpectedly or not but I wasn't like them. I didn't wish nor dream to meet my mate yet. I still have my mission to know and to practice how to fight expertly.

I slapped my forehead as I remembered his mesmerizing eyes. I didn't know why but my heart skipped a beat when we stared at each other a moment ago. His dark hazel eyes are really beautiful to stare at and I can't stop myself looking at them. It's captivating. Casey didn't have a dark hazel eye color but it was an olive color that shone when light strikes. They had the same face like they inherited it from each other. He was so handsome and I loved looking at his parted lips. I want... I want to bite it.

But... No! Why was I thinking about that?! Shit!

"Rachelle." I stopped in my tracks and turned around at Storm when I heard his soft voice. Then all of a sudden, his face darkened. "Sit down," he commanded sternly, which made me do it. I sat down on the chair. Then I leaned in and thought about Claude that he was my mate. It clouded my mind and I hadn't realized Alpha Storm's feature was standing in front of me, causing me to stun a little and glare up.

He knelt in front of me and put his hands on my thighs. His stern expression a minute ago turned soft. He raised his hand to pat my head and caressed it. My sharped breath exchanged into steady. I was even shocked that my breath wasn't normal. "There. You calmed down." I gave him a puzzled look which meant I didn't understand what he was saying that I calmed down. Calmed from what?

"What do you mean?" I asked as my heart beat steadily.

He smiled at me and he shook his head. "Nothing." I pursed my lips into thin lines and didn't respond to his answer. It's nonsense. I was irked when I felt my body start to heat up from something. I could smell his scent—my mate's scent from behind the door of the conference room. I started to shiver a little. "So, why are you afraid, Ray? It's my first time seeing you like that a while ago when you met your mate, who was Casey's brother," he said softly.

I looked at him, directly to his eyes. "I-I'm a-afraid to see my mate, Alpha S-Storm." I stuttered as I felt my mate's presence. I gulped. He was there, I knew it.

My eyes widened as his eyes darkened and clenched his jaw. He put down his hand from caressing my head and he looked at me, madly. "So, now we're back from calling such formalities names." He stood up. "What's wrong with you? A while ago, you just called me 'brother' which meant a lot to me. It made me happy. Then, now, you just called me 'Alpha Storm'. Really? What's got into you, Rachelle?!" I flinched as he yelled.

I clenched my teeth and darkened my eyes. "You aren't my real brother, to begin with," I said boldly.

His eyes turned back to its color, blue-gray eyes. It softened as he sighed. He knelt again and held both of my hands. "But you're still my family. I treated you as my little sister. My parents treated you as you're their daughter. I know we were the same age but I've been wishing you would call me a 'brother'. And it happened. But please don't think that I didn't treat you like my own family."

"I never said that you didn't treat me like your own family. You're the one who just said that," I said coldly. I built my imaginative wall. My foster parents, whose parents adopted me and treated me like their own daughter, and Storm, treated me like his little sister. He never had any siblings. They said I came from another pack they didn't know.

He sighed again and silenced and so I am, too. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to initiate another conversation. This topic was very sensitive for us. I instantly knelt in front of him and hugged him as I shuddered. I need his presence. I was still afraid to meet my mate. It was so unexpected.

Storm hugged me back. "Sshh. I'm right here, Ray. You can tell me your feelings." He cooed me while rubbing my back to calm me down which it helps me very well. I calmed in his arms.

"I'm really afraid to meet him, brother." There. I said it again. I called him 'brother'. I could feel that he was glad that I called him that. I never called him like that. I used to call him 'Storm' or rather 'Alpha.' He and I weren't true blood-related but he already treated me like his sister since I came here in their pack. I used to call him 'brother' when I was a little but as I grew up and realize what I was from his family, I started to act being so formal for them which for them, it didn't necessarily. "It's so shocking and surprising," I said again and leaned my face on his shoulder.

"And it's so unexpected."

"I never thought that I could accidentally meet him in the forest."

"While I was walking back to the packhouse a while ago, I smelled his scent."

"I didn't know that that scent was his and rather, he was my mate."

"I'm not ready to meet him."

"I'm not ready."

"I'm... not."

I shuddered again and my body started to heat up. I could almost feel the presence of my mate behind that door. I hugged Storm tightly. I was starting to feel fear of meeting him. Come on! Please tell me. Is there any phobia that you can call fear of meeting your mates? I wanted to slap myself mentally. Goodness! Graciousness! There is no such thing as that.

After I burst out my feelings, I silenced and waited for my brother to speak up. Surprised, Storm lifted me and he put me down in the chair to sit me down. Then, I heard his chuckle and winced my hair using his hand like I was a dog. I frowned, causing him to laugh his ass out. I rolled my eyes. But I'm happy to hear those laughs again. It has been a long time since I last heard it. The last time I heard about it was when I left my pack to join the academy for werewolf soldiers. He usually laughed when he and Casey were together, talking nonsensically.

"That was just fine, Ray. Some werewolves weren't ready to face or to meet their mates. But they have to deal with it. No matter what they can do to shoo him or her away, it doesn't change the fact that they are mates." I tried to absorb it in my mind. Yeah, I know what the definition of mates was. They are your soulmates and they are connected in some way. They are bound and will be together forever. They will not be fulfilled if they don't have their other half.

"I'm still not ready," I answered and frowned.

He kissed my forehead. "Some werewolves, when they met their mates, some of them rejected their mates because they couldn't accept meeting or being with them. Or rather, they just don't want to have mates yet or they are disgusted. So, I'm warning you, Rachelle, whatever running in your mind feels to reject that Alpha boy, quit it in your mind. I am not going to allow you."

I was left speechless. Damn! How did he know that I was planning to? Great! Now that he warned me, how could I not meet my mate?

He sent me daggers. "You're planning it, don't you?" He growled.

"Hey! I am not! Don't accuse me that I am planning to do that because if I do, you could kill me." Great! Goodness! Graciousness, Rachelle! And now you'll be damn at lying. Shit! Shut the fuck up!

"Are you sure?" He stared at me with disbelief and looked directly into my eyes as if looking for a hint that I was lying. Well, I'm not going to let him know that.

"Give me some time." I gave him my bored expression and stared into his eyes. Please let him not know. Please let him not know. I chanted that to myself over and over again. I don't know what to do if he finds out I was just lying to reject my mate even though I can't do that. I don't have the guts to reject Claude for the Moon Goddess' sake.

Then, suddenly he smiled and patted my head again. "Okay. If you're not planning on that, then I guess, you're planning on meeting him, right? Come on!" He instantly pulled my hand to stand me up and he started walking towards the door where my mate was behind there together with Casey.

"Hey! No...no... That's... That's not what I meant, brother! Brother! NO!" He didn't listen to me but he just opened the door. "BROTHER!!!" I yelled at him as I met the two siblings, Claude and Casey.

Claude looked at me. I saw his eyes lightened up as he saw me with those dark red beautiful pairs of his eyes. I even saw him flash a smile. My stomach automatically flipped.

Goodness! Graciousness! My heart went wild!

"Hi, Rachelle! Glad to see my beautiful mate."

He took my hand. I felt a jolt of electricity when he held my hand and brought it to his lips to plant a soft kiss on my knuckles. It sent shivers down my spine after he did that. I could feel the heat starting to build in me because of him. His scent is still alluring and hypnotizing to smell every second.

I slowly heaved in a breath and took my hand from his. And I remained blank even though he had an effect on me. "Why yes, likewise," I said boredly.

Someone nudged me intentionally causing me to take big steps. I glared at who did that to me and I found Storm looking at me with daggers. I mind-linked him. 'What the hell?!' I yelled through our mind-link.

'That manners of yours, fix it. He's your mate, Ray for Pete's sake.' He said.

I ignored his glare. 'Whatever. I'll do what I want.' Then I cut off our link. When I gaped at Claude, I caught him looking at me with awe. I furrowed my eyebrows, confused. What the hell did I just see from his eyes? I rolled my eyes at him but I didn't see that he was shocked after I did that. I just found amusement in it. I gritted my teeth in sultriness. What the bloody hell!

"Excuse me," I said and passed by them. I want to get out of this closed place. I hate it! My mate kept on watching my movements with awe. It was like he was worshipping every movement I made. It made me feel uncomfortable.

I made my way to get out of Storm's office, I caught Claude looking at my ass. I clenched my fist. Damn! A pervert mate!

I sighed in relief when I was out of his sight. I don't like him being around me since a while ago. I went downstairs and stormed out of the pack house. I let my feet walk toward the gym. I sighed in happiness. This is my paradise for a moment. I felt so free whenever I was here in the gym and whatever felt so free was training and challenging myself too.

But for now, I will indulge myself by just watching the other werewolves train themselves. They have to be stronger in case a war begins or rather a rogue attack.

I let myself stroll around the pack. And let myself drown in my thoughts. I never thought I would meet my mate, surprisingly. I couldn't just accept him in my life. He must understand that. I mind-linked my brother to tell him about what I felt, and that's why I left them.

I stopped in my tracks as I noticed I was in the pond alone. I leaned in at the railings as I watched the fishes swim in the water. No children playing here because Storm made a playground just for them. I sighed again. Well, I kept on noticing that I've been always sighing with emotions filled. This is not the usual me. I should blame my mate because I was drowning in my thoughts. I mustn't think about complicated things and war is an exception for it.

I forgot to tell Storm that after a few days, I'll go back to the palace. I have to train the other royal guards there. I was a battlefield commander. I have to talk to other commanders and we must plan another tactic in case rogues try to mess up the Alpha King's palace.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

I flinched and shivered. Someone was behind me. I turned around only to find Claude leaning at the railings near the pond. Goodness! He looks so hot and handsome! I shook the thoughts away. What were you saying, Rachelle? Stop it! I creased my forehead. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?" I asked, half annoyed, half uncomfortable.

He showed me his megawatt smile. I almost fainted with how hot and sexy when he did that. "I could smell your scent, remember?"

I tugged my remaining hair that was covered in my face at my left ear and ignored him. I started to walk away from him and strolled around the pond. I couldn't explain why my heart was pounding wildly as I felt his gaze following me.

I got a small rock and threw it at the pond. The Fish instantly moved away from where I threw it. I smiled. They are so beautiful how they swam so gracefully.

"I love your smile."

Creasing my forehead, I glared at him, annoyed. "Is that an insult?" Maybe I shouldn't look at him. Goodness! It was already too late. His eyes were so intense and as if they melted my soul. Those dark hazel eyes could sense every move I made.

He chuckled. Oh my! His chuckle is very manly like Storm. I couldn't help but gulp as I accidentally glared at his luscious lips. Pretty damn! I remained expressionless. I don't want him to notice that I am glaring at his lips. But it tempts me to kiss it. Wait! Did I just say that? Goodness! Graciousness!

He shook his head. "No, it's a compliment. And one more thing," I glared at him, expecting him to say insulting words. Oh, come on! Is that a hyperbole? Am I just exaggerating that I just found him insulting me not praising me? I waited for him to continue but I was caught off guard as he walked and stopped in front of me. He raised his hand and caressed my cheek. A Lot of electricity flowed in my skin and I felt goosebumps. "You're so beautiful," he whispered huskily.

I simply heaved a breath. Okay. Okay. You don't have to panic, Rachelle. You don't have to. I felt my cheeks start to heat in his other compliment and how warm his hand landed on my cheek. But hey what was I doing? Am I accepting now my mate?

I slapped his hand away from my cheek. "You're so annoying." I showed how really annoyed I am. I placed my hand on my hip as I made a face.

He plastered a sweet smile causing my inside to melt. Goodness! "Am I?" He sounded sarcastic.

I clenched my free hand and narrowed my eyes at him. Indeed. He was so annoying. I think he has a cocky attitude that I couldn't measure. "You..." I pointed my index finger at him and gnashed my teeth in a hideous manner. "are so dead!" After I said that, I instantly moved faster in a light fight and clenched both of my fists and I was ready to attack him or rather punch him.

As I was about to punch him, he moved so quickly that I didn't know where he was. In one swift motion, my hands were tugged at my back and I felt Claude's face burying in my neck causing me to gasp...