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...

I couldn't move nor stir in my position. My eyes were still widening in shock as I felt Claude's face in my neck and his lips were pressing in my weak spot. Then his lips started to move. He was licking it. I automatically closed my eyes in submission.

"You really smelled so good just what I thought, mate."

I instantly opened my eyes as he whispered. I clenched both of my fists as to how annoyed I was because of what he said to me. I nudged him using my elbow and hit his stomach and with that, he released my hands at my back. I glared at him angrily. "You pervert!" I snarled. I'm starting to hate my mate. My unexpected mate! He's so perverted in a different kind of way! I hate him! I hate him!

I gnashed my teeth when Claude flashed his signature smirk. "It's very normal for mates to be so intimate. What I did is very normal, am I right?" I'm starting to hate the way he sounds. He sounds so calm and not affected by my actions.

"Normal?! Do you think it's normal?!" I said, half annoyed, half angry. This Claude guy gets on my nerves already. I came closer to him. "For me, it's not normal. You're taking advantage of me, PERVERT!"

"You're amusing." He chuckled.

I glared at him in disbelief. "You're unbelievable!" I couldn't believe that this guy was my mate. Why do I have to feel shivers in my spine every time my eyes land on his wonderful, luscious lips? I'm thinking nonsensical stuff!

"Thanks." He shrugged.

I creased my forehead. Does he think I'm complimenting him? "You're so stupid and annoying." I voiced my thoughts about him. I don't like him to be my mate. I was expecting to meet him in some other place. But meeting him in my pack was so surprising and that made my blood boil.

He flashed a sweet smile and I simply gritted my teeth. "I'm glad my mate is complimenting me even though we both know that is an insult."

I snorted and crossed my arms. "I am not glad to see you at this unexpected moment, mate. I'm not ready to be with you," I said seriously.

"I know. But don't you think destiny lets us meet in this unexpected moment you are telling? Though I'm quite shocked that I will meet you in my brother-in-law's pack, and luckily, you're his sister. And..."

I sighed and looked away. "I wasn't." I butted in. I wasn't his real sister.

"I beg your pardon."

I glanced at him and cocked my eyebrow. "Nothing. Nevermind. Can you please leave now? I really hate seeing you here and please stay away from me." I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I felt sudden chills crawling in me. This was so foreign to me. I kind of hate this and love this at the same time.

I cut off my wolf when she kept on murmuring at me that I should kiss him wildly and make love to him. Hell! My wolf is getting horny. I could feel my mate's wolf getting horny too at the sudden thoughts.

"You know that you won't. You don't hate me in your first impression of me, am I right, mate?"

I closed my eyes in submission when I felt his lips brushing in my ear after he whispered. I know that he used his wolf speed so that he could whisper in my ear. His hands started to make their way to my waist and possessively he wrapped his hands around me from behind. Then he sniffed me.

"You really smelled like lavender mixed with vanilla." I shuddered as he whispered. His voice was very dark. I couldn't help but feel the heat building inside of me. "I know you feel the bond between the two of us. You feel something. I can wake you up by just my mere touch on your arm." As he said, he touched and caressed my arm.

I grasped the air, still closing my eyes. Jolt of electricity flowed in my skin as he touched my arm. I felt myself being electrified by just the simple touch of his. It brought my wolf howled in a horny manner. I felt wet down there. How did he do this? Was this another description if you're with your mate? You will feel something that was very foreign?

His lips touched my shoulder blade. I flinched. I sided my head to let Claude access my neck carefully as his lips made their way to it. "I love your lovely neck, mate. Your smell is so very addictive and alluring and I can't stop myself from smelling you. You know what? I want to mark you as mine right now." Claude's husky voice was waking up all my sensitive senses but I was snapped out of it when he said that he wants to mark me as his.

I turned around and backed away. I felt a sudden disappointment when I stayed away from my mate who already woken up my cells when he touched me. I clenched my fists to stop myself from being so delusional. I could not accept him right away even though my wolf needed him.

I caught Claude's eyes darkening as I stepped backward, staying away from him. I summoned my hand to stop him when I predicted he would come near me. "No. Not now, Claude. I can't accept you. Not now. I'm not ready."

"So, are you going to reject me? That's it?" He sounded hurt and in pain but his expression remained calm and serious.

I crossed my arms and cocked my eyebrow. "I didn't say I'm going to reject you, did I?" Well, I guess, I wanted to do it but I'm sure Big Brother Storm will be mad at me once he knows I reject my mate. I'm sure that he will wring my neck. Goodness!

"Then what?" he asked impatiently.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't use your Alpha tone on me, Claude. I may not know you very well as an Alpha of your pack but I know who uses their tone the way they order their pack members," I said seriously. Truth is, I wasn't used to the tone of an Alpha. I hate when someone orders me like I was their slave.

Even though Storm usually orders me if there's anything he wants, whenever I was alone, there's a contrary within me. But I knew there was nothing I could do but follow his orders. He's still my Alpha, for moon goddess' sake.

After a moment of silence, he smiled smugly. "You're so feisty, aren't you?"

I ignored it when I smelled his attractive scent and acted as if it was nothing to me. I opened my mouth to say something but I stopped when Storm mind-linked me. 'A call from the palace.' He said through mind-link. I couldn't help but gasp at his news.

"Why? What happened?"

I glared at Claude when he was seriously looking at me worriedly. I felt my inside fluttering and my wolf howled. I ignored her. I shook my head to Claude. "Nothing. I was just being called by Alpha Storm. I have to leave because his news is very crucial for me," I said then I left him, frozen in his position.

I couldn't help but sigh. Now, I was far away from him. Maybe I could calm my heart now. I realized it keeps on beating. I sighed again. Stupid, Rachelle! Very stupid!

I couldn't help the excitement when Storm told me that there was a call from the palace. I was hoping for good news.