"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.

I ran to the pack house and met Storm who was holding a letter. I couldn't help the smile that drew on my face as I took it from him and opened it. It was news from the palace. I read it carefully and with understanding.

"What a contagious smile, don't you think, Hance? Maybe that's good news, eh."

I rolled my eyes as I found Beta Hance also smiling widely as also Storm. "Why, don't you stick your nose in me. Mind your own business, will you?" I gave him my death glare and he just only smirked at me. "Asshole! Find your own mate!" I turned my back on them as I walked to my room. I heard their laughs and heard Storm saying something to Beta Hance.

"Don't worry, Hance. You don't have to worry. She just found her mate."

"I heard that, brother." I gave him my most death glare he doesn't want to see in his life. But he was not affected because he just laughed at me.

I rolled my eyes as I turned my back to them, entering my room. My smile drew back when I glanced at the letter I was reading. I sat at the edge of my bed. Taking a deep breath and gulping at the same time as I read the letter again and again. It says I must go back to the palace. Emergency has brought it to the warriors. And as a battlefield commander, I must go. Perhaps, rogues are planning to attack the palace.

I went downstairs and look for Storm. I have to bid goodbye and tell what's the content of the letter the palace delivered to me. I ignored my mate, Claude when I saw him sitting on the couch with my sister-in-law, Casey which was his sister.

"Good day to you too, Rachelle! What's with your smile?" Casey beamed. I approached her and couldn't help but feel annoyed because Claude looking at me intently. His dark hazel beautiful pair of eyes looked at me with an intensity that my wolf melted right now. I looked away and looked back at Casey and gave her my sweetest smile.

"I just got news from the palace. And I want to bid goodbye to my brother. I wonder where he is right now. I mind-linked Hance already and he didn't know where he is right now. Mind if you know where he is? He was blocking my mind link."

Casey smiled and clapped her hands like a little kid. "Yehey! The battlefield commander will be back from her vacation!" I shook my head, seeing her acting like a kid again.

"Tell me where he is." Really, I want to get out of this place. I don't want Claude looking at me and scanning me from up and down. He has been here for the past few days. I was bothered to ask Casey as to when he will be out of Storm's pack. I hate seeing him. My wolf yelled at me. I shut her up and don't want to listen to her rants seeing how handsome he is right now.

"He is in the gym right now," she said out of the blue where she hasn't realized that she has spoken it. Perhaps, she was mind-linking my Alpha brother. Then her eyes fell on me as she nodded her head. "Yeah. He is in the gym!" Then Casey glared at Claude and placed her hands on top of his arm. "Brother, would you mind going with Rachelle? You told me you want to see my husband's training gym. And Rachelle will show it to you. Right, Ray?" She sided her head to me, pleasing her eyes.

My eyes widened when the realization hits me of her statement. "What?! No way!" I exclaimed so suddenly. I don't wanna be with him! My insides shuddered.

"Oh right. Yes, she doesn't want me on her side." I snapped my head to Claude, sensing the sarcasm coated in his voice.

"What do you want to point out?" I crossed my arms, raising my brow. What is his problem anyway? Do I have to mind him? I don't have a plan to go with him. I only want to talk to my brother. Why do I have to accompany him to the gym anyway? I shut off my wolf because she was howling in happiness seeing Claude. The result is my insides knock me off having an effect from him. I don't like this feeling.

Claude stepped forward which caught me off guard. He was all serious right now. I could feel the madness radiating from him. My wolf tells me that I should apologize to him right now. Claude and his wolf were becoming mad at my actions. But I don't care. I raised my chin to hide the horrifying feeling of becoming closer to him. If I let my guard down, he would be able to scope me around his arms. I would melt instantly in his, giving up or rather accepting him as my mate. I stepped backward and shook my head slowly. Claude reacted and soon enough, he had this sad expression which I think he realized what my action is.

"As your Luna, I want you to accompany my brother." I snapped my head to Casey who has the authoritative voice right now.

I opened my mouth to refuse her order but she growled, giving me a warning. I raised both of my hands, totally surrendering instantly. After all, she is still my Luna and I have to follow her orders. "Fine." I sighed in defeat. I narrowed my eyes giving back my glare to Claude. "Follow me." I turned my back and started to go in the direction where the training gym was located. I even heard Casey clapping her hands and jumping on the ground like a happy kid. I just shook my head in disappointment more to myself.

It's very hard to get rid of your mate especially if his sister has the power to manipulate me. I couldn't do anything about it.

I felt the presence of Claude behind me. It gives me an ill at ease. I stopped in my tracks, turning my head to him. I found him staring at my back before he lays his eyes on mine. It gives me a giddy feeling it. "Would you mind walking beside me? You're not a private to be followed by his commander," I said impatiently.

I was starting to feel guilty when he smiled at me sadly and he did what I said. I just ignored that feeling and continued walking together with him.

As we went to the training gym, I started touring him around. I told him every inch of what I did every time I trained myself and trained some of the pack members of Alpha Storm who are usually on patrol in the middle of the night. He asked many questions which I found impressive because he was so intrigued about the pack I lived in. I could visibly see in his eyes the captivation of fascination every time he lays his eyes on me. My heart fluttered seeing his reaction. We acted like we have no conflict regarding about mate thing. We acted like he is my alpha and I am his beta. That is my perception.

My senses automatically alerted me when I felt a thing coming in my direction. I was about to turn my head to my left side when Claude growled and in a blink of an eye, he was now on my left side and blocked something. I was surprised by his action. He was eager and faster. I looked at his hand and an arrow was on it. My gaze found who the hell was about to shoot me using the arrow.

It was my brother, Storm, who was handling a bow. He was with Beta Hance. They were grinning like idiots. Instinctively, I felt Claude's arm encircling my waist which made my eyes widen.

My heart started to thump. I sensed his wolf and how protective he was over me.

I raised my glance to Claude as he started to growl at my brother, Claude. I know that time that I should calm him or worse, he'll be going to attack out of nowhere. I didn't know but my hand has its mind and it caressed Claude's cheek.

I felt him flinch from my touch as he looked at me with his intense glare. I took a sigh before I gave in to his orbs.

"It's okay, Claude. Storm usually does that to me. It's a surprise attack." I didn't know again where did I get the courage to talk like this. Calmly.

"Surprise attack? He was about to shoot you with this." He was talking about the arrow he was holding.

I shook my head and slowly, I slid off his embrace. I took steps backward. He growled at my action like he was mad about what I did.

"You won't understand. It's a part of training with him. Now, if you act like that again, don't you ever come near me. Excuse me..."

I was alerted when he is about to reach me but I turned my back on him. I went forward to where Storm is.

I have to bid goodbye. The palace needs my service.

Moreover, my so-called vacation is now through.