3. Mate!

Unknown POV

"Come on man let's get some of this tension drained" my friend Nick urged me once again.

"Well once the paperwork gets pushed and sign then we can start winding down!"

I said a little to on the edge.

I really didn't need the approval of the Ebony Pack to be here in Atlantic city but coaxing Alpha Lincoln's ego was the only way to ensure that both borders are safe from rogues.

Ebony pack was just north of us taking the north eastern corner of the U.S. and us the south eastern corner.

We were taking a break from the endless amounts of phone calls we were all making when it hit me that we barely had anything to eat all day.

"Hey y'all wanna go grub? I could use a steak or just about anything right now." I asked the guys.

We still had 3 hours before we were suppose to hear anything back so I guess we could use a much needed break.

Nick, Tony and Noah all looked like they needed to get out of our suite as much as I did.

We had been friends since we learned to walk and spar with each other.

And just about the only family I have left.

So visiting the human city together was a much needed vacation for us all.

But we tend to make sure not to have too many eyes on us. I prefer it this way.

But having a permanent home in the city was too much of an upkeep and too many rules and guidelines to follow for any pack to have a house within human boundaries, so hotel for us on all our stays.

We always did like to have the whole floor to ourselves, specially with so many humans in the city.

We decided to go down to one of the restaurants in the Ocean Casino Resort.

I am more of a pizza and beer man but I also like to try the Italian food of restaurants near me.

I do have my favorite chefs and always looking for recipes for future references.

Mainly because I plan on bringing my mate to places I think she would love.

I still haven't found her at the age of 24, but I am still hoping she will appear soon.

The Priestess Selene would not be so cruel as to have me walk this world mate less.

She, who pulled our souls in half and shaped it in the perfection of our forever mate, so that we may find strength in each other.

To have our lives destined and become whole.

After some much needed laughs and our version of war stories, we were finally all feeling relaxed.

When our food arrived I decided on the Capozzelli di agnello, I didn't tell the guys what it was because once they got a whiff they all wanted a piece.

It wasn't until they all had a sample I said "well I guess we need to order more of this roasted head."

The look was completely worth the jabs they tried to throw my way.

But I do admit it was one of the best dishes I've had here in the states.

So I had the maître d' pass my compliments.

"Please tell the chief 'Mi congratulo con lo chef, il migliore che abbiamo avuto e ti ringrazio per l'onore'

—- (I congratulate the chef, the best we have had and thank you for the honor), from our table."

"Si, subito signore"

—-(yes, right away sir)

He headed straight for the kitchen to deliver my messages .

We were then sent round orders of complementary brandy and creme brûlée's.

Just one of the many perks of knowing my way around a dish.

I loved it.

I had already forgotten about the time, when I received a call from Alpha Lincoln himself.

"Alpha Lincoln. How is your evening going so far?" I greeted him.

"It is convenient for you that I am needed in the city, I'm on my way with my beta to sign the contract in person. I do not like to do business over the phone, less of a chance you will screw me over" he said with a little chuckle.

I'm sure he was trying to play it off but I knew he met me to be offended.

"I shall await your arrival Alpha" was all I needed to say for everyone to go back into work mode.

Tony and Noah quickly ran back up to our room to get the contracts and anything else we may need. Just as they returned, Alpha Lincoln showed up with his Beta Allen.

"Welcome, and good evening again Alpha, Beta" I said holding out my hand to shake theirs.

"Same, now let's get down to business. I'm sorry I must make this short, the Echo Moon pack just crossed our borders. They claim to be staying until the pairing ceremony in a few weeks" he spat, seemed to be fuming at the thought.

Not that I blamed him the Echo Moon pack has never really stuck to traditions.

Those in their pack, the higher rankings claim many mates, most by force and marking them without their consent. This is how I came to know their Beta, Jason, who was force marking a rogue female barely of age, when she was passing through human territory.

And I saw it fit to beat him until the female rogue was well enough away for a permanent escape.

Which is most likely why they are wanting to attend the pairing ceremony this year.

They are in need of fresh blood to mix into their own.

Thankfully the Priestess Selene saw it fit that any child conceived from mates not predestined-to not survive past the first trimester, and those that did were born human.

With a signed agreement we shook hands as we parted ways.

Him to deal with the Echo Moon pack and me to deliver the news of the signing to our pack back home.

This signing will help my pack tremendously, Ebony and our pack will soon have so much in common.

But that's a problem for a later time, right now I completed what I came here to do.

After we paid our tab, the tension seemed to have lifted off us all.

Now it's time to relax, and take the guys out for some much needed fun.

The city had much to offer, night life of clubs, casinos, theater shows and of course taking a stroll off the boardwalk

"Do you ever get out of work mode?" Nick asked as I pull on yet another black button up shirt.

"Alright how's this"

I say as I roll up my sleeves and undo the top button.

"Now that says chilled" I joked.

We pulled up to a place called 'the Cavern', catchy spot and a go to for the local and non local weres.

Already the place was in full swing, not exactly out of my comfort zone.

I just didn't like the attention any high ranking pack member got from these sort of places.

I already see many eyes turning our way.

Tony was the only one with a mate.

He was lucky enough to to find her the day after he turned 18.

While Nick, Noah and I were still waiting to find our other halves.

We had round after round of shots but I was no closer to relaxing.

I decided to take a couple glasses of Jameson Bow, it's rare for me to order this as I like to keep it to special occasions.

But I needed to relax and this was definitely going to do it.

We were here about 45 minutes when I felt the pull.

"Mate!" My inner wolf and I said at the same time.

She's here!

My mate is actually here.

I finally found her.

Before I knew it I was up circling the rooms trying to find my mate.

'Get to mate NOW' my wolf Ryker was demanding.

He had also waited so long to have his mate with us.

"I'm looking!" I argued back with him.

As I approached the dance floor a little more, I saw her.

A brunett, with all the right curves swaying to the music alone, a guy tried to dance with her and she shoved him away.

'Rip his arms off and shove them down his throat for touching what is MINE!" Ryker shouted in my head.

"Mine!" I growled but was pointless due to the loud bass of the music.

'I WANT MATE NOW!!' Ryker demanded

"Just wait, I want to watch her dance for me. I want to take her all in before we take her away" I told him

I started to go to her when I felt hands on my stomach, I turned to see a blonde she-wolf trying to grind with me.

'get her off us and get MY mate!' Ryker was becoming uncontrollable, one he had control I knew it would be hard to pull him back under.

I didn't pay the shewolf any attention and continued to my mate.

But she wasn't there.

I skimmed the room only to see her at the bar taking shots.

She looked beautiful in her black mini and very thin shirt.

I could see all her curves.

From legs that I wanted to wrap around me as I drives myself into her, to a round and plump ass to grab, and breast that I wanted in my mouth while I please her until she could no longer stand.

She was my perfection.

She strode back to the floor passing me unable to sense that I'm here.

Was she purposely ignoring me?

Or she was probably a little too wasted and her senses were off.

Well either way I wasn't letting her get away from me.

I approached her from behind and took hold of her waist, pulling her into me.

Jasmine and vanilla!

I held my nose to her hair as she moved, I couldn't get enough of her.

Having her so close to me made Ryker purr.

He was finally tame.

From the time I turned 18 to now he had only one thing on his mind.

Our mate!

Granted I didn't wait to save myself for my mate, but for the past 4 years I made sure to stop all my old habits.

Not that I had many females, but only 2 very serious relationships.

When I found out my high school love wasn't my mate I had to end it.

Then again when my father pass the pack to me when I turned 18, the power went to my head and I took another.

Not that I'm proud of it but the she wolf I was with at the time wasn't pleased that I didn't make her my luna.

That was when I decided to wait for my mate.

I didn't want to give anyone the wrong impression of what I could give them.

But now I have found her.

My beautiful mate.

She looked young but she was everything I wanted.

She looked fit, she wasn't very short but short to me.

I was tall at 6'4" so having her body fit perfectly with mine was arousing.

I wanted to claim her here and now.

It didn't help she was pressing and shaking her ass in my crotch.

Feeling how well she moved her hips made me hard.

My pants straining to hold back the bulge she caused.

I wanted her close to me, she danced for so long until out of no where she tried to run from me.

I held her waist trying to ask her for her name, then she did it!

An elbow straight to my manhood.

"Fuck!", 'Ryker and I both said

I tried to follow but she had one heck of a shot.

I followed her scent to the restrooms.

Maybe that's all she needed, no worries she will return to us.

As I waited I thought maybe this time I'll introduce myself before she runs again.

Girl after girl, she never came out.

'Mate! Find mate!" Ryker was howling getting way too impatient.

"Chill out, she can't go no where there are no windows in there" I argued back with him.

I waited for what seemed like days, then decided to go in myself.

Just as I opened the door I was spritz in the face by an over powering perfume.

"Shit!" Was all I could muster as I closed the door.

I headed into the men's room to wash it away, that's when I smelled her.

She was here, it was faint but she was in here!

'What was she doing in here!' Ryker wanted to know.

I was about to answer him when who of all people came in but Beta Jason of Echo Moon.

The look he gave me made me want to pummel him into the floor.

The smirk of someone so pleased with himself.

Arrogant prick.

The closer he approached, I could finally smell it off him.

He mated just moments ago, and then there it was Jasmine and Vanilla!!!

'MATE! He smells like mate. Kill him for touching what is mine!' Ryker was so close to taking control.

"Well, well, well. Looks like someone was let off their leash." Jason smirked.

"Why do u smell like my mate?!" I growled.

Grabbing him by the shirt, ready to beat him to death.

This time for being near my mate.

He just smiled.

"Oh the pretty little brown head, well first I had the pleasure of dancing with her and touching her in all the right places, then I lead her out of here and made her scream my name to the priestess. And u wanna know what I did next—-"

he then leaned in close for me to hear as he whispered

"I marked her. She is asleep waiting for me to return and do her all over again. She's a strong one let's hope I put a pup in her tonight!"

That was the last thing I remember when Ryker took complete control and pushed me so far down I was encased in utter darkness.

Mate....

My mate has been claimed….

and marked.