CHAPTER 4 Latin for Fire

　　Amber's POV

　　"I'm sorry. He's a bit edgy. Mira is our only daughter, and we want her here in the pack where she belongs, but she said she couldn't stay. She is younger than you, Maze, but she knew. The moment that girl kissed you, she and her counterpart knew." Morgan nods. She has tears in her eyes. They are both hurting.

　　"Where did she go? Do you know?" Maze asks, his eyes alight with hope. Both shake their heads.

　　"She just said away," Morgan answers with a soft voice.

　　I put my arm around Maze, feeling his pain as my own. His mate was in his reach but she disappeared. I promise to find her in my head, but not before I kick that sluts ass. She is so dead when I am done with her. Ignis growls in my head. She wants the slut dead as well, but we know Mom would never let that happen. Dad, maybe, but Mom; never. Well, perhaps I could use the angle of her hurting her goddaughter AND her son.

　　I'm ripped out of my murderous thought process when someone snaps their fingers in front of my eyes. Maze.

　　He felt everything, and the smile in the corner of his mouth is not to be mistaken. He and Blake agree with us.

　　"Come on, princess. We need to get you back. Mom says your flying prince charming is waiting rather impatiently." Maze mocks, while dragging my ass with him and the others. Dad and Uncle Brandon are discussing where Mira can be, and how to get her home as soon as possible. Mom is consoling Aunt Morgan. She is shaking her head at a question I couldn't hear.

　　As we all returned to the packhouse, a scent so strong I almost fell over and hit my nose. It's a mixture of ocean breeze and fresh strawberries. Weird, but so alluring.

　　Ignis suddenly takes control, growls at the crowd hiding the one with the scent, and moves at a fast pace to get to it sooner rather than later. I try to talk some sense into her, but she is refusing to listen.

　　'You were taking too long! I need to get to him. He's been in our dreams, and didn't introduce himself.' She leaves the sentence hanging, and I know she is part delighted and part angry with him for not telling us who he was all this time! I am too.

　　The crowd part ways, until I stand before an old tall man. The scowl on his face seems to be in a permanent state, and when I get near he scrunches his nose as if he is smelling something disgusting. Who the fuck he is I don't know, but if he plans on staying between me and that delicious smelling mate of mine, we are going to have a problem.

　　'Can I move him?' Ignis begs, her tongue hanging out in my mind, puppy dog eyes pleading with me.

　　'Not yet,' I answer while forcing her to step back. I fold my hands behind my back, as I have seen my father do so many times, and stare at the stranger.

　　"Yes?" I question, not breaking eye contact. He is on my territory and I am not backing down. Never have, never will.

　　"So, you are the one my son claims to be his mate? That's ridiculous." He sneers. Another old man walks up to us. His face is calm and his eyes are kind. I smile without thinking, and the first man sneers again. What the hell is his problem anyway?!

　　"Young Amber, how have you grown since we last saw you!" The second man says while giving the first man a pointed look. He bows his head, takes one last dirty look at me, and moves aside.

　　"I am sorry, sir. But I do not know who you are?" I say as politely as I can, not showing him how nervous I am. He chuckles.

　　"My name is Berion. I am the dragonwise - also known as the leader of the Elder Council of the dragons. You can call me Berion or Grandad, sweet child." My mouth hangs open. The dragonwise is the eldest and wisest of all dragons, and he likes me. Damn.

　　"And the other man?" I ask, as Berion leads me forward.

　　"That was Callous. He's an old fart and the king of the west dragon kingdom." I shake my head. He had called my mate his son. That meant. Ah fuck! I so didn't want a mate who was royal.

　　Berion leads me to a group of younger people. They part ways for their council leader, and there in the back is... My mate. He is absolutely outstandingly gorgeous! His eyes light up when he sees me, and in a flash I'm in his arms. Electricity courses through me, as he locks his eyes on mine.

　　"Hi!" I breathe, and immediately scold myself for being a damsel, which I am NOT! But he is just... UGH!

　　'Uh huh! Our mate is a hunk, and you know it girl!' Ignis drools in my mind. She tells me with overjoy his beast has already reached out, and he accepts us both.

　　"Hi!" He answers with a dazzling smile, while making my inside burn with desire. Damn. I'm already half in his bed.

　　'Oh, please. We are already completely in his bed.' Ignis says, her tail wagging and her tongue hanging out shamelessly picturing our mate naked covered in sweat. Goodness, I have one horny wolf.

　　"What's your name sweet mate?" He asks, even though I know through my mother, he knows already.

　　"I'm Amber and my wolf is Ignis - Latin for fire," I answer, swallowing hard. I just want to kiss those too perfect lips of his. I really need to get it together.

　　"What is yours?" I ask, while trying to tune out Ignis's huff of lust and irritation of this taking too long. She always was an impatient pain-in-my-ass.