Naya's P.O.V.

 I noticed that everyone from the elite team, including the Betas, sat in the table closest to the food. 

The sparring group took a different table even though they all entered together. I missed Ocean's touch even though he was the only one left standing beside me.

"I'll be right there." He pointed towards his group. "I'll give you some moment to catch up." His hands twitched. Very aggressively he shoved them in this pockets. We walked up to the table together at the same time.

"Everyone's staring." I scooted closer to him subconsciously, trying to hide away from the prying eyes.

"They know I found my mate." I stopped in my tracks dumbfounded at his confession. 

"I delayed for two days. I was away for nearly 6 days, including travelling. That's nearly a week so I needed to give my enforcers and Steven a reason for that." His voice was soft and horse. This was the first time we were talking like adults.

"I want-"

"Come honey, I'll show you around." Livia linked her arm through mine and dragged me towards the stairs in the far end on the other side. 

I looked back to find him staring at me intently. He didn't take his eyes off me until I was going down the stairs by the kitchen near the back entrance. It felt familiar. 

Him watching me with longing. A very small image flashed through my mind.

  He looked much younger there. Like the pictures on the walls of his house, only his hair in my hallucination was shorter. He was standing amongst lockers. Like in a school. 

If I wasn't holding onto Livia, I would have fell.

She introduced me to Octavia, she was a delightful woman. With dark blue eyes, long strawberry blond hair and energetic smile. Lyon was with Ocean upstairs. 

They had two sons; one was training to be an enforcer and the other had the gift of art. I understood why we skipped the entrance to the first floor. It was lined with comfortable cots and blankets. 

Around 30 of them lined neatly in rows. A couple of them double, most of them single. Only 2 were being used. On the other end, a row of partitions was pushed up against the wall. 

Some of the partitions were already being used, hiding away the beds for privacy. Octavia oversaw the Refuge.

If wolves from other packs somehow ended up here, they had a place to stay until their pack security came to guard them back home. The ones that occupied beds were chased by hunters from the city. 

They were from Central Hemisphere who came on a holiday. It would be a while till they returned home but according to Octavia, Ocean had already contacted their Alpha and they were waiting for the tickets.

I was amazed by the dynamics of the community. Livia escorted me back up the stairs because she had an emergency in the kitchen. She hugged me quickly before putting on her kitchen net on her head.

Ocean immediately straightened his back motioning for me to sit down next to him. Two wide wooden beams were squished together to create the bench.

 The tables were similar but more beams. The cafeteria was buzzing with laughter and conversations when I came back upstairs.

"Do you want something to drink?" He asked immediately. Instead of waiting for my answer, he looked at the man sitting opposite to him. In a semi-second he was on his feet. 

He had olive skin, with hazel brown eyes. Chestnut hair bounced every time he moved. The sides were shorter than the top which were swooped back. Another enforcer sat opposite me. 

His light brown eyes stood out like taillights against his chocolate brown skin. His hair was so short he nearly looked bald. He watched me with dubiously.

Feeling uncomfortable I turned towards Ocean. He, on the other hand, glared at the guy. Invisible steams were coming out of his ears. I looked back to find him looking down this time. I hated not knowing what was going on.

"What?" I kept adverting my gaze from Ocean to him until one of them spoke up.

"I apologise, you just reminded me of someone." He finally looked up. "I'm A.J. Nice to meet you properly." He extended his hand for me to shake.

"I'm Levi." That name belonged to the man who brought me my drink and topped the ones that were already on the table.

"Nice to meet you both, under sane circumstances." I adverted my eyes. They were there yesterday, saw how Ocean treated me.

It was awkward for a moment until Ocean rested his hand on my back. It was the support I needed and I was grateful for that. I didn't notice Aaron was sitting next to me as well with Macey on the other side. 

I apologised to him for putting Macey's life in danger. I respected that he was honest with me. He was mad at first but he calmed down when Macey told him I nearly took a bullet for her. 

I'm guessing she over exaggerated. He knew it wasn't my fault because the Hunter shouldn't have been inside the walls in the first place.

The trackers found the place. The human used a rowing boat to crossed the lake. It was too foggy to see so the Camera's didn't pick anything up. We weren't that far from the lake unfortunately. 

The Lake doesn't have walls around it, obviously and Ocean didn't want to close his people away from freedom like that.

Around one o'clock a line started to form. Apparently, the Alpha and his team could cut into the line. 

Ocean told me while we waited in the line that they came in and within ten of fifteen minutes they would be out, back to work. So, the people didn't mind. 

Also, elders and higher ranks were treated with privileges. It was old fashioned but the members didn't seem to have a problem with it.

I felt like I was back in high school again. Ladies in hair nets and aprons asked what you wanted and they served you in a tray with different compartments. 

Considering the fact majority of the pack never left this vicinity so I doubted they'd know the similarities. Macey knew exactly what I was thinking about.

 She pulled a face to go with my arbitrarily thoughts but I didn't react. I didn't want to offend Ocean. 

We were brought up differently. I've been to many packs that didn't share same the customs as us. I didn't judge. I had to embrace the new system.

"So tell me everything I need to know." Everyone around us resumed their own conversation the minute we sat down. I tried to ignore the curious gazes.

"What?" Ocean looked startled. His fork stopped midway to his mouth.

"You know, the rules and about the different sectors." He looked relived when I explained. "What did you think I was talking about?"

"I don't know." He put his mash potato down with a sigh. "I know I've been busy but I definitely should have spoken to you about the customs before yesterday. Ask me anything you want to know."

"How did you come up with the pack house idea?" He opted for 2 steaks and potatoes. Heap amount might I add. Whereas I went for the bacon mac and cheese and some fried chicken on the side with coleslaw. 

This food was a million times better than school. I finally understood why people ate here.

"We always had a Pack house. Usually it was always where the Alpha lived, back in the day but my grandfather decided to build a place in this clearing and we've expanded since then." He carried on eating, waiting for more question.

"What's the purpose?" I did the same.

Taking a sip of his drink he replied. "Alphas were the provider, always took care of his pack. So people came to them for help."

"Like kings and queens in the olden days." Our heritage and history was different than the humans. They loved turning our ancestors into mythological beasts.

"Yes but things changed so my grandfather decided to build a separate house, especially with so many hunters."

I didn't necessarily see the point of building an extra giant house to people who already has houses around here. But it was a place to socialize. I could see by everyone's interaction.

"Plus, we use the upstairs as a school for kids. I'll show you before we go." He added upon seeing the scepticism expression on my face.

"Ooo!" I dragged out the o's. I straightened my back to see the row of teenagers at the very back.

"What age do they start?" When I looked back at Ocean he had a tiny smile on his face that he was trying to suppress.

"Same as human kids, only when we grow older we move on to practical education depending on what you want do to contribute to the pack. 

"They do rotations from Workshop, to here and to security or enforcement, whatever you name it. They start that at 16 and by 18 they go into what they enjoyed the most. 

"But if at some point you want to change, at least you got the basic skills from training years."

"So not final exams and stuff or University?" I knew the answer to that.

"No, they grew up hunters attacking their homes, killing their family members so no one feels the need to join the human world." He appeared somewhat sad from that particular thought. Of course, his parents were murdered by hunters.

I put my hand on his thigh in a comforting manner.

"You're an amazing Alpha. The things you built, the laws you made, the freedom you give to your people and the things you'd do to keep them safe, it's quite remarkable." He eyes met mine, lips parted in awe. He covered my hand with his before gulping.

Clearing his throat, he said "Thank you."

He truly was an amazing Alpha. He tried give as much freedom he could to his people without putting them in harm's way. I think that's why he seemed more attractive to me. 

My body was attuned to his every movement. Tingles were shooting through my body and I knew exactly what was happening. I was turned on in a room filled werewolves with heightened sense of smell.

"So the Training ground. How does that work?" I kept eating, trying to distract myself.

"Again, you get a choice, you join at 18 and you train in hand to hand combat and guns. Even if you're not working in that area, we still encourage our members, male or female, to know how to shoot and carry a gun at all times." Maybe it was the right moment to ask him about mine.

"We went there today." I tried to ease it in.

"Mhm. How did you like it?" He spoke with his mouth full.

"It looked so high tech, it's unreal. I should learn too right." There.

"Yes, I'll teach you." He took a big swig of Orange juice.

"Thank you, also I want get in the gym, learn how to fight." I definitely down played my experience.

"Sure." He had a knowing smirk on his face when he said that. A sort of a smirk one gives when he a secret that others didn't. I wondered if my dad or Macey told him about my three stripes black belt.

"You know the cots downstairs; why don't you just build more houses?" I wondered that when I went down stairs. I'm sure people needed their privacy.

"A lot of money. It's not just housing, it's plumbing, electricity and more resources are needed. Also, it's rare for someone to end up there and if they it's only temporary." He made perfect sense.

He and his team finished quickly, before everyone else. The line was still going. My heart picked up knowing he was leaving again. We finally were able to talk in neutral ground. He wasn't avoiding me or I wasn't jet legged.

 To my surprise he told his team to go, that he and Aaron would meet them later. He waited until I finished, which I did very quickly. Then he took me around towards the back of the hall. 

It was a huge space but I did notice the row of elderly men and women. Their benches had backs and the seats were lined with cushions.

His hand found its way to the small of my back again, guiding me past the thorns of people. I had a hard to trying to keep my smile at bay when I heard OH GODDESS he's with a GIRL. 

Like they have never seen him a girl before. I liked that idea. When we finally reached the back table, he introduced me to the elders. They were Oceans' grandfathers' friends. 

They were being served by a young lady. She had medium length brown hair and light brown eyes. She bowed her head at Ocean. 

A lot of people did that when he walked past. While we were speaking to them, I could feel her eyes on me. She would look away quickly when I moved.

She had a crush on Ocean.

Who wouldn't?

He unbelievably handsome. As long the feelings weren't mutual I could live with that. An Alpha must think rationally. 

My dad's voice floated through when I need it the most. I didn't raise any concerns about it when we headed outside with Macey and Aaron.

"Are you coming here for dinner?" I wondered because I wanted to do something for him. Show my appreciation for his kindness. Well, he was an ass yesterday but he's learning.

"Yes of course, they will drop off the food so I'll be there." He looked at his watch and I knew it was time.

"Okay, I'll be up this time." He didn't smile but looked relaxed. We stood there awkwardly contemplating on whether to hug or kiss. Instead I just told him to "Go."

He looked conflicted. After a couple of deep breaths, he engulfed me in a soft hug and planted a kiss on my forehead before I left with Aaron. I was stunned by his public display of affection. 

The jumped down from the balcony and landed right in front of the first floor's main gate. I didn't know why they needed to do that when there was a perfectly fine ramp right next to us. 

Before disappearing into the snow covered trees, he looked back and then he was gone.

I went back inside to find the line had finally dwindled down. The girl was watching from the kitchen window next to the ramp. I didn't her eyes on my mate. Where was her mate? Until Ocean tells me there's nothing between them, I wouldn't be alright. I planned on asking him at dinner.

I had an idea.

I found Livia sitting with Steven.

"Livia, I need a small favour."

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What do you think she's up to now? How are you guys liking their relationship? Next 2 chapters are crucial to the story line. So stay tuned.