Naya's P.O.V.

The Pack House was barn style three story building. Snow covered the ground around it. Mountains on the far end zigzagged across the horizon. 

The tree tops danced along to the wind. There were numerous people outside. I felt over dressed in a hoodie and full length jeans. The land around the barn was flat with hardly any snow on it. 

Men and some women dressed in black shorts and tank tops formed a circle. Cheers and applause rang through in chorus.

"COME ON." A high pitched female cry tore through the other voices.

"YOU CAN DO IT."

"This is so embarrassing."

"Hit 'em low. HIT 'EM LOW."

They were all men.

My lips lifted at their savage enthusiasm. When we finally emerged from the trees and walked up the gravelly road, I found two people sparring in the middle, rolling around on ground. 

A tall female versus a large bulky male. On the other side of the barn, women huddled around in groups while children played in the playground.

It looked an extravagant tree house with swings, slides, grid ropes, bridges and tunnels. It was amazing. I wondered about school. It was the middle of the week. 

Kids and teenagers roamed freely around the ground. I guess it was the hub of the community. Some of them noticed us. The whispers started. I didn't want them to know about my foolish mistake I made yesterday. 

Put one of their pack members in danger. That was not a smart decision.

I was second guessing my decision to come out here.

Luckily, Aaron's dad was among the brawlers. His head snapped back to us as we moved forward. Macey made her way towards the 6 feet of a man with similar features to Aaron. Joshua stayed with me. His rifle seemed out of place.

"Macey- Naya oh goddess I heard." He looked ecstatic. A couple of people turned from the circle but everyone else was glued to what was going on in front of them. They kept on cheering.

"Steven, it's so good to see you." Macey was engulfed by a bear hug. She adored her mate's side of the family.

"Mr. Drakos, it's nice to see you again." I extended my hand forward.

"Oh come here." He pulled me into a hug- somewhat awkward form my part. "We're practically family."

"How are you? It's been a while." Macey stood on the side next to both of us.

"We're good. I've just been training those mutts. I wish I could say everything was all well and good but unfortunately it isn't." He stuck his hands into his shorts' pocket.

"I know. I'm sorry." I sent a silent prayer to the spirits about yesterday. Hopefully Ocean kept his words and didn't tell anybody.

"What are you guys doing here." He asked.

"I've hardly seen the main sectors and this is her first time here so we Joshua is giving us a tour." Macey explained.

"Joshua, when Ocean told me you're on security details I didn't know you were going to be with my son's mate." He didn't seem pleased with Joshua. His friendly smile morphed into a disapproving frown.

"Commander." Joshua on the other hand acted a little smug.

"SO, like she said. We couldn't wait to explore." I tried to get his attention back on anything but Joshua.

"Come, I'll introduce you to the people of your future pack." His smile was back on his face. It felt odd to hear that out loud. It sounded official. Butterflies filled my stomach.

The sparring carried on for a while so we decided to visit the Quarters first. One thing I noticed is that they didn't clear roads. We rounded the ring werewolves and into the woods once again.

 A couple of them turned with wondering eyes. I didn't know if they knew Ocean had found his mate. They didn't seem like a friendly bunch. 

The ones that noticed, motioned for others to stare. I'm sure -by their long silent eye contacts- they were communicating via their wolf link.

I would have done anything to know what they were saying.

It was a two-minute walk from the open ground. It was odd to see actual stone building blocks. I was getting used to the ethereal feel of wood being used everywhere. 

The quarters were typical military style but the programme was completely different. There were two two-story buildings and a long 1 story building. There was a basement attached to it.

According to Steven, the basement was the firing range. The hill near the mountains was where the long-distance gun range. He introduced us to some enforcers and guards in training. 

When he said, I was Ocean's mate they appeared shocked at first. Some lowered their head slightly, some only looked down and some looked sceptical.

The quarters were divided in to rooms big enough house four people at a time. Cosy twin bunk beds, wardrobes, tables, chairs and private showers. Steve mentioned there were 20 rooms in one and 10 in the other. 

I didn't understand why they needed this because everyone lived close anyways. When we were heading towards the gun range I asked Joshua about it, to which he answered, sometimes beginners got extremely exhausted so they could crash here. 

Other times if training exceeded past curfew -if there was an attack from hunters any time anywhere, a curfew is always placed- they could crash here.

 Even if they lived too far away, they could live here as long as they needed. Food was always available in their own Quarters and hot meals are always served at the Pack House.

Training was in full session when we entered one story long building. There were about 11 pairs of people practicpating hand to hand combat. The instructors were screaming out techniques they missed or should add. 

The various stench of sweat hit my nostrils. I wanted to gag. Everyone I entered the room with stepped back like it was a physical blow. We spoke to the coaches for a short period. 

I wanted to get in the gym myself. Practice some hand to hand combat. I didn't voice my desires out loud. I wanted to speak to Ocean first. It was his territory. I wasn't even a pack member yet.

The gun range fascinated me. The noise cancelling head phones, eye protectors, smell of gun powder and of guns surrounded the highly secure basement. 

Bullet proof glass divided every part. I didn't know anything about guns. Joshua looked like he was in a candy store. I held a Glock 19 in my hand. The heaviness of the object surprised me. A new experience I wanted to embrace.

By the time we re-entered the Pack House ground the little groups grew bigger. Couple of new ones formed. I welcomed the different new scents. A very familiar scent floated through the air among couple of others.

Oh shit.

I looked at Joshua like we were caught doing something we shouldn't. He gulped looking slightly scared. He might have issues with his Commander but I'm guessing he feared his Alpha. Macey grabbed my arm as we walked towards them. 

The whole team from yesterday was there talking to the people who were previously occupied by the fighting. facing away from us. An uncomfortable hush fell across the field. My mate turned his head.

My stomach dropped.

I realised how handsome he was. His back muscles stretched under the simple navy shirt. The tan cargo pants did nothing to take away from his strong silhouette. 

His hair looked slightly in disarray. A holster was attached to his hip. He turned with eyes blazing with fire.

If he embarrassed me in front of his whole pack, I was going to lay him out right there.

If only. I mentally scoffed.

I think everyone held their breath but it was then I realised his gaze kept adverting to poor Joshua. Shaking his head in mid stride, his face filled with concern when his eyes met mine. It puzzled me how I suddenly found him so attractive. My emotions went crazy when he gently put his hand on me.

"What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" He asked in concern. Warm hand wrapped itself around my upper arm like a band.

"Yes, we just wanted to look around." I explained. Understanding fill his expression.

"That's good. Come." He removed his hand from my arm and quickly sprawled it out on the small of my back guiding me towards the Pack House.

"I don't want anything official, I just wanted to see main sectors." He picked up on the panic in my voice.

"Don't be nervous." His hand moved up and down in soothing motion. I could feel the eyes on us from behind. I was not expecting this. "How about we go inside. I'll introduce you to some elder?" I nodded my head in affirmation. I everyone on the other side was pretending to mind their own business. I the voices picked back up. This time all the topic of conversation became about us apart from Aaron and his father. Macey was with them.

"I hope I didn't take away from anything serious." Deep down I knew this would happen. I knew word would get around that a stranger was walking around the ground and he would come. 

Instantly I felt guilty. A hunter trespassed yesterday and he was needed there. I shouldn't have used our mating pull to make him drop his work and come all the way over here. Alpha responsibilities were sacred; I shouldn't have interfered.

"We were coming to eat here anyways." He checked the watch on his wrist. It read 12:03. "I heard you were here, so I decided to come early." He guided me straight past the first floor, climbed up the little dip and back around again straight towards balcony that led to the entrance of the second floor. 

Before I could lift my hand to open the door he gave me the same look he did when I got out the car. Ohh, chivalry wasn't dead yet.

His hand remained glued to my back. The smell of delicious food hit my taste buds. 

This was a different pack custom. Rows and Rows of what looked like picnic benches were positioned vertically from the entrance to the back of the hall. 

Four thick wooden trunks acted as pillars for support near each corner. Fairy lights snaked itself around beams that supported the ceiling.

Some tendrils of wires hung off from the main line. It looked mesmerising specially with the gloomy day outside. The large windows on each end mirrored paintings I've seen before. 

Of trees and mountain tops covered in snow. I couldn't believe how picturesque this place was.

"You've met Livia, she runs this place along with Octavia, Lyon's mate. You've met Lyon. I'll introduce you to them." He guided me towards the long service line.

 Every head turned when we entered but Ocean ignored them. I spotted Livia just behind the open service station slotting in large buffet style pans in empty slots. 

Steve's voice got her attention. She had to do a double take before she finally realised I was standing there.

Dropping her pan crookedly in the slot she disappeared behind the cedar wall and marched out of the kitchen double doors. Her elegant poise appeared hurried as she came towards me. 

She wore a white apron with couple of red smears on it and a plastic hair net. She was a tall woman.

"If I had known you'd be his, mate I would have brought you home with me last year." She engulfed me in a tight hug. I knew she treated Ocean like her own Son because of Aaron. 

When he stayed over at my parent's place for Christmas, we had a long conversation about how different our customs were between the two packs. It was more like a rant from Aaron's part and a lending ear from mine. 

I remember him mentioning how his parents took Ocean in after his parents were killed. Helped him build this sanctuary and how much he hated not being within the security of these walls.

Unfortunately for him, he couldn't move back in straight away after Macey graduated last summer because they were building their house. So, they stayed in the city until December right before Christmas. 

Then after a week or so, Macey went to visit her parents and that's when everything blew up. He just couldn't take it anymore. For someone who grew up secluded in the woods, it was hard for him to adjust to the craziness of the city life.

"Livia, it's so nice to see you again." What did one say to that? My mate and I were on rocky terms already, I didn't to add fuel to the fire by making a sarcastic remark.

"I'm good honey, how are you? How's your mother doing?" They bonded quickly when Aaron's family came to visit. The Drakos family had a hard time adjusting to human culture that we were accustom to. However, my mother was from a semi secluded pack. 

The pack lived closed by to each other but followed normal human rules. Which included anything from school to jobs but their tight knit community kept some of the old rituals alive.

"She was crying; I've been avoiding her honestly because she will probably start crying again." I held on to my arms until then.

"Give me a moment dear." Livia walked over to her Mate, Son and Macey to greet them.

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This chapter is completely un-edited.  Don't forget to vote and comment. Thank you. x