What. The.

Is this really happening? Who is this guy? Why didn't I see him at the party? Oh goddess, I'm becoming Greg wondering about rejection... and my Alpha and brother are here, not to mention my best friends new mate... wow this is what it was like in Gregs head... Get it together Mila!

As if sensing my anxiety sky rocket, the Alpha gently puts his hand on my cheek while leaning his forehead on mine with a small reassuring smile. If I had any doubt, these tingles start where we're touching. His eyes show relief and happiness. And I feel the same, I feel like I'm in a trance until Alpha Dave clears his throat.

"I see you have found your mate Mila." He says with a grin, which I return. I look over to my brother who looks a bit conflicted... oh no...

"What are your intentions with my sister, Alpha Derek?" Steve asks firmly while remaining respectful. Believe me, disrespected Alphas aren't pleasant.

"Well... my intentions are to talk to my newly found mate and ask her to come join me back at my pack. As I'd very much like to have my Luna by my side." Alpha Derek replies with a lot of authority, I wonder if it will even be my choice...

Watching my brother and my mate stare each other down, I step in before it can become an unnecessary fight. "Guys, I'm a big girl and can make my own choices. So if you're both done staring into each others eyes like long lost lovers-" I state eyeing them both to make my point.
"-I'd like to go back and maybe get to know more about my mate first."

Both Steve and Derek look at me, back at each other then back to me before nodding. Both realising they were trying to make this choice for me before actually asking what I wanted.

Derek wanting his mate with him and Steve wanting to be able to watch over me.

We all go back to the pack house, the party over with and most are in their own houses or rooms by now.

***********
Dereks POV

Once in the pack house Alpha Dave tells me that my mate and I can speak privately there for as long as we need.

Once in, I shut the door behind me and turn to look at my mate slowly. Shes stunning, to say the least. Brown hair half way down her back, chocolate eyes that see into your soul.

I clear my throat feeling a bit nervous. "So, perhaps we can start again..." I say rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm Alpha Derek of the Blood Moon Pack. We're just next to yours, in California." I say while extending my hand out to her.

She looks like she's unsure for a second before she shakes my hand strongly saying. "I'm Mila, A warrior for the Silver Moom pack and sister to Beta Steve."

"So that's why you took that rogue down so easily."

"Yeah, I've trained most days of the week since I was 16..." she says trailing off. "Why were you and Beta Chris there too by the way? If you don't mind me asking."

"I was discussing things with Alpha Dave when he got your mind link, my wolf urged me to follow him. So, we called our Betas with us and ran towards you. We got there just as you had the rogue pinned."

"Oh... right.. ok then." She looks like she wants to say more yet she doesn't.

"You know you can say anything to me. I want us to get to know each other." I try reassuring her.

She looks like she's having an internal battle when she takes a deep breath and asks. "Do you plan on making me go back with you?"

I'm stunned for a second before I remember her brother and I earlier... "No! No, I would never force you to do something you didn't want to. I just..." I sigh, feeling a bit stupid. "I waited years to find you Mila. I'm 22 and I don't want to lose you when I just got you is all... if you really don't want to join me then I'll wait if it's what you want." Though now I can help feeling like part of me just broke inside offering that.

She listened to me intently while I explained and a look of satisfaction passed her face, it makes me a bit uneasy since I'm not sure if she is happy with my response or happy because she can stay if she wants.

"Thank you for not forcing me. Can you let me sleep on it please? I'm close with my family and I want to at least talk to them first..." she trails off in thought before taking a deep breath, calming her nerves.

"It's okay, Mila. I'm close with my family too."

"No, it's more than that for us. Four years ago... our pack had hunters come in..." she stops to take in a slow breath.

"My little brother Rory and I were in a clearing near by. He had only just shifted, so I was helping him get used to it and play fighting together. After a while we stopped to rest until two men walked into the clearing. I was still too young to begin training so we were easy targets in their eyes..." tears form in her eyes, reliving the moment. I hold her hand and walk her to the couch before she continues.

"Turns out, they had guns that were loaded with what we later learnt were silver bullets coated with wolfs bane. It all happened so quickly, I tried to protect my brother by placing him behind me. But they both drew their guns on us, I remember feeling determined anger to protect Rory and even managed to get lucky that one of the hunters guns jammed."

She stops and just stares ahead for a minute while she calms her breathing. I don't think she's even aware hiw tightly she's holding my hand.

"I shifted, charging at one to keep the attention on me. But while I took him down, I hadn't realised my brother tried to do the same to the other hunter. The sound of his gun firing made my heart stop, seeing Rory fall the ground. The hunter and I seemed to both share pained expressions at seeing who we lost. Rory had managed to injure him though, I always hoped he died slowly for what he did. In my grief, the hunter managed to get away."

By the end she has tears flowing endlessly while she tries to keep it together. I can't imagine the pain she must live with.

Without thinking twice I pull her onto my lap and hug her. For a moment she's shocked but then the damn she had kept in breaks and she's sobbing while gripping my shirt. We stay like that for a while, me rubbing her back while she cries into my chest. She slows down to the odd hiccup and pulls back to give me weak smile. "Thank you" she mumbles.

"I'd never make you leave your family. But I promise if you come with me you can see them whenever you want and they can visit as often as they like." I tell her while hugging her again, needing her close.

She looks at me gratefully before she starts to nod off in my arms. I stay there another couple minutes making sure she's asleep before I pick her up bridal style and walk her to her place.

*************

After knocking, her father answers the door with a small smile before showing me her room. After tucking her into her bed, I go to head back to the pack house before a voice stops me.

"I'm guessing you turned out to be her mate Alpha Derek." The strong voice of this packs previous Beta, George, says to me and smiling.

"Yeah, I am but I need to give her time. She's unsure if she wants to come with me or not George. And after her explaining why, I can understand..."

George looks surprised at first that she told me of their departed family member so quickly but he recovers.

"You need to understand she was the only one there that day, Steve and I were in another state and her mother had gone into town. She holds guilt for not protecting him but also feels this obligation to protect us, even if she's the youngest." He chuckles sadly. "I want her to go with you." He states after a few moments of silence. "When I've met you previously, you ran your pack well and she needs to move on with her life, start living it properly."

He sends me a reassuring smile before I thank him for the support and we say our good byes.

I end up in my room back at the pack house trying to fall asleep with the one question in my mind.

Will my mate come with me or is she going to turn me away?

----------------------------
Grammar edited 7/12/17

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