Two days had passed since my meeting with Dr. Dixon and it was currently Saturday. He called me back yesterday, telling me that his Alpha had accepted my requests and that he was waiting for me as soon as possible. Agreeing that we couldn't afford to lose addictional time, I arranged with Dr. Dixon that my transfer in his pack would be taking place today.

I was currently packing my bags. I decided to not bring too many things with me as I was going on a work trip and not on holiday, and in the event that I would forget something essential I was working in the city three days a week, so it would be quite easy for me to retrieve them.

I had talked with the head of my department, Dr. Jones (that ass), to inform him that due to personal reasons I would have to cut short the number of my shifts during the week. Despite his dislike towards me ( just because I had put him in his place after my graduation as I had promised nurse Nellie), he granted me the authorisation, seen as I hadn't taken holiday's permissions in more than a year, but he made me promise that I had to take at least three shifts out of my ordinary six for week. That was my plan since the start.

Closing my last suitcase, I thoughtfully sat on the floor. My skin was covered by a light layer of sweat, glistening in the rays coming from my bedroom's windows. Despite my current state of undress, I still managed to sweat.
Ugh.

I checked my watch to see if I had enough time to shower before leaving and I gladly discovered that I had. It was 1.00 pm. Perfect.

I had to meet with Dixon at 3.00 pm at a gas station on the way to his pack, at about an hour of driving from here. Then, I would follow him until we reached our destination.

The stream of water relaxed my muscles and helped my body to cool down a bit. I decided to let my hair dry naturally as I didn't have the time to style them propelly. Putting on a pair of skinny black trousers and a white bluse, I grabbed my black long coat: Spring was coming, but the air was still quite chilly, despite my high tolerance to cold temperatures due to my werewolf heat. Grabbing my two suitcases I walked towards the door, but before exiting I turned to cast a last glance at my loft: it has been my den for four years, my safe heaven, and now I was leaving it to go live among a bunch of asshole wolves. My beast looked at our den in longing, before turning and pulling me out of here; she had a strange hitch to reach the territory of the Silverblood pack as soon as possible. Once I reached the parking lot I loaded my baggages on the back of my Mini Cooper, before turning the ignition on and taking off.

It took me one hour sharp to get to the gas station Dixon told me about and I was pleasently surprised to see that he was already here, despite it being a quarter to three pm. Well, doctor werewolf has just gained some points with me: I love early people. Parking my car next to his, I hopped off to stretch my legs a bit.

"Dr. Dixon" I greeted him and nodded in his direction.

" Dr. Crawford, good afternoon. Now that you are helping me and I am in a great debt with you, please call me Robert. I hope you didn't have an hard time founding this place. Would you like to rest a bit before proceding with the trip? It will take about 30 still more minutes to reach the pack borders and then another 20 to reach the pack house.."

I mentally counted that the trip from the pack to my hospital in Seattle would take about an hour and half, more or less. I could manage such distance.

" That's fine by me. A coffee would never hurt. Would you like to join me Robert?" I smiled at him.

"With pleasure."

After having placed our order we sat in an available place in the small coffee shop the gas station provided.

An awkard silence setted between us while waiting for our coffees, so I decided to clear my throat and started talking.

"So Robert..what do I have to expect from your Alpha and your pack?"

He was grateful at my attempt at getting to know his pack, I could read it in his eyes.

" Well, Alpha Hercules is a very great leader..he is a stern man and a little closed off, but he loves his pack and provides us with everything we need. He never failed to protect his land and his people..in fact he has quite the reputation among the wolves..you never heard of him?"

I shook my head no. I have never wanted to get involved with other werewolves, so I never paid attention to anything regarding them.

"I suppose not." He sighed. " He has never lost a fight and his immunity to silver has made him famous among our kind. I can definetly tell that he is feared by almost everyone out there. The Silverblood pack isn't the biggest one there is, but is one of the strongest, if not the strongest itself. We train since young years of age and our warriors are always required by other packs to help them resolving issues. We have about three houndred werewolves, there are packs that reach one thousand of members, but we are very close to each other. It's like we are a big family: everyone treats the others equally. Our pack fonds itself on respect, justice, strenght and courage. I think you will be accepted immediatly by the pack members, the more since you will help save one of them."

I scoffed. I doubted that they would accept me so easily: the moment they knew about my past they would start calling me an abomination and things like that. I just knew it. Anyway, I tried to hide my anger and I kept a straight face.

"Well, that's interesting. However don't think for a second that I would ever consider to join your pack: the moment my work is done I'm out of there."

He looked a bit sad, but nodded nontheless. Before he could answer my affermation, the waitress brought us our coffee and we stayed in silence sipping them, both of us lost in our toughts.

"Well, whenever you want I'm ready to leave" he concluded, passing his right hand trought his salt and pepper hair.

"Wait. If we are going to work together I want to know a bit about you Robert. I think it's my right to know, seeing as you have done your own research on me."

He smiled softly and then nodded his head once again.

"You are right. Well, I'm 52 and I have been the pack doctor since my father died 27 years ago. I followed his steps. I have a loving mate at home waiting for me and also two beautiful daughters. Sometimes they are a pain in the ass, you know how you girls are during your teenagers years.. but I love my family with all my heart, I wouldn't trade them with anything else in the world." While he was talking about his family I could feel pride and love erupting from his voice. He was speaking the truth when he said that he would never trade them. A pang of hurt erupted in my chest and my wolf whined sadly in my mind: we wanted someone to love us like this, but we accepted our fate made of lonliness and empty feelings long time ago. I shook that feelings out of my soul, it wasn't the right time to commiserate on my unfair destiny.

" I am happy for you. I would like to meet them one day" I told him smiling slightly.

"Of course. And what about you? Have you found your mate?" he asked me.

Mate? Me? For fuck's sake, I don't have a mate.

"No, I don't have one." I cut shortly, glancing outside the window.

"That's not right. Every wolf has got a mate, maybe you haven't met him or her yet.."

"Robert, you forgot that I am not like you. I was made, not born, I can't possibly have a mate. Better this way, I can live my life as I please."

He wanted to reply, but I let out my powerful aura just enough to let him shut his mouth, drop the subject and show his neck in submission. Good boy.

"Well, if you are, I'm ready to go." I said to him getting up from our spot. I walked towards a dustbin to throw my empty cup and before exiting the shop I made sure he was following me.

Once we reached our cars, we hopped in without saying anything else. I waited for him to lead the way and soon I began following him.

We reached the pack borders in 30 minutes as promised and Robert slowed down till he stopped completely. I followed his actions, but I was curious about the reason why we had to stop at the beginning of the woods. Suddendly, two figures exited from the trees and approcched Dixon's car. I stiffened , ready to bounce out of the car and fight when I saw Robert roll down his car window and start talking to the male. The female was staring straight at me and I wanted to show her my fangs, but I decided to behave myself and I stayed still, trying to understand what was going on. The male glanced briefly at me before nodding at Dixon, then he and the female retreated themselves in the green of the woods. Dixon took off once again and I followed suit.

When we entered the pack territory my nervousness increased: my heartbeat was fast and I was sweating from my hands. My beast too was acting strange: she was pacing back and forth, wigging her tail and barking loudly. I paid no mind to her strange behavior, I tought she was nervous of meeting other shifters, seeing as our first and last experience with a pack went years prior.

I tried to distract myself by looking at my surroudings: plush green trees were visible from the car and if I concentrated enough it was possible to listen to the faint sound of water flowing. These woods were truly beautiful, more than the ones which surrounded Seattle. They seamed also full of life and I licked my lips thinking about all of the huntings me and my beast would do. In the distance I could discern the outcomes of a big house, which I immediatly indentified as the pack house. It was truly enormous. It was a mansion which integrate itself perfectly in the forest, despite its modern style. It was a mixture of wood, glass and wall: perfectly chic, but at the same time it seemed cozy, homey.

Robert stopped his car and I parked mine next to his, finally having a full vision of my surroundings. While I was eyeing the beautiful mansion I didn't catch something very important: the crowd that was gathered in front of it. There were at least twenty people out there, arranged in a semi-circle in the middle of which stood a very tall man, who I supposed was the infamous Alpha of this pack. Great, I absolutely needed the audience for my arrival. I scoffed in annoyance and waited for Robert to exit the car before exiting myself.

The clear smell of the woods reached my nose and I inhaled deeply, but soon after another scent replaced the one coming from the trees.

It was intoxicating.

Chocolate and spices engoulfed my senses till I couldn't smell anything else. It was so strong that I felt myself nearly suffocate, but I couldn't stop sniffing it. It was like a drug. The aftertaste of cinnamon and anise intoxicated me more as I inhaled deeply once again to let this marvellous scent coat every pore of my body. My wolf was going mad in my head, rolling on her belly, wiggling her tail and barking happily, but I didn't pay her attention because I was too engulfed in this overwelming scent. I needed to know where it came from and, whatever the source was, I had the sudden deep desire to make it mine. I closed my eyes to focus on the trail of this mouthwatering smell and I slowly began to follow it, until it grew stronger and stronger and I stopped myself. I was sure of having found the source. A small smile appeared on my lips as I snapped my eyes open to discover what it was, but when I casted my glance on it I froze, because the source wasn't a thing. It was a man. A disarming handsome man.

Long, muscled legs were clad in tight fitting dark jeans. His large chest was dressed in a white shirt that didn't do anything to cover the prominent outlines of his muscled abdomen and his narrow hips. Broad shoulders were displayed in a strong and fierce posture, reeking of power. His strong arms were crossed on his chest, showing the bulging muscles beneath the skin; the sleeves of his shirt were rolled on, showcasing his toned forearms and his tanned complection. His neck was big and firm, supporting the most beautiful face I had ever seen: a sharp jawline that could cut into your skin as it was butter, plump, full lips that seemed to pray me to be kissed, a strong, straight nose engulfed by high and prominent cheekbones and unruly silky and slightly curled black raven hair that were cut shorter at the sides, but longer in the center. A few strands were fallen on his forehead and my hand twiched to touch them, to feel their silkness between my fingers. Then my gaze focused on his eyes and I found out that he was shamelessly staring right back at me; I blushed slightly, suddently aware of his heated glance on my skin.

Our eyes met and I found myself lost in the depth of his gaze; deep blue ponds burning with such intensity that shocked me. His eyes were like the ocean, blue, deep, enchanting and incredibly beautiful. Specks of gold adorned his iris and long black lashes were casted upon those mesmerizing cobalt eyes of his. While our eyes were locked together in a game of stares, his pupils widened slightly and suddenly his lips turned upwards in a breathtaking smile, showcasing a perfect set of pearly white teeth.

Why was he smiling? I had something on my face?

Before I could go on interrogating myself, he spoke. The word that exited his mouth in a deep velvety voice brought me and my wolf out of our trance and let the reality set in.

"Mate."
—
Well, damn. It seems someone just found her "inexistent" mate...
What do you think about that? Is he hot enough for your liking??
Keep reading to know what will happen next!! Will Lara accept the bond or will she reject that hottie?