After scrubbing his scent off of me, I quickly threw on one of the dresses from the closet. In the midst of stepping into the maroon dress, the door to the bedroom burst open, and I hastily pulled the dress down my body.

"Don't you know how to knock?" I asked angrily knowing he saw me in my underwear for that split second.

His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at me. Those ocean blues were darker than before, he slinked into my room, conspicuously, his presence exuding dominance. Ignoring my question was answer enough to let me know he didn't need permission to enter his house. He glared at the maroon dress that I was wearing as if it would change what it actually was. He eyes gleamed looking at the low neckline and the small slit it had by the chest, his eyes moving further downwards, examining the plain maroon dress I wore that flared at my waistline.

But I knew what had caught his attention and what was really bothering him. The dark sultry red colour of the dress; maroon; the sigil colour of the Soren community. It was the dress that I had came with, now washed and returned to me. One of the few things I had from my home. He sighed.

"Chance of plans," he said bringing me back to reality, "we're going to my office in the pack house to sign the contract. Alpha Soren will be there to sign in person."

I looked up at him, hope tangible in my eyes but suspicion still circulating.

"Why?" I asked curiously.

"We have to make preparations early for a mating ceremony rather than the marriage ceremony," he answered.

"So we're telling him now?" I questioned. He nodded at me.

"But what about your father?" I said querying.

"I'm the Alpha of this pack, I'm the one binding the contract. There's nothing he could possibly do at this point after he signed the contract."

"So you tell him after the contract? Wouldn't he feel deceived?" I asked without a filter, something I had no business asking this stranger.

He glared slightly at me, "it's better to tell him the truth. He'll be angry, but he doesn't have the resources to act on them. This is my pack now. It has been for a while."

I stood there, completely shameless that I found him at this moment attractive. I swallowed it down immediately after realizing it's inappropriateness.

"Let's go." He commanded, "he's arrived."

I quickly shoved on some sandals and followed him out the door, exiting the house to gaze at the greenery outside. The jeans that he wore fit him well, displaying his strong thighs. And the dress shirt he wore, clasped onto his chorded arms and strong chest in an impressive show. We entered the black SUV that had been parked in the driveway. I looked out the window immediately to lessen the fact that he was mere inches away from me. I breathed in deeply. A horrific mistake. His deep masculine scent filled my lungs with its tantalizing dominance. At this point I felt like I was going crazy. Our scents mingling from the cool air the car's air conditioner blew.

He drove for about fifteen minutes before we arrived at the pack house that was bustling with people, and for some god unknown reason, nervousness planted itself deep inside my stomach and began to grow with each passing second.
My door was opened by a Warrior I recognized to be of Delta status. I exited the car with the Delta shielding me away from the wolves' eyes.

He came up to my side and said lowly into my ear, "Your new Delta."

I let out a small growl, to which he glared at me. The crowd stared at us now as we began to enter the building, I shifted slightly towards him unconsciously seeking protection from the prying, judging eyes. I felt his hand hovering over the small of my back, before he guided me with the instruction of his hand that was now placed firmly on me. His warm touch diffused through the thin fabric of the dress, my attraction growing even further before I scolded myself internally. As we reached the office, the Delta stopped and stood at the side of the door, opening it for us and closing it behind us, staying outside. The Alpha ushered me inside, his hand still on the small of my back before he quickly removed it.

As soon as I saw my uncle, a smile formed on my face. He quickly got up to greet me.

"Mia!" He greeted wholeheartedly, pulling me into a loving embrace. I wrapped my arms around him and closed my eyes. I felt my eyes gloss over underneath my eyelids.

"Keep your eyes close, don't let them see we're linking. The Alpha and I are mates. I found out this morning when I felt my wolf reach maturation. Which means that today is actually my twenty first birthday. We haven't told Lennox as yet, so please look over the contract and make sure it is appropriate for us being mates." I rushed out in the privacy of our family's mind link before retracting from him so it didn't look suspicious.

"It's so great to see you, I miss everyone." I told him, acting normal as if I didn't just blurt out everything through the link.

"It's great to see you as well," he smiled, playing along, "everyone at home misses you as well."

I looked at Lennox who was behind the desk, analyzing our exchange, my peripherals see his son twitch beside me. It should be him behind the desk but nevertheless he did nothing, after all it is Lennox's deal. I noticed there were two men next to Lennox. One was dressed in a sharp grey suit and stood to right of Lennox and the other was more casually dressed and stood by his left. It was easily recognizable that the man to the left was his Delta warrior. I could also make out some familiar warriors from my pack and the Soren member from the council beside my uncle. At that point I could only assume the man to the right of Lennox was their guy in the council as well. The amount of dominance in the room was tangible and suffocating to say the least. The mood plummeting from the joy of reunion to seriousness and hostility.

"Now that everyone's here," Lennox began, gesturing to the large stack of paper on the desk, "Alpha Aaron and I have gone through the contract and we're prepared to signed. I have Councilor Knight with us as witness,"

"I have Councilor Soren as witness and were prepared to sign," my uncle responded.

It was a large stack of paper and I'm sure that his readiness to sign was his signal and reassurance that I will be safe and protected here. Beside me was the actual alpha of this pack who I know was angry that he has no say in this. But he did get what he wanted, his true mate.

I watched as my uncle and this egotistical man first signed the contract, before ushering us to sign. After which the Councilors signed as witness. It was done, the deal was official and binding. The Soren's debt had been paid and so the Knight's could not attack them. The contract for peace had been put in place.

"Father," the deep baritone voice of my mate reverberated across the room, "there is one last thing."

I turned towards him quickly, and tucked myself under his arm, placing my hand against his chest and with a large smile plastered on my face, I blurted out, "we're mates." I felt him stiffen and tense under my touch. My body tingling from the heat and sweet touch of his body, I felt like I was on fire and I never wanted to let go. The thing that burned me the most was the question as to why I was acting like we were a couple. I saw my uncle's eyes twinkle slightly. An action whose meaning I had familiarized myself with. I'm just playing my part, doing what I must.

Lennox looked towards his son, his eyes closing in the action of his son's arm that wound around my waist before narrowing to his son's face, "It's true," he said simply.

There was still a small smile I was struggling to keep on my face, I think it was to fool Lennox and my uncle that I was happy with the arrangement and to strengthen the idea that I was to aid in bringing peace between us. But I think I just did what I did to distract Lennox of the fact that today was actually my birthday and the fact that my family had lied. I could see realization dawn on my uncle as he looked between us. I don't know if it was a show or he had truly figured it out but I was too scared to question anything.

"I suspected it when the two of you walked in here," he began quietly, "but that would mean that the Soren's lied about your birthday."

I could see his eyes gloss over silently and I felt my mate tense even more under my touch. After about a minute, they both exited the linking phase.

"The contract has already been signed, and the Soren's have contributed their part to make peace. As my son's mate, welcome to the pack," he said calmly to me.

I just nodded in acknowledgment before looking towards my uncle, trying to make myself feel better.

"You're welcome to stay for the rest of the day," I heard the Alpha that I was still attached to, say.

"The ceremony will be changed to a mating ceremony," Everyone nodded in acknowledgment.

My uncle got up, a smile on his face, I removed my hand from my mate's chest, his arm still hooked on my waist tightly. He extended his arm to shake the Alpha Knight's free hand next to me.

"That's fine, I'll be on my way, my pack needs me."

Upon hearing that, my heart sank to the floor, I missed my family and place in the pack dearly. I unhooked the hand from my waist unconsciously and hugged my uncle once more.

"Amelia, walk me out would you?" My uncle asked.

I nodded quickly, following him out.

"Have they been treating you well?" He asked.

"It's not as diplomatic as it should be right now, they don't like Sorens. You can't blame them, we don't like Knights either but we're getting somewhere. I'm not allowed to let my wolf out until the mating ceremony and I feel like I'm going crazy," I explained on our walk out the house. I knew the Delta that stayed behind was now following me.

"Stay close to your mate to soothe your wolf until the mating ceremony. You know it's dangerous to shift in a pack that you're not apart of," he scolded.

"I know," I said displeased.

"Is there anything you want me to bring on Sunday at the ceremony?" He asked trying to bring my spirits up as he stopped at the doorway to leave me.

"Just ask mom, she'll know what I want," I say glumly.

"Okay, I will," he said before giving me a kiss on my cheek, his fingers digging deeply in my shoulders .
The warriors he came with, my friends, were silent as they embraced me, knowing this would be the final time they'd see me as a Soren. I smiled weakly at then.

I heard him growl lowly, as I felt his dominant presence approaching us. His arm coiled around my waist and pulled me into his side. I looked up at him surprised and slightly worried. He turned to me and says lowly, "you're not allowed to touch unmated wolves before the ceremony"

I nodded in understanding and turned to my warriors and wished them a safe trip back. They all shifted into their wolves, running into the hearth of the forest, the wolves surrounding the Alpha as the ran.

He dropped his arm from my waist and I let out a silent breath that I was holding.
"Let's get back, you're not supposed to be outside the den before the ceremony," he said as he walked towards the car. I followed him, the Delta opening the door for me to enter the car. On the way back I couldn't help but to think of what the ceremony would bring and mean and what duties I'd have afterwards. It scared me and it was approaching so soon. And the strong Alpha that sat beside me, driving the car, did nothing to quell my worry.