Austin was trying to talk to his dad who was currently surrounded by the whole pack,without getting interrupted by his clingy girlfriend's constant messages.They were waiting for the arrival of someone who would inevitably change all their fates.No one from this pack was immune to this.

Outside the mansion loud cheers went up.People started rushing out of the mansion, unable to wait for the guest to come in.This person couldn't be called a 'guest' rather should be the called the contrary.

The search party had returned after nearly sixteen years.Consisting of five hand picked warriors led by the Gamma and his wife,they were sent to search for the Alpha's daughter who had been lost in the fire during the war. They had promised not to return until they found her, no matter how long it would take.Austin didn't know if they were strong willed or just plain stupid.She could be dead for all they knew.

Austin motioned the people in front of him to move aside.He started walking towards his father but stopped dead in his tracks,his eyes wide.He felt delicious shivers run down his spine.He felt a strong urge to turn back. His wolf was unsettled and jumping all around the place.Austin turned to around to find the search party making way for a brunette. His eyes stopped their searching when they fell on her.

"Mate." he whispered before he could stop himself as soon as she locked eyes with him.

Elaine walked through the crowd scanning the crowd for any danger.She had been on the edge since she entered the mansion.However,she couldn't sense any danger which puzzled her.Elaine stopped scanning which her gaze fell on a raven haired guy.She heard a barely audible "Mate".

His hair was pulled into a quiff and his eyes were a brilliant blue. His sharp jaw was clenched and his aristocratic nose high up in the air.Talk about pride!

'Mate? He is my mate? Great! Just what I needed!Please note the high levels of sarcasm here.'Elaine thought looking away.

"Elena!" an old man cried coming towards her.Elaine looked around to find 'Elena' but when she realized he was walking towards her,she pointed towards herself,raising an elegant eyebrow and he nodded.

"Elaine" she corrected exasperated,she didn't have the time for this.

" I'm Elliot, the Alpha of this pack. " the man replied, ignoring her previous statement and started telling her about how strong willed the party was as it searched for her.

Elaine could feel her mate's stare on the back of her head.

"Meet my son, Austin" the man said noticing that Elaine wasn't paying any attention.

Elliot was pointing towards her mate. He came forward and uttered an awkward "Nice to meet you".The kind that are forced by a mother out of a child at a guest's house.

'His voice is nice..the heck is wrong with you? Concentrate on the task' she quickly reprimanded herself.

She simply nodded her head.

"You don't speak much, do you?" Elaine heard a lady say.

"My wife, Aurora." Elliot said gesturing to the lady.

This lady was tall and clearly a beauty.Not the pleasant kind of beauty but the edgy kind of beauty.She had long red hair and sharp dark eyes.Eyes trained to look only for faults.Something about Aurora's aura unsettled Elaine and irked her.It felt different and she instantly disliked this woman.

"You've met our son, meet our daughter Amity Blaze" she said,her voice smooth devoid of any emotion.

A black haired girl with blue highlights came forward.

"Hello Elaine." Amity said offering her hand with a small smile on her face.

"Hey." Elaine replied shaking her hand.

Amity seemed like a person who would always look happy and detached.It would be hard to say which side they belonged to or what they thought of others.They would never reveal much about them self either and it would be hard to know what is going on in their heads, Elaine observed.

"You're gonna be staying with us Helen.God knows, what you've been through but don't worry you will be treated as one of us from now on." Aurora said with disdain,dragging her eyes slowly over Elaine.

"Elaine.My name is Elaine and I haven't exactly been living in rags under a bridge." Elaine gritted out her eyes burning dangerously.Aurora instantly took a step back.

"Oh! You know you were orphaned and I expected you to..."Aurora trailed trying to mask the embarrassment.

"It doesn't matter."Elaine cut her off and turned towards Elliot.

Aurora smiled awkwardly looking slightly taken aback.

"Mr.Alpha..."Elaine started, "I really appreciate all the searching but..."

"Amity, escort her to the mansion.Austin, you go along too in Elaine's car." the Alpha said cutting Elaine off.

Amity nodded and grabbed Elaine's arm.

"Let me go!!!" Elaine yelled, breaking Amity's hold.

She was unable to reign her temper any longer.She had enough of being pushed around like a rag doll.

"Is anybody here even listening to me? Listen Alpha, I have some other work to do.Thanks for searching for me and all but just because you found me doesn't mean I want to be here!"Elaine screamed.Being treated as a precious princess wasn't helping her case either.

The alpha looked bitter."You will stay here no matter what!There are packs out there trying to kill you! We brought you here to protect you! So you won't be leaving anytime soon.Is that understood?"He spoke in his most authoritative voice.

What was it that the girl had to do, The Alpha couldn't understand and he didn't want to either.He had finally found her and wasn't planning on letting her go anytime soon.He had a promise to keep after all.

Amity spoke up, trying to ease the tension,"Let's get you home.A hot bath would do you some good, perhaps."Her hold on Elaine was tight and unyielding.

Reluctantly, Elaine let Amity drag her away.She realized that the Alpha wouldn't let her go and she had to find another way out.Austin kept sending Elaine incomprehensible looks which she stubbornly ignored.Amity led Elaine to her car.Her Audi R8 was waiting loyally for it's rightful owner.Austin drove her car while they sat at the back.They drove her to their mansion in utter silence to which Elaine was grateful.Petty talk never appealed to her.If silence was being broken then it should be for a reason,she believed.

"We'll get your car and luggage later."Amity said as she walked towards the mansion.

Elaine got down the car and started walking towards the mansion.She was deep in her thoughts when Austin pulled her back all of a sudden.

Instinctively, her hand went her belt to pull out a gun she didn't posses.Her hand dropped realizing this.A movement which didn't go unnoticed by Austin.

"I would rather you tell no one.Though I suppose you weren't planning on telling."He stated rather than asking,referring to their mate bond.

"You're right.I have no intention of complicating things further."Elaine replied offhandedly.

If her dismissal had affected him he didn't show it.He merely nodded, satisfied and let go of her arm.Elaine turned back and headed inside the mansion.

Hope gives rise to happiness but also to pain.Elaine had no hope for salvation in a mate.What she couldn't draw from herself couldn't miraculously be drawn by someone else or so she believed.Elaine was a fighter and felt to be in her element when fighting.Emotions weren't her cup of tea .She didn't feel any requirement for a mate.However,Delancy was different.She was her friend and supporter.Someone who would cheer for her from the sidelines but doesn't play her game for her.Mates take part in your game and Elaine didn't like it.

"Helen,was it?"he asked, showing her the car keys..

"Elaine" she replied turning back and extending her palm.

"Helain?"he asked clearly trying to irk her and jingling her keys.

"It's Elaine."She replied not bothering to hide the irritation and pushed her palm further.

"What was that?"he asked yet again, tossing the keys and catching it again.

"E.L.A.I.N.E"she glared and walked towards him.

"I'm gonna call you.."He paused ,thinking for a while,"Helain."

"It doesn't matter since I won't reply no matter what you call me anyway."She said grabbing her keys and turning back.

The house was bare with minimum furniture and mint colored walls.Amity came back holding a set of clothes along with a candy bar.Elaine's eyes went to the candy bar and she realized that she hadn't eaten anything since morning.

"If you need anything,do tell me without any hesitation.Please understand having you among us again after all these years made my father very protective of you.So please don't think too bad about him." Amity spoke earnestly.

"Thank you."Elaine replied keeping her face neutral, not letting her thoughts show on her face.

Being protected is not a feeling she wanted to get used to.She wouldn't ever forget what made her what she is today nor would she ever forget who stood by her side.

"I'll leave you to change."she said putting the clothes on the bed and walked out,softly closing the door.

Elaine set aside the clothes and scanned the room.It was a beautiful room, well furnished with the walls a dark magenta color.There was one window overlooking the forest.A queen-sized bed with clean white sheets and a dark blue comforter on it, one side and a simple desk along with a chair on the other side.Her back pack was already on the bed.She opened it to find her things untouched.

Elaine slowly walked towards the window and glanced out. She noticed a shadow jump away.Elaine passed it off as a curious guard and closed the window locking it securely and then drew the curtains together.She quickly changed and went to bed.She had work to be done.

A/N:

Hey it's Aysel! I hope you like it so far. please vote,comment and share!

Hello everybody!This is Ailsa. Like Aysel said,We hope that you like it so far.Let us know what you think in the comments below.(And yes,We will respond to each and every comment )So,Vote ,Comment and Share!!

Hellow everyone! It's Aysel! So sorry for the slow snail pace!.Life and college are draining us off all our energy and time.Please bear with us.Finally done with the fourth chapter! Please let us know what you think!