Hunter
"Alpha, your mom requests your presence in the kitchen, sir. She wants your approval for the menu for the guests arriving today." one of my guards, Spencer says as I sit on my chair in front of my desk. I had been going through countless papers today, trying to get all my work done before my guests arrived.
I was incredibly nervous. My best friend, Alarick cleared his throat after he noticed I wasn't answering. I continued reading the document, lifting my finger for them to wait. I jotted down the last notes and cleared my throat. "Tell my mom to pick what she likes best. I'm not good with these things, she knows that. What about my sister, Lily? Has she gotten up already?" I asked my guard, making him sigh.
"No, Alpha. She hasn't come out of her room yet. She asked that we don't bother her today." he says, making me worried. My sister, Lilianne, or Lily for short, hasn't had it easy the last few years, she's been isolated from everyone, and cooped up in her room most days. I can't blame her, she was kidnapped by some idiot alphas who were working with rogues and were going to use her as a slave, not knowing she was my sister.
I had just returned from my alpha training months before, and Dad had just passed away while I was still training. They thought she was the alpha being she was older. They thought that by kidnapping her, our pack was left vulnerable and was going to be left without an alpha, but they were wrong. I had trained since a kid for my alpha position, plus the pain of losing my dad and the news of her kidnapping was fuel enough for me to go after them.
Boy did they regret ever messing with her? When I saw her... how they had tortured her, mistreated her... did things to her... I lost it.
I made sure they never saw daylight ever again, and I will be damn if I let someone else hurt her. I will not let her or anyone I care for get hurt like she did, ever again. This only makes me regret not being able to find someone very special to me. It broke me when she suddenly vanished without a word. To think that she may have gone through the same thing fills me with anger and worry.
Abigail Montero. She was my biggest crush when I was a teen, and she has never left my mind. I've looked for her all this time but with no luck. I've found a few clues, and have even gone to three different places where they said she may be working, but haven't had luck finding her.
True, I found my mate a few years back, her name was Leah. But she was a gold digger who was using her chosen mate for his money, all while trying to get into my best friend, Alarick's pants. I'd be damned if I ended with someone like her. But for the past two years, my mom has been pushing me to take a chosen mate. I don't get why she is so adamant about me taking a chosen mate, I guess she's just afraid I'll be alone forever. Plus, the pressure of having a new Luna substitute her after she's gone.
Girls from my neighboring pack where Abbie is from have been advancing on me, flirting and sending me signs since the day they heard my mother was pressuring me to take a chosen mate. Even Abbie's sister Tara. Goddess, I can't stand her. She's my age but hasn't found her mate either. I can't stand her though, she's so damn clingy. I had to restrict her from coming to my pack unless it was extremely important.
"Very well, Alpha, well do as you request."Spencer nods.
" Are the rooms ready for our guests?"
"Yes, Alpha. Uh, Luna Mandy asked that we place one of the guests in your quarters. She says.... It's your mate?" he says, making me groan. Geez, mom. I haven't even met the girl and you're already throwing her at me.
"No. I won't have that. Put her in a separate room, uh... the same floor, different room, got it?" I say, not wanting to scare the girl off before she even gets here.
"You got your hands busy, Hunt," Ricky says, making me scuff as I return to work. "Tell Aria to check on Lily, will you Spence? I should be done in a few more minutes. I'll be up to her room after work. Make sure she gets something to eat." I add, making him nod as he turns on his heel.
"So, Alpha Luke. He replied to your invitation, from what I can see." Ricky adds, making me chuckle as I nod in disbelief.
"Yup. I forgot to tell you what happened after you left. You'll never guess what happened, man. I was so fucking embarrassed with the guy." I say, remembering the day we met. "Oh, do tell," Ricky says, crossing his leg over the other as he sips on his drink, making me chuckle.
"He was outside the council's office, waiting for his wife, right? I hadn't met her yet, only him. I bumped into him and his wife. She had a beautiful scent, or so I thought. It was like this... peonies and cherry blossoms or something. She held a cardigan in her hand, and I instantly became furious when I saw her hand around him all lovingly and shit right." I said, looking at Ricky who already had a big ass smile on his face.
Fucker. I knew it was just a matter of time before he'd burst into laughter as soon as I told him what happened.
"So I go over, and I say... that scent, does that... I mean... I was speechless, right? We get into an argument. The dude is like, she's my mate. She's my wife. What the fuck!" and that's when Ricky throws his head back, laughing away as I recall how embarrassed I felt that day.
"Dude! I'm ready to throw punches at the guy. And the wife throws the cardigan to the side, and pushes his husband, telling me, please, No... this has to be a mistake, you got things wrong. I don't feel a thing from you. And I can't smell your scent as a mating bond scent, my Wolf is not acknowledging you like that ." I stood there dumbfounded. My Wolf, Titus prancing like crazy, telling me to follow the scent. Follow the scent, you idiot! He yells at me, and I stop!" I say, making Ricky look at me, trying to muffle his laughter as he covers his mouth.
"Uh-huh. Then what? Titus is a smart pup, by the way. Smarter than you sometimes bitch." Ricky says, making me give him an irritated look as I grab my pen and throw it at him. He chuckled, dodging the pen.
"Anyway. I am standing there, fists ready to punch, and I take a step back. I take a few breaths to calm my ass down and I listen to Titus and follow the scent. The scent is coming from the fucking cardigan man! The fucking sweater! And I'm like... is this a sick joke? My mate is a sweater? I'm like nah man... I'm done." I throw my hands, making Ricky laugh away.
"Titus is like, you idiot. Not the sweater, the sweater's owner! I'm like.., is this yours? She looks at me like I'm a fucking psycho." I say, wanting to pull my hair out as I tug on my curls. Meanwhile, Alarick is still fucking laughing.
"She's like, well no shit! Of course, it's mine. Why? I am like, because... that scent. My Wolf says it's... My mates. But you said you don't feel anything or smell me like a mate, so I'm confused. Like, what the fuck? Is this a prank?" I say and Alarick is looking at me tentatively, but still trying not to laugh.
"Anyway. Turns out, she borrowed the fucking cardigan from her sister. I was done. Titus kept calling me a dumbass as if I should have known and shit... plus, I had never heard of their pack. And get this... their pack is located close to where we had followed the clue Spencer gave us to where he heard they had seen Abbie! Fuck, dude... I mean, I'm going crazy! What are the odds that it could be Abbie? What if it's her?"
"Dude.. That's insane. Keep dreaming!" he says, making me stare at him annoyed. "Don't get me wrong. I'm happy for you. You found your fated sweater after all." he says, making me chuckle as I nod in disbelief at this asshole.
"I mean... It's been years since she left, but I hope it's her, Rick. I do know that I felt bad though. I told them what was happening, and they promised to come to the party and try to bring the girl that the cardigan belonged to. I don't know... what if it's not her? I want to keep waiting for Abbie to come back, Rick. I really want to, but, I guess, maybe this is a sign I need to move on and take a chosen mate. If this girl does end up being my mate, I at least know she'll be a good person from what they told me about her. I just... wish we could have found Abbie, man." I say, looking down at my paper stack.
Ricky sighs, drinking the last of his whiskey. "Look, man. I get you miss your teen crush, but, your mom is right. You are a deeply sexually deprived man. You need to get yourself a mate and, maybe... Just maybe you'll stop being such an ass with everyone. You're tense, boy." he says, making me throw another pen at him, making him chuckle.
"Easy for you to say. You have Livie. You have your triplets, and one more on the way. Asshole. And I m not sexually tense bitch. I just... I want what you and Livie have. Is that too much to ask?"
"Ok, calm down Cinderella. If you're right though... If the cardigan girl comes, maybe you'll find a second chance mate? Or I could always unlock Leah from my dungeon so you can have conceptual meetings with her?" he says, making me grab another pen, ready to throw it at him, making him chuckle.
"Ricky! Hunter!" I hear Livie's voice from the door, making me smile.
"Come in," I say with a big smile. Ricky's mate, Livie opens the door slowly, peaking in before she smiles and walks inside. "Hi, boys. I need your opinion. So," she says holding a tray with food. "I heard we are having special guests," she says cheekily, letting me know mom spilled the whole tea already. I groan, closing my eyes and making her chuckle.
"I am helping your mom with desserts for the guests. I need your input on which is tastier," she says handing two small pieces of cake on each plate.
"The right cake is my velvet cake with cream cheese filling, and the other one is my father-in-law's favorite, tres-leches vanilla cake." (three milks) I take a bite out of each, but they are both so good I can't decide.
"Why not both? They are both really good, Liv." I say, making her smile. Her belly was swollen already. She was a little over three months pregnant, making her cheeks tint in a rosy tone. "Thanks, Hunter. What about you baby? What do you think?"
"I'm going with Hunter. They both taste really good baby," he says, wrapping her by the waist. "You two are of no help. I'll just go ask Lily," she says, ruffling Ricky's hair and kissing his lips before she leaves. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Anyway. I called Luke a few days ago when I received his email confirming his invitation. He's bringing the girl. He did however warn me, that the dad is very protective, which, I admire. But, fuck, Rick... Titus has been going crazy all morning. I'm surprised I'm getting work done, he's distracting me too much. He's eager for them to be here, and honestly, I think I am too, is this bad? That's why I asked Luke if he could come by a few days before the party. This way, I can get acquainted with them before the party, you know what I mean?" I say, making Ricky nod. "So is that why your mom is going crazy with today's menu?" he asks, making me grunt. "Yeah. I told her what was happening. She sensed something was off between Titus and me." I say, making him nod pondering.
"Yeah. That's a good idea, man. Don't feel bad. This is just how our goddess wanted things. I can't wait to meet her. Poor girl. To be stuck with you for the rest of your life, man... poor girl." he says chuckling as I throw another pen at him. This time hitting him on his chest. At this rate, I was going to run out of pens.