Abbie
I fisted my hands as my jaw clenched, my Wolf was going crazy and I was trying to play it off as Luna Maddy kept talking to us. She smiles, holding Mom's hand and squeezing mine gently. "Mate... Mate!" Merida yells again, making me close my eyes and sigh. "My Goddess, Merida. Shut it. You sound like a needy sex-deprived howler." I say, making her growl.
"Abbie, sweetie, you remember when you were down here right? We had this whole area still under construction. My daughter Lily and you would come up to that tree house down that path and spend all day up there until your dad came to get you." Luna Maddy says, making me smile.
How can I forget? I was trying to hide from the man. Trying to get away from his fist and the bottom of his boot. "I remember. Where are Alpha Black and Lily anyway? I haven't seen them." I asked, and I felt like I had said something wrong.
Her expression changed, making me look with concern toward my mom. "My dear... my husband died a little after you left, sweetie," she says, making my eyes widen in shock. "What?" I asked, looking at Marissa. She looked down, guilt written all over her face.
"I'm sorry, Abbie. I didn't know how to tell you. I knew how heartbroken you'd be." she mind-linked me. My eyes filled with tears. I loved Hunter's parents, and his dad was the nicest man I had ever met before I ended up in the black ravens pack. "I... I'm so sorry, Luna Maddy." I said, placing my hand over her hand. She smiled timidly, sighing deeply as she looked away.
"It was hard at first. You could never imagine how hard it is to lose your mate. It's true when they say it's painful. Not only physically, but mentally, and emotionally. It's like a part of you goes missing and no matter what goes on in your life, that void is never filled again." she says, pursing her eyebrows. Her voice was soft and filled with pain.
"What about Lily and Hunter? How are they handling life after Alpha was gone?" I dared to ask. She looks at me and gives me a partial smile. I could feel the pain in her sweet eyes. "Hunter is taking it rather well now. He was so broken at first. He had it worse than Lily. But, he's such a sweet boy. He's so caring, so dedicated to the pack. He's lived by everything his dad taught him." she says a bit proud, making me smile.
"Lily... oh my Lily..." she says, looking down again, sighing deeply.
The huge double door from the room we were in bursts open and I see him. His rugged physique. He's so gorgeous. My nose fills with a heavenly scent of fresh rainwater and passion fruit. Just as when we were kids... except, the scent is stronger. More intense, making me feel as if in euphoria. "MATE!" Merida yells in my head, making my eyes widen in shock as his muscles contort under him. His chest rose up and down, looking as if he had run the whole way over here.
I instantly turn trying to hide. Goddess, please... open the ground and eat me up alive! Shit! Shit! No, this... this can't be happening. Why him?
"MAAAAATE!"
"Shut up, Merida!" I yell back at her, making my suddenly love-crazy pup whimper. I feel like crying from how frustrated and nervous I feel right now. Why is this happening to me? If he wasn't the big manwhore he is if he was still that sweet innocent boy I once knew... I'd have no problem. He was my crush after all. I was madly in love with him. But things were different now.
I would not be with someone who had been around with half the girls in his pack already.
"But.... Mate," Merida whimpered, making me cross my hands angrily as I scuffed at her.
"No, Merida. He can not be our mate. I have worked hard... Way too damn hard, trying to save myself and turning down countless guys flirting and perusing us; trying to wait for our fated mate. And he... he didn't care waiting for us. So no! He will not be our mate. I'm sorry, but NO!" I sneered, feeling the tears fall down her cheeks and making her whimper.
"But, Abbie!"
"NO, MERIDA! He can not be our mate. That is final." I said, closing my eyes as I fisted my hands and hoped no one noticed my turmoil.
"Hunter. Oh, my goddess, sweetie. Did you run all the way here from the training grounds? Why that's across the pack territory." Luna Maddy says, making Luke and Dad chuckle as they stand and walk toward him to shake his hand.
Goddess, he looks so good! He wore nothing but basketball shorts, and he was no longer the young teen I once knew... that was for sure. He had all the right muscles in all the right places that even Felicity couldn't help but steal a look as his body trickled with sweat, making him look so...damn!
Get a grip, Abigail! Focus girl!
"I did. My apologies. I wasn't aware you were here already. A friend of mine and I decided to do a little extra practice. I apologize for my appearance." he says, extending his hand out to Luke and my dad first. My dad and Luke exchanged handshakes with him, and by the looks of it, Dad approved his handshake.
I could tell by Dad's smile. Dad always said you could tell what kind of man he was by his handshake. Oh Daddy, if you only knew what a manwhore he is. And worse... he's my mate.
"Oh don't worry about it, Hunter. We're glad to be here. Everyone is so hospitable. You have an amazing pack." Luke says, looking around and admiring the place.
"Thank you. But I can't take all the credit. My dad made most of these improvements, and our pack has done a wonderful job maintaining this place." he says acting all modest. I rolled my eyes, earning a smack on my shoulder from Felicity. I look at her annoyed, and instantly try to hide when I see him staring at me.
His eyes widened, going from a bright smile to that of shock. "Oh no. Did he recognize us? Did he see us?" I ask Merida as I hide behind my mom and Luna Maddy.
"I am glad to see you arrived so early. Please, let me give you a tour. Mom, would you be so kind as to show the ladies around?" his husky voice made my body feel things I did not want to feel. For fucks sake, Merida what is happening?
"I told you, idiot! He's our mate. That's the damn mating bond, and whether you like it or not, the mating bond has begun. That's the part of NATURE! Your nature! It won't be long before you start going into heat now that you met each other!" she says mockingly, making my eyes widen in shock.
I look at Felicity with eyes wide as saucers, my body shaking. Felicity and Marissa look at me as if I'm going crazy, and honestly, I think I am. "What the fuck is wrong with you? You're embarrassing us. Stop it." Felicity's mind links me, making me want to disappear. I close my eyes, hiding more as I feel my body heating. I fan myself, biting my bottom lip.
I can see him from the corner, between Mom and Luna Maddy. He's chuckling, looking at me in amusement. "Damn it," I whisper, making Mom look at me worriedly.
"Baby, are you ok?" she asks in a whisper, making my head shake violently. "Y...yes. I'm fine. Can I... Can I step out for a second? I think I don't feel so good. I need some fresh air." I ask, fisting my hands real tight.
"Baby, but, we haven't properly thanked Alpha Hunter for his invitation. Don't be rude, stay."
"I'm sure it's fine. He doesn't need to see me. Please... I... I need to go." I say as I turn and take a step but my mom pulls me back.
"Abigail, you stay put. Don't be rude, they have been nothing but nice. Besides, I'm sure your old friend, Alpha Hunter would like to see you again." she says making me curse inwardly as I close my eyes, hoping this is nothing but a damn nightmare. "Sweetie, are you ok? Do you need me to take you up to your room? It's ok if you're tired. I am sure my son will be fine waiting to see you until later, once you've rested." Luna Maddy says, placing her hand delicately on my shoulder.
"I... uh, no. It's ok." I say, feeling guilty as Luna Maddy gives me a worried look. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, it's fine. She's fine, Luna." Mom responds, glaring at me. Hunter chuckles and Merida goes nuts, jumping up and down like a mad Wolf. My body is feeling so weird, I hate it as I keep hearing him talk with my dad and Luke, laughing away at Dad's lame dad jokes. No one laughs at my dad's jokes, but here is Humter laughing away like it's the funniest thing he's ever heard.
"Anyway, let me introduce you to our girls," Luke says, making my eyes widen, my heart racing and my hands clamp with nervous sweat.
"You remember my wife, Felicity." He says making me tilt my head confused. So she did know her... just what the heck... she didn't tell me she had met him already! I knew it. They were acting so suspicious, they knew. Wait, did he know I was here? Oh, my goddess!
"I do. Nice to see you again, Luna Felicity," he says, bowing like a gentleman would, grabbing her hand delicately and placing a kiss on her knuckles. Felicity chuckles, flustered with his action and making me roll my eyes. "This is my mother-in-law, you know Marissa,"
"Hey... how are you, Marissa? Long time!" he says making Marissa's face brighten like a tomato and earning a glare from me as I see her damn smile from ear to ear. "Hi, Hunter," she says in a girly tone.
Hunter shakes everyone's hand, and even my little sister Jessie seems to be hypnotized by his charm.
But then the inevitable.
Luke comes up to me, with Hunter by his side and I can't help but look up ever so slowly as my nerves become unrattled.
"And this... is my sister-in-law, Abbie," he says, and Hunter's eyes meet mine.
We are both left with eyes wide as saucers, standing frozen in place. "Abbie?" he whispers my name. I gulp down, unable to look away as he takes a step closer, standing just inches away. My knees feel weak, I think I'm going to fall. He's gotten so much taller, so much, bigger, and hhhhoooottt. "I told you he's hot!" Marissa mind links me, making me for once... agree with her.
His scent is so much stronger and just standing this close to him makes my body feel as if I was being shocked. Electricity surges through me. It's a feeling I can't explain. My stomach feels as if it had a million butterflies fluttering inside. This can't be happening. It's really him. My mate. Hunter Black.
"MINE!" Hunter whispers, making everyone gasp.