I turned sharply to the sound of my mate's voice. Elizabeth was there, leaning against the wall with one foot against her knee. She was breathtaking, even just standing there.
Coen was standing a little further from her.
' She caught me in her apartment building, alpha, sorry,' he murmured through the mind link.
I only nodded in understanding.
" Elizabeth," I breathed, going to her. She smiled, and her eyes went to my friends. She waved, and they smiled at her, waving back.
" You sent him to spy on me," she gave me a disapproving look.
" I just want you to be safe," I said hesitantly.
" I've been safe all my life, and besides, I can protect myself, Aerys," Whenever my name left her pretty lips, my blood went south. My mind went wild, and images of her beneath me bodied my mind.
She snapped her fingers before me, bringing me back to reality. I blinked a few times, clearing my eyes.
" You're a woman _" gasps from Tonga, and my mate made me stop my sentence,
" Do you think women are weak and need saving from men?" Tonga asked. I stared at my mate; she was waiting for my answer. I'd never felt so attacked as I did. If I said the wrong thing, there was no doubt they'd jump me. I glanced at Coswell and Alec for help, but they were enjoying this too much to help,
" Sexist much, alpha," Elizabeth said, her eyes glinting.
" No, I know how strong you ladies are. I grew up surrounded by the strongest women in the world," I said quickly. That seemed to tame their anger towards me, " I only asked Coen to watch you because I'd feel better, not that you can't protect yourself,"
" Good save," Elizabeth muttered. She grabbed my collar and kissed my nose. My heart palpated in my chest, and my boys cheered.
" My bags are in the trunk of my car. Can someone place them in a spare room?" she asked. Tonga flew to her feet.
" You're staying with us?" she asked eagerly.
" Yes," she said, looking at me.
" Yes! I'll prepare the room next to the alpha. Alec, Coswell, go get her bags!" Tonga ordered. My friends stood up and bowed to Elizabeth before going outside.
" Spare bedroom?" I asked,
" Yes, I'm not sleeping in the same bed as you," she said lazily.
" Why? You're my mate!" I frowned.
" Don't we all know," she rolled her eyes.
I wanted to have my mate in my arms. I couldn't sleep knowing she was in the room next door, and I wasn't there with her.
" I don't know you too well. We just had our first date today, and also, I don't know just how many women have been in that bed of yours," she spat. I awkwardly smiled. She was right. I was moving too fast.
' You should throw away everything those sluts of yours touched,' Aire growled. I agreed with him. I would have the whole room redone.
" I will throw everything in that room away then," I said.
" Better," she smiled coyly at me.
Elizabeth.
It had been two weeks since I moved into the house. Everything was going well. Aerys and I went together to university when we had class. He was very possessive, but I was used to it. We got to know each other better, and it was a delight. He was a delight.
I was pacing my bedroom, nervous. Today was the day he introduced me to his family. I checked my appearance once more in the mirror. I wore a classy silk skirt, a tight white shirt, and heels. I let my dark hair fall to my back and applied minimal makeup. Tonga walked into the room.
" Wow. You look so beautiful," she gasped.
" I'm nervous," I admitted. She sat on the bed and smiled at me, " How is his family?"
" The Chasias... They are powerful and intimidating at first glance but very kind people. The Luna is an amazing woman," she said with a smile.
" Elizabeth, are you ready?" I heard my mate's voice.
" Yes, I'm coming," I said. I heard collected laughter downstairs, and I rolled my eyes: boys and their dirty minds.
" How, though? He's here," Coswell laughed.
" Tonga is up there. Should I be worried?" Alec chimed in.
We went downstairs, and my mate's jaw dropped when he saw me. I smiled once I neared him and gently closed his mouth.
"You might catch flies in your mouth," I jested.
" You look beautiful," he whispered, pecking me.
We bid goodbye to everyone and started our way to his pack. His current residence wasn't far from the Golden Stone pack. It was only a fifteen-minute drive, and there was no traffic.
" You look nervous. Just relax," he said, squeezing my hand. His touch made me feel at ease. " I'm anxious; I'd never have to meet a boyfriend's parents ... Let alone two weeks into the relationship," I chuckled.
" They will love you," he smiled slightly at me.
" I'm human," I said quietly. The words I wanted to leave my lips were, I'm a vampire.
" Trust me, they don't care. They are just happy I found my mate."
Would they still be happy if they found out my real identity? No.
" Are your parents fated mates?" I asked.
" Yes. They had a rough start but pulled through," he said proudly. Aerys told me about his parent's bond and all they had overcome. My respect for his mother skyrocketed. She went through a lot because Alpha Edward didn't accept her immediately. He had his issues with his first Luna. He was betrayed, so he didn't trust another woman. However, Luna Caliana won him over.
We arrived at the pack fifteen minutes later. The pack was genuinely excellent, with tall skyscrapers. One could tell just by their infrastructure that it was a large and wealthy pack. I glanced at Aerys. I knew running a pack as large and fierce as The Golden Stone came with challenges, especially since he was so young.
. Aerys opened my door and held my hand. I took a deep breath.
" I'll be with you," he kissed my temple. He led me inside the house. It was large and extravagant, yet it felt like home. It was warm. I took my time, looking around with my eyes. It is the home my mate grew up in, as shown by the pictures of childhood on the walls.
" My family is waiting. Ready?" My mate asked. The glass door suddenly opened, and my breath lodged in my chest. The first thing I sensed was powerful auras. Auras of different kinds. They were dominating, calming, warm, and all sorts of auras. It was mixing beautifully in the air yet suppressing. If I wasn't a strong supernatural, I couldn't have been able to withstand it. My eyes scanned the people in the room. They were scattered about, chatting and laughing.
" Good evening, everyone," Aerys said. All the chatter and laughter quietened as their gaze fell on us.
The men were so tall and elegant. And the women held great rare beauty.
Tonga was right; they were intimidating. I instinctively took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest.
My palms were sweaty. If Aerys weren't holding my hand like he was, he'd bolt out of here.
" Baby!" A beautiful woman was the first to approach. Her warm smile eased me instantly, and my eyes solely focused on her. I didn't want to look at anyone else.
Aerys didn't let go of my hand as he hugged the woman fondly.
" Mom," Luna Caliana, she was such a beauty. Her aura was calm and warm. Her eyes went to our joined hands and then to me.
" Elizabeth," she breathed, and I bowed my head to her. However, I was taken aback when she wrapped her arms gently around me. My breath shuddered as I took my hand from Aerys to hug her properly. For whatever reason, her hug was everything to me at the moment.
She was the first to pull away from me. " Elizabeth, I'm so glad to meet you finally. I've heard wonderful things about you from my son," she told me.
" Luna Caliana, it's wonderful to meet you," I said honestly.