Chapter 2

Chapter 2

~~Dominic

As I watched my mate dance with her friends, I didn't know much about her but I felt the need to protect her. To protect what is now mine in a caveman sense. Her body swayed with the music. I didn’t miss how others looked at her. If she had my mark on her no one would even take a second glance unless they wanted their throat torn out. I grumbled at a few of the party attendees looking at her. They glanced at me sideways but otherwise left her alone. I couldn’t stop staring at her though.

She was free with no care in the world but her makeshift family and close friends.

Complete and utter opposite of who I am. Always guarded and ready for anything. I blame the military and war. But why would Arto place me with her? I can't deny her beauty. But is she what I need in my life? With my life changing at all times, would she be able to handle it too?

As I looked over by the stairs staring at her, I caught the attention of many people. Especially the females. They walked by me in short skirts, eyed me up and down, tried to flirt with their eyes, and finally walked away when they realized I wouldn't give them the time of day.

She finally caught my gaze as she smiled widely at me. She walked over, her jean shorts and white top showed off her thick thighs and her beautiful chest.

She drove me crazy and I have only touched her. Her skin in the shower was so soft and she smelled so sweet. I couldn’t wait to touch every last inch of her skin and have her screaming my name while she was underneath me.

The night dragged on as she constantly begged me to dance with her or even have a drink. I declined each time so I could keep a better eye on her. I don't know anyone at this party and it makes me uneasy. 

Humans and shifters are fine but some are rogues. That doesn't sit well with me or Yano. Rogues can be shifty and unreliable. Most of them would turn on pack members in a second.

For however long we stood there in eachothers arms. She slowly swayed back and forth against my body. Her soft body pressed up against mine. I felt every curve of her chest and her hands slid up and down my arms as she fit perfectly into me.

It was almost 2 in the morning before the party was finally done. The so called music was shut off and I could finally hear normally without everyone having to yell. She was saying goodbye to everyone at the door and her two friends I had met earlier had stayed behind to help clean. I stood with my arms still crossed as I watched her friends.

"So Dominic - what job do you have with the pack?" Abby asked to break the silence.

"Beta." I stated, not wanting to talk any longer.

"Haha - Steph will have to live in the pack house!!" The girl's boyfriend roared....I don't really care to remember his name. He annoys the shit out of me.

Yona was annoyed but even more annoyed because our mate wasn't in the room anymore.I quickly looked around, starting to feel uneasy because she wasn't within arms reach any longer.

I needed to get the fuck out of this room before I get pissed off. I left the living room and followed her scent. She was close and I found her in the kitchen. She had a headphone in one ear and she was mumbling along with whatever music she was listening to while she was cleaning.

Just the sight of her made my heart warm. I reached out to touch her and she screamed as my hand touched her shoulder. I smirked when she screamed. It amused me how jumpy she was.

"Damn Dom. You almost gave me a heart attack. My heart can't take it!" Purely dramatic on her part but it made me smirk.

"Awww not even a real smile?" She asked. She had placed her hand on my chest.

My heart started beating like crazy. I grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles rubbing her other hand down my cheek.

Yona rumbled with happiness and a huge smile broke out on my face.

"Ahhhh I get it. So when Mr. Teddy is happy, so are you. So what? My touch and food make you the happiest?" She chuckled.

"Little one, his name is Yona. Not Mr. Teddy." I was annoyed at the nickname.

"Yona. I like that." She said, smiling up at me. I grabbed her and sat her on the kitchen counter.

"He likes you." I said.

"Good. Because apparently this mate thing is like for life. So y'all are stuck with me." She smiled as she gestured between the two of us.

"Where are you from? You have an accent, I like it." I said, brushing hair to the side of her face that had fallen from her now messy bun.

"Tennessee. I was born and raised outside of Memphis. We were near the Forest Moon pack which was one of the first ones to fall when the war broke. My parents sent me here to be with my grandparents, but they all died fighting for something I didn't agree with them on." She said softly.

Her smile slid from happiness to a grim tight line.

Our mate was alone.

An orphan.

It's why our mother had taken a liking to her. Mother was always taking in people or "strays" as Samuel, my brother, called them. My parents settled here to help the new Alpha set up the pack and establish new lands for the shifters who wanted to join a pack.

"I found this place and moved in and slowly had others move in who lost their families." She explained and I only nodded.

I sighed and brought her in my arms. Nothing would hurt her now.

I couldn't and would never let it. I tilted her head up and slowly went closer to her lips. I wanted to know what her lips felt like again.

A knock interrupted us just when I was just about to finally kiss her.

I growled at the intrusion and her hand grabbed my chin and she smiled up at me.

"It's ok. We have all the time in the world." She whispered as she jumped down from the counter and ran to the front door.

Her words made me smirk. Forever.

Forever with a mate that I didn't think I would ever receive.

~~Stephanie

I walked quickly to the front door and laughed at my friends passed out on the couch and drooling in their sleep.

I quietly opened the door to see a very tall dark haired man standing at the entrance. He looked annoyed.

"Is Beta Dominic here?" He asked coolly.

"And you are?" I asked annoyed at his tone, crossing my arms at my chest. This man at my front door looked pretty intimidating but I don't like it when people show up with demands.

Unless it's money for pizza. Then I would gladly give into the delivery person's demands.

"Alpha Grayson." A voice rumbled behind me making me jump. I turn to see Dom standing there like a statue. His eyes locked on to the man in front of me.

"Oh shit! Come on in." I grimaced and gestured to the man and his bodyguards around him.

Of course it would be the Alpha. Why wouldn't it? I would make an ass out of myself in front of Dom's new boss. I thought to myself.

"I'm sorry." I mouthed to Dom as I turned to stand behind him. He winked and gave me a smirk, letting me know it was ok.

"Grayson. This is my mate Stephanie." Dom introduced me.

"Nice to meet you Sir - Alpha....Sir?" I asked, stumbling over my words. I didn’t know how to address him and I got nervous.

"Call me Grayson, sweet girl. It's ok." He introduced himself. He looked over at me and a grin spread across his face.

"You are most definitely human. Dominic....how is that working out? She apparently knows. But a human..... for you?" Grayson laughed and took my hand.

He kissed my hand and held it. Dominic growled. I placed my hand on his heart and he slowly calmed under my touch.

"How do you know my mate?" I asked curiously.

"Sweet girl. Dominic and I have served in this war for 5 years together. We are as you would say best friends or brothers in all honesty." Grayson explained.

Dominic towered behind me. I could feel his breath behind me on my neck.

I stared at Grayson. Mainly his eyes.

You could always tell what kind of shifter they were by their eyes and how they changed. Not always the color but it was how they moved.

"You are a lion shifter." I said softly without even thinking about it.

Grayson smiled. "How did you figure that out?" He asked.

I felt Dominic stiffen behind me. Was it considered rude to figure out what kind of shifter someone was. Did I offend everyone in the room? A couple of the guards tried to hide smirks.

"Was it rude of me to figure it out?" I asked, looking around the room.

"No little one. It's just odd that you could figure it out. No one looks at us long enough to be able to tell." Dom stated.

"It's your eyes. Well all shifters can be told what kind they are by their eyes. Foxes move around alot and are darker. Lions are more gold and when lions talk their eyes are demanding. Dragons are royalty so they are usually dark purple and in all honesty intimidating. Wolves that are as black as night and look terrifying. Bears are light until you piss them off, or annoy them with cute nicknames." I ended it whispering and turning around to look at Dom.

Grayson laughed very loudly and Dominic growled in annoyance behind me.

"Very good sweet one. Did you study us in school or in your free time?" Grayson asked and smiled at me then Dominic.

"When the news broke about shifters, I was fascinated. I read everything I possibly could. I even watched your news networks online when I could and of course at night without my parents knowing." I spoke and by the time I was done Dominic was holding me and rubbing my back.

"Sweet girl. May I ask you a question about your parents?" Grayson asked.

"Don't Grayson. Please." Dom interjected.

"Why? What about my parents?" I asked confused.

I looked up at Dom and he was starting to shake.

"Dom?" I asked even softer. He didn't answer but just held me tighter.

I looked at Grayson hoping for an answer. "Sweet girl. Are your parents Roger and Amelia Blackstone?" Grayson asked.

"Little one, you don't have to answer him." Dominic was now growling. His eyes turned black.

I nodded slowly, afraid of what my answer would bring.

Dominic's growl shook the walls as he grabbed me and shoved me behind him.

"Little one. Don't. Say. Another. Word." Dominic ordered me.

The three men that came with Grayson stood up and walked forward to us.

"Grayson. Call off your dogs. She hasn't seen her family in 6 years. You can ask everyone in this house. My parents are next door. Ask them. The death certificate for both of her parents are around here somewhere." Dominic bellowed.

The three men growled when they were called dogs.

I latched on to the back of Dominic's shirt.

What the hell was going on? Why were my parents being brought up?

Dominic was fighting his bear. I was shaking because I could feel Dominic's muscles rippling. Or was he shaking so hard it was making me shake?

"Dom...please calm down." I whispered as I slowly walked out in front of him. His hands grabbed my waist.

"Grayson. All you have to do is read my mind. I know Alphas have a certain power where they can do this and I can show you my past." I said firmly, my voice slightly shaking.

I held out my hand as the werewolves got a little bit closer.

"No." I heard the struggle between Dom and his Bear.

I reached back to Dominic and grabbed the front of his shirt. I winced when I could feel Dom's claws digging in my skin.

"Yona. Please your claws." I cried out softly. Dominic's.....no Yonas eyes softened.

"Mate. Please." He growled out. I ran my fingers down his cheek and kissed him softly on the lips. His muscles relaxed and I heard the soft rumbling in his chest.

"Trust me." I whispered softly and turned back to Grayson.

Grayson grabbed my hand. When shifters become Alphas there is a witch at the ceremony that puts a spell on them that helps the Alpha see the truth for judgement of their wrongdoings.

I let Grayson see everything.

From my earliest memory to Dom. He could feel all my emotions and the fights my parents and I had over shifters. When I snuck beyond their back and made protest signs to support shifters and raised money for homeless and orphaned shifters.

I even let Grayson see me at the funeral home and at my parents gravesites. I wasn't even 13 yet when they died. Grayson let go of my hand and I fell limp. My body was so tired. I gave Grayson all my energy.

"Fuck, Little one." Dominic said as he caught me when I started to fall to the ground.

Grayson sighed, "She tells the truth Dominic. She has had a hard life. Poor sweet girl. Take care of her friend. I will see you and your mate at the pack house. Her and Marissa can meet when she moves in."

"What about my parents?" I whispered softly. My voice came out muffled as I was curled up into Dom’s shirt.

"Little one, your parents are alive and well. They are leading a rebellion that is starting up again. Grayson was making sure you weren't working with them behind our back." Dom growled out in the end.

His hands were tightening around me as my entire body went limp and darkness covered my vision.

My parents...alive?