Mmmm. What’s That Smell

Signe POV

We stood around constantly checking the time. Occasionally, I’d peak out of the window in the meeting room to see if a car I didn’t recognize had pulled up.

Alpha Lance was on edge. He was trying to hide it, but with all of my training I was able to pick up on a lot that most other wolves without my training would have missed.

“How much longer until you think they arrive?” Xander asked for what I felt was the millionth time.

Remind me to not go on a long trip with him for fear of hearing the phrase, “are we there yet?” Come out of his mouth just as many times.

Although, I can’t say that I blame Xander or anyone for that matter about being nervous for his visit. Alpha Asher isn’t well known for his patience or his kindness. I’ve heard it’s react first and ask questions later in his case. He’s ruthless towards his enemies, which, ok, that one I definitely can get behind.

I wanted to know how many of these rumors I had heard were just that. Rumor. Or if there was any truth to them.

“He will be here when he gets here.” I say to Xander for what I definitely now know is at least the millionth time. “Maybe this is part of his strategy. He wants to get us all worked up so—“

That’s when I felt it. An odd, tightening sensation in my chest.

“What the hell is that, Aerona? What did we eat last? Goddess, don’t let it be heartburn.” I whined to my wolf. I so don’t need to deal with heartburn right now.

“That’s not heartburn.” Aerona replied, but it didn’t really feel like she was completely there with me. Instead, she sounded as though her focus was elsewhere.

Oh, and speaking of focus…

“Hello! Earth to Signe! He wants to get us all worked up so what? Is this part of YOUR strategy? Leave me hanging and wondering what you were going to say so that I wasn’t thinking about when he was going to get here? Because, if so, it’s working!” Goddess, Xander could be so annoying when he got all worked up.

“Xander! That’s enough. You are not here with your friends. You are here with other high-ranking wolves within your pack to discuss a very serious matter with a very temperamental Alpha from a neighboring pack. Now get your shit together before I remove you from this room myself.” Alpha Lance growled out with a fuck around and find out tone.

But I wasn’t really focusing on either of them at the moment. I was focused on this odd feeling in my chest that just kept getting stronger as the seconds ticked by.

Despite my distraction, I did notice when Xander threw himself into his chair irritated with my lack of response and his lecture from his dad. He really was such a child sometimes.

Suddenly, Lena yelled out, “They’re here! I just watched two of them walk in through the front doors of the pack house.”

We all looked at Alpha Lance. I stood up as straight as possible and I walked over to my post by the door to ensure no surprise attack would get past me to my Alpha.

Goddess please! I can’t fully focus with this feeling in my chest. It just needs to—

“Oh my Goddess. Aerona, what’s that amazing smell? That has to be the most mouth watering smell my nose has ever had the pleasure of smelling.”

I kept sniffing the air and all I could smell was pine needles mixed with a warm breeze. I would like to just bottle it up and carry that smell around for safe keeping.

I was literally salivating as the smell continued to fill my nostrils.

I jumped when suddenly the meeting room doors burst open. In my distracted state I had forgotten I was supposed to be at the ready to prevent any possible surprise attack.

What was wrong with me? I never become distracted this easily.

I glanced up and leapt into a fighting stance ready to protect and defend my alpha. Only, when I looked up to face my possible opponent, I became frozen on the spot.

It’s like I my body was drawn to him. Like a literal moth to a flame, there was nothing I could do about it. Not that I really wanted to.

He looked right at me with those deep green eyes that reminded me so much of the forest Aerona and I love to run through. For a second, I got lost in those eyes in a way I would never get lost in the forest.

And then, as if we had rehearsed this scene one thousand times prior to this meeting, we utter one word simultaneously that will change the rest of my life.

“Mate.”