A Certain Smell

Noah POV

As I turned to lead them towards the hub of our territory, I caught a smell unlike any other I had smelled before. It was almost like the blend of vanilla and honey, but with a bready undertone. Honestly delicious. I turned my head even further to see where it was coming from. I briefly caught the eye of that young girl, though she turned her head away swiftly. I couldn't help my amusement in that. No one held my eye contact that long; whether it be from fear or embarrassment from being caught staring. The latter of which I wouldn't complain about.

I couldn't help that women threw themselves at me, but I did hold myself to a certain level of restraint. Or I at least tried to now that I am Alpha. I limited myself to very few encounters since. It didn't sit right with me to just sleep with any pack member. I had a role to play in their lives, and fuckboy doesn't need to be one of them.

Every now and then I would take a glance back at the young girl, but she stubbornly kept her face from my direction. Almost like she was purposefully keeping her eyes from me. She was so small. You would almost think of her as a teenager, though I know that wasn't the case from my research of her pack. The Alpine pack was formidable, but peaceful more importantly. They came out strong when necessary, but otherwise acted with grace. The rumors of their members' "gifts" were even more interesting. Ever since he heard of them he was eager to see how they worked. Their quiet strength was one of the primary reasons my father was determined to remain their ally. Ally is a stretch though. My father didn't really keep allies. He more so had non-enemies, of which he kept the Alpine pack. Nevertheless, the young girl I had read about was extremely intriguing.

No, mate first. My wolf Griffin huffed at me. He's been so adamant lately. Though at 25, it didn't seem like I would ever find my fated mate. I had next to given up, but he is certain that we will find her. With my disappointment set aside, I had decided I needed to choose my Luna this Council, fated mate or not. Griffin growled at the suggestion. "We have to think of our pack and put them before us. It's not what I want either, but if I don't claim a mate soon there's going to be a lot of talking that won't bode well for either of us." Griffin continued to grumble, but I just pushed him to the back of my head.

Council, I groaned to my self. It was going to be an overwhelming mashup of packs, with Alpha's all pushing their daughters at me in hopes of remaining on our good side. My father didn't do much good as Alpha, but I wasn't going to deny liking the healthy fear everyone seemed to have of us.

The next day.

My pack members did an amazing job accomodating all of our guests, but now it was time to play my part as Alpha and make thoughtful decisions for the pack. I was endlessly grateful to have my Beta, Brandon, by my side for the whole endeavor. Brandon was uniquely able to reign in my temper, but he's been more distracted lately being newly mated to Carrie, one of our pack members.

As I was walking to the beginning ceremony, I overheard the young Alpine girl arguing with her father and mother.

"But I don't see why you won't even give me a year so that I am even able to try to find my mate before forcing me off on some stranger!" Evelyn's desperation was evident. Though her wording was curious. Able, how could she not be able to find her mate? She had to be old enough. She looked younger than her years, but she had to be over 18, especially if her parents were wanting to arrange a marriage for her. I couldn't help but pity her situation, being forced to mate with someone while your true mate could be out there anywhere waiting for you. It was not unlike my situation.

A hand on my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts, it was Brandon. It was evident he was also overhearing the Alpine couple shutting down their daughter, though her mother seemed to be doing much of the putting down.

She responded to her daughter harshly, "This council only comes once every 10 years. There is no better time to find you a husband to mate with and build a strong alliance with other packs. By the time you're even able to find your true mate you will already be mated to another so it won't matter." It was clear that she was not budging on this topic.

Brandon turned to me in a hushed voice, "Isn't that crazy? Someone from the Alpine pack explained to me that if you're one of those "gifted" members, you're not able to recognize your true mate until you're 21. And even then, the only way to know sooner is if you happen to mate with your true mate by happenstance. Apparently, the mate will also have difficulty identifying them. That poor girl. She doesn't stand a chance with a mother like that."

Interesting. Just as Brandon stopped talking, a door was slammed open. Everyone turned their heads to see what all the fuss was about. At that moment, it was like the air got colder as Alpha Kent walked through the door. Most people, including myself, thought that the Blackwater pack wouldn't show up to the Council. Though their pack territory lies in our region, they are beyond hostile and generally are not the alliance-making type. If there was a pack more feared than my own, and truly more ruthless it was Blackwater.

Just then I heard the Alpine Luna's voice again as she passed by us toward Alpha Kent. "Evelyn, it is time you meet the man who will be your mate. Come along." Her mother walked toward Alpha Kent with open arms and a smile, they were clearly on good terms.

I turned my head to see all the life drain from Evelyn's face only to be replaced with terror. Her father, Alpha Alexander just looked defeated.