3

"Mate!" Thor, Arden wolf shouted in his mind. Arden had to clamp his mouth shut from yelling it in the human bar that he currently owns. He could smell her before she had walked in. Arden had not understood why Thor seemed in such an agitated state until she walked in. 

Arden finished handing the man his drink and then slowly turned. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Her long blond hair was in soft waves and fell to the middle of her back. She was currently wearing a pencil skirt and a jacket. She had on high heels that clicked as she walked. 

"Arden that is our mate." Thor yelled once more.

"I can see that Thor. But we are among humans here and we cannot jump over the table and just mark her. Now settle down." Thor growled in their mind in response. Arden just shook his head. 

Arden had taken a calming breath. The woman did not seem to be affected by the bond. Although he could tell that she found him attractive. There was not an instant pull for her. Arden was confused. Everything that he had learned growing up, even if they are human, they should still be drawn to their mate. 

"Are you sure?" Arden asked Thor. 

"Of course, I am." Thor answered annoyed. Arden could not help but draw a breath. She smelled sweet flowers in the summer sun. It made him long for home. 

Then she explained the situation about her customer. Arden had to stop ever fiber in his being from finding that businessman and ripping his throat out. It would not be a good look for them in front of their human mate. Humans tended not to be as gruesome as wolves. 

Arden had asked Aurora to have dinner with him. He had half expected her to decline. Not that he would have stopped there, but he was happy when she had agreed to see him the following night. Thor happily wagged his tail in his mind. 

When she had shown up at the front door of the bar the following evening, Arden had to take a few calming breaths once more. The pull was strong to be near her, but he knew that if he pushed too hard too soon, he would scare her away and the last thing he wanted was for her to reject him. 

She teased him about the creme brulee, but Arden took it in stride. He knew that most women could not resist the dessert and he was glad to see the same was for her as well. They talked about themselves for a little while. Their upbringing, Arden was sorry when he heard that Aurora had to grow up without a father. 

Arden told Aurora about his mother’s death to sympathize with her and to show her that he knows what the loss of a parents feels like. Sharing that information seemed to help further their connection. Aurora's brows drew together for a split second. 

"She felt it. Faintly, but she felt it." Thor said. 

"There must be something blocking the connection." Arden said to Thor. 

"I have to be honest with you." Aurora suddenly said. She looked down for a moment and then squared her shoulders. "I have a five-year-old son." 

The news did not shock Arden as much as he had expected. Aurora seemed braced for a negative reaction. Instead, Arden smiled and asked. "Is his father around?" He wondered if he would have to deal with another man pinning after Aurora. There was no way that the split would be his doing. Who would want to leave Aurora?

"He is not. He will never be in Elijah's life." Aurora practically spats. Arden was instantly interested in the man who would fuel so much hate from his mate. "I thought that you should know. I am sure it is a red flag to single men." Aurora smiled but the action didn’t reach her eyes. 

Arden leaned over the table and put his hand on hers. He felt the tingling sensation instantly. It went from hi hand and traveled up his body. "It is not one of mine." He reassured her that he is not upset at the idea of her having a son. Arden was not dense enough to think that Aurora would not have a life before him. He just hoped that she would spend the rest of it with him. 

Aurora pulled her hand quickly from his. She looked down at her fingers. "Sorry. I felt shocked. Must be from all the silver in the rom." She smiled again and this time a true smile, but she did not return her hand to the table. Arden noticed the action and felt saddened. 

"Dinner and dessert were delicious, but I think I should probably get going. I need to get Eli to bed." Aurora stood up from the table and began walking back to the front of the bar. She stopped near the door and grabbed her purse from the coat rack. 

"That you for inviting me. I had a really nice time." Aurora stood awkwardly for a moment. She wanted to leave but she also felt a weird pull to stay. She thought of Eli and squared her shoulders. She needed to get home to her son. 

As she turned to leave, Arden's hand lightly touched the top of her arm. "Can I see you again?" he asked quietly. Almost as if he was going to scare her off. Aurora looked back at him. Did she want to see him again? He wasn’t put off by her having a son. She had had a very nice time. More than she thought she would.

Arden didn’t seem like one of the playboy types. But was she ready to risk everything and take a chance on a man who could potentially everything that she had built for herself and for Eli? There was a small voice in her head that spoke. You won’t know until you try. 

It was right. 

"Yes." Aurora quickly spouted off her phone number to Arden before leaving the bar. She was curious where this was going to go now that they were to see each other again. 

Thor howled inside Arden's mind. They were both happy to hear her say that she would give Arden another chance. Arden had already begun to think of what he could do next. It took everything in him not to follow her. He did not want to ruin it.

"What now lover boy?" Thor said jokingly to Arden. Yes, what now? Arden asked himself. First thing was first he needed to let his beta know that he had found his mate. There were other things that needed to be set in motion as well. The pack was patiently waiting for their future Alpha to find his Luna. Only then would he be strong enough to take the pack over from his father. 

Arden pulled his cell phone from his pocket and punched in the number. The phone was answered on the second ring. "Alpha?" The voice on the other side said. 

"Rich, I have found my Luna." Arden told his beta Rich Miller. 

"Finally? When will you be returning?" Rich asked.

"There is a bit of a hitch to the plan. She is human, and for some reason she cannot feel the pull of the mate bond." Arden's words were met with silence. Arden knew that Rich was trying to understand what he had just told him.

"The human part won’t be an issue, but how can she not feel the pull?" Rich asked. It was unheard of. 

"I am not sure. But I am seeing her again. I am hoping I can break through whatever barrier is up that is stopping her from being able to feel the bond." Arden said. 

"And hopefully quickly. Things are getting worse here at the Northern Pack." Arden could only imagine. It had been three years since he had left to find his Luna. He hoped that he could return and remove his father and in turn get rid of the poisonous woman who controlled him.