Chapter eight

STUCK ON A RECORD

Asher pov

I raised an eyebrow, studying Mason's profile as he continued to stare at his phone, a soft smile playing on his lips. The warmth in his voice was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of curiosity. "She acts weird sometimes," I repeated, shifting uncomfortably on the couch. Mason's gaze didn't waver from the screen, but I knew he was listening.

"What do you mean?" he asked absently, his fingers scrolling through his messages.

I shrugged, though he wasn't looking at me. "Just that...she seems distant, sometimes. Like she's not fully present." Mason's eyes flicked up to mine, a hint of intrigue sparking in their depths.

"What did you notice?" he asked, his voice a little more focused now.

I leaned back into the couch, steepling my fingers together. "She acts like she's not seeing us for the first time. Like we're...familiar or something." Mason's expression turned thoughtful, and he nodded slowly.

"I noticed that too," he said, his voice low. "It's like she's already gotten used to us being around her." A shiver ran down my spine as Mason's words echoed my own thoughts. What was going on with our mate?

Before we could discuss it further, the alarm to the pack meeting with the elders rang loudly, piercing the air. Mason and I exchanged a look, then stood up in unison. We walked to the hall, our footsteps synchronized as we moved towards the gathering.

As we entered the hall, every elder was present, their faces grave with concern. Alpha Riley, our pack leader, stood at the forefront, his eyes scanning the room before landing on us. "Alphas Asher and Mason, we're glad you're here," he said, his voice firm. "We've been worried about the mate situation. It seems we've not had a mate present themselves in a while."

Mason and I exchanged a glance, a spark of amusement flickering between us. We'd been keeping our mate a secret, unsure of how the pack would react. But now, with the elders' concern evident, we couldn't help but smile.

"We've got a mate," Mason said, his voice clear and confident.

My words tumbled out simultaneously with Mason's, "We've found ours."

The room fell silent, the elders' faces stunned. Alpha Riley's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "What? How is that possible? You two haven't mentioned anything about a mate before."

I grinned, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Let's just say it's been...enlightening." Mason chuckled beside me, and the tension in the room dissipated slightly.

The elders began to murmur among themselves, their faces a mix of surprise and curiosity. Riley, one of the youngest elders, raised his hand, silencing the room. "We'll need to meet this mate of yours. Soon."

Mason nodded, his expression serious. "We'll arrange a meeting."

As the meeting drew to a close, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Our mate was a mystery, one we were determined to unravel. And soon, the pack would be meeting her too. I wondered what their reactions would be.

As we left the hall, Mason turned to me, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Think our mate's ready for the pack's scrutiny?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Doubt it. But we'll be there to protect her, no matter what."

Mason's grin faltered, and he glanced at me, his eyes searching. "You think she'll need protection from the pack?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to answer. Our pack wasn't typically volatile, but with a new mate, things could get unpredictable. "I don't know," I admitted. "But we'll be prepared, just in case."

I frowned, feeling a twinge of frustration. "There's a problem," I admitted, my gaze meeting Mason's. His eyes narrowed, concern etched on his face.

"What is it?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

I shrugged, feeling a bit helpless. "I don't have her contact. She left suddenly yesterday, and I didn't think to ask for her number." Mason's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with annoyance.

"Shit, how did you forget to ask?" he demanded, his voice laced with incredulity. I winced, feeling a bit defensive.

"Hey, it slipped my mind, okay? We've been busy with pack stuff, and it didn't seem important at the time." Mason's gaze lingered on mine, then he shook his head.

"Unbelievable," he muttered, pacing away from me. "How are we supposed to reach her now?" I watched him, feeling a growing sense of unease.

"We need to find a way to contact her," I said, my mind racing. "We can't just leave her hanging like this." Mason stopped pacing, his eyes locking onto mine.

"Agreed," he said, his voice firm. "Let's think this through. Did she mention anything about her schedule or plans?" I thought back to our conversations, trying to recall any details that might help.

"She mentioned something about work, but I don't know what she does or where she works." Mason's expression turned thoughtful.

"We need to figure out who she is, then," he said, determination etched on his face. "We can't just sit around waiting for her to contact us." I nodded, feeling a surge of determination.

"You're right. Let's start by going through the pack's resources. Maybe someone knows something about her." Mason nodded, and together, we set out to uncover our mate's identity.

We walked to the old data collector's cabin, determination driving our steps. The pack's records keeper, Old Man Jenkins, was notorious for knowing everything about everyone. If anyone could help us find our mate, it was him.

As we entered the cabin, the scent of old books and dust filled our nostrils. Old Man Jenkins looked up from his chair, his eyes twinkling behind thick glasses.

"Ah, alphas. What brings you to my humble abode?" he asked, his voice gruff but friendly.

"We're looking for someone," Mason said, his voice direct. "We need your help finding her."

Old Man Jenkins' eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Who's the lucky lady?"

I hesitated, realizing we didn't know her surname. "We only know her first name… Isabella," I admitted.

The old man's expression turned skeptical. "Surname?" he asked, his pen hovering over his notebook.

Mason and I exchanged a look, both of us coming up blank. "We don't know," I said, feeling a twinge of embarrassment.

Old Man Jenkins chuckled, shaking his head. "You two are something else. Can't even get a surname right." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"I'd love to help you, alphas, but without a surname, I'm afraid I'm stuck. There are hundreds of isabellas in the pack's records." He shrugged. "Come back when you have more information."