Chapter 3 Alpha Samantha

Her gorgeous green eyes go wide, holy crap. Her cheeks flush only slightly, clearly she was not expecting that. But now she really might reject me. What the hell is wrong with my mouth. I look up at her amused face. My heart sinks as she starts to giggle.

“Well, you don’t like to beat around the bush do you? Straight to business.” She smiled at me and returned to her chair. “But unless you want me to call you ‘uh, um MATE’” She enunciated each syllable just as I did. “You better tell me your real name.” She motioned for me to sit in the chair in front of the desk.

“Uh, I’m sorry. My name is Benjamin Alex Shields, from the Black Hill pack.” I fidgeted again as I sat awkwardly in the chair, trying my best to look cool but probably failing miserably. “My father is Alpha Eric Shields.”

“So your sister is Lily, right? I met her earlier this evening, she is mated to our Delta here.”

I nodded, “Yeah, I met him earlier also.” She smiled, I could tell she was probably a little nervous, she kept moving her hands from her lap to the desk.

“So...you are the alpha’s son right?” She bit her lip nervously, the tension was heavy in the room. “Are you going to take his post anytime soon?” Her voice waivered ever so slightly, if I wasn’t hanging on her every word I would have missed it.

“Oh, no.” I gaze into her eyes again, damn I could look in them all night. “My eldest brother Chris, he is going to be taking my father’s place. He just found his mate in April, so he didn’t want to take over until she completed her Luna training. She was a pack guard from a pack up north. She was accompanying her previous alpha to Florida.” Now I’m rambling; “But uh, you don’t need to know all that.”

“No, its fine. I was just wondering.” Samantha sighed, “So, you have a sister and a brother...”

“Two brothers. My other brother is traveling all over, he is looking for.....you know.” I trailed off, I don’t want to bore her with my family’s problems. I wanted to hear all about her, wanted to hear her musical voice.  “Hey, what about you? What’s your family like?”

She looked down, a small frown on her lips. “My father passed a little over a year ago, not long before my 19th birthday. I have no siblings, nor do I have any aunts or uncles.” She trailed off and forced a smile on her face. “My pack is my family, and Violet’s father, the previous beta keeps an eye out for me. He is the pack elder and almost like another father to me.” She shook her head slowly, changing the subject. “So, how old are you? I’ll be turning 21 next year, on the third of January.”

“Oh, 21, I’ll be 22 in April, the 25th of April.” I responded.

“So your already legally able to buy alcohol then?” She asked smirking. “Good now I don’t have to rely on Greg to buy it for me anymore.” She started giggling. “It's hilarious I’m supposed to be in charge of everyone yet I can’t even order a glass of wine at a human bar.”

“Right, so how large is this pack?” I didn’t even remember seeing any houses earlier. Though, to be fair I wasn’t really looking for any either, I was too preoccupied.

“Well, technically at last count we were nearing the 600 member mark.” My eyes bugged out, this pack was that large?! “But, only about 450 stay on the pack grounds. Many live outside the pack grounds, they hold jobs in other cities and countries. They help us by networking with other packs for goods to trade. I have a couple of families in New York working in the financial sector. ” She blinked, and blushed slightly. “I’m sorry, I’m talking too much.”

I shook my head fiercely. “No, not at all. If I didn’t want to know I wouldn’t have asked.” I explained. My face flushed brightly as my stomach made itself known. Damn traitor!

Samantha’s eyes went wide, then they became unfocused. She was mindlinking someone. Did I do something wrong? It wasn’t my fault! I knew I should have eaten more. “I....I’m sorry.”

“No, I know that was out of your control. Why didn’t you eat earlier? Was there nothing there you wanted?” She looked a little downcast.

“No of course not! I was just a little.... preoccupied.”

She looked at me and tilted her head to the side slightly. A question clearly on her mind.

“Uh....I was looking...” I started

“Looking?”

I couldn’t even explain myself properly, I looked back down to the floor, too embarrassed by my insecurities to even tell her I was looking for her! I must have seemed like a lost little puppy running around out there. My face started burning up and I knew my face was the color of a tomato.

“I see.” I could hear her exhale a little louder than normal and lean back in her chair. “How long....when did you figure out I was here?”

“Almost as soon as I got out of the car, not as fast as Lily though, she knew as soon as we crossed the gate.”

“I see.” She leaned forward again and I couldn’t help but look up at her, my blush finally starting to go down. “I’m sorry you were chasing me all night. If I had realized you were here and looking for me I would have pulled you aside earlier. Honestly, I didn’t catch a whiff of your scent until I met your sister. I came up here to look through some records. At least, that’s what I had planned. Then when I touched base with Violet, I figured out you were here. Then, imagine my surprise when Greg calls me to tell me of a guy who was wandering aimlessly looking for his mate. I’m really sorry.” She looked me dead in my eyes and I could see a hint of regret. “And I’m sorry I’m probably the last person you expected to see, I’m sure you expected someone who could help you run your pack and go home with you. But I can’t. I can’t leave this pack. What I’m about to say next I don’t say lightly.

Oh Goddess, she really is about to reject me, damn it! I could feel the tears pricking on the corners of my eyes and a lump started to form in my throat. I swallowed, bracing myself as best as I could. Her next words were the last thing I expected to hear.

“Would you be willing to join my pack? Help me run this pack and start training to become the co-alpha here?” She looked at me, her eyes bright with hope. “It's not going to be easy, it will be hard on you, your body, your health.... but I’ll help you as best I can.... our trainers and doctors here will help you. Could you leave your pack and everything you knew and stay here.....live here.... with me?”

Next thing I knew I had jumped from my chair and almost launched myself over the desk at her. “Yes!”

She leaned back quickly; shock covered her face. Her eyes wide. Slowly she blinked and started laughing sweetly. “You really love quick answers, and to the point.” She smiled wide. “I like that.” Then a knock came to the door. She looked over my shoulder “Come in!”

“Good evening Alpha!” A slender woman came in, carrying two plates of food. She had blonde hair styled into a pixie haircut and light brown eyes. She quickly walked over and placed one plate in front of me and one in front of Samantha. “You really should take better care of yourself Alpha, you will make Beta Violet yell at us again.”

“She only yells at ya’ll cause I ignore it.”

“Yes ma’am.” The woman stands at attention, not acknowledging me at all.

“Jess, let me introduce to you, Benjamin.” She motions to me. “Benjamin, this is Gamma Jess. She was the mastermind behind today’s festivities.”

I stand to shake her hand, “Please, call me Ben.”  Jess didn’t move to take my hand. Did I mess up again?

“At ease Jess.” Samantha spoke up. Jess relaxed slightly and turned to me taking my hand firmly and shaking it.

“Nice to meet you, Ben.” She spoke.

“Jess, no need to be so formal. Ben will be joining our pack and will start training to become our co-alpha.”

Jess’ eyes widened slightly, and she quickly looked me up and down. “Sir, welcome, sir.”

Samantha sighed again, and rubbed her temple. “Right, Jess, status report.”

“Ma’am, sir” She stood at attention again. “Approximately 75 wolves have met their mates tonight, of those, about 40 are from our pack. In addition to Delta Daren 12 of those are from our border guard.”

“Right, those 12, please make sure they are also given tonight off. They will be too distracted with their mates than to effectively patrol. Please inform the acting patrol leader I will be down shortly to assist.” She checked her clock, “Wow, I did not realize it was after midnight. How is the clean-up coming? Be sure the bar is completely broken down first before the hall is cleared. And please let all the ranked members know I will be calling a meeting at 0900 sharp.” She glanced at me again. “And please take all of Benjamin’s bags to my room, I’m sure he’ll be more comfortable there.”

“Ma’am, yes ma’am!” She saluted. “Sir.” She nodded to me and left the room. All I could do was hold my mouth open in awe as she left.

“Sorry about that, Jess is former US military. When she gets nervous she reverts back to what she was taught in boot camp.” Samantha started to pick at her food.

That’s odd, by werewolf law we cannot serve in the military. It is too risky; our werewolf presence could be found out. I look to my plate, a little bit of everything evenly spaced out and I couldn’t help but notice nothing on the plate touched. I shrug it off though and start eating, enjoying the silent company.

“I shouldn’t be long, just long enough to make sure no one is down there slacking off. Maybe walk the perimeter and make sure the pack is secure.”

“You mind if I come with?” I ask. “It's just that...I kind of want to keep talking.” And I also don't want to let her leave my sight. I've already fallen hard and the strong urge to protect her has been ingrained in my brain. 

Samantha blinked slowly and looked at me with an unreadable expression. “Do you have comfortable clothes?”

I nod. Sweatpants were literally the biggest part of my wardrobe. Yet something else I’m not proud of.

“Okay, but stay close by. Last thing I need is for you to get lost out there and my pack members to think you’re trespassing. I’ll introduce you to the whole pack as soon as I can. Probably after all the visiting packs leave and things calm down. You will meet all of the ranked members in the morning.” She pushes her plate away from her and I can’t help but notice that more than half is still on the plate. “Did you need to talk with your parents? Your sister?”

Oh crap, I forgot all about them. Mom is going to throttle me for not telling her sooner! I must of shown a little panic on my face. “Yeah, I better tell them.”

Samantha smiled. “Violet just messaged me a few minutes ago, they were a little worried when you didn’t return. It seems we have been up here longer than we realized. They are on their way up now.” She leaned down and fastened her high heeled shoes back up. We both looked to the door as a loud knock resounded. “Come in!” She stood up. I quickly followed suit as my parents came into the office, both clearly worried. “Alpha Eric, Luna Mary, it’s a pleasure to see you both again. I apologize for keeping your son so late. We lost track of time.”

My father nodded in silent respect, but my mother’s face was focused on me. “Son, what?” She began.

“Mother, Father” I began, a mixture of nervousness and excitement in my voice as I finally get to say these words. “Let me introduce you to Alpha Samantha Serene Silver of the SilverFang Pack.” I turned around where she was giving me an approving smile. “And, my mate.”