Chapter 2

Izan was annoyed.

His beta, Adam had forgotten to ask Alpha Calihan for the scroll. The Alpha King, alpha Kieran had passed new instructions on how to relate with the mundanes at the supernatural meeting. These instructions were embedded in the scroll which he would have gotten if he wasn't busy talking to some faeries.

Luckily Calihan had taken two but he had to go to his pack to get it while he sent his beta and top epsilon home.

He sat down in the pack house waiting impatiently for one of the few people he could call a friend. Calihan had said something a few days ago about finding his mate so he could understand why he was being kept waiting.

Sooner than later, Calihan appeared with the scroll in his hand. "Sorry, I was busy."

"Save it," Izan kissed his teeth as someone came inside. He collected the scroll and opened it, going through it as the person spoke. "Alpha, Astra is here to deliver bread to the grand luna."

"Let her in," the person bowed and left. 

"How's the mate?" Izan asked still scanning through.

"Mute," Calihan said honestly.

Izan nodded as he mushed his lips together unfolding the scroll even more. "Imperfection is good."

Just then, a surge of cold shock ran through Izan's body making him curl his hands into fists. He tried to push back the feeling as he furrowed his eyebrows, starting to lose interest in the jumbled cursive letters.

"It can't be," Laken mumbled.

The fact that his wolf also didn't want to consider the possibility made him more agitated. The aromatic sweet smell of cardamom wafted through his nostrils as he rolled up the scroll.

The fruit note menthol-like flavor scent was so strong that he could practically feel the resinous spice on the tip of his tongue. It was an uncommon scent on a woman, spice. But this woman, this notable mate of his smelt of earthy-sweet, woodsy and fruity spice with a whiff of zen.

Izan turned to look at the door. The first thing he saw was a shadow figure standing at the open sun-illuminated door. When she walked in and the door was closed, he finally took her in.

Pear-shaped body and long curly orange perm hair that cascaded down slender shoulders invaded his eyesight. Astra walked in holding a bag. She knew her mate was in there but she was going to play it cool. Trying to push the overpowering smell of wintermint away, she walked in. His scent was fresh and sharp and was even more intricate than peppermint, almost bitter even.

She walked in as her siren eyes made contact with the fine specimen in front of her but she quickly averted her eyes as she bowed and looked at Calihan beside the said mate.

Alpha," she greeted and Calihan smiled at her coming forward.

"Astra." The ever-smiling Alpha acknowledged his pack member before turning to his friend. "Izan, meet–"

"Mate," Izan completed.

Sure enough, they were staring at each other, or more like Izan was glaring at her but Astra didn't look intimidated, and although the male was gazing at her out of surprise, Astra didn't return the glare. If anything, she didn't look fazed. Izan didn't think he could get a mate after what happened to him. Anyway, that was a story for another day. "Astra?" Calihan called her name trying to take care of the situation at once.

"Alpha," she bowed again.

"Do you want to go with him?" She kept quiet for a while as she stared at him before she nodded and Izan rolled his eyes.

"OK, go to Rajesh or Min Ho and have one of them prepare the necessary documents. You can stay as long as you want and if he tries something wrong, come to me." He wasn't going to let anyone harm his pack member, friend or not. She smiled in appreciation and Izan just grunted.

"Take care of her," Calihan said before leaving her with him.

When Astra was done, she came back to meet her mate pacing. "You have thirty minutes to pack your things and meet me back here." He said. No hi, no hey, no how are you, no this is my name and you? The man wasn't even smiling at her so why expect anything from him?

Astra only nodded not bothering to argue. She wasn't going to obey him. She was going to spend one hour and she wouldn't care less if he left without her. The female went home and mind-linked her sister to meet her there then she broke the news to them.

Alba immediately hugged her and started helping her pack while her mother advised her. "Who is he?"

"Alpha Izan of New Dawn pack."

"Oh my goodness. You're mated to that alpha? Did you know he lost his mate a while ago?" Alba supplied.

"Which means he'll cherish you more," her mother grinned at her.

I certainly do not think so, Astra thought to herself.

"How did he lose his mate?" Astra asked.

"I heard she was killed by rogues."

"Now that he has set his eyes on you, he'll need you more than ever. Finding a second mate doubles the emotions."

"Including hate?" Astra asked.

"Why would he hate you?" Her mother frowned.

"I never said he hated me, I was just curious since you said all emotions." She argued.

"Yes then, including hate," the mother answered back. "Oh sweetie, I'm so happy," her mother hugged her.

Astra smiled to herself. The look on her mother's face was divine, it made her look ten years younger.

"Hey, you weren't this happy when I found my mate," Alba complained. "You weren't even this happy when I had Jakob."

"Stop being jealous, you know Astra has always had a bit of a hard time with people and she didn't find her mate until after six years of you finding yours. My greatest fear was her not having a mate but now that she does, I'm so happy."

"Why didn't he come with you?"

"He was settling some things with the Alpha."

"But you're leaving so soon. Can't you wait until tomorrow?"

"He has some things to do back at his pack. Unless you're okay with me staying back?"

"Hell no," Alba said.

"No way, never," her mother waved her hands around.

Astra gave them a small smile but her mother noticed the sadness behind it instantly. "Are you okay hunnie?"

No, I'm not. I don't think he likes me very much but I have to go because of you. I want to make you proud as Alba has done.

"Yeah, I'm totally fine."

"At least, he didn't reject us," her wolf, Aine tried to reason.

"Wow, that's really amazing then," Astra replied with sarcasm.

"I'm serious, I don't think his wolf likes me too and that's saying a lot since wolves connect more than humans."

Astra sighed.

Both man and wolf didn't like woman and wolf.

"Okay done," Alba said. 

"Let me go with you so I can meet him."

"No need mom."

Alba carried two bags and Astra carried one. Izan was waiting by the jeep when they got to the pack house. He was a six-foot male with rich black hair and a full-length left arm tattoo.  He frowned slightly when he saw Alba.

"Hi, I'm Alba, her twin sister." Izan gave his mate's sister a sweet smile and nodded but Astra had known him long enough to know that smile was forced. "Please take good care of my sister, our mother would be devastated if anything happened to her."

"I understand."

No, you don't, Astra said to herself.

After pleasantries, her things were loaded into the car. She then gave her sister one last hug before entering the car. 

"You are late," Izan said as he put on his seatbelt.

"I know," she replied and he turned to glare at her.

"Don't piss me off, it won't end well for you."

She looked at him, maintaining eye contact. "Don't annoy me, it won't end well for you." She repeated in his face. 

The alpha looked shocked for a moment but quickly recovered and brought his face very close to hers, their lips almost touching. Izan looked deeply into her eyes.

"Once betrayed, twice tested."