Chapter Three:

Alley POV:

When we arrived, I took notice of how neatly decorated the area was with canopies wrapped in

lights and vines wrapping around the poles, several tables that had been covered with different

color flowers and chairs each table sitting about fifteen people per pack. It had to be held outside

because we don't have a room big enough to hold everyone. My mother had a huge flooring

company come in and set wood flooring down outside so everyone could walk comfortably,

mainly the women. Wearing high heels in the grass can be difficult at times. The floor reminded

me of the inside of a tree with all the different markings, but it had a gloss coat over it to make it

smooth. At the back of the floor there was a bar where people could go to get any extra drinks

that they wanted. On the opposite side was where the food tables were.

The tables where everyone would sit surrounded the outer edges of the floor leaving

the middle open for those who wanted to dance. Overall, it was beautiful, and I was amazed that

my mother had it all done before the night arrived. We walked over to the buffet tables and saw

the different amounts of food that was chosen. It's hard to tell what everyone likes so we decided

to have one table that held seafood with shrimp, crab legs, crab cakes, lobster and different types 

of fish. On the other table it held more meats like steaks, burgers and chicken with a salad bar at

the end with all the sides anyone could hope for. I could feel my mouth water at the sight of all

the food.

 "Did you not eat lunch?" Tye asked while Jackson's face held a frown.

 "I had a small lunch and we had snacks in between," I said grabbing a plate and  heading to the meat table before my brothers had the chance to get on to me for not really eating.

 My brothers stayed close by me, always scanning their eyes. One by one everyone

slowly piled in and started to mingle. It amazed me to see so many people get along for once.

Everyone was dressed to perfection. Each luna from a pack had nearly four guards plus their

alpha mates. None of them looked worried at all; everyone looked rather happy and relaxed.

After we got our food, we sat at our table with a few other people from our pack when I

overheard my brothers talking about the recent rogue attacks and I couldn't help but be curious

about what their angle was or if anyone had figured it out yet. Surely someone had captured one  and questioned them, right? How else are we going to know why they are doing what they are

doing? Some believe they are looking for a source of power, but it's unknown what power but

then again we aren’t even sure if that holds any truth.

"What is the latest on all the rogue attacks on why they are attacking everyone"? I

asked Jackson.

 "Who the hell knows with those dirt bags. They have no sense and live to make others’ lives hell." I couldn't agree more, but something was telling me that it was something bigger than

we all realize. Feeling a little flushed from the wine, I decided I needed to get a little further out 

in the venue to get some fresh air, needing to get my mind off all the issues that were currently

going on.

 "I need some fresh air if you boys don't mind." Jackson turned to look at me and I

guess he saw my face and decided not to argue.

 "You are to take at least one of us with no exceptions," Jackson replied.

 "No worries, I will walk with her," an all too familiar voice said.

 We all turned around to see Duncan.

"Like hell, Duncan, unless you want her to break your nose again," Tye responded

with a grim look obviously still mad that he took a cheap shot at me and then insulted me.

 "I never got the chance to apologize for my remark and I would like to talk to her

about it if you don't mind," Duncan said.

 I became immediately annoyed; he had the balls to tell me I was the weakest link in my

family even though I could beat our best fighters. Hence his broken nose not to mention he had

the audacity to take a cheap shot at me.

 "I am willing to hear you out but anything you have to say to me you can say in front

of my brothers, or you can take that apology and shove it up your ass," I snapped.

 Both my brothers coughed to hide their laughter but didn't bother to hide their smiles

full of pride.

"That's fine by me as long as I can get the chance to properly apologize," Duncan  replied with his eyes cast down to show his respect. As we walked a little farther out, I welcomed

the cool air breeze that felt nice against my warm skin.

 "You have five minutes to say what you have to say," Jackson snapped clearly feeling

impatient. 

 "Listen, what I said about you being the weakest link was out of hand and

disrespectful. I spoke before I had the chance to think. I knew you were strong, but my pride got

the best of me when I lost to you. I do apologize for my behavior and hope that you forgive me. I  would also like to apologize for my cheap shot. That was uncalled for and unacceptable. Again I

hope you forgive me," Tyler finished in a rush.

 A small part of me just knew my dad has something to do with this apology, but of

course he wouldn’t tell me if he had a word with Duncan or not. One of the good things about

my dad is he does things like this in silence and give whoever the chance to hold onto their

dignity.

"I do accept your apology; however, if you dare disrespect me or anyone else in this

pack, I will come back to kick your ass. No one is beneath you, remember that," I replied to him

letting out my alpha aura to show that I was serious and as I looked at my brothers as if they

wanted to say something, but they didn't.

 Duncan dismissed himself and we stood outside a little bit longer before walking back

into the ball. "Do either of you feel uneasy about the attacks?" I asked.

 "Alley, they do it just to do it. Sure there are rumors, but we don't know the actual

truth," Jackson said.

 "Don't worry, little sis, you'll always have us; you can't ever get away from your

brothers protection," Tye said, giving me a soft smile.

 Tye has always understood my worries a little better than Jackson did, not that Jackson

was mean or anything, but he's trained to think a certain way. Have facts before speculating.

 “We should probably head back in; I'm sure Mom will be looking for us," Tye said.

 "I'm surprised she hasn't started yelling at us through our mi—" I couldn't even finish

my sentence; I raised my nose up inhaling a scent that stood out and hit me like a ton of bricks. The most mouthwatering smell I had ever smelled. It smelled like a forest after it

rained with oak trees and chocolate mint. It had a strong scent. It was the greatest thing I had

ever smelled. As I turned my nose more to follow the smell, my brothers took notice and

immediately tensed up and stepped closer to me. I couldn't pinpoint where the smell was coming

from. I need to know who it belongs to.

 "Dad, I think Alley smells her mate. What do we need to do?" Jackson barked through

our mind link.

"Bring her to me NOW!" our dad yelled back. Still in a daze, my brothers grabbed each of

my arms and started hauling me towards our dad. I didn't even realize they were practically

dragging me towards my dad. Rose was going nuts in my head begging me to follow the scent; she knew who it belonged to, but I couldn't think straight. I couldn't move my body to follow it.

Suddenly, a loud vicious growl shook the ground making everyone freeze. As we

turned to see where it came from, the man was in front of us in a flash.

 "MINE!" was all he said before reaching to remove my brothers’ hands from my arms.

 Both my brothers pushed me behind them and let out vicious growls to warn the man

before us calling me his mate. It was as if there was a standoff between the three. My brothers

trying to protect me and the man wanting my brothers away from me. Rose was going crazy in

my head.

 "MATE.” I stood in shock as I tried to take a step forward when my mother and father

rushed forward.

 "Boys, stop! This is Alpha Quincy." Alpha Quincy? Of the Blackwood pack? How

have I never met him? Their lands are less than an hour from ours!

 "She is mine," he growled out. His eyes kept switching from pure black to blue. He

was fighting with his own wolf to keep him at bay.

 "Alpha Quincy, these are my sons. They would never hurt her, I promise. She is my

daughter," my father said. Alpha Quincy snapped his head at my father, his eyes black showing

his wolf was still trying to surface.

Rose was trying to surface mad that she was being kept from her mate. She started  growling at both my brothers and I was fighting to keep her back and I was struggling. The last

thing anyone needed was Rose coming out and fighting everyone in her way. I felt my entire

body start to shake second by second. It was hard to keep her in control. My eyes trained on the alpha in front of us. He turned his head back to me and I could see he was struggling just as

much as I was. Both of us had to contain them somehow. His eyes snapped next to me and

before I could see who he was looking at he met my gaze. It was as if nothing else mattered in

that moment.

My mother came to my side making sure that I was okay and wrapped her arm around

my shoulder whispering in my ear, "Rose, I know you can hear me. You need to stop fighting, no  one is keeping you from your mate." I felt Rose calm down as if she understood.

 "Breathe, Alley," I heard her say before giving me a slight push forward. My brothers

backed away but not too far and never took their eyes off him. I stepped closer to him, and when  our eyes locked, the only word the was echoed through my head was "MATE". I watched as he

struggled to regain control over his wolf. He reached his hand out to my face cupping my cheek. I felt sparks where his hand had touched. His hands were rough but not in a bad way. I leaned my 

head towards his hand and closed my eyes. I felt his thumb brush under my eye making me snap

my eyes open. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him sparks erupted

everywhere. He buried his face in the crook of my neck breathing in my scent to calm himself. I  felt nothing but relief in this moment. Everything else was cancelled out; it was like we were no

longer at the ball.

 "Alright, everyone, get back to the ball. Everything is fine." My father’s voice echoed

through the air and everyone went back to what they were doing. My mate gently touched my

face again and I felt the tingling sensation of sparks. I could feel Rose purring in my head. This

is what we have been waiting for. I had no idea it would be like this. The stories we have been

told is nothing like this. I gasped from the intensity and my breath started to hitch just as he was

about to say something a female wolf shrieked out, "ROGUES!"