Payton
I drove my own car over to the packhouse, just in case I wanted to duck out early. I pulled up to the front of the packhouse and saw a lot of fancy-dressed people mingling. I drove around to the side and parked by the house. I got out and headed inside the side door to the kitchen. I just need some water and a breath before I head into the ballroom. I am beyond nervous. What if my mate shows up tonight? What if he rejects me?
“Calm down, Payton,” says my wolf, Aurora,
“Mate will love us.”
“ I hope you are right, Aurora, “ I said.
I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and drink it.
“ There you are, Chicky, “ Ally says, coming into the kitchen.
“The Alpha is looking for you “
“I need some water,” I said,
“ I am just not ready to go into the ballroom yet.”
“ The Alpha can not introduce you if you are not there, Payton,” Ally says,
“ And he can not start the ball until he does, so get your perfect little a*s in there. Get on that stage and stand next to your brother NOW. “
“ OK, I am going. God, you’re so bossy, “ I said, walking past her towards the ballroom.
“I learned from you, chicky,” Ally laughs, following me in.
As I entered the room, I felt a lot of eyes on me. It was so packed in here; there are a lot of packs here. I kept my head held high and made my way to the stage where my family was waiting for me.
“Where have you been, Payton?” My dad asked me.
“Sorry I just stepped in the kitchen for some water,” I answered.
“ Oh, very good, sweetheart,” Dad says,
“ Let us start the ball, shall we?”
As soon as my father took out the microphone, the room went dead silent.
“ GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM JAMES BLACK, ALPHA OF THE BLACK STONE PACK WELCOME TO MY TERRITORY,”
“THIS IS MY LUNA NANCY. MY SON AND THE FUTURE ALPHA JAXSON AND MY DAUGHTER PAYTON”.
“WE WELCOME YOU ALL HERE FOR THIS YEAR’S MATING BALL, BEST OF LUCK TO ALL YOU KNEW WOLVES WHO HAVE COME TO AGE, AND TO THE RETURNING UNMATED WOLVES STILL LOOKING FOR THEIR MATES”. “MAY TONIGHT AND THIS YEAR’S BALL BE YOUR YEAR. LET THIS YEAR’S MATING BALL BEGIN!”
The room erupted with cheers; the music began to play. People began to mingle once again.
I stepped off the stage to go find Alison.
“ There are a lot of wolves here,” Alison says through our mind link.
“ Tell me about it; it is all so overwhelming “ I linked back.
Alison and I take to the dance floor and dance to the music. Soon, other women are joining us on the dance floor. The men stood to the side and watched on. Four songs later, the DJ slows the music down.
“Payton, may I have this dance? “ Zack Alison’s brother asks me.
“I would love to,” I replied.
Alison walks off towards the buffet table.
“ So any luck?” Zack asked me well we dance.
“It has only been an hour, Zack,” I said.
“I spent that time on the dance floor. I have not walked around, so I do not know yet.”
The song ends, and we break apart. Zack kissed my cheek.
“Now get out there and find your mate, Payton!” Zack says.
“What about you, Zack?” I asked him.
“ Are you looking for your mate as well?
“ Yes, I am,” he said happily,
“ Good luck, Payton.” he scurried away.
I stood there, laughing as I watched him rush through the crowd of people. It is too bad the moon goddess did not pair us as mates. Oh well. I started looking around Alison. I see her by the drink table talking to a very hot guy I have never seen before. From what I can make of him, he was 6.5,280lbs with long brown hair. it looks like his eyes are brown as well, and he has a lip piercing and goatee. I wonder if he is Alison’s mate.”
She looks happy. I stood there with a smile on my face. I am happy for her if this is her mate. An intoxicating smell floats in my nostrils. A scent of spiced sandalwood. I looked around but did not see anyone looking towards me. I turned to try to find the smell. I look towards the door and see the most gorgeous hottest guy I have ever seen. He had his long hair tied back neatly in a ponytail. he stood 6.5 285lbs with a goatee and a scar across his left eye, which made him even sexier. My hazel eyes met his blue eyes, and Aurora yelled.
“MATE”.
I have never seen this man before, so I know he is not from my pack. I was going to step towards him when Allison and the man I saw her with approached my mate. Alison looks at me. I saw fear in her eyes. My mate then left the ballroom, and Alison and the man holding her hand started walking towards me.
“ Payton,” says Alison,
“This is Caleb Adam, he’s my mate,” she says.
“Ally, that is awesome,” I said, hugging her.
“congratulations “
I pulled back and saw she still had that scared look on her face.
“Ally,” I say
“What is it? What is wrong? You do not seem happy about finding your mate.”
“Payton Caleb is the Beta of the Dark Shadow Pack.” Ally says,
I gasp. Oh, god, no wonder she doesn’t look happy.
“Payton,” says Caleb
“ You need to come with me now.”
“What? Why?” I Ask.
“Payton” Alison started to speak.
“ You need to come with me now, Payton,” Caleb says again.
“Listen here, Beta. I am an Alpha female, so you will not be ordering me around,” I said.
“Payton, please, “ says Alison,
“ Just come with us, please.”
“Fine for you, Alison. I will come with you,” I said.
I followed Alison and Caleb out of the ballroom and into the living room. I smelled spiced sandalwood as I entered the room and saw the sexy man from the ballroom standing there. Again, Aurora yells.
“Mate”
“Alpha, this is Payton Black, “ Caleb tells him.
” She is the daughter of Alpha James Black.”
The man says nothing; he just stares at me.
Wait, did Caleb just call him Alpha?
Alison said Caleb was the Beta of the Dark Shadow Pack, so that would mean, oh god, no. He is the Beast.
I got a mind link from Alison.
“ At least we get to stick together,” she says.
“I can not be with the Beast,” I told her.
I mind link my father to meet me in the packhouse living room and to hurry. Within seconds, my parents and brother were in the room next to me. I wrapped my arms around my mom, crying.
“Alpha Brooks,” says my father,
“It is so nice that you and your pack could join us this year.”
“Payton Sweetheart,” says my mom,
“ Why are you crying?”
“ Payton and I have found our mates tonight,” Alison tells them.
“Alpha James Luna Nancy, this is Caleb Adam, the Beta of the Dark Shadow Pack and my Mate,” she tells them.
I heard my parents and Jax gasp.
“ Well,” said my father,
“ Have you told your parents, Alison?”
“Not yet, Alpha,” she answered.
“Alpha James, Alpha Brooks is Payton’s Mate.”
My brother gasped and then growled. My father stood there shocked. My mother tightened her grip on me.
“No it can not be,” says my mom.
“You can not be her mate; there has to be a mistake.”
“There is no mistake, Luna Nancy”, I heard my mate’s voice for the first time.
“There has to be,” Mom said again.
“ My daughter can not be the mate of the.. the. BEAST”
I heard my mate laugh.
“Well, she is, and she will be coming with me,” he told my parents.
“Alpha Brooks,” said my father,
“ I beg you please … please reject her She is just a child. Please spare her.”
The Beast did not say anything in return. Instead, he whispered something to his beta. I saw Caleb’s head nod.
“I am taking Alison to inform her parents she has found her mate and to pack a few of her things,” Caleb tells my parents.
“Payton, you have an hour to pack what you want and meet in the parking lot. We will send our omega’s for the rest of your things this week.” Then he and Alison leave the room.
“YOU WILL REJECT MY SISTER NOW BEAST,” Jax yells.
In a flash, The Beast is across the room and has my brother by the neck dangling off the floor.
“DO NOT DISRESPECT ME BOY,” the Beast says through gritted teeth.
“YOU KNOW WHO I AM AND WHAT I AM CAPABLE OF.”
Jax tried to fight him off, but the Beast was squeezing tighter. My father was pulling on him and pleading for them to stop.
“STOP, STOP PLEASE!” I screamed,
“ Alpha Brooks, please let my brother go. I will go with you.
The Beast dropped my brother and walked out of the room.
“James, we can not allow our daughter to go with that Beast.” My mom cried.
“Enough Nancy,” my father says.
“ Payton is his mate. She saved her brother’s life by sparing her own by agreeing to go with him.”
“ If we try to stop her or hide her, it will just cause a war with him. I am so sorry, Princess. I do not know what I can do.”
“ It is OK, Daddy,” I said, hugging him.
“I could not allow my brother to get hurt or for a war to happen. I will go with him. It is OK.”
After hugging my family, I went to my room and packed a week’s worth of clothes along with everything I was going to need. And headed down to the parking lot.
“I said I would go with you, and I will,” I said.
“But can I please drive my own car? Please, Alpha Brooks, I will not try anything. My car just means a lot to me.”
He nods his head, yes, then says something to Caleb.
“Alison and I will be riding with you, Payton, “ Caleb says.
I smiled,
“Thank you, Alpha,” I said,
We piled into our cars, and I followed Alpha Brooks down the driveway, then off to our new home and to what awaits us.
