Bounding up the stairs, Chris was interrupted by the sound of the front door slamming open.
“Chris! Chris, where are you? Get over here, right now!”
His brow furrowed in confusion. Who was this person, barking orders at him? No one ordered the alpha around!
It was Danny, pacing around in a state of agitation. This was unusual for Danny. Chris quickly descended the stairs to meet him.
“Danny, what’s up?”
“I need to talk to you in private. I think I have a problem, a very big one.”
“Let’s go to my office,” Chris suggested, leading the way. Once inside, he sank into his leather chair while Danny shut the door and began pacing again.
“Sit down. You’re making me anxious and you’re ruining my carpet. What’s happening?”
“I just met my mate,” Danny confessed, sinking into a chair and burying his face in his hands.
“What? That’s great news!” Chris exclaimed, rising to pat Danny on the back. He couldn’t understand Danny’s reaction. He should be ecstatic.
“Why are you so worked up? Why are you even here? You should be on top of the world! You should be with her right now, claiming her!”
“She’s human,” Danny murmured, still staring at the floor. “My mate is Ava Johnson, the girl who’s here for the nurse position.”
Chris paused, looking at Danny. “Wow, I didn’t see that coming. That’s a bit of a letdown,” he admitted, sinking back into his chair. He rubbed his face with his hands. “What do you want to do? Do you want a human mate?
“Or do you want to reject her? You know, she won’t even know if you do it now. Humans don’t feel the same as we do when it comes to mates. Either way, whatever you decide, I’ve got your back.”
“I don’t mind her being human,” Danny admitted quietly. “I just— I don’t know… I’m scared she’ll freak out when she finds out about us. And I don’t want to put her in danger.
“What will our enemies do when they find out I have a human mate? She won’t be able to defend herself against other wolves. She’ll always be in danger.”
Chris stroked his chin, deep in thought. After a few minutes, he finally spoke. “I think you need to tell her.” He met Danny’s gaze.
“I think she deserves to know. She deserves a say in this. Especially if you’re okay with her being human. You both deserve a chance, and you owe it to your wolf too.
“There’s a reason she’s your mate. I can talk to her about us being wolves if you want. Just think about it. Don’t rush into anything.”
“I will.” Danny sighed, rising from his chair. He gave Chris a desperate look.
“Let me know what you decide,” Chris told him. “I’m here for you.”
Once Danny had left, Chris picked up his phone. He dialed Adina’s office. He preferred using the phone for personal matters, even though mind-linking was easier.
When it came to alpha business, he didn’t mind mind-linking someone he didn’t know well. But for personal matters, it felt like an invasion of privacy.
Even as an alpha, he didn’t know everyone in his pack personally. Adina was one of those people.
“Miller Creek Clinic, Adina speaking, how can I help you?”
“Adina, it’s Chris,” he said. He paused, unsure of how to continue. “I was just wondering, have you had your talk with the potential new nurse?”
“She just left my office,” Adina replied, sounding surprised.
“What’s your first impression of her?” he asked.
“I see a lot of potential. She’s very qualified. She has the right credentials. I really hope she decides to stay,” Adina said honestly. “Why are you asking, Alpha? Why the sudden interest?”
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “Don’t take it to heart.”
They exchanged a few pleasantries before ending the call. He ran his fingers over his stubble, lost in thought. Chris felt a sense of joy for his best friend.
But there was a twinge of envy too; Chris hadn’t found his mate yet. He’d been on the lookout for her for years, but she remained elusive. As the saying goes, an alpha is at his strongest when his mate is by his side.
His parents were the perfect example of this. Their bond was unshakeable, enduring through all the trials they faced.
Whenever his mother visited her family, a three-hundred-mile journey, his father would be in a foul mood until her return.
And when his father passed away, his mother seemed to wither, growing weaker with each passing day.
His thoughts drifted back to Danny and his mate. Making a decision, he abruptly stood up.
He strode from his office to the garage, where his truck was parked, barely acknowledging the greetings from those he passed. He was a man with a purpose. He climbed into his truck and sped off, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.
Chris pulled his truck to a stop in front of the cabin where Ava and Jolena were staying. He knocked on the door and stepped back. As he waited for the door to open, he took in his surroundings, listening to the sounds of the night.
He sniffed the air—what was that scent? It was faint, but unmistakable. So sweet, so intoxicating, but he couldn’t identify it.
His wolf was unusually alert—what was going on? Before he could ponder it further, the cabin door swung open.
“Yes?” The girl who appeared in the doorway looked at him with a questioning gaze.
She was petite, barely reaching five-foot-two. He felt like a giant next to her. Her hazel eyes roved over him from head to toe.
“Good evening, I’m Chris. I’m the alpha of this pack.” He introduced himself, extending his hand for her to shake.
“Ava,” she responded, taking his hand in a firm shake.
“Is everything to your satisfaction?” he inquired. “Do you need anything?”
