Mate

Denise leaned against a tree near the cabin, watching Marcy and Aiden who were exchanging their goodbyes in front of the door.

The place was deep in the pack's woods, somewhere Aiden seemed to own. Every time he met with Marcy or any other girl, he would always bring them there...and unfortunately, he'd also have Denise tag along. Rather than her who he was to marry, he found pleasure in other women.

He had never been interested in her as a woman, instead Aiden only cared about her appearance. For that, she was a bit relieved.

"So, in two days...this place? I'll call you if anything changes, yeah?"

Marcy gave him a shrug, noisily smacking her lips together as she chewed on a gum she dug up from somewhere inside. "Whatever."

"Are you upset?" Aiden frowned, hands drifting up under the dress shirt she had just slipped on and riding straight up to her breasts, cupping them. He leaned his head against her shoulder, a sly grin on his lips as his tongue travelled across her neck, "How should I make it up to you, babe? Whatever you want...I'll let you have it."

Denise turned away at that point.

"I'll take whatever's in your pocket along with that watch you got there. Next time, I'm not letting you off easy."

"As you wish. Anything for you~"

"W-Wait... that tickles! Don't stick your finger in!"

"Sorry~"

"By the way, don't you dare fuck that stupid, loose bitch in my stead! She irritates me. I know you can't marry me because I was a rogue, but at least marry someone with manners and class. You can do much better, babe."

Denise frowned at the disrespect, but didn't open her mouth to answer. If she said anything, Marcy would never let it finish.

"Refrain from talking shit about my fiancé." Aiden's expression had gone completely serious in an instant. His head was already off Marcy's shoulder and his face was void of all playfulness.

But before Denise could even begin to think he had just defended her, a grin wider than the ocean quickly ran to his face. Then, Marcy burst into a fit of laughter.

"Let's fuck long and hard next time, yeah?"

A sigh left Denise's lips. They were mocking her again, like always.

She remained silent until he finished flirting and walked over to her, grabbing her with the same hands that had just fiddled Marcy in a million different ways.

Ignoring how gut wrenching his hold was, Denise allowed him to pull her along as they made their way back to the pack house. They barely passed any wolves on the way, which meant the others were sleeping or getting ready for their full moon run.

In minutes, they were at the edge of the woods, and just ahead was their pack house...a large building that kept more than fifty wolves housed. Others, lived in little cottages nearby.

A wolf jogged up to them through the faint darkness, handing Aiden a bottle before wandering off again. Aiden quickly sprayed it all over, completely hiding Marcy's scent. It was something he always did after meeting women so his father would not catch on.

"Is he already here? The Alpha guest?"

Aiden took a quick sniff and nodded his head. "It appears so."

That was good news on her part. The sooner they arrived, the sooner this meeting would end!

Denise went to move off, expecting Aiden to follow, but when he remained in place, she looked back.

"Tonight..." He started, "I'm not sure what father has planned so don't wander off on your own."

"Huh?"

"Even though I'm heir, I've never been invited to important meetings like this before. I'm guessing there's a reason behind having not only me, but also you there. So, I'm saying...stay by my side."

When Denise's face twisted with confusion, Aiden only laughed, inciting even greater confusion, "That's just in case my father plans to sell you off to that Alpha. You're the prettiest I've seen in all my life, if I can't have you...no one else can."

'Oh, that's what it is.' Denise thought. She could never understand the minds of prideful Alphas. He did not want her, yet he claimed she was his.

"Let's go." He hauled her out of the woods and headed for the pack house where the meeting would be held but before they could near the front door, it was suddenly pulled open and the alpha stepped out. Then, behind him... the last person she expected to see followed.

Her Father; Wyatt Vera, Alpha of the Moon Born Pack!

"F-Father, you're here? H-How?"

Could he have returned for her?

"You still don't know how to greet your superiors, do you?!" Was the first thing he spat as soon as his eyes laid on her, face scrunching in distaste.

Panicking, Denise immediately bowed but her father didn't bother taking another glance at her worthless figure. Her existence alone made him sick to the stomach. Ignoring her, his eyes moved to Aiden, a big smile quickly forming at his lips. "Forgive me if this hooligan has caused you any disgrace."

"She has just the right dose of cuteness, so I don't mind at all." Aiden laughed, "From where did you get such a woman? Her looks are far superior to all I've seen. Is she really your daughter?"

Wyatt did not pick up on the disguised insult but his smile still dropped immediately. "You're right, a monster like that...is no child of mine."

Denise lowered her head, stuffing her wobbling lips between her teeth.

He was right...beneath that pretty face of hers, she was a monster. And all she'd done to her father, was bring him misery. When he sold her off, she was honestly kind of glad. Being tossed aside and betrayed by her own family...was the best punishment they could give her.

Frowning at her thoughts, she glanced up, noticing that the moon had begun to shine brightly in the night sky. Her shift was nearing...she could feel it.

"Enough with the pleasantries." Aiden's father; Denver, spoke up this time, and Denise looked over at him, catching the weird look he sent her way. "Denise, isn't it time for your shift?"

"It is." Denise answered quickly, "But I was t-told to attend the meeting before I am chained."

"Yes." His grin widened, "You'll be the main event tonight, after all."

"Main event?" Aiden piped in, both him and Denise was in a pit of confusion. "What do you mean? Father, don't tell me you really plan to sell off my fia—"

"Why...is there no one to greet me at your border?" A chilling voice split through the air and Denise felt a sudden cold, ominous breeze fly past her at the sound. But along with it, came a strange yet pleasant twist in the pit of her stomach.

"Who the hell do you people think I am?"

All heads swept to the edge of the woods, spotting a figure standing gracefully under the moonlight, his emerald eyes sparkling like little diamonds through the darkness.

Their orbs met the second she turned around to face him, but then, as if that mere eye-contact was the trigger, she felt her whole body heat up in an instant as a delectable sensation ran through her being.

His face which had been buried deep in anger quickly depleted, and he tilted his head, staring at her blankly.

"Mate!" Her wolf howled!