"What are the odds," Imani spoke shifting uncomfortably, "Is it possible that more packs are having this issue"
Reggie looked at her as if she had grown warts on her face. "Where have you ladies been? This is a worldwide problem. Women are coming up missing every day. That's what the meeting I went to was about. At least ten alphas were at the meeting with missing members. The council was there. It was a big deal. So why were you Alphas not there? How could you not know?"
"We don't get out much," Raven sneered.
"We are a very private pack," Shanice said. "We check in with the council, but we do not meet with them. We also do not know many other Alphas. We have never been ruled by pack politics."
Shanice stood and walked towards the door. "I really don't think he will be a threat. This issue is bigger than we thought, and I'd like to reach out to our allies and see what they know. I'd like to speak to my sisters alone now."
"In that case, am I free to go?" He asked, standing.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible yet," Shanice said, finally turning to look into the brown eyes that seemed to never leave her. She pushed open the shed doors to reveal two men and two women. "You will be our guest until we can verify your story and who you are. I'm afraid you will have to stay a little longer."
"Don't worry, sweetheart," he said, quickly coming to stand before her. He was so close that the tips of their toes touched. It was a compromising position. One that Shanice would never have approved of from anyone else. He was too close, yet not close enough. He leaned in and Shanice held her breath.
Reggie was impressed by his mate's strength. It was like an aura around her that would bring a lesser wolf to his knees. She was fighting their bond, but up close, she couldn't deny it. She was perfect. He leaned in as far as he would dare. "I won't leave until we have had some we time, and I will only be leaving to check on my pack. Believe me when I say I'll be back every time. I wouldn't leave now, even if you wanted me to."
"If she wanted you to leave, you most definitely would." Raven said nonchalantly. "The question is, would you be food for the wildlife or breathing?"
"She's mine," Reggie growled low, never taking his eyes from Shanice. It didn't need to be said. They had all established they were mates. This sister was out for blood and his wolf wouldn't stand for it. There was a level of mutual respect to be had between alpha's and this one was lacking it in abundance.
"Watch your tone, mutt," she sneered. "You're in our territory."
"People," Shanice yelled. "Can we please give the dominance a rest? From where I am standing, he is an ally. We are all having the same problem. Which means we all have the same enemy."
"The Enemy of my enemy is my friend," Imani quoted.
"Exactly," sighed Shanice. "Another brain wouldn't hurt. We're lost in this and apparently in need of a briefing. He's also my mate, so please Raven, be nice."
"Fine" moaned Raven. "I'll stop planning his death for now." and then she walked away,
"Is she always like that?" Reggie asked.
"No," Shanice answered, looking him in the eye. "In real life, she's a lot worse. If you weren't my mate, you'd be dead. Don't accept anything from her. She might not be able to help herself. These ladies will take you to your room so that you can get comfortable. I will find you later."
*****
"How can you have a mate?" Imani asked when they were alone.
"Exactly," Raven hissed. "he could be an imposter sent to learn our secrets. Or he could be responsible for our missing pack."
"Asia said he was telling the truth." Shanice supplied. Asia was never wrong. She was a feline lie detector, and she was good at it.
"Yeah, but you were all googly-eyed and horny," Raven complained. "He could have told you the sky was red and you would have believed him."
"We were told we would never get mates, Niecy," Imani said worriedly. "You know what the exception to the rule is."
"He will die," Raven said, closing her eyes, and just for a second she seemed remorseful.
Shanice barely contained the howl that threatened to come out. Reining in her emotions, she took a deep breath. "He's mine," she whispered. "All my life I've wanted a mate. All my life I have put my needs last. I know I can't mate with him, but can't I just enjoy him for a while? Would that be so wrong?"
Imani came and wrapped her arms around Shanice. "No sister, it's not wrong to want to be happy or to want to enjoy your mate. But it would be selfish to do so without letting him know the risk."
"He is an Alpha," Raven said solemnly. "I doubt an old curse will keep him away."
"He will want to fix it," Shanice said, knowing that as an Alpha, he would not just walk away. He wanted her, and she knew she wanted him just as badly.
"Don't you?" Imani asked.
Shanice didn't need to say out loud how she felt. No one knew her like her sisters. Even after just meeting, she knew she would walk to the ends of the earth to find a way to undo this curse. She had prayed to never meet her mate. She had embraced her isolation and rarely left pack grounds to make sure it never happened. For the first time, she realized all the security had also been to keep men away. She had wrapped her mind around being matless for the rest of her life, but now everything had changed. Against all odds, her mate had still found her and now she didn't want to let him go.