Nia POV
As I gave Travis the directions to my house, I could feel the tension in the air along with the fact that he was gripping the steering wheel tight in one hand while he frustratedly ran the other through his hair, showing me he was on edge right now and probably because of the way I acted back in the parking lot.
I couldn't help the way I was feeling, seeing that man again who I now know is his brother, just made me feel uncomfortable again. Unconsciously my body reacted by getting closer to Travis as a sort of protection from what I thought was dangerous. I looked over at him and saw his jaw clenched trying to hide his apparent anger but I don't see why he would be angry. Sure, his brother didn't have a good aura around him and I thought I was the only one feeling it but I guess Travis was just reacting to the way I clung to him.
Naturally, males will feel protective over females they like, so I guess this was his way of showing me that he does care about my well-being and safety. My mind was then brought back to reality when he pulled in front of my house and stopped the car. He turned off the engine before getting out and walking around to help me out my side.
As he walked me to my door, I felt him lightly grab my arm making me turn and face him.
"Nia, I know that we've only known each other for 3 weeks and that most of our interaction has been over the phone and through text but in that short amount of time, I've realized that you're a person I want to get to know more about. What I'm asking you, Nia, is if you would have dinner with me on Friday?"
I couldn't believe it, this man was interested in me to the point of asking me out to dinner. This not only confirmed that we were both having feelings for each other, but I was just the one that was too shy and nervous to come out and say it because I feared being rejected in that way.
"Yes Travis, I'd like to have dinner with you", I said with a shy smile looking down not able to handle his intense gaze.
"I'll be by to pick you up at 8 on Friday, wear something dressy, we're going to a nice place in the city," he said before kissing me on the cheek and turning to go back to his car.
It would be an understatement to say I was blushing, I'm pretty sure my whole face was red at this point. As I opened my door, I looked back to wave at him before he pulled off leaving me alone with my thoughts. That pulling feeling I get when I'm near him only seemed to be confirmed now that we've taken this new step in what I hope will be a relationship.
Travis POV
As I drove back to the pack lands, things were starting to come together in my mind. Somehow Garrett had contact with Nia in town but he still acted like a stranger toward her which means she's just now finding out that I and he are related. I'm just hoping this doesn't ruin my plan for our date, knowing that the man who asked you out on a date is related to another man that gave off bad vibes would be enough to make any woman cancel.
"Mate will not cancel, she is feeling the pull stronger each day and when the truth about who we are is finally revealed, then the bonding can begin but only if she accepts us", my wolf said trying to ease my mind.
That's the last thing I wanted to think about. If she rejects me then I won't be able to have a family and continue the bloodline as I had always wanted. The worst part about that is if Garrett and Anna have pups which most likely will happen, they will be brainwashed like he was and our pack will be led by the old ways of thinking that can also alienate us from other packs that might not want to ally with us.
As I pulled onto the private road that leads to the pack village, I decided me and Garrett need to talk, set rules, and also let him know that if he makes Nia feel uncomfortable again then there will be consequences.
"Garrett meet me at the south river in 15 minutes," I mind-linked him.
It took a few minutes for him to respond which pissed me off more.
"What do you want, I'm busy with my mate right now," he said arrogantly knowing that it would strike a nerve with me.
"Just get your ass to the river!" I yelled before cutting the link.
In times like this, I wish I could just kick him out of the pack but that could only happen if he challenged me to a fight or betrayed the pack.
"He doesn't act like a proper Beta nowadays, I fear he will betray us in some way," my wolf growled.
With all these thoughts and emotions running through my head right now, I needed to shift and get some of this frustration out. I pulled up to the main house where all the higher-ranked wolves lived, including my head warrior Jesse and Stacy that were also just getting back from the festival.
"Jesse I'm going to need you to lead tonight's patrol, I have some things to take care of."
"Sure alpha, I'll get the warriors ready", he said before going inside.
I've always preferred working with him instead of my brother because he was open-minded like me but dad had the final say in filling the Beta position.
I went up to my room on the third floor to change into a simple pair of shorts, then went out back and shifted into my alpha wolf. In this form, I was the biggest wolf in the pack being 6'5 at the shoulders with a strong muscular build and grey fur. The only other wolf that could match my strength was Garrett since he also had Alpha blood in him.
I took off running full speed to the river enjoying the free feeling of running wild in the woods. Since it's the most secluded part of the territory, it wouldn't draw any attention if this talk didn't go well and a fight started.
After a few minutes of running I finally started smelling the scent of mountain pine and freshwater meaning I was close. When I got there, I looked around and of course, Garrett was nowhere in sight. After a couple of minutes, I saw his black wolf come walking out of the bushes with a grin on his face.
"Ok, what do you want, I'm here now."
"I brought you out here to keep this talk private and set some ground rules between us. By now you know my secret I've been keeping from the pack."
"Oh, you mean that human you've been talking to for the past month? I knew you were losing hope in finding your mate but I never thought you'd stoop so low as to start seeing a human to fill that void but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, you always had a fondness for them that neither me nor father could ever understand to be honest."
His blatant words referring to my mate and her kind, only angered me more before I jumped forward slamming him to the ground with a roaring growl.
How did you find out about us ?!"
"Earlier last month when you sounded the warning howl that night but told me not to be alarmed or even send out the warriors, I got suspicious. I then followed your scent up to the ridge and saw the fire, so imagine my shock when I saw my brother, the alpha fawning over a human female. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, so I followed you both through the woods back to her house."
"Don't think I didn't notice how you were constantly walking close to her and sniffing her scent when she wasn't looking. By the time you got back to the pack lands, it was obvious who she was to you."
His words not only shocked me but also worried me. He knows my mate is human and while it's not a big deal for others in the pack to accept, it's my father's reaction that I worry about most. He and Garrett agree on everything and if he decides to intervene and keep his promise about not letting humans in the bloodline, then her life could be in danger.
"Garrett, I swear if you so much as come near her or her home with bad intentions, I will personally make sure your presence in this pack is gone either by banishment or death!" I growled at him before he got up and took off into the woods.
That woman is a gift sent to me by the gods, her happiness and safety are my top priority and no one's opinion will ever change that.