She felt like her heart could sing as Adeline's wolf ripped through the trees. Adeline, for the first time, allowed her wolf to come out a little more as she approached the edge of her land's border. Her wolf seemed uneasy inside. to have complete authority. It appeared as though she was attempting to communicate with her human side.
Her favorite activity was to patrol the woods with her wolf while she was at the base of Lassen Peak in Northern California.
Although Adeline had not yet been hurt, her father, Beta of their pack, had always insisted that they travel in pairs or trios. In the dark, alone in the woods, she exercised the utmost caution. She felt it a commitment to keep her pack safe and however she might have taken quite a few wolves with her, she needed no required the alone time.
She was happy that she wouldn't have to go to The Claiming this year because she was twenty years old. All unmarried males and females over the age of 20 were required to attend this annual ceremony. That night, no she-wolves would go unclaimed, regardless of whether or not they found their true mate.
She wanted to find her mate as soon as possible because of that, and only for that reason. In comparison to the pull she would feel for a genuine partner, a claiming mark and pull were insignificant. She would only want to be mated with her true mate if she so desired.
When Adeline smelled a lovely cedar scent, she was almost at the territory's southernmost point. Cedar trees were not as predominant in that frame of mind an around her area, so the smell made her careful.
After bringing her wolf to a halt, she experienced the wolf's agitation once more in her mind and nearly pounced on whatever it was feeling or sensing.
She watched as a wolf slowly made its way toward her while she heard the crunch of leaves to her left. The scent got stronger and mixed with a scent of pine that was nice and cool.
She wanted to touch the wolf's silky golden fur as it got closer. She was puzzled as to why she felt compelled to reach out and caress the beast because it appeared to be almost silky.
Her solar plexus felt almost unbearable as the large golden wolf got closer. This wolf was a shifter, a were. There could only be one meaning to the tug.
He married her.
After that, Adeline took a moment to locate a likely tree, where she saw the carefully dug-in hole. Taking out a long shirt, she went behind the tree and staged back to her human structure, pulling the shirt on rapidly.
She thought she would see the wolf still waiting for her when she emerged from behind the tree again. Instead, there was a man who was tall and built strong.
He was massive, and he had a lot of power. He had piercing blue eyes and a scruffy-looking 5 o'clock shadow, and his hair was short and blond. She had never seen anything more delectable than him.
"Strange wolf, what's your name?" I asked. She inquired about him. And why are you on my land so close to here?
She was informed by him, "I am Hunter Douglass of the Lassen pack, son of William Douglass Alpha to said pack." He spoke with a deep baritone that made Adeline tremble. And you, Luna, my future? My beauty, what is your name?"
Before speaking again, Adeline cleared her throat to avoid flushing at his words.
Adeline Warner, a member of the Willow pack, is my name. She responded, her voice strong, "I am Beta Corbin Warner's daughter."
He looked down at his partner as he walked toward her wearing only red basketball shorts and cupped her chin in his hand.
"You, my lovely companion, ought to take me to your father. I would like to meet the woman in front of me's mother and future father-in-law.
Adeline gave a nod. Follow this path.
Before Adeline broke it, the two of them walked in silence for some time.
"My mom has passed," Adeline said unobtrusively. " You only need to worry about my father. I do not have any other relatives."
"If I may ask, how did your mother pass away?" Hunter inquired.
She responded, "Hunters, over a decade ago."
Adeline had to turn around to see where the low, blood-curdling growl was coming from. When she turned to look at Hunter, she saw that he had locked fists and stood still.
"Are you alright?" She needed his help.
"Hunters? Here?" In a gravelly voice, he asked. It was promptly certain that his wolf was battling to dominate.
She reassured, "Not for many years." My mother's killer was a hunter who belonged to this small army. When it comes to civilization, we are pretty far from it. Since then, there haven't been any issues. I hear a large number of them went north toward the northern states or Canada."
Tracker appeared to oversee himself. He did, however, begin to move again, albeit with a little more rigidity. He took several deep breaths and looked behind him as though a hunter might suddenly emerge from behind a tree. Additionally, he got close enough to Adeline that as they walked, their arms brushed.
Indeed, Hunter was exerting control over his wolf. In order to protect its partner, it begged to be let out. She was already under its extreme protection.
Are you new to this region of California? I've never heard of the Lassen pack. As they talked, she asked. She had to focus on getting home because the way their arms brushed each other was distracting. Even though she could just smell her way back to her house, the woods in this area were like a maze, and she was ten different kinds of confused in her head. He mate, the pull, his eyes, that body... She tried to push those thoughts away and focus on moving toward home.
We are, in fact, new to the region. Originally from southern Oregon, we decided to relocate to California. With the recent rogue attacks and the bloody war going on up north in Washington, we decided to move. Many of our members have friends and family in California.
"Which war?" Adeline inquired. Residing where she did, she seldom heard news from different packs. She probably wouldn't know anything about what was going on outside if it weren't for cell phone technology.
A pack that was attempting to seize their Luna was defeated a few weeks ago by a coalition of wolf packs. He told her, "I heard the pack was beaten, Luna is safe, and the rest of the pack was liquidated."
How were man packs involved? She inquired, wanting to learn the first information about them in what seemed like years.
There were at least six packs among the allies. He only had his own members and a few rogues to help him in the other pack that was attacking. It's not surprising that they lost. Rogues are vile beings who only care about themselves. They are unreliable. lack of group mentality.
Adeline advised him, "Well, I certainly am glad you were able to get away unscathed."
"I'm also, Princess. He said quietly, "As am I."
They continued making small talk for another twenty minutes before arriving at a wooded clearing. Many lodges and little houses embellished the region and close to the highest point of the slope was the house where the Alpha and Beta families resided.
Turning to him, Adeline hesitated for a moment. If you want to continue coming, I will need to ask for your permission. Even though I don't think you pose any threat to any of us, letting you into my Alpha's house without telling him would put me in jeopardy. While I speak with him, please remain here. Naturally, my father as well. He will accompany the Alpha.
Hunter was finally able to see his partner a little more clearly thanks to the lights from the houses nearby. She had a smooth white coloring, unsullied by any scars. Her gray eyes were like deep pools of churning waters, and her hair was a deep midnight black.
Tracker's wolf murmured at seeing her.
"Anything that it takes, Holy messenger," he told her with a little grin. Before turning away and heading toward the Alpha's house, Adeline reciprocated with a smile.
Hunter mindlinked with his father to inform him of the situation while Adeline was absent.
I've found her, Father. He explained. She is beautiful, my friend.
My father stated, "You will bring her to us immediately, once you have met her parents." We are proud of you, not congratulating you, son.
I will shortly meet her father. Through the link, Hunter added, "The Alpha."
His father demanded that he obtain permission from her Alpha to bring her here despite the absence of both parents.
Hunter firmly stated, "I will obtain the blessing of her father first." Hunter no longer feared his father's rule over him.
His father said it was fine. However, I require your return. You will soon be Alpha, so you need to get ready.
His father then severed the connection.
******
"Father? Alpha? Are you present? When Adeline heard their screams, she had just entered the cozy confines of her house. She never looked for their scents before calling out. Before finally resorting to simply calling out to people to get their attention, she had seen a few awkward scenes that her eyes could never forget.
His father yelled, "I'm in the office with Alpha James, sweetie." She might not have heard him at all if she didn't have super sensitive hearing.
Inside the house, she never used the pack link. She had no idea when her father, the Alpha, or Luna would try to stop her so that they could be mean wherever they pleased. She knew her Alpha and Luna loved each other, so it wasn't always a bad home situation. even though it was a little bit more public than she was used to.
After knocking on the door and getting permission to enter, Adeline entered the workplace. Alpha James was seated behind his desk, his reading glasses a little off-center on his face, and carrying paperwork. The other office chair had her father facing the door.
"Addie, darling what's up? Her father responded, "You look odd."
She responded, "I was on patrol when I found something, actually someone."
Her father quickly got to his feet.
"Were they rogues? Hunters?" He shook Addie as if she were an 8-ball and could give him the right answer when he asked.
"No, Dad! If it's not too much trouble, chill," she said disregarding his arms her. " I found my partner.
"Mate?" you ask. Her father appeared relieved but also a little concerned at the same time. After all, Adeline was his only child after her twin, Braelynn, died.
Adeline said, "Yes, he is outside and I was wondering if I could let him come in and meet you and Alpha James." She gave her father a puppy dog look in her grey eyes as she hoped for the best.
Alpha James replied, "Of course." Get the boy inside. Corbin, we'll check to see if he has what it takes to care for your daughter. If not, I'll kick him in the back over the mountain with a drop kick. Face to face.
"Go get your mate, darling," her dad said soothingly. When the Alpha had stated that he would drive him out, Adeline had appeared a little anxious. Adeline was still being overprotected and looked at the Alpha and Beta as though she were a young child.
"Agreed, Daddy."
With trepidation, she glanced back at the two office workers. Alpha James was rolling up his shirt sleeves, and the wolf that was her father appeared prepared to emerge from his skin at any time.
Adeline returned to the front door to retrieve her partner, sighing. She hoped that the two men wouldn't scare her partner before she got to know him.