Chapter Two - Chase

We found her, my wolf said. Finally. Unable to stop myself, I stared like a starved animal at the woman standing across the room. There was too much space between us. Her chestnut-colored hair was down to her shoulders in waves that I wanted to sink my fingers into. Those jeans … I couldn’t wait to see her walk away from me in them. Did she sway when she walked? Everything about the woman called to me like a siren. But she didn’t look happy to see me. Those too-blue eyes were full of fire and hatred. What had they been speaking about before I came? I opened my mouth to speak when she ran toward the window and flung herself out of it. Not what I wanted from my mate. “—dammit,” Alpha Gerald hissed, rubbing his forehead with his fingertips. “I’m sorry. That’s my daughter.” “Your daughter?” I asked with a smile splayed on my lips. He cleared his throat loudly, bringing me out of my trance. “Is something—,” Then it dawned on him. “Is my daughter your mate, Chase?” I shifted in the doorway. “She is, though I don’t think she’s as happy to see me as I am her. Is she in a relationship?” Alpha Gerald sighed. “Shut the door and take a seat. We have a lot to talk about.” I didn’t like the sound of that. I shut the door and followed him toward the desk I’d be using as my own soon. Her uneaten plate sat as a beacon of bad news. They hadn’t had a good conversation before I arrived. Hopefully, that was the reason for her dramatic exit. I took a seat and immediately regretted it. My wolf howled at her scent. “Easy,” I whispered. Alpha Gerald placed his elbows on his desk and interlaced his fingers. “My daughter has been through a lot. Her mother died in an ambush when she was six years old. She sat in the closet while they killed her. She’s been suffering from nightmares for years.” “I’m so sorry to hear that,” I mumbled. “About your wife, and … daughter. What’s her name?” “Willow.” I loved the sound of that name. I wanted to say it aloud to hear it on my tongue, but I didn’t out of respect for Alpha Gerald. “That’s not all. Out of grief, when Willow was young, I agreed to let her train to become a warrior when she graduated college.” I lifted both brows in shock. It was against the rules of our region to allow female warriors. Not that he couldn’t fight for it, but everyone knew it was a bad idea. Females had heats, unexpected pregnancies, and stronger emotions than men. Allowing a female to fight was setting her up for failure. “I’m assuming you’ve changed your mind?” Alpha Gerald sat back in his high-back chair. “I thought her desire would pass, and I couldn’t break her heart at six. Her desire has only grown stronger. I can’t allow her to fight with the warriors. I can’t lose her. Do you understand? She’s all I have left.” “I do understand, Sir. I guess she didn’t take it well?” He snorted. “No, she didn’t. I’m afraid it’s going to hinder your mate bond. Willow is strong-willed and will make an excellent Luna like her mother. However, getting her to mate with you might be a problem. She thinks of you as the enemy right now, because she knows the rules. She knows you won’t allow her to train.” I swallowed. Secretly pissed that I’d been pushed into a situation that I hadn’t caused, though I understood Alpha Gerald’s situation. He’d been full of guilt and regret. He wanted Willow to feel hope. “Did you ever find the rogue pack that attacked you?" I asked, looking down at her plate again. He sighed. “I didn’t. I gave up two years ago. I can’t hold onto it anymore. It was driving me crazy. My wolf was so hell-bent on finding them that he grew cold and angry. I couldn’t handle that any longer.” I shifted forward and braced my elbows against the desk. “I see. I’ll keep an eye out for you. Do you have a file? Or anything that would help?” He pointed toward a small filing cabinet in the corner. “It’s titled Rogue,” he said. “There isn’t much to go on, which is why I never found them. But, on the other hand. We are hosting your ceremony tonight. I’ve moved all of my belongings out of the master suite down the hallway. If you’d like to move things in today you can. The pack, the ones that know, are excited to meet you.” I stood, but he gestured me down. “Have you had breakfast? Willow didn’t touch it, and I don’t think she’ll come back for it.” I smiled. “Thank you, but I grabbed breakfast on the way. You finish yours, and I’ll see myself down the hallway to the master suite. I’m sure I can find it.” I slipped out of the office, feeling Alpha Gerald’s guilt lingering behind me. My wolf plunged his nails into me, begging me to go search for Willow. I wanted to, but I figured she needed more time to cool off before I approached her. The master suite was nestled at the end of a long hallway full of rooms. The double doors had wolf-engraved handles and led into a giant suite. The four-post bed was made with fresh linens and dark furniture in the corners. The bathroom was giant and had a Jacuzzi tub in the corner. Everything about this pack land was perfect. It was one of the reasons I’d accepted Alpha Gerald’s offer. The acres of land were unmatched compared to the nearby packs. Willow’s scent hit me as I stepped out of the room and into the hallway. I needed to gather my duffle and at least bring in my clothing before the ceremony. Jogging downstairs, I walked out onto the front steps and toward my Jeep. Willow’s scent was strong. My gaze shifted around the yard, hoping I’d see her somewhere close when I noticed her standing several yards away with another wolf. It was petty. I hated myself for it, but jealousy drenched me in green. Reaching into the backseat, I grabbed the handle of my duffle and pulled it out. “—I’m sorry, Willow.” “I don’t want to hear that,” she mumbled. “It’s not your fault. You don’t make the rules.” Her voice sliced my resolve. I wanted to hear her speak to me. Talk to me. Say my damn name. Not this random wolf. I turned to walk toward her when I saw him reach out and haul her over his shoulder. Anger took over me. I dropped my bag and raced toward them. The bastard slammed Willow toward the ground at the same time I plowed into him from behind. He let out a giant breath and hit the ground like a brick wall. “What are you doing!” she shouted at me. Willow grabbed my shoulder and attempted to pull me off the wolf lying on the ground. “You bastard.” I stepped up and came face-to-face with her. She was utterly beautiful. I noticed things I hadn’t in the office before. Freckles line her tiny nose and cheeks. Behind the angry scowl, she had soft features and a strong body. I gathered myself. “I’m the bastard? This prick just tossed you over his shoulder.” The wolf scurried up to his feet and faced me. He was a bigger guy, with dark hair and a handsome face. “I was joking with her. We train—,” he must have realized who I was because he bent down on one knee. “I’m sorry, Alpha. We were just joking around. Alpha Gerald mentioned you were coming today. I didn’t mean to—” “Don’t bow to him,” Willow hissed. I turned to face her. Alpha Gerald was right. She did hate me. “He’s just another chauvinistic wolf intending on keeping me in the kitchen, right?” My wolf blazed in anger, but she didn’t look scared for a minute. “Willow,” the wolf hissed. “Oh stop it, Derrick, and get up. You look ridiculous.” She turned to walk away from me, and the alpha inside didn’t like it. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back toward me. She lifted her chin defiantly and waited for me to speak. “I know you smell me.” “Yeah, I got a whiff in the office.” “So you know who I am to you?” She slid her wrist from my hand. “Yeah, and obviously, I don’t care. Tell me, Alpha. Do you allow females to train for warriors?” “No,” I said bluntly. “I don’t. It’s against region rules.” She smiled sarcastically at me. “Then I have nothing to say to you. Don’t you have some moving in to do, Alpha?” I got the chance to watch her walk away in those jeans. My fingers tightened into fists at my sides, and I swallowed my pride. “If I may,” Derrick said. “She’s hurt. Please be gentle with her.” The pleading look in his eyes hit me. He cared for her. “I’m not going to hurt her, Derrick. I’m going to tame her.”