The Unsuspecting Mate Novel – I need your help. My mate is in this pack. Yet I cannot find her. Which suite are you in? She races out. Alpha Hendrix, in suite 14. I know whom you seek, but will you be a good mate? She can’t suffer anymore.” “Who has mistreated her!! I WILL BURN THIS PACK TO THE GROUND!!!!. Where is she, who is she!” I take a breath and compose myself again. I have been searching for my fated mate for years, I am already in love with her and will protect her and care for her for our entire lives.
Lorna POV Thump! Thump! Thump! I started awake, gripped in fear. The same way I wake up every morning. Thump! Thump! Thump! Again and again I have been hiding in the storage space under the back staircase every night for the last six years and yet every morning I still jump in fear. I never could work out why my tormentors were never able to find me here. Though I wasn’t going to complain. I often heard the pack elite searching the halls of the pack house, yet they never came down here. Night after night, when my chores were finished and every one is already asleep, I sneak through the damaged grate outside and crawl through decades of forgotten furniture and decorations, before curling up in an old trunk with moth ravaged table cloths.
Even then, sleep does not come easy, and I spend most of time tossing, turning and running from old nightmares and lives once lived. Though lately, my dreams have been different. No longer of the attack that took my parents from me, or the pack elders blaming my father for the m******e that followed, not even of the day our home was set alight as punishment, with me inside. Lately, my dreams have me laying on lush meadows in the spring and chasing with a magnificent onyx wolf with the most enchanting purple eyes starring back at me. I find myself feel at peace and safe. Which is a feeling that I had almost forgotten.
Ever since the loss of my parents that night, my life changed forever. From the Beta’s beloved daughter, in a family home filled with laughter, and a pack house of friends. Their deaths made my life a curse. I was only referred to as mutt or slave. To be offered no kindness or help, to only be spoken to when being disciplined. To be hated, to lose my home and my belongings. To be a target for rage and hatred, to be an outlet for the families and friends whose loved ones died in the rouge attack. To be beaten, and scarred, and used no matter my pleas. I shake myself, detaching the memories from my mind. What a silly dream. I’m wasting time that I should be doing my chores upstairs, uninterrupted, while the rest of the pack gorges themselves on breakfast.
Oh, it Friday today, no wonder I can smell Chelsea buns. Oh how long it’s been since I have been allowed one. I do hope Mrs Clarke hides one for me. She sometimes tries but is inevitably caught. I crawl back out of the grate, making sure I’m not being observed and dash for the servants stairs. I have a small window of time to change twelve beds, clean the en-suites and gather all the laundry before breakfast is finished. “MUTT!!!!” I hear bellowed behind me as I move between bedrooms, dropping the last pile of laundry on the floor. Oh no! Luna Margot always finds reason to punish me. What did I do wrong today. “You stupid mutt, can you do nothing right?! Why have you not prepared the guest floor yet?? The Alphas from the most powerful twelve packs on Earth are on their way here!! Why do you insist on embarrassing your pack!! Moon Goddess! why were we cursed with you!” Luna Margot bellowed in my face, resulting in more pack members coming to the hall.
“But Lu ” SMACK!! I didn’t get chance to finish the word before being struck across my cheek. I fell to the ground, feeling dazed and confused. “How dare you talk back to me, you ungrateful mutt! I saved you from being cast out and becoming a rogue. I SAVED YOU!!! Why ” I knew the shouting continued but I felt like I was under water, everything was muffled. Then suddenly snapped back into focus. ” will be hear tomorrow! Tomorrow!! Prepare the rooms to a higher standard than your normal sub par effort or I will correct a mistake I made years ago and banish you to the rogues myself!!!” Luna Margot strutted off, followed by all the spectators, looking rather smug. With a large sigh and a Herculean effort to hold back the tears, I gathered my supplies, and took the stairs to the floor below. These were the guest quarters, all forty of them. I was never going to get this finished in time.
Room after room, lunch came and went. Room after room, the setting sun told me it was dinner time but I could not stop until my chores were finished. Room after room, the bright moon comes to guide me to my slumber but I cannot go. Not yet, though my eyes are so heavy and it is so late it’s early. The bed looks so comfortable, perhaps I can just rest my head for a moment before I finish. Blackness calls to me, pulling me under. Lorna POV “Lorna!! Wake up!! Lorna!” I jolted awake to find the only kind eyes in the pack staring down at me. Mrs Clarke. “Quickly child, it’s morning, you must hide! The Alphas are due to arrive any moment!” She continued to whisper shout as I slowly pulled myself round. I hasten to gather all my things and remake the bed. What a fool I was, I hope this room won’t be occupied as I’m sure to be in trouble as soon as my scent is discovered all over those buttery sheets. Running from the room with Mrs Clarke hot my heals, and hands full of cleaning products we dash to the back stairs just in time. Mrs Clarke pulls me along, almost tripping over my feet.
“Quickly! Quickly! We must hurry or you will be discovered. I have hidden food and water in the old wardrobe that at entrance to the cellar. You know the rules, the Alphas will be here for five days, there is enough food for you to last at least half that and I will get more to you in a few days. Only move around the cellar at night, and what ever you do, do not go outside” Mrs Clarke took a large breath at the end of her speech. It is the same speech I always get, and the same rules I always follow. These are the only times when I feel like I can rest without fear, and where I have no chores to do. Five whole days to myself, with the chance of regular meals when I’m hungry and not just when I’m permitted to eat whatever is left.
“I know Mrs Clarke, do not worry, I will see you in a few days” for the first time in as long as I can remember, I smile. The promise of five uninterrupted days of solitude too good to let pass by without one, or perhaps it is the prospect of dreaming of that white wolf again. I take my usual route to the cellar, making sure to cover the grate, with the ostentatious and wildly over fragranced potted plants, then make my way through the crawl space. I’ve been so tired lately, more than usual. I feel tired all the way to my bones. Despite having stolen a few restful hours of sleep, I’m already exhausted and desperate for more. I seek out a comfortable spot near the boiler pipes and drift off back to sleep. Dreaming. The lush green fields of moss beneath my feet, coated in dew only found on the crispest of mornings, a haze all around as my feet carry me towards the lake. A stunning Blonde wolf sits on the shore, watching my approach, pulling me towards him.
Such majesty and power radiates off her aura yet the look in her eyes matches my own. Longing. Like two halves of the same spirit, drawn to each other. Each step drawing me closer, but not quickly enough. My steps come, faster and faster until I’m running towards her. Some part of me knowing that’s where I’ve always been running to. Finally, I’m mere steps away, gazing into her eclipsing green eyes. Eyes like my own. Warmth encompasses me. She stands, closing those last few moments between us, so tall before me. I should feel scared, I know I should. Yet the feeling never comes. Instead, she leans her forehead against mine. Fur so soft yet coarse as well. A word echos inside my mind, a voice I do not know, yet is somehow familiar to me. “Athena”
Drake POV Staring out of the car window as we pass what seems like endless forest, I’m reminded of how I hate traveling to the Americas. Just the prospect of being with anyone but my mate makes my skin crawl, my wolf Xavier, clawing at my insides for even thinking the words. “Settle down! I will never touch a shewolf and you know it! No matter how long we must wait for her” I reminded him. “You better not, we are getting closer, I can feel it” “I hope you are right, X, these dreams we keep having must mean she is near. The moon goddess wouldn’t be cruel enough to dangle such a gift only to take it away” Sitting back in my seat, I block out Xavier, and remember last nights dream.
I’m in wolf form, running and running but always in the same woods. Woods I’m not familiar with. Eventually coming to a break in trees. An enticing smell surrounds me, cinnamon and apples. It is so tantalising that I can practically taste it. Looking up, desperately trying to find the source. There! on the other side of the lake, a stunning blonde wolf, drinking from the lake as well. She looks up and my breath disappears. Such stunning green eyes. I know it, deep inside me, she’s my mate. I have to get to her, she is so far away, but I have to. I take off running, as fast as I can, running and running around the lake. Trying desperately to catch up to her. I’ve searching so long for her, but she is right there. Breaking from the tree line, she stands before me.
I’m jolted awake, like always, disappointment and pain grips my chest. Night after night, I get closer and closer but I can never reach her. “Sorry to disturb you Alpha, we are entering the pack lands” my driver hesitates. “Very well” I grumble, Its taking everything in me to hold back X from clawing out his throat, that was the closest we had ever been to meeting our mate. Hoping it’s an indication that she is going to be at this mind numbing event. Moon goddess, please let her be here. “Greetings Alpha Hendrix and Beta Morgan of the Dark Night Pack, I am Alpha Gregory and my Luna Margot. Welcome to the Moon Rises Pack.” “Greetings, Alpha, Luna. Thank you for hosting this year’s Mating Ball.” “Please come in, let us show you to your suites, after such a long drive, you should rest while the other Alphas arrive” Alpha Gregory guides us inside to a large entry, with a large oak staircase leading up through the building to all the floors. “Your rooms are on the 9th floor, the elevator is just back here” the Alpha leads on. We reach the 9th floor, noting the others seem to be many floors behind us and moving slowly.
Do they not train? Does the pack not train or just them? How ludicrous. How do they hope to survive an attack?!? Drake POV Standing in the entrance to my suit, I am lost in my scenes. There is something about this room that has my wolf prowling around my head. “What is it X?” I mind linked my wolf. Even I knew there was something off. Xavier is distracted, he is not listening to me. I stalk around the room, searching for weapons or runes, but there’s nothing. Facing the foot of the large bed, I stop. Looking at it, Xavier stops pacing, like me he is drawn to the bed. Lifting the sheets, I sweep them towards the other side of the room. Staggering back, I’m engulfed with the most amazing scent. A scent I know but cannot place. Xavier provides the answer I seek. One word repeats over and over. “MATE!” “MATE!” “MATE!” Utter joy and overwhelming happiness flows through me, warming my cold heart from the inside out. We’ve found her. She was here!! We found her!!!! Something is wrong!! I can’t find her anywhere. How is this even possible. I am the most feared and powerful Alpha in Europe.
Yet still she alludes me. I have even roped my beta, Jacob, in to helping me find her. He thought it was hysterical that I couldn’t find one lone shewolf when the majority of the packs shewolves are throwing themselves at me. None have them were here. Jacob changed his tune when I told him she was his Luna. Just like I knew he would, Jacob has been scouring the pack lands for her sent. I see Jacob arrive at the other end of the hall, making my way over to him, I feel his anxiety. He has not found her either. My heart sinks but i cannot give up, the hunt doesn’t begin for another three hours. I signal for Jacob to joining be on the patio outside. As soon as I open the door, the god awful stench of the bushes greets me. What i***t planted this garden. “Anything?” Jacob enquires though I’m sure he already knows the answer. “Nothing, I’m starting to wonder if she even lives here or was simply a guest before our arrival” I state. “I do not think so, Alpha, the scent in your suite was too strong. It was hours old, not days, and after enquires I determined the rooms have not been used in months” Jacob rationalised.
“Alright then, so why was her scent there? If we can work that out we might be able to find her” I try and think out loud, but I’m too anxious to focus. “Of course, I’m such an i***t, she must be an omega. They would have cleaned the rooms before we arrived” hope dances in my eyes. We race to the kitchen, scouring the room, she’s not here. There’s the head housekeeper, let’s ask after cleaning schedule” I rush out. We both come upon her, her eyes bulging out of the head. At the last second she bows her head. “What is your name?” I ask as politely as I can manage when I realise she may know my mate. “Mrs Clarke, Alpha Hendrix” her head remains bowed. I decide, since we have such a short amount of time to be honest with her and hope she helps me and her friend. “I need your help. My mate is in this pack. Yet I cannot find her.” She lifts her head looking confused. Then I can tell she is thinking. “Which suite are you in?” She races out. It takes me a moment to think with the sudden switch in her.
Jacob chimes in quicker than I. “Alpha Hendrix is in suite 14” and instantly her face pales. She knows who my mate is. Her eyes become wet and a lone tear falls. A sniffle later and she composes herself. “I know whom you seek, but will you be a good mate? The stories we hear of your cruelty, your feared world wide. She has already had so much to live through, she can’t she can’t suffer anymore” despite all of that, she still had the strength to say such a thing to me. It is clear she cares about our mate very much. Anger claims me at the mention of our mate suffering. “Who has mistreated her!! I WILL BURN THIS PACK TO THE GROUND!!!!. Where is she, who is she!” I can tell my anger is scaring her but I need her help still. I take a breath and compose myself again. Once X is controlled I say again. “I have been searching for my fated mate for years, I am already in love with her and will protect her and care for her for our entire lives. She is part of my heart, my soul” I say emphatically. She has to believe me. For the first time, she looks me in the eye, assessing my truth.