Chapter 7- MATE

Derrick’s POV

“Would you like a tour of the pack grounds?” I address my question to Henry, but really I am more interested in whether Salara wants to look around or not. She was quiet all throughout lunch, barely eating and mostly staring down at her hands in her lap.

Henry grabs ahold of Salara’s hand, pulling her close to his side. “We drove all of this way, it would be a shame not to take a look around.” He says, placing a kiss on Salara's forehead.

‘Let me out Human.’ Hunter growls in my mind. ‘I will tear out his tongue and shove it down his throat until he chokes. I will rip his throat out with my jaws and bath in the blood that spurts from the open wound. I will-” I immediately cut him off, feeling his murderous emotions begin to seep into me.

‘Calm down Hunter.’ I tell him. ‘We will not be ripping out anyone’s throat.’ Despite how much I really want to.

‘I heard that last thought.’ Hunter says, chuckling.

Realizing that I have been just standing there on the porch staring at Henry and Salara with an angry expression on my face, I motion for the both of them to lead the way down the stairs. Miguel appears beside me, his new favorite person snuggled up in his arms tightly.

‘I love being a big brother.’ He says, smiling up at me proudly.

I turn to walk ahead of him, wanting to keep him from seeing the sadness that overtook my face. Judging by the way things went today, I am not confident that Salara will be staying here with me like I had hoped.

I wonder if I could convince other packs to allow Henry to come around their unmated she-wolves in hopes that he’s one of their mates.

Probably not.

Most packs don’t allow humans anywhere near their packs, unless one of them happens to be their mate. Which is something that doesn’t happen all that often. The Moon Goddess doesn’t pair wolves with humans often because they usually don’t make a good pairing.

That’s what makes this situation with Salara all the more intriguing. What is it about her that caused the Moon Goddess to find her my perfect match? My eyes wander over to where Salara walks beside Henry, her hand held in his tightly.

From first glance you wouldn’t think there was anything special about her. She has zero confidence and appears to be submissive to her husband. Most Alpha’s would find that an appealing trait for their mates, but not me. I want a mate that will challenge me daily, a mate that isn’t afraid to tell me how it is when she feels I have made a mistake or if her feelings are hurt.

Aside from all of that, Salara has captivated me with her beauty. No one has ever looked as beautiful as my Salara. Even in her simple outfit of blue jeans and an old t-shirt, she is breathtaking to look at.

Hunter prances around in my mind in agreement. He is already completely in love with our little human mate and doesn’t care at all that she isn’t a werewolf. ‘We will make her a werewolf.’ Hunter says confidently, as if it was no big deal.

“We drove past what appeared to be a little town on our way here.” Henry says, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Is your pack completely self-sufficient? How many are in your pack anyway?” Salara stiffens at Henry’s last question, catching my attention.

Why would Henry asking questions about my pack bother her like that? “We are mostly self-sufficient.” I tell him after some time has passed. “As for the numbers, I’m not sure.” I run my fingers through my hair as I try to dance around answering that question. “My Beta keeps track of pack numbers.”

I watch as Salara relaxes beside Henry, glad that I didn’t answer Henry’s question honestly like I had originally intended. Salara must know something that I don’t and feel threatened by him having knowledge about my pack. I’ll have to keep an eye on him throughout the remainder of this trip.

As we come across the rose gardens that my mother is so proud of, I motion for Salara to take a rest on one of the benches situated outside of the garden. “This garden is beautiful.” Salara says, speaking for the first time since arriving and surprising me. The sound of her voice flows through me like a song, causing Hunter to stir in my mind.

Before I can say anything to encourage her to keep talking, the sound of running paws come bounding from around the corner. In seconds, Savannah’s familiar wolf comes barreling towards us at top speed. She stops abruptly in front of Henry, quickly transforming from her wolf to her human form in front of them.

Henry watches on in avid fascination as Savannah’s fur begins to recede into her skin and the sounds of her bones breaking fills the quiet of the afternoon. When Savannah has fully transformed into her human form, she stands before us naked.

Salara’s lips press together in displeasure as she notices Henry sitting there staring at Savannah’s nudity dumbstruck. “Mate!” Savannah growls, her brown eyes locked onto Henry as surprise flashes across his face.

Henry goes to rise from his seat on the bench, but Salara places her arm over his, a furious look appearing on her face.

This is a new side to my timid little mate that I haven’t seen before. I didn’t think she liked her husband and here she is upset that a she-wolf has claimed him as hers. Dread consumes me. Would she reject me in favor of keeping her husband, despite the fact that I have accomplished my goal of finding him a mate?

Savannah growls at Salara, causing a tremble of fear to move through her body, but she keeps her head held high as she looks from Henry to Savannah and back again. “MINE!” Savannah growls at Salara, her canines protruding from her mouth as spit flies from her mouth.

“I am his wife.” Salara says coldly, keeping eye contact with Savannah as she speaks. “YOU are a stranger.” She points her finger at Savannah when saying the last part. Maybe my little mate isn’t as submissive as I thought.

Savannah suddenly throws herself towards Salara, her teeth snapping as she growls at her angrily. Miguel jumps into action, grabbing his new little friend and running back towards the packhouse with her.

Horror fills Salara’s face as Savannah moves quickly to get to her, but not quick enough. At the last second, I grab Savannah by the waist and throw her across the yard and away from Salara. Out of the corner of my eye I see amusement spread across Henry’s face as he watches the scene unfold.

Does he care so little for the woman that he calls his wife?

Within seconds Savannah is back on her feet and ready to charge at Salara once again. Hunter moves to the surface, growling loudly at Savannah, causing her to stop in her tracks, fear oozing from her pores in waves.

“Not another step Savannah.” I growl out, allowing my Alpha aura to roll off of my words. A whimper leaves Savannah as she turns her head to the side in a show of submission. Once I have pulled my aura back in, Savannah’s eyes find Salara’s and she glares at her.

“Ladies…” Henry says, letting a chuckle rumble up his chest. “I’m sure we can work all of this out.” A pleased grin spreads across his face, making Hunter beg to be allowed to wipe the smug look from his face.

Salara turns her angry eyes towards Henry, a disbelieving look appearing on her face.