11. Happily

Torin’s pov

I came home with the biggest smile on my face.

This could not have gone any more perfectly. Okay, it could have. If Raelyn decided there and then to come back home with me and ditch her husband.

But I could see there was wiggle room; I could see I had a chance with her. Just from how she reacted to me, how comfortable she seemed around me.

It would take time and patience, and I must admit, I am not a patient man. But for Raelyn I will be whatever I need to be.

I thought I might have to work; I might have to charm her, but our conversation just flowed naturally. If there was something I needed to work on, it was doing my best not to compliment her at every turn.

Because damn it, she’s so perfect.

The way dimples form in her cheeks when she laughs, her actual laughter, which is adorable, and her eyes, those beautiful green orbs that sometimes seem so far away. The way she scrunches her nose when she’s thinking. The sound of her voice. Her scent. Her body.

The only thing about my mate that isn’t perfect is her husband.

I have no clue how he bagged a woman like Raelyn. Maybe that’s why they got together when she was young, because he wouldn’t have a chance with her at this age. Back then she was probably easily influenced and glad someone took an interest in her.

Raelyn doesn’t even realize how special she is. How beautiful.

Ugh, I miss her already, and it hasn’t even been an hour since I dropped her off.

When I arrived at the packhouse, my mother gree

ted me. She still lived in the packhouse because it felt strange to kick her out after losing my dad. Normally after the alpha heir takes over, the former alpha and Luna take up residence elsewhere. But I couldn’t bear the thought of having my mom live by herself without her mate.

Besides, when Dad died, my sister was still a teenager, and I didn’t want to uproot her life either. Enya was a daddy's girl, and she took the loss of Dad hard.

I didn't really have time to grieve; I had a job to do.

“Tor, where did you go off to this morning? You look different. Happy,” Mom said, smiling at me. It was sad to see that since Dad died, her smile never seemed to reach her eyes.

It was like his death dimmed a light inside of her.

‘I had lunch with my mate,’ I used the psychic link to inform her. I didn’t want my entire pack to know about Raelyn just yet, because they would pressure me to speed things up.

An alpha without his Luna can be volatile and make rash decisions. The presence of his Luna calms an alpha and gives him strength. It’s why they’ve been pressuring me to take a chosen mate for a while now.

But that won’t

be necessary any more.

Raelyn will be my Luna.

I just need some time.

Mom’s eyes lit up slightly, ‘your mate?’

I explained how I met Raelyn at a party a week ago, that she’s human and married.

“Let’s talk in your office,” Mom said, walking in front of me.

Once we sat in the privacy of my office, Mom began her questions. I knew she would interrogate me once she found out about Raelyn, but in my excitement I had forgotten to think of a lie.

Besides, Mom always knows when I’m lying anyway. That woman has eyes in the back of her head.

“She’s married? Happily?”

I shook my head, “no, definitely not happily.”

“So why is she still married? To humans, marriage is as close as they can get to being mated. It’s not something you do unless you’re serious about your relationship and want to spend the rest of your life together.”

I got that these questions were meant to be helpful or because Mom wanted to protect me, but it took all of me not to growl at my mother.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. I might be the alpha, but I know better than to yell at my mother. “There’s something off about their relationship,

Mom. Not just the age gap or how they met. It’s… the way she talks about him, or doesn’t actually. If someone is in love, they can't shut up about the person."

"Like you…" Mom teased me.

"Yeah..." I replied with a smile, thinking back on how great our lunch was. "I think somehow she’s convinced he’s the best she can get. Or maybe she feels stuck because she has no job, no family around. But if I can show her a way out…”

Mom seemed unimpressed: “that seems like a big if to me.”

I scoffed, “so, you just want me to give up? And not even try?”

“You could kill her husband.”

And there she was. I laughed loudly, “that’s was my first plan, but Colton warned me against it. It might make my mate resent me.”

Mom nodded and winked at me, “killing employes wouldn’t be good for business either.”

“I’m meeting her again tomorrow,” I said excitedly.

“Tell me about her,” Mom asked, and I spent the next hour describing my mate in detail.

When I was done, Mom smiled at me, but her eyes looked sad. Did my affection for my mate remind her of her relationship with Dad?

“You really seem to be falling fast.”

I shrugged my shoulders, “isn’t that typical when you meet your mate?”

“Yes,” She nodded, “but your relationship isn’t typical, and I’m worried you’ll get hurt.”

I sighed, “you got hurt. Does that mean you would change anything with Dad?”

Mom quickly wiped away a tear, “no, Torin. I wouldn’t change a single thing.”

I got up from my chair and put an arm around my mother, “see? I’ll be fine.”

Mom laughed

dryly as she shook her head, “you get that positive outlook on life from your dad.”

“Nah,” I replied, “I got all the good stuff from you, Mom. Dad just gave me my good looks.”

Mom laughed and rolled her eyes, “you definitely got his arrogance.”

She gave me a kiss on top of my head, “go do your job, alpha.”

Before she walked out the door, she stuck her head back inside, “I’m really happy for you, Tor.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I replied before opening my laptop.

I wasn't lying when I said it's busy inside my mind, because as soon as I started to open my email, I was mind-linked by a pack member.

An Alpha's job is never done, I guess.