His Claimed Mate.

Darkness clouded her vision in blotches, her heart beat wildly, and her breath came out in puffs. Natalie had been on the track for nothing short of two hours. Her fur stuck together, and she ran with a limp, yet she couldn't stop.

The pouring rain was a reminder of why she was here. The forest she was in grew thicker and she had no clue where she was.

A crunching noise made her ears twitch. Someone emerged from the shadows, his hands raised to placate the agitated animal, but his eyes remained calculative. Any wrong move and he would attack, that much Nat could tell.

It took Nat longer than she would have liked to notice the second figure that stalked her from the rear.

"I think you know better than to attack; or run. What are you doing here?" The first male questioned.

John knew that the wolf was scared; it was evident through the constant trembling and skittish behavior. He concluded that the animal posed no threat although one could never be too sure. He met Michael's eyes and the other man nodded.

"You know, most people answer when the beta asks a question," Michael said.

The wolf's amber orbs increased in size when the Gamma spoke. Nat didn't know that the first man was the second in command.

With the hope that whichever pack she had trespassed showed leniency, Nat transformed.

"I mean no harm, I am just looking for refuge. I-I-" Nat stuttered.

She wrapped her arms around her belly and attempted to make her nude form smaller.

"Calm down. No one is going to hurt you... Unless necessary," the beta said and held his hands above his shoulder when he noticed the horrified expression the woman had.

"I should not have said that. Do not worry. I doubt you would cause us any issues. Wear this and come with us to meet our Alpha." John said.

Natalie tried to calm her racing heart as she put on the shirt she was given to hide her frail frame.

Michael moved his eyes away to give her a semblance of privacy, but the Beta still had his eyes trained on her, her neck to be exact. She flushed and placed a hand over her neck.

John looked away but his gaze lingered on her oval face, he didn't want her doing anything fishy.

Anxiety racked through the woman and she swallowed bile at the thought of meeting an Alpha, but her wish for protection held her up. Her mind supplied her that not all alpha's were the same...

Fully clothed, Natalie walked between the two hulking men trying her best not to whimper. It would do no good to show weakness even though the strangers seemed nice.

Idly, the she-wolf remarked on the vast forest. Any pack with this much ground was big and strong... Safe... Nat stopped herself before she went through that lane.

So muddled in her thoughts, Natalie didn't notice the side glances sent her way. The Beta didn't see anything to fear in the twig of a lady and he was curious to know what brought the pretty but rugged lady towards their part of the woods. Was it a coincidence, or did she seek them?

The tall building in front of the three wolves signaled an end to their trekking. The windows at every edge of the building watched her every move, so daunting.

"Let's move. The alpha should be in his office." The blonde beta said and led the way so gracefully that it was obvious he lived all his life within those walls.

Right at a corner, a burly old man blocked their path but not any sooner than his scent did. Thick and domineering, powerful.

"Johnny, how are you? What is the issue?" Dominic said and a glance was passed towards the woman.

"Ah, Uncle. I did not know you had business with the Alpha. We found her at the border and are hoping to hear Alpha Drake's verdict." John replied.

Natalie suspected that the man must be close to the Alpha judging from the way his eyes lit up.

"Why? I am sure you can deal with it. You are the beta right?" Said the old man.

A lazy survey was sent towards her, and his orbs focused on her neck, well, what could be seen through the collared shirt. It made her squirm uncomfortably but she knew it was necessary. Mated or unmated was the question when meeting someone new, especially females.

A chuckle disrupted the examination, "Yeah, but I don't think this is the same as the others. Guts feeling you can say." The beta added.

"Hmm, if you say so, then so be it. What is your name and pack? You do not smell rogue." Dominic asked.

The gentle way he addressed Natalie made her feel warm, "My name is Natalie Stephen and I am from the Flying Dusk pack."

Natalie did not think she imagined the change in mood of the old man as he stared her down. His suddenly cold gaze spoke volumes.

"I will speak to him," Dominic stated blandly.

The way the old man carried himself and the obvious respect from the other two told that he had a high position.

Dominic did not take as much time in the room across from them as he did interrogating her and Natalie was not sure if it was a good or bad sign.

"No. You are going to your pack first thing when the rain subsides. The alpha is quite busy." Dominic's reply was not well received.

Nat pushed, "No! Please! You can not send me back, I plead with you. Anywhere would suffice, just please let me and my child stay, please."

They were all shocked. Natalie didn't know where the sudden outburst came from; the mere thought of going back to that place after struggling to get out was sickening.

Everyone's eyes were glued to her abdomen even though the large shirt covered her up.

Michael spoke for the first time since their arrival, "You- you are with child?"

The woman nodded meekly.

"This is news to me too. I think this matter should be revisited. We can't just give her back when she is clearly against it and has a baby no less." The beta said with a determined face.

"I, too, do not think it wise to send a pregnant woman out when she feels threatened," Michael backed the blonde male.

Dominic's sigh was audible throughout the silent hall, "All right, I will ask again."

The silence that engulfed the three of them after Dominic entered the room again was deafening.

"Hey, relax. Alpha Drake is a good man, I am sure he will help you." John grinned at the woman.

"Yeah, the Alpha will surely know what to do, and with his father here, everything will be fine, trust me." Michael supplied.

It was like all their walls had come down after her little outburst. The alpha's father, the former alpha, spoke to her. From what the female was taught, she just disrespected him by not looking down.

Fear showed its cruel face again. What should she do to remedy the situation?

The click of a door pierces through her fragile heart.

"I am sorry but you have to go back. We do not have that right to keep you." Dominic said with a fixed expression.

There was a tenseness in his frame as he uttered words that shattered her already broken heart.

John and Michael were unable to form words aside from saying she should eat first before leaving.

The journey to the kitchen was eerily quiet as everyone was preoccupied with some thinking. The dull-haired girl gasped in surprise when someone addressed Michael as gamma, although in hindsight, it should have been obvious; his scent was greater than that of an average Joe.

Rounding the corner Natalie bumped into something, or someone. The force was enough to send her flying backward, but when the hardness of the ground did not meet her, her eyes flew open.

The sight that met her was that of an endless abyss. At least, that was how she would describe the dark orbs that kept pulling her in. The male's arm secured her firmly into his warm torso, and Natalie couldn't help but notice the golden specks that swam in the male's eyes and the bobbing of his throat.

How Natalie did not register such a strong presence beforehand remained a puzzle. With no doubt, the woman knew she had met the Alpha.

The two wolves stared at each other; Onyx against Jade. Where the woman's body stayed flush against the male, heat erupted, and the bulky man was at a loss for words.

Their time was interrupted by John who rushed towards them.

"Hey, are you alright Natalie? I thought you were in your office, Alpha." The other bowed slightly at the Alpha.

"Oh, I am okay; I tend to be a little clumsy," Nat said.

" I went to get something. Natalie, who are you?" The Alpha did not let his eyes stray away from the female for too long.

"This is the person your dad was talking about. She would like to join our pack." John supplied.

"Oh," Drake had no clue what his beta was spouting.

It escaped no one that Natalie was still cradled by the alpha and the she-wolf started feeling uncomfortable. Hot but uncomfortable.

"Um, thank you. I think I can stand straight now." The woman meekly voiced.

"Right..." The alpha withdrew his hand and promptly left before anyone could make any input.

John and Michael were puzzled by this while the pregnant woman was disappointed. She felt like everything kept getting messed up. How could she disrespect the Alpha?

How would the alpha retaliate? Should she run away?