His Highlander Luna

CHAPTER 1

AGREEMENT OR NOT

Bridgette's POV:

I stared out of my window, silently watching the misting rain drizzle lightly against my window. The sun hidden under a blanket of grey clouds making the rich green of the forests and grasslands emerald and vibrant. I leaned against the cold stone window frame and stared into the wilderness, lost in thought. My father was planning another party for me tonight, something I was dreading. I kept trying to assure him that in time I would find my mate, that it was destined and that the Moon Goddess wouldn't have it any other way. I was only 22 years old for crying out loud, but I could hear his voice echo in my head.

"Britty, every wolf needs a mate, fated or chosen, and you are not getting any younger. Even your little sister has found her mate." I sighed and crossed my arms across my chest. You would think I was an old maid by the way he spoke. It wasn't that I cared much anyway, I was quite content in being alone. I didn't need a mate, and I refused to be controlled by one. I was my own person, educated and with a career. Additionally, my father was a Lycan king, not just some simple werewolf. That's right, I am a Lycan, of ancient blood. I had always been proud of my heritage.

And that was indeed the problem. My father was insistent that I find a mate and settle down just as my two brothers and one sister had done. I was the oldest, my father's heir, and the only one of the siblings yet to find their mate, which was making my father extremely anxious.

So, he began hosting parties and throwing extravagant balls on my behalf, at first locally, then within our country, then the entire island of Wales. This particular party, he had invited Alpha's from all over the world, and I had been firmly instructed that I would be choosing an acceptable male this time, fated or not.

I felt my shoulders shutter, a chosen mate, how abhorrent is that? How barbaric, they might as well sell me to the highest bidder. I knew my father was interviewing men on my behalf and the concept infuriated me. He had a fated mate, why would he believe that I should be different from any other wolf? I deserved time to find my soulmate, my other half and I simply refused to settle for the first Alpha with a large checkbook and a title.

A sound suddenly startled me from behind, catching my attention and my little sister Oliva came bounding into my room. She was only 16 years old, but she was a rare beauty, nonetheless. She had raven black hair and the same electric blue eyes that my father and I had. She smiled sweetly and plopped down onto my settee.

"So, you are pouting then." There was a hint of humor in her voice, and I couldn't help but glare at her.

"You would be less than pleased if father was telling you who to be mated to." I snapped quietly, returning my attention out of the window.

"Aye, I'd be that. Finding Jack was a stroke of good fortune for me. Son of father's Beta, who would've thought. It was an easy transition for us to go from friends to mates, we talked near daily anyhow." I couldn't help but shake my head at my little sister's dumb luck. Only Olivia would end up with her best guy friend as her mate. She discovered him less than a week ago, but the mating ceremony was already being planned, and why not, he was a good wolf, from good family, and his father was a Lycan, just as we were.

I turned to face her, crossing my arms with annoyance. I looked at her smiling face before I resorted to go and sit across from her. My fireplace was crackling, flames gently rolling behind the black screen, directly across from the horsehair styled chair I had chosen to settle in. For being early Fall, mid-September to be exact, it had a formative chill in the air.

"Not everyone ends up having their best friend as their mate. I have looked, so has father, and what bothers me most now is that he is demanding I choose a bloke. I mean, finding a soul mate is not the same as finding a pebble on the beach." I watched my sister frown, wearing a long grey wool skirt and a black tunic top that clung to her curves, curves nearly as good as mine even for as young as she was. Not one of the Ryan ladies were lacking in curve appeal as my mother often joked. She clasped her hands in front of her and smiled to me warmly, I could tell she felt for me.

"Maybe he will be among the Alpha's father has invited?" her statement was more of a question, and I simply leaned back into my large antique chair and huffed.

"Unlikely." I growled. "I wish I could just travel this world for a wee bit ya know... explore, find myself before I settle down." Oliva frowned and leaned forward uneasily.

"I heard father tell mum that he was leaning towards you accepting Ludwig, the Alpha from Germany. I believe he is a Lycan also and very wealthy." My sister informed me quietly. My brows furrowed and I pursed my lips.

"He is an arrogant ass." I muttered. Oliva nodded in agreement. It was a well-known fact that Ludwig believed he was superior to all beasts and men. The only souls he felt were an equal to him was the handful of Lycan Kings that still reigned around the world. I sat up slowly, my eyes widened and a smiled graced my face as an idea floated defiantly within my head.

"I could tell father that I have to travel somewhere for business. That I am needed to a consult for a historical building somewhere?" My brain was beginning to wander as a plan filtered within my head. I just needed some time to myself, a place where I can unwind, and think.

"Well, you are a historical architect, it is possible. But where would you go that father would not recognize a building you were supposedly going to work on?" I leaned forward, my hand holding up my chin as I pondered.

"America." I mumbled after a few moments. Oliva shook her head and feigned a hiss of disdain with a wave of her hand.

"What would they know of truly historical building?" Another smiled graced upon my face as I retorted my sister's hiss.

"Of course, sister! That would be why they would need my expertise." I rebutted quickly, a smiled casting onto my delicate features.

"I am not so sure of this. Father will find out. One tea with William and it's over. Your boss will never keep a secret from our father, and his King, sister." I could sense Oliva's unease, as she shifted in her seat across from me, yet I simply smiled as I began working out the plan in my head.

"Simple, I call William hence and inform him I have been contacted by an American company to assist with the restoration of a castle on the east coast. I will tell him they offered me a very generous compensation package and I simply cannot refuse it. That way, I can get a couple weeks off from work for the "consultation" and then, that will get father off my back. It's perfect." I smiled as though my plan had already succeeded, however Oliva frowned at me while handing me my phone from the heavy walnut coffee table in front of us.

"I think you are crazy, but I have to see this." I took the phone out of her hand, looking at the black glass hesitantly for a moment. My idea was great in my head, and now putting it into action, I was cautiously hesitant.

"Well, here goes nothing." I muttered as I slowly opened my screen and searched for William's number. Upon finding it, I tapped on the number and listened for the ringing.

"Yes?" a gruff voice answered on the second ring, causing me to hold my breath for a moment.

"William?" I responded. Another pause lingered until the older man on the other end of the line realized who was speaking and I distinctly heard a smile radiate through the line.

"Britty! How delightful to hear your voice. Are you excited for the ball your father is putting together for you tonight? I know myself and Miss Kate are eager to attend." The old man did sound relatively excited, the entire pack loved when my parent's hosted balls and parties. They were always the toast of Scotland. I felt my heart drop in my chest, I personally hated them. I always felt like I was a showcase of beef on display, and frankly that was always how my father made me feel, regardless of if he meant it that way or not.

I was the oldest of four pups, I was 22 years old, my brother Angus was 21, Jonathon at 18 and my sweet Oliva at 16. All of them had found their mates, all but me. And I was the oldest, I was destined to be my parents successor, my mate and I that is. The fact was, I didn't want it, far from it. Although I loved my home and my family, I loved my career even more. I didn't want to run a pack, and my brother Angus was kind, noble and a perfect Alpha. I had always felt, even since we were children that he should have been born first, that he was the true future Lycan King, and the rightful heir.

"That is what I was calling for. My father doesn't know it yet, but I will be flying out tonight for the Americas. I have received an offer to consult on a castle in Pennsylvania for renovation. I will not be attending the party and I wanted to let you know that I would be out of the office for a couple of weeks." My voice was calm as I boldly lied to my boss, I could see in my mind his wrinkled old brow shutter over his heavy eye lids as he processed what I had just told him. He was a kind old man and frankly responsible for getting my father to allow me to have a university education. I had graduated from Cambridge at the top of my class only a year ago with a Masters. Yes, I was young for a Masters, however I had started my college career when I was only 16 years old.

"Britty, you could find your mate here darling." The old man pleaded with me gently. However, I had seen the guest list in my father's study, and I knew every single boring aristocrat coming, I had already met them, and I knew none were my fated mate.

"Hardly William. I know all on the list, and trust me when I say, I will not be missed. I would much rather be locked away in a library alone for eternity." I could hear a chuckle in the phone, and I sighed with relief, knowing that he was bowing to my wishes as he nearly always did. I loved the old man dearly. He was only half wolf, his mother being human. He had been raised in the human world, but had come back after he graduated from Cambridge, the same school I attended, to help my grandfather do some restorations to the castle. He then found his mate, a darling she-wolf named Kate, which prompted him to purchase a small cottage within the pack grounds, and never looked back.

"Alright lassie, you just better be makin us some good money, that's all I can say." He grumbled; but I knew he loved me like a daughter.

"Of course, William darlin. I will see you in a fort night." I answered as I stated my goodbyes and sighed deeply as I set my phone back onto the table in front of my sister. Oliva sneered at me and leaned back in her chair, crossing her long lankly legs. She ran her hand through her long ebony hair and twitched her nose. Her deep blue eyes challenging me for the next factor in my escape... my father.

"Pfft, you may have fooled William, but father, that's a whole nother matter." I frowned, but in my heart, I knew she was right.

"Then I mustn't tell him."

CHAPTER 2

"DANCING PAST FATHER"

Bridgette's POV:

After my sister left my room, I knew I needed to be careful and plan my departure carefully and quietly. If I was caught by the servants wandering around the castle with multiple bags, suspicions would shift faster than a werewolf. I quickly pulled out my laptop and began searching for flights. The ball was at 7pm sharp with hors d'oeuvres starting at 6pm, which meant that I needed to be on a plane and in the air no later than 5. Guest had already started arriving today, as our castle hosted over 75 rooms, and many of the visiting Alpha's were staying here. Another reason I needed to get out of here sooner than later. I glimpsed at the clock above my desk and noted that it was already 11am so I needed to get moving. The ladies in waiting, that were scheduled to do my hair and makeup would be coming in around 4pm. I had less than 3 hours to get out of the castle.

I quickly pulled out my credit card and booked the flight departing for the Americas at 3:50pm. This was going to be tight. I closed my laptop, gathered the computer and phone cords I needed, and my phone, quickly shoving them into my black backpack I had used for college. I then collected a few bras, an assortment of panties, along with some socks. I added 2 pairs of yoga pants and some athletic wear along with a pair of flip flops and my black sneakers. I consolidated some make up in a small bag and tossed in a black cocktail dress for good measure. I zipped up the bag quickly and carefully sat it on the end of my bed when I heard a voice bellow behind me.

"Britty, what be you doin girl?" It was father. I felt my heart sink and froze with my back to him. I was still in the sweats that I had slept in, my wild auburn hair contained only by a messy bun upon the top of my head. I turned around slowly, eyes down as not to give away my deviance.

"Dad, what are you doing checkin up on me. You should be with mother finishing up for the party tonight." I said as calmly as I could muster, had he seen me packing my bag? I watched him nervously under my thick auburn lashes and saw him tip his head curiously and stare at my backpack stuffed full at the end of my bed.

"Why is your bag settin like that?" he growled suspiciously, only I could hear him thanks to my werewolf hearing. I smiled as coolly as I dared and walked over to him giving him my characteristic bear hug, something I had done since I was a small child. I heard him purr as he gripped me tightly and swung me around the room.

"Oh, my we lass!" he exclaimed with a growl, a teasing friendly growl a father would bestow his beloved daughter. "What are you up to?"

"I was just running some things over to Meredith for the party. I will be swift so that I can return and start getting ready. Plus, I can let Aurora run before I need to be a proper lady tonight." My father chuckled, and gave me another hug, this one, much gentler. He smiled, his hands tightly holding my shoulders as he pushed me back to study my face.

"Some things need to be announced tonight my darlin daughter." His tone no longer playful, a serious gaze stared into my eyes, his soft fatherly expression exchanged for his Alpha demeanor, his deep cerulean eyes bore into mine. I paused, dropping my eyes to the floor and submitted by bowing my head to the side. I knew what he meant, and I felt my heart drop in my chest.

"That's not the way it should be father." I whimpered, I could hear my wolf in the back of my mind whimper as well, she was devastated at the prospect of having a mate forced upon us.

"None of that now. You have had your chance to find your mate. I even foolishly granted you privilege to go to that human school, what's it called, Campton..."

"Cambridge." I corrected him respectfully.

"Ah yes, Cambridge. And I am right proud of my girl, but a wolf needs her mate. Someday you will replace me as the Lycan Queen and you need a purebred Lycan mate. Sometimes the Moon Goddess wishes us to take matters into our own hands Britty. And this be one of those times." My father's words burned into my soul. A chosen mate in my mind just felt completely wrong and against the wishes of our Goddess.

"Father, I still have time to find my mate, I am only two and twenty. Some males don't find their mates until their thirties." I rebutted. However, my father's eyes only hinted a darker shade, and I could tell he was becoming frustrated with me. We had gone over this argument multiple times over the past couple of years.

"Males are different. They are not meant to bare pups, and a breeding female needs to be young and strong to bare her mate strong and healthy pups." He rumbled with irritation, then his eyes lightened once more as a smile graced his face. "And what fine pups you will have! Now then, go to your friendly witch and come back hastily. We have a ball tonight." He kissed me on the forehead and departed from my room, leaving me standing alone in the center of it.

I felt my blood boil at the idea of a chosen mate. There was no point in trying to reason with my father, we had gone over this argument time and time again. My father was a true stubborn hot-headed ginger. Once something was set in his head, that was the way it would be. My father had always been a fair Alpha, and I knew in my heart that he was simply trying to look out of me and the pack, however I would be damned if I would ever accept a chosen mate. It was against the Goddess and for that matter, I didn't need a damn mate anyway.

I stomped my way into the bathroom, my mind was made up. Had I had any hesitation before, the interaction with my father dissolved it. I hurriedly showered, keeping my rich auburn hair still tied up in that bun a top my head. Washing my hair would take too long and it would never dry before I needed to depart, so I resorted to washing my body quicky with a sweet rose scented body wash, then swiftly shut the water off and stepped out, grasping a towel from the hook beside the mirror. I simply dried myself off and ran some oils into my long unruly auburn mane after taking it down and then sprayed some dry shampoo into it. I brushed my hair and recaptured my unruly mane into another messy bun. I was going to have to hurry to get to Meredith's. I prayed she would understand and take me to the airport without too much fuss.

I shifted into my wolf Aurora, a beautiful exotic rare red wolf. Her coat was a rich ginger, much like my father's hair, with deep auburn points and white toes. We trotted over to the edge of the bed where my backpack was still sitting and quickly grabbed it into my mouth and loped out of my room, into the hallway, down the enormous stairs and into the main foyer. A handful of pack members noticed me; however, no one said a word. It was not uncharacteristic of me to go for an afternoon run, so I just happened to be a little ahead of schedule today. Thankfully, some of my ordinary idiosyncrasies were going to be to my benefit and would maintain some ounce of normalcy.

I raced out the door and down into the pathway, heading to the forest. Thankfully, Meredith and her grandmother only lived a couple miles from the main castle that my family lived in. Aurora would be able to reach the cottage in no time. Then I would ask my dear friend for a few extra clothes and a ride to the airport. Thankfully, she and her grandmother were the local witches, and while they lived within the pack grounds, they didn't necessarily have to put up with my father's orders unlike others of the pack. I had even seen Aoibhe, Meredith's grandmother turn my father into a pup once, and that had not gone over well with the Lycan King.

As predicted, it didn't take long for me to reach the cottage and as I neared, I could see Meredith and her grandmother working in their flower garden. As they saw me approaching, Meredith set down her gardening trowel down and smiled happily to me.

"Britty!" she gleamed, and she rushed over and hugged Aurora. My wolf whined happily and nuzzled her excitedly, nearly knocking my delicate friend down. After a moment, we took a step back and I quickly shifted back into myself. I pulled the fitness outfit out of my bag and quickly changed into it, so not to blind anyone from my ivory skin.

"Lovely to see you, my friend." Meredith greeted happily. She was of Celtic decent; her entire family was. Indeed, her grandmother was a very old and respected witch of white magic as well as a respected member of the council.

"Lovely to see you also. Hey, I need a favor and we must be hurried. May I borrow a small suitcase for a fortnight holiday I will be takin." I asked my witch friend, praying she would help me and not chastise me about family and duty. Meredith tipped her head and pursed her lips at me, in the same manner I was famous for when something didn't see quite right.

"Why would you be needin my attire?" she asked suspiciously as she raised an eyebrow at me, and then to her grandmother as she calmly and curiously walked over to us.

"Cause I be thinkin that Britty is makin a run fer it." The old woman teased me coyly as she joined us, settling her vivid green eyes upon my face with empathy, and perhaps a little bit of humor. I couldn't help my bite my lip with guilt, my instincts told me I was making the right decision, yet the loyalty of a daughter to a father, a subject to a King screamed that this was all wrong. Meredith gasped at me, softly placing her delicate hand on my shoulder. Her eyes wandered over to her grandmother's face and then back to me.

"Are you now? Departing and disobeying ye own King and father?" she muttered to me, her eyes searching my face for truth. The rain had ceased, although it was still gloomy and unseasonably cool, making me shiver even in my sweatshirt while I stared at Meredith's lovely face. Her emerald green eyes flickered and finally I saw a sparkle within them.

"Grandmother and I will help." She smiled, glancing back over to the old woman who was smiling gently at my side. Aoibhe always had a way of figuring me out, in fact I often believed she understood me better than I understood myself. She hardly seemed surprised with my reaction to my father forcing me to choose a mate.

"I need to hurry then, I booked a flight for later this afternoon, giving me only a couple hours before takeoff. I am departing before my father can stuff some goofy nyaff into my bed and force me to take him as a mate."

"Really now." Aoibhe scolded as I called my future mate a simple looking irritating idiot.

"But I do understand, and I am in agreement with you that a chosen mate is against that of the Goddess, so we will help you." The old woman assured me, and I felt the tension fall out of my shoulders as I exhaled a deep sigh of relief.

"Go pack her some things and meet us out in the car. We will be waiting." The old woman ordered her granddaughter, who had already sprinted for the house, her dark walnut hair flowing behind her. "Let us go then, we will head to the airport." She responded as we began walking towards her automobile.

Aoibhe and I only sat in the car for a few minutes before Meredith leaped into the driver's seat of the small economy car huffing, struggling to catch her breath as she tossed a larger piece of luggage on the backseat beside me.

"That was fast." I mumbled. She had packed the bag for me faster than I thought was possible. I wondered if she used her witchcraft.

"Well, I may have cheated just a wee bit." She admitted, as she started the car and quickly began picking up speed on the dark pavement road, leading away from our home. Meredith drove with a vengeance as we sped down the quaint country roads. A couple of corners caused the old witch Aoibhe to grip the armrest anxiously, causing me to giggle silently.

"I never fancied these things." She grumbled from the passenger seat. I smiled and caught Mere smirk at me from the rear-view mirror.

My friend, more like a sister really, had always been there for me. We were from two different worlds, she was a witch, while I was daughter of the Lycan King. She lived in a lovely quaint cottage at the border of the pack, my family lived in a castle. However, whenever we traveled into Edinburg or any other neighboring cities, people always wondered or commented that we were sisters. Our physical attributes were nearly identical, both athletic yet curvaceous. The two outstanding differences were our hair and eyes; Meredith had long walnut colored hair with rich emerald green eyes and I had rich long naturally wavy auburn hair and deep cerulean blue eyes. My father had always teased us saying that our eyes held the path to the richest forest and the deepest ocean when referring to either me or Meredith.

We rode quietly to the airport with thankfully few slowdowns, and of course, Meredith made stellar time arriving to our destination. The woman, like me, was blessed with a lead foot and for once I could say I was pleased with her aggressive driving skills because I would be able to make my flight easily.

"Well sister, I will drop you here." Meredith told me as she stopped the car at the drop off terminal, putting the car into park and leaning back to look at me in the rear seat. I smiled solemnly and nodded as I reached for the bag, she had packed for me. Meredith quickly placed her hand onto the bag, forcing me freeze and glance up at her curiously.

"Inside the bag, under the lining, is a vile of potion for you to wear daily. We don't know anything about the packs in America, where they are, or anything. It would be for best for you to spray yourself with the perfume at least once every 24 hours. It will even hide you from your own mate. You will appear nothing more than human to any supernatural being. Hopefully that will keep you safe." My eyes widened with surprise at the concern laced within my friend's voice. I traveled all the time and never had her send something of this sort along with me, and frankly, I had not even entertained the fact that I could potentially be in any danger. It was then Aoibhe turned in her seat as well, her eyes blazing a deep-sea green, a color I had never seen before, and she appeared to be nearly in a trance as she spoke to me.

"The Moon Goddess reached out to me last night in a dream. It is likely that you will find your mate in America. It will be up to you as to whether you accept him or reject him. But be aware sweet child, the vision from the Goddess was clear, once your feet leave the isle of Scotland, you will never be able to return. Be sure before your board that plane that this is truly what you want."

I paused, staring at them both, my throat instantly felt like I had swallowed wool and I felt my heart drop down into my stomach. Were they trying to scare me into returning to my home and attending my father's ball? Why would the old witch tell me I would never be able to return to my homeland? I travelled all the time, all over Europe and Asia without any trouble, this was preposterous. However, her warning was one to heed, and it did cause me to pause before I took a deep breath and nodded my head. My mind was made up, I was going to America.

"You are both being paranoid. I have traveled all over Europe, Russia, and the middle East without a hint of problem. I am simply going to take a holiday for myself, so relax, all will be well." I smiled as I tossed my black backpack over my shoulder and gave a reassuring smile to my two dear friends as I opened the door of the car and got out. Aoibhe's eyes flickered once again as her green eyes returned to normal.

"I love you both. Don't worry, I will be fine. I will text you when I depart and when I land." I slapped my hand to my lips and blew them a kiss as I reached in and grabbed the suitcase Meredith had packed for me. I rushed into the airport, time was not on my side, and I could feel their eyes following me as I entered the building.

Although there was something in my head that told me this was what I needed to do. I heard Aoibhe's warning roll over and over my mind like a recorder, causing me some anxiety. Why would she tell me if I boarded this flight, I would never be able to return? None of that made any sense to me. I slowed as I reached the security area and paused for a moment before setting the suitcase down onto the x-ray conveyor. I took a deep breath watching the suitcase and my backpack roll forward on the belt and smirked. It was too late; my mind was made up and I was going. Nothing would change my mind at point. This was something I just had to do.

CHAPTER 3

"INTUITION"

Lucca's POV:

The day was dragging on and I couldn't help but feel that something was calling to me, as I had been restless since I had woken. My wolf was no exception, he had been continually pacing in my head and I had no idea why. I found myself becoming short with him on multiple occasions while I was trying to get my work done. I had been swamped with meetings and deadlines, which had not made things any better for me. After nearly three hours straight of pouring over plans for the new colonial mansion we were building for our newest client in Virginia, I was thankful when everyone finally left my office. Time appeared to pause as I poured myself a glass of scotch and exhaustedly collapsed onto my leather sofa.

My name was Lucca Mariano, and I am the Alpha of the Crestridge Moon pack. Our pack managed over 1,000 wolves and I controlled and owned one of the most prestigious construction companies in the state. I had gone to school for drafting and engineering and had worked for my uncle building houses for the pack every chance I got as a youngster. However, with the death of my parents and my uncle nearly 10 years ago, I had been thrown into being the Alpha and taking over my uncle's small construction company, which I had grown exponentially over the years.

My wolf Enzo paced in my head, whining like an obnoxious pup. I tried to ignore him as I took a slow sip of the malted beverage and sighed knowing my day, for the most part was over. I was going take a few minutes for myself and then let Enzo out for a run this evening to burn off this annoying energy he had been exerting all day.

"You're driving me crazy." I hummed mentally to my wolf. I could see the large black beast pause and tip his head curiously, staring at me from the corner of my mind.

"Can't you feel it, you daft human?" he growled at me in frustration. I sighed and took another sip of my drink.

"What are you fussin about Enzo? Stop pacing about and not give me a clue of what in the hell is wrong with you." I shouted to the wild animal that shared my mind. "You best start making some sense, or I am gonna go and eat some wolfsbane myself." I threated, maybe that would trigger my wolf to talk. Enzo was not an easy mammal to live with and there were many a time I had taken over his wolf form and bit our own tail just to make a point.

"Something life changing is coming, I just can't put my paw on it." He did appear perplexed, and I decided to leave the beast alone while I took a moment of R & R for myself. I took a deep breath and smiled, only to hear the distinctive click of my door.

"No." I growled to the person that had dared interrupt my moment of peace. A chuckle smirked through the air, and I could tell immediately that it was by Beta, Cohan.

"What do you want?" I glowered slowly opening my eyes to see my Beta's amused smile unaltered as he strolled into my office.

"I wanted to remind you that it is Chris's bachelor party tonight in Morgantown." I could see the enthusiasm of Cohan as he shut the door behind him and sauntered over to the leather chair across from where I was sitting.

"That's tonight?" I whined, running my hand through my rich black hair, completely forgetting that we had promised Chris that we would attend. He had finally found his mate, and she was human, so he was playing by the human rules and was planning a traditional wedding, down to the bachelor and bachelorette party.

"Indeed, it is, and the Alpha needs to show some support for his Gamma don't you think?" my Beta smiled, not in the least detoured by the fact we were all heading to a human club in a human town. Of course, Chris and Cohan were always up for a party, no matter where it was or what it was about. Chris was a fun-loving wolf, and I often teased him that he should have been born on the California coast considering his chin length blonde wavy hair, crisp blue eyes and athletic build. He resembled one of those surfer guys, and no matter what time of the year, he always had that beach Sunkissed glow to his skin.

My Beta, Cohan, was a chiseled muscular type with soft brown hair and grey eyes. A handsome sort, he had no problems catching a date in his younger years. He was near my age of 32 and he, like me, had not found his mate. I was pretty sure however, that he wasn't actively looking and preferred the party life any chance he could. He and Chris often frequented the human community of Morgantown nearby, which was where Chris had run into his mate.

"I can't understand why he can just have the mating ceremony and be done with it. Humans always draw everything out unnecessarily." I grumbled, as I took another sip of my scotch.

"Because his mate is human, and she has a family, and they want to see their little girl married to a nice guy." Cohan smirked, with a distinctive grimace in his eyes. I was forced to chuckle also; I had met Leslie's parents once while I was meeting a client at a local supper club. She had seen me while I was leaving the bar and called me over to introduce me to her parents. She had introduced me as Chris's boss, and I did appreciate how kind and professional she had kept things. Overall, she was an extraordinary girl.

Her parents resemble the Cleavers from a 1950's sitcom, they were wholesomely nice, just as their daughter was. Leslie resembled her mother, blonde and petite, her aura screaming of the girl next door. And I had remembered her father plainly, a tall brute looking man, stocky and out of shape, he had been very uncomfortable with my presence when Leslie introduced us. Cohan had been standing beside me at the introduction and we were both wearing dark Armani suits, we were both heavily muscled and over 6'2 in height. From his facial features and body language he must have thought we were in the mafia. He had been polite yet was cautious and avoided speaking much to either of us.

"Remember when we met those parents of hers? Scared the shit right out of the father. If they only knew their little girl was tangling with one of the greatest werewolf warriors on the North American continent, my bet is that family would simply keel over in fright." Cohan recalled and I couldn't help but nod in agreement. That was one family that could never know werewolves were real and the supernatural existed. I disliked the fact that Leslie knew as much as she did, however Chris loved her, and she was his mate. Thankfully, unlike most humans, she had accepted him quickly and wholeheartedly, without fear or any reservations.

"Well, I suppose I will meet you all there. I need to let Enzo run off some steam, then I will shower and head out. Sound fair?" I watched my Beta hesitate, raising an eyebrow as he sat forward in his seat. He scanned over me carefully and nodded curtly.

"Yes Alpha." He answered cordially, his tone changing when I told him Enzo needed a run. It wasn't often that my wolf needed a run in the late afternoon but when he did, it told my pack that something was amiss, or planning to happen. Enzo had a sixth sense like no other wolf possessed. My Beta stood and smoothed his suit, still watching me carefully.

"Enzo needs to run huh?" he asked, a distinct hesitation lingered within his voice. I sighed and rose as well, as I walked over to my decanter.

"Glenmorangie Singet?" I asked Cohan as I lifted the decanter and poured myself one more shot in my tumbler. Cohan smiled and shook his head, declining politely.

"Always the good stuff." He teased, I shrugged my shoulders and took the last swig of the glass.

"Always, the Highlanders make the best scotch, period." I calmly replied, knowing exactly what my Beta was getting at. "Enzo is very anxious today and I am not sure why, like something is coming." I knew telling my Beta that was not going to put him at ease, but it was the only thing I had myself. Cohan shifted his weight and gave me a hesitated look. I pursed my lips at my friend and Beta and nodded in understanding at his reluctance to leave.

"It's fine, I am sure it's something silly and nothing important that has riled that damn mutt. Hell, it's probably the party that has him in a huff. Wolves in human club are always bound for some excitement." I laughed lightly, trying to relieve the tension for both of us. Cohan smiled uncomfortably and nodded, although I could still see the hesitation in his face. My Beta was always on high alert, that was just his nature.

"I am sure that's it." He muttered quietly, neither one of us believing a word I had just said.