Chapter 3

Noland's POV

I had never seen a pack house so big and well designed. I knew it would be impressive, but this was on another level. Grey, mixed with cream-colored and with elegant molding, classic mansion style..it was the home of my dreams.

Maya stood beside me, eyes wide as she stared at it. Tiara sat on my hip. Moments later, the front door swung open, and Claire ran out with a giant smile. Her blonde hair fell on her shoulders, sunlight catching a face of her face and making her neck piece glow.

“Aunt Claire!” Tiara wriggled free and ran to her. Claire scooped him up effortlessly.

“Hey, little mama! How are you?”

“Good!” Tiara chirped, grabbing Claire’s face.

“Noland, always good to see you,” Claire said, finally acknowledging me. I rolled my eyes but felt no hard feelings.

“Oh don’t lie, you’re excited to see Tiara.. But it’s good to see you too.” I patted her shoulders and smiled. “This is Maya.” She gave a small smile.

“Yes, Maya, so nice to meet you,” Claire said, and then led us inside. “Lucas is at the packhouse with the other alphas and guests, so we should get ready and head out.”

“Can’t believe we’re the closest pack and still last,” Maya muttered as we walked.

“And whose fault is that?” I teased.

Maya had deep dark eyes and a striking face. I was lucky to have her as my mate, though a nagging thought that my true mate would look nothing like her gnawed at me.

“Since it’s Friday, we will just go for dinner and an outdoor camping, just outside the house..there might be bonfire. Tomorrow, it’s just the alphas, and the guests will be with me,” Claire said. I nodded, scanning the mansion as we walked. We were led to a separate part of the house, our room was 2, it had a bathroom and a small bedroom for Tiara and the other for me and Maya.

Fenrir growled in my head at the thought of sharing a bed with anyone but our mate. Today he was unusually agitated, pacing nonstop and growling, claiming her smell was a stench. He was protective of Tiara, not wanting her near him. I had never seen him like this.

We dropped our bags. Tiara ran around, making a mess. Her hair was braided and packed in a bun to prevent anyone from touching it; Fenrir and I didn’t want anyone near her.

“Nol, this place is big!” Tiara spun, dropping her stuffed doll.

“Come on, sweetie, let’s get changed. Or we will get late for Dinner.”

“Will I be wearing your clothes” she asked smiling mischievously. Tiara always does that because since there’s no other woman in our life and house apart from Maya who comes once in a while, most times I always dress her like me.

“Yeah, you are,” I said, picking her up and kissing her forehead. Tiara laughed. Maya pulled a Red Silk dress from her bag.

I dressed Tiara in shorts and a big pink polo with Nike. “Handsome Pretty Buddie,” I said smiling, kissing her cheek. And she ran to play, singing, “I like Nol’s clothes!”

I changed quickly into blue jeans and a black t-shirt with sleeves cuffed mid-forearm. I styled my hair neatly, wanting to make a good impression.

Maya opened the door, and I was stunned. Her long chestnut hair was packed in a ponytail, dark eye makeup, and red silk dress with thin straps hugged her curves perfectly. The low back with criss-cross strings and black heels completed the look.

“Maya, you look amazing,” I said. Fenrir fought me to step back. He had never been this reactive.

“I have to keep up with you. Always dashing,” she said, smiling. “Nonsense Noland.”

“Maya, pretty dress,” Tiara added, hugging her leg.

“Thank you, baby.”

A knock, and Claire appeared, all dressed and dazzling as well.

“Ready? Let’s go meet everyone.” I picked up Tiara before Maya could grab her.

“Nol, something in my belly tickles. Mel is happy,” she whispered, burying her head in my neck.

Mel, her wolf, had showed up  early. Mel hadn’t transitioned, but I treated her as Tiara’s  imaginary friend for now. Fenrir sensed Mel too and protected her like I did.

“Mel senses something,” Fenrir said, then withdrew.

“Remember what we said about Mel?” I whispered.

“Only for us at home ..we are the only ones that can hear it,” Tiara said, covering her mouth and staying quiet.

The mansion was impressive, but the packhouse surpassed it. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at Lucas and Claire’s wealth.

Maya clung to my bicep; I fought not to pull away. We were both nervous as the steel doors opened. The smell of food and liquor hit me..and then something else, thick and intoxicating, dragging Fenrir from his mental cave.

‘Find it,’ he growled, but I ignored him.

“So here’s the main living room, wine room down the hall,  play ground, movie room, library room upstairs, backyard for camp and the bonfire, and a highchair for the kids,” Claire explained. My heart raced.

“Dining room is this way.”

Both Maya and Tiara clung to me tighter. Tiara buried her head in my neck, and Maya’s grip dug more tighter into my arm. She looked frantic, eyes scanning the room.

The smell grew stronger. Fenrir and I needed to find its source.

“Daddy, it smells funny,” Tiara whispered. Maya sniffed and said,

"Like grape wine?” but I knew it wasn’t that. Mine was more… masculine.

Claire opened the door, and the scent hit me like a ton of bricks. My eyes scanned the crowd of alphas..familiar faces except one at the back. Deep Black hair falling to his shoulders, bright brown eyes locking with my black ones, a scar adding on the left side of his jaw.

A tower of a man. Rarely did I meet men bigger than me, but even from here, his muscles strained against the Green T-shirt.

The scent was coming from him, and it made my heart race, my toes curl.

‘Mate.’

“Nol, who is that man?”

I wish I knew, Tiara . I wish I knew