Chapter 4: Chapter 4

NOAH

“I’ve been waiting a ~week~!” I barked, my fist pounding against the surface of my desk.

Sawyer and Greyson flinched at my sudden outburst, sharing a glance.

“What’s with all the racket?” Jack, my other brother, inquired as he strolled into my office.

“Your brother’s in a mood because he hasn’t seen his mate in six days,” Sawyer clarified.

Jack responded with an eye roll. “Man, get a hold of yourself.”

I growled at Jack. He had just turned eighteen and didn’t yet understand the significance of the mate bond. He was the youngest boy in the family—immature, with no responsibilities or leadership skills.

In short, he was a thorn in my side.

“Zip it, Jacky,” Greyson cautioned him.

“Don’t call me that,” Jack retorted, smacking Greyson on the back of his head.

“Boys, enough,” my father’s voice echoed through the room, silencing his squabbling sons. “Everyone out,” he commanded.

My father hadn’t been alpha for over a decade, but his commanding presence remained; his alpha aura never faded. I aspired to be as effective a leader as he. It was my sole ambition as a man and as an alpha.

That was, until I met Evie. Now, my primary goal is to be the best partner and man I can be for her.

“Son, we need to have a chat,” my father sighed, settling down in front of my desk.

“What’s up?” I asked, sitting up straight, instantly on high alert.

“I have some reservations about this mate of yours,” he stated nonchalantly.

I clenched my fists, my body immediately filling with tension and rage.

“What?” I managed to spit out through gritted teeth.

“A human can’t be an effective luna for this pack,” he started.

~I didn’t like where this conversation was going.~

“A human is weak and delicate. She won’t contribute anything of value to this pack, she can’t lead it successfully, and she won’t be a good partner for you.”

With every word my father uttered, my anger surged until I couldn’t contain it any longer. I snapped the edge of the desk in half, standing up and sending my chair flying backward. I was livid.

“She was made ~for me~ by the Moon Goddess, and you won’t utter a ~word~ against her,” I growled, practically spitting the words at him.

My father crossed his legs and calmly looked up at me, clearly unfazed by my outburst.

“You have a duty to this pack to choose a strong luna. Look at you, you haven’t seen her in a week and you’re already falling apart. She’s a ~human~, Noah, she doesn’t belong here.”

My father was treading on thin ice, former alpha or not.

“She belongs ~with me~.” Remi’s voice echoed through me, his claws digging into the desk between us.

“You could choose a mate, a strong mate from a strong bloodline, just like I did,” my father suggested.

“I was given a mate and I won’t abandon her, no matter what. She will be the next luna and you will respect her or ~leave~.” My voice left no room for arguments.

My father stood up and straightened his suit jacket. “You’re the alpha, it’s your decision. But when she disappoints you or runs away or rejects you, remember what I said.” My father turned and exited the room while I glared at the back of his head.

Before I had a chance to cool down, Sawyer knocked on my door.

“~What~?” I snapped at him, my tone harsh.

“Molly has some news that you’ll want to hear,” Sawyer said, stepping aside to let his sister in.

“What is it?” I asked, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

“I’m taking Evie to the Den tonight,” she announced, and my mood instantly shifted.

I grinned at Molly. “Really?” I asked, my voice filled with excitement.

“Yes, Alpha, she agreed to go out for drinks. She doesn’t know you own the place.”

I was already heading out of the office before Molly could finish her sentence. “Wait, Alpha!” she called after me.

I halted and turned toward her. I was eager to get ready and head to the bar. Everything had to be perfect for my mate.

“She’s not exactly a fan of yours. You’ll have to tread lightly. It can’t seem like a setup or she’ll never trust me again.”

Molly’s words stung, but I knew she was speaking the truth. I had to tread lightly and intelligently with my mate. I needed her to trust Molly, as their friendship was my only lifeline to her at this point.

“I agree,” I communicated through sign language. “Thank you, Molly, for making this possible and for watching over my mate.” I gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze to show my gratitude.

“She’ll meet me there at seven,” she informed me before I dashed off to my room.

I swiftly swapped my formal attire for a pair of comfy jeans and a black tee. I glanced at my phone. It was only five o’clock, but I decided to head to the bar regardless.

The Wolf’s Den was my first venture after I turned twenty-one. My grandfather had established our family business, a global trade company, to support the pack, and it practically ran itself now. The bar was my personal side project—one that I truly relished.

“Yes, sir, we’re fully stocked, staffed, and inspected.”

My manager, Ronnie, was taken aback to see me at the bar tonight. I usually didn’t interfere with them during the weekend. I would drop by during the week to review the financial reports and inventory, but for the most part, my managers handled the daily operations.

“Everything’s been cleaned to code?” I inquired.

“Yes, as always,” Ronnie responded, clearly nervous.

“Good. I have some special guests coming tonight,” I confessed, clearing up his confusion.

“Ah, yes, sir, we’ll ensure everything is perfect for your guests,” Ronnie assured me.

It was a little past seven, and I was in my office, waiting for Molly to mind-link me about their arrival. I planned to give them as much time as possible to settle in before I made my appearance. Molly was right; we couldn’t make it seem like a setup.

“We’re here,” Molly mind-linked me.

As soon as I received Molly’s message, the scent of aged leather and chocolate wafted into my office. I couldn’t see her, but I knew my mate was close. Remi began howling in my head as I did everything in my power to resist the urge to run to her.

I approached the large window that overlooked the club and immediately spotted my mate as she and Molly entered through the front door. Evie was dressed in a tank top similar to the one she wore at the bonfire, revealing a small portion of her stomach. She wore dark, form-fitting jeans and a leather jacket.

Her hair was braided to the side, hanging over one shoulder, with a few loose strands framing her face.

~Goddess, give me strength.~

She was the most breathtaking sight I had ever laid eyes on. I gripped the window ledge to steady myself. Molly guided her to one of the high-top tables at the back of the bar, but they were still within my line of sight.

Molly and she took a seat while the waiters came over to take their drink orders.

I decided to wait until Evie had a couple of drinks before making my way down. This would give her a chance to relax and feel more at ease. Hopefully, it would be enough time for her to believe that my arrival was merely a coincidence.

After her second drink, Molly coaxed her onto the dance floor. I could tell she was reluctant, but she went along with Molly’s suggestion. Molly, who had consumed a few more drinks than Evie, was dancing with some random guy while my mate stood awkwardly at the edge of the dance floor.

She was hugging herself self-consciously, and I knew it was time for me to step in. I had to rescue her.

I rushed out of my office and down the stairs. By the time I reached the dance floor, another wolf was hovering around my mate. I growled softly under my breath, pushing Remi to the back of my mind and forcing myself to stay composed.

“No, thank you. I don’t want to dance,” I heard my mate telling the wolf who was pressuring her.

He grabbed her elbow and tried to drag her onto the dance floor.

“I said ~no~,” she retorted, yanking her arm away from the wolf.

My mate had a fiery spirit.

I closed the gap between us in a few long strides, grabbing the wolf’s arm and pushing him away.

“The lady said no,” I snarled at him.

~Look at her again and you’ll be dead,~ I mind-linked the wolf.

He was an omega in my pack who knew better than to challenge his alpha. He bowed in submission and scurried away.

Evie was hugging herself again, her gaze tracking my every move.

“Are you all right?” I asked, fighting the urge to reach out and touch her.

She gave a slow nod.

“I can take care of myself,” she said, her tone laced with irritation.

I held back a smirk, my eyes wide as I looked at her. “I have no doubt about that,” I replied.

“Why are you here?” she questioned, her beautiful blue eyes narrowing suspiciously at me.

“I’m here most weekends,” I answered truthfully, gesturing toward the bar where Sawyer and Greyson were seated. “You remember Sawyer, right?”

I had brought them along as a cover for my presence at the bar, and because I knew Sawyer made her feel at ease, much to my chagrin.

“You’re here with him?” she asked, surprise evident in her voice.

“Sure, we’re friends.” I shrugged, trying to downplay the argument we’d had the previous weekend.

“~Hmm~,” she hummed, not saying anything else.

“Can I get you a drink?” I offered.

She studied me for a long moment. I wasn’t sure what was going through her mind, but I guessed it had something to do with whether or not she could trust me. Her expression during the silence was priceless; she looked absolutely adorable.

“Okay,” she finally agreed. “I’m sitting over there.” She pointed to a table and left me to guess her drink of choice.

I considered mind-linking Molly, but she was too drunk to be of any help. I rolled my eyes and mind-linked the wolf she was with instead, instructing him to take good care of my gamma’s sister.

“What’s that table been drinking?” I asked the bartender, Marcus.

Marcus glanced at his tablet before responding. “A variety of shots and some mixed drinks.”

“Get me one of the mixed drinks and a whiskey,” I instructed.

Marcus quickly prepared our drinks and handed them to me. I returned to my mate at her table.

“I hope you like it,” I said, placing the mixed drink in front of her.

She took the glass in both hands and brought it to her lips. I watched her, envious of the glass. I followed her every move, drinking in the sight of her.

I noticed she had removed her leather jacket and hung it on the back of her chair. Her arms and shoulders were bare, her perfectly tanned skin glowing in the dim bar light. She shifted in her seat, likely uncomfortable with my staring, and the lights caught something on her left shoulder.

“You’re staring,” she said softly, her words pulling my attention back to her face.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help myself,” I murmured, captivated by her beauty.

“I know, it’s ugly.”

Her words shocked me until I noticed she was rubbing her shoulder. There were three long, jagged scars running from her collarbone, across her shoulder, and down her arm. They disappeared under her shirt. My eyes drifted to her exposed stomach, and I noticed the scars peeking out from her midriff.

“You’re beautiful,” I whispered, drawing her attention away from the scars.

I didn’t know what had caused them, but I was instantly angry at whatever it was. My werewolf sight allowed me to see the faint blush that spread across her perfectly plump cheeks.

“Well, that’s nice of you to say,” she replied, sounding like she didn’t believe me.

“It’s true. I wasn’t looking at your scars; I was looking at you,” I confessed.

Her blush deepened, and she began to fidget with her braid.

“Can I ask what happened?” I tried to sound casual as I took a sip of my whiskey.

“I was attacked by a wolf.”

I nearly choked on my drink.

~Well shit.~

“What?” I sputtered, whiskey burning my throat.

“It just came out of the woods in the middle of the afternoon and attacked me.” She turned to show me how the scars continued across her back. “I nearly died,” she added softly.

I gripped my cup tightly.

~She was attacked by a wolf. A ~damn~ wolf. Are you kidding me?~

“That’s terrible; I’m so sorry,” I said sincerely.

“Yeah, it sucked.” She shrugged nonchalantly.

“Evie.”

I savored the way her name felt on my lips. I had to admit, I loved the sound of it. Her eyes met mine, and I was momentarily spellbound by them.

“Yes?” she asked, breaking me out of my trance.

“Evie, is that short for something?” I found myself asking, veering off from my original line of thought.

She squinted at me, a playful glint in her eyes.

“Maybe,” she replied, her tone teasingly cryptic.

“And that would be…?” I prodded.

A small smile danced on her pink lips as she shook her head. “That’s for me to know.”

Her playful banter was infectious, and I found myself enjoying it more than I should.

“Consider that a challenge,” I responded, my voice dropping an octave.

She simply shrugged. Her silence prompted me to return to my initial thought.

“I wanted to apologize for my behavior on Saturday. It was out of line,” I confessed.

Evie took a sip of her drink, her eyes never leaving mine. “Molly seems to think it was just another Saturday for you guys,” she said, her voice muffled by the rim of her glass.

“I suppose it is, in a way,” I admitted, a hint of regret in my voice.

“Odd relationship,” she murmured.

“Sawyer and I are like brothers. We tend to get under each other’s skin,” I said. A chuckle escaped my lips.

Her expression remained unimpressed. “Molly said the same thing. But I have three brothers, and none of them have ever tried to kill each other,” she retorted.

“You have brothers?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

I wanted to know everything about her, even if she was reluctantly sharing the information.

She nodded, her lips pressed together in a tight line, clearly holding back.

I couldn’t help but grin at her tenacity. She had more wolf-like qualities than my father gave her credit for.

“I have a brother too. That’s him over there with Sawyer,” I said, nodding toward Greyson.

Evie’s gaze flickered between me and the bar, clearly contemplating what to do with this new piece of information.