Alex had just sat down on the swing , with her morning coffee, when she saw the boat approaching the dock. She had a small smile when she saw who it was. Even from a distance he was amazing to look at. Tall and muscular but walked with unbelievable grace. He came up on the porch with a big smile on his face.

"Good morning."

"Nice to see you again Alex. Do you mind if I join you?"

"Please do. Can I get you a coffee or anything?"

"I'm fine, already had 3 cups this morning." He laughed.

Trevor sat with her on the swing and it took all of his willpower not to grab her and kiss her senseless. His wolf was getting agitated, claim mate, hold mate, kiss mate. "What are your plans today?"

"Nothing until this evening, I have an invitation for drinks with a neighbor. Just thought I'd read a book and relax." She shrugged.

"Oh...I actually came over to invite you to dinner this evening." Trevor hoped she would accept, he couldn't let her be alone with Adrian.

"I'm sorry maybe another time, it would be rude to cancel."

"Its only drinks I'm sure he would understand. I've told my brother and his m-girlfriend all about you." Trevor whiffed of desperation.

"How did you know it was a he?" Alex was curious.

"Ah...because women don't invite other women to drinks." Nice save, thought Trevor

"Hmmm. Well, be that as it may, I can't go back on my word." Alex smiled.

Okay I guess I'll have to go to plan B, there is no way I'm letting them be alone, Trevor decided.

********

Angry and frustrated, Trevor sat at his desk, running his hands through his hair. Of course Max was not helping in the least.

Stupid human! Claim our mate and he can not touch her! Max growled.

Its not that simple! She is human Max!

You are a dumb human.Why did I get stuck with you?! Max howled.

Trevor cut him off and ignored him. Since he could not get her to agree to dinner, his only option was surveillance and protection. With a sigh he called for Daniel.

Daniel came in and sat down. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes. She didn't go for it. I was glad to see that she is a woman of her word, which is an excellent trait for a Luna. However that still leaves me with a problem." Trevor sighed and ran his hands through his hair.

"Listen brother, I know you didn't want them to meet, but, that's going to happen. So I think you should just have the enforcers watch her and they can jump in if anything happens."

"He would be able to scent them!" Trevor was getting frustrated and slammed his fist on the desk.

"Calm down! We can mask their scent!"

"What the hell are you talking about? No one can mask their scent!"

"Ah that's where you're wrong, the pack doctor has been working on an oil that you can spread on your body to mask your scent. They will smell like pine trees." Daniel smiled.

"How did I not know about this?! I am Alpha! I need to know everything that happens in this pack!" Trevor's eyes had gone black.

Daniel knew he had to be careful. "Alpha, he wanted to wait until he was sure it would work before he told you. I only found out this morning. Since you were gone this morning, this is the first chance I've had to tell you."

Trevor took deep breaths to rein in his wolf. John come to my office and bring the masking oil.

Yes Alpha.

"John is on his way."

An hour later, after talking with the pack doctor, they called the enforcers to the office. "Tonight Alex will be at Adrian's house. You four will be watching her. Get as close as possible without him seeing you. She is not to leave your eyesight! If anything happens I want you to go in, remove her and neutralize the leech! Am I understood?"

"Yes Alpha." They all replied.

He told them about the masking oil and sent them to the pack doctor.

"Now we wait. I never thought when I met my mate it would be this hard." Trevor sat down and put his head on the desk. Daniel left and quietly shut the door.

********

I listened nervously at the door. They talked about a masking oil and a 'she'. I had to hide when I heard someone coming. It was the enforcers! Once inside, I went back to the door to listen. They would be protecting someone named Alex and she would be at Adrian's house. I had to hide again when the enforcers left, so I only got the last part of what Trevor was saying. "...when I met my mate it would be this hard."

I felt like all the air had been sucked from my lungs. He found his mate! No! This can not be happening! I knew what I had to do and left quietly to make a phone call.

"Hello"

"It's me. Trevor has found his mate. She will be at Adrian's tonight."

"Are you sure?!" Derek was stunned.

"Yes. They have also developed something to mask their scent. There will be 4 enforcers watching her."

"You've done really well. I may have to give you a reward, other than my silence of course." He laughed.

"You know what I want? Kill the bitch, that will be my reward!"

"I think that will be a reward for both of us." Then he hung up.

********

I was sitting at the kitchen table reading when Shirley came in. "Alex dear, if you're going for drinks you should have something to eat. You will be driving and you don't want that to impair you." Alex really liked Shirley. She was always taking care of her and looking out for her.

"I'll be fine. I'm only going to have a couple to be polite and leave as soon as possible." Shirley seemed to let out a big breath she was holding and smiled. Curious Alex asked, " Tell me why you dislike him so much?"

"Its not that I dislike him as much as it is the reputation he has. He is not a good person Alex." She was scowling as she spoke.

"Well I was never one for gossip. So I will have to see for myself what he is like and then form an opinion. Shirley you can not judge someone by the so called 'reputation' they have. I have first hand experience with the consequences of being hurt by people with 'good reputations'."

She nodded and walked away. Alex sighed and got up and went upstairs to get ready.

After her shower, Alex walked into her closet to find something to wear. Deciding on one of her splurges from the outlet mall. It was a golden yellow sundress with a wrap around bodice, form fitting to her waist and came out in a full skirt. Paired with white wedge sandals and a white beaded evening bag. She wanted to look nice, but not give him the impression that it was a date. She decided on light make up and a ponytail. Happy with her appearance, she went downstairs and to her car.

Pulling into the driveway she saw a beautiful white house with rose bushes planted either side of the front door. It wasn't large but looked cozy. She stepped out of the car and walked to the front door. Before she could knock the door swung open. There stood Adrian with another one of his amazing smiles, if she was not careful that smile could break her resolve.

"Welcome Alex! You look beautiful! Come on in, we will be having drinks out back if that is okay with you?"

"That sounds great, it is a really nice evening." She smiled.

They stepped out of French doors onto a beautiful flagstone patio. Adrian had a table set up with canapés and a pitcher of margaritas. He pulled out a chair for her and filled their glasses.

"So tell me Alex, have you met anyone from around the lake?"

"Yes. A friend of Owen and Shirley, Trevor. Do you know him?"

Adrian gave a small scowl at the mention of his name. "I have known him for a long time. For your sake be careful around him."

"He seems like a really nice person, Owen and Shirley are really fond of him."

"Ah...yes...They would be."

"What do you mean?"

Before he could answer someone walked out onto the patio. "What are you doing here?" Adrian groaned.

"A little birdie told me you have a guest. I thought I would come by and introduce myself." Derek smirked.

Adrian gave him a look that could kill. "Well you were not invited. leave!"

Derek ignored him and walked over to Alex. "You must be Alex. My name is Derek Black." He reached for her hand and kissed it lightly on the knuckles. She jerked her hand back and he laughed. "I believe you have met my nephew, Trevor."

Alex didn't like the guy as soon as he opened his mouth. He was smarmy and looked dangerous. When he kissed her hand she was completely repulsed and could not stop herself from jerking away. She could not believe someone like him could be related to Trevor. "Yes. I've met Trevor." She said coldly.

"Derek may I have a word with you?!" Adrian was seething. He motioned towards the woods and Derek followed.

********

"What the hell do you want Derek? You are not a meet and greet kinda guy!" He sneered.

Derek laughed and put a hand over his heart in a fake hurt gesture, "Can't a guy come for a visit old friend?"

"First of all we are not friends! Second you are intruding on an evening with my beloved! Now, state your business and leave mutt!" Adrian was on the edge and would love to snap his neck but dealing with the council is not something he wanted to do right now.

"Beloved?! Are you serious?"

"Yes. I could smell it in her blood as soon as we met. I just have to taste her to make sure. Which is what I was planning to do until you showed up!"

"Well...well...well isn't this a pickle!" He guffawed. Adrian was getting more livid by the second and was about to reach for Derek's throat until he spoke. "Trevor claims her as mate! What are you gonna do bloodsucker?!"

"That's not possible!"

"Well I suggest you take a little taste and if she is not your beloved, hand her over to me."

"Why do you want her?"

"Tsk tsk leech! That is none of your business!"

Adrian walked away and left him standing by the woods.