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Ariels POV

I file into the meeting room with my friends. We split up to our own families, Aubrey pulling me with him. We sit beside mom and dad.

The way we sat showed each packs power. Dad's used to be the biggest in the US, now we're second biggest. The biggest in the USA... Well... That alpha just happens to have to sit beside me.

That alpha happens to be alone.

That alpha happens to be the one I ran into.

He's not even that old!

I turn my gaze to Aubrey who's sitting beside me. He raises an eyebrow and I use the family link.

'Aubrey, I bumped into him earlier, I don't think he likes me. Now I have to sit beside him! This is humiliating!' And he smells and looks too good not to drool over like a lot of the girls already are.

'You are an idiot. That's Alpha Raphael. His parents died when he was seven, no one knows how though. But he made his pack the strongest and biggest as fast as he could and as soon as he could.' Aubrey replies. 'He's bad news.'

I swallow nervously, there's chatter all around the room, even mom who hates these things is talking. Though this Raphael alpha guy is silent and I'm—me. Me for goodness sake! I'm silent.

Finally I can't take it anymore. June is sitting across from me, on the Canadian packs side.

"June-Bug," I mouth. "S-O-S! Save me." I don't speak anything I just mouth it and send her facial expression.

She just raises an eyebrow in return. My wolf stirs again and I jump a little in surprise since she does so violently in my mind. I rub my temples and Aubrey looks over nervously.

'It's my wolf.' I link him.

'Everyone's wolves are different.' I remember grandma telling me. 'Some hurt, some heal, some are always there, others aren't. But no matter what, it's for your own benefit because they know what's best for you.'

'Can you make it through the meeting?' Aubrey asks nervously as Jace calls the meeting to a start.

'I think so...' I reply.

I can feel Raphael's gaze on me as I mouth things to June during the meeting. She kept saying he's staring, or at least, communicating with me in our own way. Facial expressions and mouthing the words.

June-Bug helps distract myself from the pain of my wolf. The meeting comes to an end and I stay in my seat to avoid the crowd leaving. Sadly, Raphael does too. Though the pain seems to fade, finally. Dumb wolf calmed down.

Finally I let myself look at him, the room quiets as only a few people are left. Including June-Bug and her mate. My family, and a few other stragglers.

"What is your name?" He asks slowly.

"A-Ariel." I manage to get out, stop stuttering you idiot! He's gonna think you're one of those girls. The ones who hide behind a book all day, not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just that that isn't me.

He reaches out and despite his obvious strength, he's quite gentle. Just barely touching my chin as he raises it a little. His touch sends annoying, yet pleasurable, tingles.

Aubrey growls. "Don't touch my sister."

Raphael's gaze growls dark and he looks over at Aubrey. "Do not tell me what I cannot do with my mate."

I blink a few times before bursting into laughter. "You can't be serious. Me? Your mate? One, you're out of my league, two, I don't want a mate yet."

Raphael looks at me blankly and I stop laughing.

"You're serious..." I gawk.

June giggles. "I told you you'd find your mate today!"

"Close your mouth Ariel, you're going to catch flies." Aubrey says smugly.

But I hardly register what they're saying. This... This god! is mated to me? There has to be some sort of mistake, I'm not supposed to have a mate yet! I want to live!

"Ariel?" Raphael frowns, though his eyes hold curiosity, of what? I'm not sure. But man, I could get lost in though eyes. Oh! And he says my name right!

"EARTH TO MERMAID!" June screams in my ear and I jump.

"June-Bug!" I growl. "Fuck off."

I just met my fucking soulmate. I'm only eighteen! I wanna do my stupid shit with June before settling down with him!

"Come on, we should let them talk." Mum says.

"If you lay a finger on my sister in any wrong way..." Aubrey threatens as he heads out, Raphael growling back at him.

"Later you must tell me everything." June demands as she leaves the room.

Soon I'm alone with Raphael in this huge meeting room.

"Come," Raphael stands up.

"W-What?" I stumble a little as I try to follow him. Man, I'm so clumsy around him, not only in actions but in words to.

Raphael leads me to the floor my room's on, but he turns into another room. I wait in the doorway but he looks back expectantly when I don't follow so I hurry after him.

His room is big and elegant, the same white and gold colour scheme as the rest of the rooms.

"Sit." He motions to the bed instead of the couches. I don't particularly care to argue with him... Yet. But I sit on a couch anyway, hopefully he doesn't get mad. I'm almost scared of him. He watches before going to an unpacked suitcase and pulling a shirt out. Why does he need another shirt?

Instead, he pulls the shirt over my head and pulls my arms through the sleeves when I just stare up at him in confusion. It's a long sleeve and it's way too big for me.

"You're cold," He comments. "You had goosebumps. And you had your stomach showing. There were men looking at you all throughout the meeting."

I realize I am cold. I do have goosebumps. But him too? Geez. "You know, people have eyes. They're gonna look. And... I don't want a mate." I say quickly. "Not yet!"

Raphael doesn't say anything for a minute. "Well you have one now. You must live with it."

I pull my bare legs close to myself and wrap my arms around them trying to warm them up. Raphael grabs a blanket and sets it over me.

What annoys me is his face just remains neutral this whole time! There's no emotion to be seen... Besides what's in his eyes.

"Tell me about yourself." He demands.

"Like what?" I ask in confusion. I'm an eighteen year old girl who has nothing to share.

"Your favourite things. I want to know." Raphael responds.

"Something tells me you're the kind of guy who gets what he wants. So you know what? No. You have to figure it out yourself." I snap.

Raphael narrows his eyes. "Fine. Tonight you sleep here. With me. I'll move your stuff for you after supper."

"What? No! I'm sleeping in my own bed!" I retort.

"No, you are not." Raphael growls. I growl back angrily. He's so rude. Stupid alpha. Yeah, I might not like sleeping at a hotel, especially alone. They're scary as ever. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna sleep here with him.

I stand up. "I'm going to my room." I walk out of his and straight to mine. I look at myself in the mirror... Hmm. I take his shirt off and then my crop top. The door opens and shuts to my room, what does Aubrey want?

I pull Raphael's shirt back on and tuck it into my shorts. The shirt smells just like him, I like it. I walk out of the bathroom.

"Whatcha want Aubrey- Raphael!?" He's packing my things back into my suitcase. Which it doesn't take him very long since I didn't really unpack. "What are you doing!?" I exclaim, running after him as he starts walking away with my suitcase.

He goes back into his room and sets the suitcase down. "This is your room now."

"Just because you moved my stuff in here doesn't make it my room!" I exclaim.

Raphael gives me a look that makes me flinch. Realizing it, he walks over. "Don't be scared."

"But you're scary." I reply quietly. I just admitted I was scared of him... Shit.

He frowns and he sits down on the couch, pulling me onto his lap. "I do not want to scare you."

I stiffen in his grasp. I don't like this. I don't like this one bit.

"Why are you not turned on?" Raphael asks.

I choke on air. "I beg your pardon?"

"You are not turned on." Raphael states. "All the girls I know would be turned on if they sat like this, you are my mate and you are not."

"Because I'm not like most girls and I really do not like the girls you know." I growl.

Raphael looks over me. "Alpha's attract that sort of attention."

"Wait, how do you know they're turned on?" I ask in confusion.

"You can smell it."

"Ew." I scrunch up my nose.

Raphael doesn't smile or laugh instead he looks over me. "You have many bruises." He states, looking at my legs. "Shouldn't they of healed?"

I shrug. "My bruises heal slow."

"And your nose?"

"It's fine." I mumble in embarrassment.

"Are you hungry?"

"I guess..."

"Good it's dinner." And he's pulling me away. This is so weird. He's such a strange alpha, no facial expressions. Just a face that looks almost angry all the time. And he's mated to me.

I walk alongside him silently. I bet if he didn't get his way, he'd be angry. Well, I'm sure not one to follow others ways, and I don't particularly like going to the crowded room for meals.

I stop walking and turn on my heal, heading back.

"Ariel? What are you doing?" Raphael growls.

"Going to my room." I reply sternly.

"Our room. Why?" Raphael follows.

"I don't like the crowded dinner room."

"That doesn't mean you just can't eat dinner!"

"Yes it does." I snap in reply, heading for my room. Not his. Before I'm able to open the door he has me spun around and pinned to it.

"Ariel, I'll give you two options. You come to dinner with me, or you stay in our room, with me, and you don't eat." Raphael growls.

"I choose... The second option. Just, without you." I reply.

He scoops me up, throwing me over his shoulder. I yelp in pain as my hip bones hit him, placing my hands on his lower back.

"Raphie!" I exclaim.

He pauses for a moment, in the middle of his rooms doorway. "Raphie?"

I blush a little, but that's what I'm going to call him now. It's nice. He continues and we're in his room. He sets me down on the bed which I move to scramble off of but he refuses to let me move.

"Ariel, stop." He growls in a way that makes me flinch again and I instantly stop. He just comes off as such a terrifying man! I mean sure I can insult him and stuff, but as soon as he does certain things it scares the living hell out of me. And I'm talking about behind his looks.

He pulls away after I flinch and sits next to me on his bed.

"What to do with you...?" He plays with a strand of my hair.

"Nothing." I retort, pulling my hair back.

"Ariel, you can't be resistant forever." He sighs.

"Leave me alone Raphie." I turn onto my sigh, away from him, and I shut my eyes tight.

I didn't want to find my mate. Not yet...