| KALEB

I awoke to the Sun's light streaming into the clearing on golden rays. As beautiful as the scenery was I couldn't appreciate the golden glow being cast over everything. There was a giant knot of anxiety twisting away in the pit of my stomach. Today my pack would meet my mate and as far as they knew he was an unknown shifter. A threat. This wasn't what plagued me the most, I was more concerned with whether or not they'd accept me mating a tiger.

Thoughts of all the ways this meeting could go horribly wrong began filling my mind. I let out a sigh turning on my side on the cool grass. The small action was enough to garner Zev's attention. He was pacing along the tree line when his huge head snapped to my direction. With no hesitation he was bounding across the clearing, his emerald eyes trained on my tiny form.

I rolled into a sitting position just as he'd neared me. I could feel the bubbling concern in his mind as he used his nose to peruse my body searching for a sign or cause of my distress.

"What's wrong, little one?" he asked gently. I sighed but answered nonetheless.

"Nothing, I'm fine," Zev growled lowly, the deep timbre ricocheting through me. He touched his nose with mine before pulling back his large head to stare at me in the eyes.

"You're lying," he claimed before shifting into his human form.

The impressive male stared down at me expectantly with an eyebrow raised. I knew one way or another he'd get what he wanted and it was best not to resist too much. He sat gracefully in front of me daring me with his eyes to look away from him.

"Tell me, now." He commanded, holding no room for argument. I blushed deeply at the sexy growl that had entered his voice, visibly shivering.

"I'm just nervous. " I reluctantly admitted. Once the words left my mouth it was like I couldn't keep the tidal wave of insecurities from following quickly behind them.

"What if my pack is angry with me? What if they don't accept us being together-" Zev growled fiercely, gripping my chin he pulled his face up while bringing him closer.

"No one is going to lay a hand on you. I could give a damn if they accepted us. You are mine and I am yours and to me, that is all that matters. Pack be damned." He practically snarled before smashing our lips together.

Leaving no room for defiance Zev immediately dominated the kiss, swallowing all of the heated moans that traveled up my throat, drowning them out with the possessive growls that emanated from his broad chest. I was swept up in Zev and all though it had been abrupt I couldn't help but respond in earnest. As his tongue practically plundered my mouth I tried to get closer to his much larger body wanting to be practically encased in his warmth and sent.

Our mouths moved together sloppily since I could hardly keep up with his purposeful pace. One large hand had curled itself into the hair at the nape of my neck, pulling roughly causing our lips to break apart. I whimpered needily from the loss of contact. Zev growled darting down to kiss and lather my mark with his tongue. I cried out as a jolt of pleasurable electricity sparked through all of my nerve endings.

Zev pulled away before things could heat up even more, breathing through his mouth softly while I was sucking in air by the gallons. My wolf had rolled over in complete submission and all my anxiety seemed to have been erased and replaced by all things Zev.

"Good puppy," he whispered against my lips leaving a quick peck. I whined wanting our lips to touch again but he was having none of it. "Come, little one, it's time we got going," Zev said firmly, standing and pulling me up with him.

He stepped back and shifted once more into his ridiculously large tiger form. I followed soon after. Zev ran his nose along my back affectionately before giving a soft nudge to my flank. I took a few reluctant steps forward but Zev was having none of it and released a warning growl, I immediately quickened my steps to a full out run with Zev close behind me.

In what seemed like no time at all we were just outside of my packs land breaking through the tree line at the border. I trotted to a stop and Zev followed suit. Darren had been telling the truth, four enforcer wolves along with Alpha Drake, his beta and Darren were waiting for us. Darren looked just like his father but got his lovely pigment from his mother. He walked towards us with a bundle in his arms. I realized they were clothes when he set them down in front of us.

"My father wishes to speak with you before allowing you on to pack land." He said once he'd straightened up, referring mostly to Zev who nodded his immense head in acknowledgment. Darren gave a short nod of his own before returning to his spot on his father's left side. Zev grabbed the clothing gently in his mouth before turning, effectively blocking me from view and dropping the clothes at my feet. I knew exactly what he wanted without even having to ask. His possessiveness was oddly reassuring in this situation.

I shifted and went to grab the clothes that were obviously meant for me as they were my own and quickly donned them. Only when Zev was completely sure that I was finished did he shift. Before he could move to do so I reached for the sweats at our feet and handed them to him. Taking them gently he leaned down to kiss my forehead affectionately before pulling them on. Since Zev was so large they hardly fit, but that was to be expected since he was bigger than even my Alpha in size.

When he was finished he pulled me into his side and turned to face my waiting Alpha. Alpha Drake's eyes quickly landed on me and some of the worries seemed to disappear from them.

"Kaleb," he called, some authority leaking into his voice. "We've been worried about you. When I called for a meeting and you hadn't shown the pack immediately went on high alert, especially with the rogues hanging around our borders. " his brows furrowed as his tone took on that of a scolding father. "I understand how distracting meeting your mate can be, but that was a truly reckless pup," he growled out the last bit.

My wolf immediately submitted to the dominant wolf but refused to show his belly, only wanting to do that for Zev. This pleased my mate immensely as he pulled me closer into his side.

"I'm sorry Alpha," I apologized timidly. "It wasn't my intention to make you worry."

Alpha Drake sighed his face and tone softening. "I understand pup, however, you are an omega and our wolves are naturally overprotective of you. I must admit though, I wasn't expecting you of all people to go against a direct order especially knowing the consequences-"

Zev growled cutting my Alpha off. The enforcer wolves growled in response shifting their weight from foot to foot. I knew in the back of my mind that the seven of them together couldn't take Zev even if they tried. Alpha Drake finally turned his attention to my mate.

"I am Alpha Drake," he introduced himself calmly. "You are?"

"Zev." Was my mates clipped response.

"What are your intentions with our Kaleb?" Alpha Darke asked getting straight to the point. Zev glared his voice hard as he replied.

"My plans for my mate do not include this pack." Alpha Drake frowned.

"You plan to keep him from his pack? His family?" The large wolf accused.

"Never said he wouldn't visit" my equally dominant tiger shifter responded, a hard edge lacing his tone. Silence filled the air as the two powerful shifters stared each other down. The sound was broken by a high pitched squeal.

All of our heads turned toward the source of the high pitched sound. Luna Eden looked like an ebony goddess as the Sun's light bounced off her dark skin casting a golden glaze upon it. Her brown eyes were alight with mischief as always. She took quick purposeful steps in our direction, bypassing the males in her way to get to me, completely ignoring the giant male that dwarfed us both and had me glued to his side.

I was a little surprised Zev had allowed her this close, but I realized he simply didn't see her as a threat. I smiled warmly at my Luna.

"Oh Kaleb, look at you! You're glowing!" She exclaimed happily. I flushed unable to help it. "Your mother would be so proud, pup." She said as her eyes watered. I stepped away from Zev who reluctantly let me go and into the embrace of my Luna's.

"Thank you," I whispered past the lump in my throat as she rests her head atop mine.

Pulling away I wiped at my tears as she did hers with a giggle allowing me to settle back into my mate's side as his arm slid back around my waist. She finally turned her attention to Zev shoving her hand towards him.

"Luna Eden, darlin'," she greeted exuberantly. Zev looked towards her mate before taking her hand gently.

"Zev, ma'am," he responded respectfully. Luna smiled before wiggling her eyebrows at me.

"You made sure to thank the goddess for this one, yeah?" I turned crimson.

"L-Luna!" I whined embarrassed I could have sworn I heard Zev chuckle as Darren outright guffawed.

"What, it's a perfectly valid question." She shrugged before continuing. "Now, when was your last heat? When do you plan on giving me grand pups or cubs?" She added quickly glancing at Zev. "No, seriously how far off do you think your heat is-"

"Luna! P-please can we talk about this later?" I practically begged only to be completely ignored as my mate answered for me.

"Don't worry, I plan on having Kaleb caring my cubs very soon," I could almost hear the smirk in his deep voice but that only caused me to blush deeper. Seeming satisfied Luna then whirled around planting her hands on her supple hips, glaring at her mate.

"Why haven't you invited them inside yet Drake?" She asked testily. Alpha Drake just sighed.

"I was about to do that before you interrupted dove,"

"Oh," she said before moving to his side where he pulled her into him with one massive arm. " I knew you had some home training," she said teasingly with a beaming smile. Alpha Drake just kissed her forehead indulgently before turning back to us.

"We'll finish our discussion in the packed house," he said.

Zev nodded. Our welcoming party turned, leading us to the packed house with me and Zev close behind.

| AUTHOR'S NOTE

I finally got this chapter back up. I honestly know how it got deleted in the first place but oh well, it's back now. On a brighter note, we can now move along with the storyline. I'm so so excited!

Thoughts on the story so far?

-J.T.