Axton POV

* 7 Years Ago *

I slowly creep down the stairs in the attempt to pass by without being noticed. They are making today a bigger deal than it needs to be. It has only been a year. No more, no less. One year older, but if you ask my mother, it is the day I become a man.

Moving through the pack house, I stay on my toes so I won't be detected by the women who gave birth to me in the kitchen.

I have it all planned out. Sneak downstairs to avoid the big day surprise breakfast she did every year. Go to my best friend Walker's house to hang out for a while. Then go to the party the pack is throwing late tonight.

It is easy, almost too simple. What could possibly go wrong?

That's when I hear it. The slight tip of my bag pushing the antique china vase my mom had placed out on the entry table. Closing my eyes tight, I listen to the sound of the old glass shatter into a million pieces against the hard wood floors.

"Axton!" my mother's Luna tone scream to me through the walls.

Well, there goes the plan, I think to myself.

Did you really think one of your plans actually had a chance at surviving without you screwing it up in some way? Knox mocks me.

Hey!

Not my fault you can't handle the truth, he laughs. I could even see his wolfish smirk as he laughed at me.

"Axton Knight!" my mother yells at me as she came veering out of the kitchen door. Her short stature put her less than a foot smaller than me as her brown wavy hair shook around her face. Her face holds a stern look as her anger shown through the blue eyes I had inherited, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Um," I scratch the back of my neck, trying to think of a way not to piss her off any more than she is, "I was just going to talk to Walker real quick. I promised him I would come by this morning."

"Oh, don't try to pull that crap on me," she scolds, "After what you just did to my vase! You are going to get in that kitchen and celebrate your birthday," she pushes me towards the door.

"You would think after over twenty hours of excruciating labor, I would get just a little bit of respect today," she mutters under her breath as we enter the decorated kitchen.

My sister, Alex, sits at the counter laughing at my failed attempted to get out of this family tradition. She is only two years younger than me, but she looks to be almost the same age. Her brown hair twirled around her face as she smiles through the same blue eyes we both inherited from our mother.

"I see you failed at sneaking out," she continues to laugh.

I stick my tongue out at her childishly as she did the same before I take my seat next to her.

"Where's dad?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"He is in a pack meeting. He will be back in time before your party though," my mother smiled brightly at me as she moves a stack full of pancakes in front of me, "Happy birthday, Axton."

"Thanks mom," I tell her as I start to dig in, trying to avoid the subject I know she will bring up.

"So about tonight?" she starts.

"No. Don't even go there," I say, although my words are muffled by the pancakes in my mouth.

"I was just wondering if you were ready to meet her," she says offhandedly.

I swallow my food before answering her unspoken question, "I don't know if my mate will be there."

"Well, I think she will."

"Of course, you do."

"I am your mother. I can sense these kinds of things," she mocks me.

"Mmhhmm," I nod my head as I try to leave.

"I have a feeling about tonight!" she yelled to me as I walk out the door.

*****

"Are you ready for tonight?" Walker asks me as he adjusts his tie in the mirror.

"Never been more."

"So, you're not nervous at all?" he asks as he wiggles his eyebrows in the mirror. I just shake my head as I crack a smile. He gives me a look to say that he doesn't believe me for a second before continuing, "Packs are coming in from all over. This house is going to be filled with hot, unmated she wolves, in which one of them just might be your mate, and you're not nervous at all?"

"Not even a little bit," I tell him.

"Wow," he marvels, "If it was me, I would be freaking out already. Heck, if you remember I had been. Just the thought of meeting my mate had my wolf clawing at my insides, wanting to meet her but terrified about what she will think. I lucked out with Sawyer."

"Well, you aren't me," I laugh at him, standing to go to the closet to pick out a decent shirt to wear for tonight.

"That I am not, thank god!" he laughs, "Hurry up and get ready," he says before leaving and closing the door behind him.

I start to mess with my tie. Every time I try to wrap it around my neck, it just seems to get tangled. I'm starting to get frustrated and rip the tie in half.

Calm down human.

I can't Knox, I tell my wolf, I can't stop thinking about tonight. Do you think she will be there?

I hope she is. I just want our mate! he calls out.

You and me both, buddy, I think, You and me both.

*****

Music blasts through the house as I make my way down the stairs. Streams of people were filing into the house as many went straight to the dance floor. Each stop by to nod their heads in respect, saying happy birthday. But the more people entered, the faster the house filled.

Within an hour, people were pouring out of every door and window. I went around the room talking to each of the other alphas and betas that had come. Although I tried not to think about it, I couldn't get my thoughts off my mate.

Maybe she is here. Maybe she is coming. Maybe I won't find her tonight.

The last thought put a frown on my face at the idea of not meeting her tonight.

"Why you frowning?" Walker came up to me, slinging his drunk arm around me in a supportive manner, "She not here yet?"

"Nope."

"Well, nothing we can do now," he slurs, "Come on. Reid set up beer pong in the basement."

I crack a grin at his drunken behavior before following him downstairs. Most of my friends were down there, laughing as Walker tries to walk to the table before failing and collapsing onto the couch.

Reid calls me over to his team as we shoot the ping pong balls into the red cups. By the time we won, both Reid and Walker were extremely drunk.

"We're out of beer," Sawyer announces.

"I'll go get more," I tell her as I make my way up the stairs.

I push past the people blocking the hallway, trying to make my way to the kitchen. But the second I reach the door, a scent hits me like a truck. The smell of vanilla and honey invade my senses, blocking out everything else in my surroundings.

It's her.

Her scent fills me with joy as I follow it right into the kitchen. I walk in, pushing past a girl that apparently had come up to me.

Mate! Mate! my wolf screams at me.

The second I see her, my entire world stops. She's the most beautiful creature I have ever laid my eyes on. Her blonde hair falls in waves over her shoulders, while the tight red dress she's wearing showed all of her perfect curves. Her green eyes pull me in as if she hypnotized me.

"What are you doing in here?" a voice snaps me out of my trance.

I look over to the person who had interrupted the perfect harmony my mate had just put me in. I growl at the boy when I notice how close he is to her. He had placed his arm around her shoulder and it seemed he was trying to flirt with her.

I take a step forward, about to threaten him to remove his hands before I did, but my mate beat me to the punch.

"He is here for me," her voice is like an angel singing. All I want is to hear her speak forever, "So why don't you leave me alone."

He gives me one last look as he storms out of the room, pissed that he didn't get his prize. But I had. She's standing in front of me and she is all mine. My mate.

"Hi," she speaks softly as she takes a step closer to me.

"Hi," I breathe out, not even knowing I was holding my breath.

I take another step closer to her, closing the distance in seconds. Slowly lifting my hand, I gently place it on her cheek. The second my skin touches hers, electricity shoots through my body, sending pleasurable sparks everywhere.

She lets out a slight gasp at the new sensation before slowly leaning her cheek into my hand.

"Mine."

She looks up at me before giving me the greatest reply I have ever heard, "Yours."

The second the words are out of her mouth, my lips are on hers. As intoxicating as her scent was, her taste is even greater. We move in sync as I hold her close to my body. Sparks and fire ignite inside of me as my wolf howls over our mate accepting us.

The bond pulls as we continue to kiss, not wanting to break contact for even a second. When I could feel both our loss of air, I pull back slightly from her lips and press my forehead against hers. Her eyes are still shut as a soft smile is placed on her now plump red lips.

Her hand rested in my hair and I hold her waist. I finally had my mate in my arms.

"What is your name?" she asks quietly, slowly lifting her eyes to meet mine.

"I'm Axton Knight, Alpha of Black Stone Pack," I tell her proudly.

She gives a shocked and confused look before asking, "So wait, this is your party?"

I smile down at her, nodding me head slightly.

"Well then," she puts both arms around my neck, pulling us closer together than before. She smiles up at me as she whispers, "Happy birthday."

She presses her lips once again onto mine. All I want to do is continue kissing her, but I need to be careful. If we go too far, my wolf will claim her. As much as that is the only thing I want to do at this moment, I have to make sure she is ready.

She pulls back from my lips as I give her a slight frown from the distance she created. She laughs at my reaction, her voice sounding like bells ringing out.

"I have told you who I am, now it is your turn," I tell her, "What is your name?"

She smiles again as I pull her closer to my chest.

"Ellie," she tells me, "I'm Ellie."