Fresh pine and humidity. That was the first scent I caught the moment my eyes opened and found myself in an unfamiliar room. It was dark but I knew it wasn't the living room Mathew and I had spent talking in the night before.

I was laying on a bed and Mathew's odor wrapped me. I yawned and was about to get up when the door opened.

He was standing at the door and I couldn't stop my eyes from running over him. We had talked the night before and I knew he wasn't the bad guy. And even though I didn't know him very well, our mate pull didn't stop me from drooling over him.

He was wearing a blue sweater, a pair of dark jeans and his hair had a messy look. I blushed madly when he gave me a knowing smile, he had caught me staring.

"If we go now, you'll be back on time." He said and walked to me. I realized, I had totally forgot about my dad. I needed to return the sooner I could. I pull the covers away and he sat next to me.

"Serena." he whispered and I raised my head to him. He was staring at me so intense and for a couple of minutes we stayed still. "You are..."

Aww... My wolf moaned in satisfaction.

He leaned closer and grazed my cheek with the back of his hand. The pull felt stronger and better with every touch. I closed my eyes savoring the nice feeling, but I jolt in surprise when I felt his warm, moist lips on my jaw, leaving a soft trail of kisses until they reached the corner of my mouth.

My hands gripped his arms and my breath faltered. His lips now grazing my own softly.

Kiss me...

My hands fell at my sides and I backed away feeling shy all of a sudden. I looked away and noticed sunlight was peeking through the window. Damn it! I needed to go back home.

"I think we really need to go."

He nodded and stood up, but not before I noticed his eyes filled with lust.

⌘ ⌘ ⌘

We were out of his cottage in a few minutes and we started running all the way back home to my Pack.

I got more nervous with every time I looked at the sky and saw how the sun was almost out. My dad was probably back by now. How would I explain if anyone discovered where I had been?

Jeez, I knew what would happen and it wouldn't be nice.

Mathew and I crossed the border of my territory in a couple of minutes and soon we were in the woods.

We stopped a few meters aways, hiding. "We need to be sure no one sees you." He said.

"I don't see anyone, I think it's safe." I replied and was about to make my way to the Pack house when I recognized a voice.

"I can't believe you let her out of your sight!" Liam shouted as he rounded the house corner and next to him was Ben, looking pale and worried.

"I didn't.. she was there last time I checked." Ben argued and I knew both of them were mad, by the way they stared at each other in anger.

"Yeah and what about this morning?" Liam asked.

"They are talking about you." Mathew said and I nodded, feeling guilty.

"I should probably go, before they kill themselves." I muttered.

"Are you sure about that?" Mathew asked giving Liam and Ben a wary look.

"Yeah, don't worry." He frowned, almost unsure of letting me go, so I placed my hand on his arm. "It's okay, they won't hurt me. Ben's my best friend and Liam he is..." I shut myself up before the words came out of my mouth. I couldn't tell him my dad had chosen Liam as my mate.

So far, Mathew had proved me he wasn't a very calm person in terms of things that belong to him. And if being 'mates' was all about belonging to each other, then I knew I would be in trouble soon.

"It'll be fine." I finished.

"Right."

We stood in an uncomfortable goodbye. What was I supposed to tell him?

Was I supposed to kiss him goodbye?

Or... Maybe hug him?

I mentally face-palmed myself and just stared at the ground, waiting for some kind of indirect of what to do.

Don't let him go, my young wolf pleaded and I could almost picture her with a pout.

"I'll wait until I am sure you are safe."

"Okay."

"Serena, I..." he trailed off and I raised my eyes to him. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked... nervous. I smiled at the thought. I hadn't picture him to be like that, he always had this bad-ass, mature, boss aura around him.

In automatic, I stood in my tip toes and placed a kiss on his left cheek. His hands immediately went to my waist and pulled me into him.

"Thank you." I said.

He nodded and I notice a small flush on his cheeks. I grinned and when his eyes fixed on mine, he lifted me until we were at the same eye level. Then his lips covered mine and he kissed me. My hands traveled up his chest until they circled around his neck, fisting his wavy hair on my hands. I moaned when he bit my bottom lip amorously.

We separated to take a breath and I felt my legs wobble.

"I should..."

"Yeah." He said, but neither of us had moved, not even an inch.

His hands fell at his sides and I took a step back. "Goodbye." I said and turned around, ready to go back.

"Serena." He said and I glanced at him. "I'll see you soon."

I didn't know why, but knowing I would be seeing him again appeased me. It made me feel tranquil and in some way... happy.

⌘ ⌘ ⌘

"Serena, are you sure you are okay?" Ben asked for the fourth time and I actually felt bad for him. After all, he had been taking care of me and the fact that Liam had scolded him wasn't helping.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I couldn't sleep so I decided to take a walk. I didn't know it was going to take that long." I said and Liam growled beside me.

He was pissed with Ben. "Liam, please." I said and I felt him relax instantly, my Alpha voice dominating.

"Anyway, I'm glad you are okay Serena." Liam muttered and looked at his watch. "Your father want to meet us in half an hour. I suggest you take a shower and change. He said it was important."

I looked at him and couldn't help to notice he was looking at Ben with an odd look in his eyes.

What was going on and why did my father want to talk to me?

I nodded to Liam and stood up. Before I went upstairs, I couldn't help to notice the looks Ben and Liam were giving to each other. There was something they weren't telling me and I didn't like it just one bit.

Once I was under the spray of the warm water I felt my muscles relax. I was tired. Today and yesterday were probably the days I had exercised the most since my father had forbidden me any kind of wandering outside the territory.

And to think I had been with a man out there, my true mate.

A small smile formed on my lips and my fingertips tingled. The kiss, it had been extraordinary. It had been as if I was being touched by fire or something. I had never felt something similar before.

It had not been like the first kiss we had shared on the woods, the second night he had returned. No, because this time I knew who he really was. He was no stranger anymore.

Maybe the thought of mating already and being together for the rest of our lives, seemed so far away and impossible to believe, but deep inside I knew part of me wanted it, wished for it, and dreamed for it.

It didn't take long for me to get ready. I chose a pair of black leggings and a burgundy sweater and was ready to go.

The cold air of September was a reminder my time as the Alpha's daughter was coming to an end, and with every bowed I received from the pack members I knew a lot was going to change very soon.

I hugged myself as Liam and Ben walked beside me, as we headed towards the council house.

After we had been received, my father and Liam's Dad, the former Beta, stood in front of us.

"Liam, I hoped you have already explained Serena what are we doing here." My dad said and Liam looked confused.

"No Sir, I haven't. I thought it was better to explain to her with all of us present."

"Well then, Serena there's a reason why we are gathered here. It seemed someone really wanted the chance to take part in the choosing of your mate so we have decided if was the best if you decided." My dad said with a serious look.

"I don't understand." I said.

"Serena, your dear friend Ben had asked me your hand in permission to become your mate."

"What?!" I asked completely surprised by what I was hearing. I turned around and caught Ben looking at me. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I care for you." Ben replied instantly.

"So what?" I replied angrily. Didn't he know the last thing I wanted was my dad to think I was accepting the idea of him choosing my mate? This was the last thing I needed to complicate my life even more.

"Serena, you have to chose." The Beta said and I looked at my dad, who was expecting my answer.

"Choose. Ben, son of the Pack army leader or Liam, son of the former Beta."

I turned to both of the men who had been mentioned. Liam was watching me and gave me a comforting smile before my eyes drifted to Ben, who on the contrary looked uncomfortable and flushed.

I had to chose, my Alpha had said but looking at both only reminded me of something. A pair of blue eyes. Mathew's blue eyes, my true mate.

I shook my head and turned to the Alpha and Beta. "I can't do this. I can't chose." Those were my last words before I stormed out of the council's house not being able to take in what had just happened.

I heard some voices calling my name but quickly ignored them and kept on running. I needed to think this wisely.

I stood right in front of the woods near my house and right away decided what I needed. I ran into the woods, smelling the nature and letting the flora wrapped me in.

I crossed the border territory, but that didn't stopped me. I hadn't noticed how much time I had been running when my feet got stuck on something and I tripped, making me fall and hurt my arm.

"Ow..." I whimpered and stilled my injured arm.

"Stop right there." a voice said from behind me and I glanced at the young man pointing a gun to me. "Don't move." He ordered before a hard hit on my head turned everything blurry and dark.

⌘ ⌘ ⌘

"Michael, what the hell were you thinking? You know we can't just hit people like that. You should be thankful she is a werewolf." Someone said.

"Sorry, I panicked. You know we never see anyone around." Another voice replied and I opened my eyes.

"She is just a girl...Look, she is waking up." I turned and saw two men.

One had beard and some gray hairs, he looked older than the young boy next to him biting his nails.

I moved my head to catch a better glimpse and winced in pain. My arm really hurt.

"Don't move miss, you suffered quite a fall and almost broke your arm." The older guy said.

I didn't reply because I remembered but what I didn't know was how had I got to this room. Everything was white and a beeping machine sounded next to me. I was laying on a bed covered in a soft material.

"How.. How did I..?" I try to asked but felt dizzy, probably because of the hit I had received.

"Oh, well. You'll see my son here, he is not very good at fighting and.."

I heard some disturbance outside the door and before the gray-head man finished, the room door opened.

"Dad, what's going on?" A husky voice asked and I felt my body stirred. "Serena." I heard him say and my eyes fixed on his.

Crap. This couldn't get any better, could it?

"You know her?" The beard man asked and Mathew nodded stepping towards me.

"You do?" the young guy said, narrowing his eyes. Looking at Mathew, with uncertainty.

"Mathew." I whispered, and I knew they all had heard because the strangers looked quite surprised.

"You do know each other." The young man said sure.

"Yes, we do." Mathew replied and took my hand in his. "Dad, Michael, I'd like you to meet Serena."