Prince Mason
Ashlyn fell asleep on the couch before the movie ended. She had her ass snuggled into my hip and I just wanted to be her big spoon. When the movie ended, Liam shut it off.
“So.” Brandon started. “Are you going to tell us who Ashlyn is, and why she is our new roomie?”
“She was the future Alpha of the Emerald Lake Pack.” I told them.
“The pack that disappeared over 9 years ago?” Liam asked.
“Yeah, that’s the one. I guess our parents were friends. My father thought she was lost as well. That’s why the front desk alerted him about the Knight’s last name.”
“That’s insane!” Liam exclaimed. “How did she survive?”
“She wasn’t there. She was visiting her aunt in the Blue Moon pack. And her aunt has been raising her ever since.” I explained.
“So, have you met her before?” Brandon asked.
“Actually, I have. I guess our mothers were great friends, and we spent a lot of our toddler years together, not that I remember. But I do remember a BBQ that we went to in her pack. It was about a month before the pack vanished. I had just turned 11, and she was still 8. We were playing at the lake together.” I passed them the photo Ashlyn showed me.
“This is all too crazy. Is that why your father asked us to protect her?” Brandon asked.
“I’m not too sure about that, but I’m sure he’s worried about her safety. He believed that his best friends were gone and so was their daughter. I think it would make him feel better if one of us was always with her. I think from my father’s perspective, it’s better to be safe.”
“That makes sense.” Liam chimed in.
“Alright, let’s get to bed. We have lots to do tomorrow,” I told them.
I stood up and bent over to pick up Ashlyn to take her to her bed. She was sleeping peacefully, and she snuggled into me when I had her against my chest. I love the feel of her body in my arms and against my chest. I could feel the sparks where my hands touched her skin and her scent of floral rain was intoxicating. I laid her on her bed and struggled to leave her room.
“Thor, what is going on?” I asked my wolf while I was getting ready for bed.
“Mason, I’m not sure. I’ve been trying to talk to her wolf, but I can’t. It’s like a wall is up. I can see her, but she can’t see or hear me.”
“Maybe it’s because of the mate bond she has with someone else?” I asked him while lying in bed, staring at my ceiling.
“I don’t think that’s the case. I can talk to other wolves. The bond is mostly about emotions. If she was our mate, we would feel her emotions and she would have a slightly unique scent. One that everyone could identify, but then there would be an underlying scent that only her mate could smell.”
“So, what do you think is going on?” I asked him.
“I’m not sure. Maybe ask Brandon and Liam how she smells to them. If it’s different, we’ll have to talk to your father about it.”
“Okay, I’ll ask them in the morning.”
I lay in bed, thinking about the last time I saw Ashlyn. It was a long time ago, but after seeing her today and the photo, I started to put the memory together. It was a hot summer's day and all the grown-ups were sitting on the patio. Ashlyn wanted to go swimming, but no one else wanted to, so I went with her. She was funny and goofy and I remember having a lot of fun that day with her. Even after we were done swimming, we still spent the rest of the day together. Remembering her, it didn't take long before I fell asleep.
It was early morning when my alarm went off. Groaning, I shut off my alarm and then headed into my bathroom to have a shower. After I was done getting ready, I found Brandon and Liam in the kitchen.
“Alpha.” They greeted me.
“Morning guys. Is Ashlyn not up yet?” I asked, looking around.
“Not yet,” Brandon answered.
I took a seat at the table. Brandon brought me a mug of coffee and then sat down with him. Liam was already sitting at the table.
“How does Ashlyn smell to you?” I asked quickly and then took a sip of coffee. I needed an answer. This whole thing wasn’t normal. Mates usually smell and claim each other in a matter of minutes after meeting.
“She smells like flowers, floral. I think there’s like an earth smell there too.” Liam answered. While he was playing with his phone,
“Why?” Brandon asked me. He was looking over his mug at me, probably trying to hide his smile. I’m glad Liam was just playing on his phone and not paying attention.
“Nothing.” I told him while sipping my coffee.
He gave me a pointed look but didn’t say anything. I hate how much that man knows me sometimes. I finished my coffee and put the mug in the sink.
“Liam?”
“Yeah, boss?” He asked while looking up from his phone.
“Brandon and I are going to all the meetings this morning. You can stay with Ashlyn. Bring her to training class in the afternoon,” I told him.
“Yes!” Liam hissed.
“You two can switch out every other morning.” I told them both.
“And what about you? Don’t you want a turn, Mason?” Brandon asked while wiggling his eyebrows and I mindlinked him.
“Shut the fuck up and get in the fucken elevator!”
He saluted me and cleared away his mug. We both walked over to the elevator.
“Liam, remember about class?” I called to him.
“Yeah, boss. We will be there.” He yelled from the table.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Brandon and I entered, and he hit the “M” button.
“So are you going to tell me what that was all about?” He asked.
I sighed and leaned against the wall. I crossed my arms against my chest. I mindlinked him since I wanted to make sure no one else was listening. We had cameras in the elevators and that’s all I needed was someone to read my lips about the future king having found his mate.
“Ashlyn doesn’t smell the same way to me as she does to you guys.”
“And what does that mean?” He mindlinked back. He was looking at me now. I shrugged.
“You don’t think?” He asked out loud.
“I’m going to have to ask my father.” I told him while shushing him. I didn’t want it to get out that I could have a mate.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened to the main foyer. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should be the one that stays with her. I can’t just abandon my duties as Alpha Prince, but I felt this need to be with her. And walking away from where she was, had my heart screaming to go back. I felt like I was missing a part of me.
“Mason, I think she is our mate. She doesn’t smell the same to us. And I also feel this pull, this need to be with her and her wolf. I’m not sure why, but I need to protect her.” Thor chimed in.
“We’ll figure it out. I’ll ask father about it. We can also go to the library to do some research on the subject. We just have to get through these meetings first.”
“That’s all you, buddy. It’s nap time!” He wagged his tail and roamed to the back of my mind.
Great, now to get this morning over with.