6 Encounter

Nathan rolled his eyes as soon as he saw his brother's cheery face. They simultaneously arrived at the military camp's compound. "You still creep me out. Urghh.. I can't believe you're my brother Alec who only knows how to fight and make money."

"What are you talking about?" He clasped his brother's hand as a greeting.

"Where is she?"

"Who?"

"You know damn well who I'm talking about. I'm surprised you willingly parted with her to meet us."

"Let's just hurry up and finish this." He turned to head for the camp's main building.

The younger man hurried to keep up with him. "So, when are we going to meet her?"

"You can't, not yet." His expression turned grim.

"Why not? Father will probably announce his retirement as chief once you present your wife to the clan. He's been complaining for years."

Alec didn't answer. He knew very well what it would entail if he declared he found his mate. Everyone in their clan expected him to succeed as the alpha for almost eight years now. He managed to evade the title using his lack of mate as an excuse. It was an old belief that having a family within the pack would make the alpha a better chief. Not to mention, the clan would ask them to bear children as soon as possible. He wouldn't subject Maia to that kind of pressure. Not when she's still getting used to the idea of being a werewolf's mate.

A man in a military uniform greeted them at the entrance. He was a bit less muscular than both Rivera brothers but just as tall. He's got a couple of soldiers in the same uniform, tailing behind him. Lieutenant Colonel Erick de Castro was just a year younger than Alec and became the chief of the de la Vega clan when their alpha died about a year ago. Because of his position, Erick gave up the frontlines of battle.

"Alec, Nathan," he shook the brothers' hands firmly.

"It's been a while. It's been - what? Three years since that senator's mayhem?"

He was talking about a job they did together years back. That time, Alec was protecting a senator who was leading peace talks with the rebels in the south where Erick was assigned as a captain. That mission didn't end prettily.

"Matt is already inside."

"Let's get this over with." Alec didn't even care if he sounded rude. Ever since he left Maia on her own just half an hour ago, he had been feeling restless and uneasy. He needed to go back to where she is. Stat.

Maia spent her time strolling the expanse of the forest park. There were a variety of rides one could enjoy - from the longest zipline in Asia to the ATV vehicles, and the exciting dropzone over a large manmade lake. The park itself was a beauty. It felt like Forks, Washington, the setting of the movie Twilight.

She loved the place and the cold climate but she kept thinking she wanted Alec to be there with her. It's not helping that most of the visitors were couples or families. It only made her miss him more. She reached a quiet part of the park with no one else around. Feeling even lonelier than before, she decided to just go back and wait for him at the main building.

She really must be out of it because she bumped into someone when she turned back. She hit her head on the man's chest. The impact made her lost balance. Had it not for the stranger, she could have gone rolling down the stone stairs. He steadied her with his hands on her arms.

"I am so sorry," she apologized. But she could have sworn she didn't sense anyone around until the moment she bump into him.

"It's fine."

She looked up and saw a man probably in his late twenties. He's good-looking, she decided, but nothing compared to her Alec, of course. He had dark brown hair matching his chocolate brown eyes. "Uh.. Thank you," she said, hoping to make him realize he was still holding her arms.

He didn't seem inclined though. He continued to hold her and stared at her for what felt like ages. He was frowning as he looked at her. He leaned towards her and sniffed. "You.. you smell strongly of lycan."

She couldn't hide her astonishment. She shrugged his hands away. "What are you saying?"

"From your reaction, you clearly know what I'm talking about. But you're human, aren't you?" Confusion was evident on his face.

She looked around to make sure they were alone. "That's hardly any of your business." Judging by the way he was talking, she figured he's a lycan himself. She's unsure how to deal with him, not when Alec's not around. She walked past him but he's not done with her yet.

"The sex is good, isn't it? That's why you're willingly staying with a beast."

The condescending tone got her temper flaring. She turned to face him again. "Yes, the sex is unbelievably mindblowing. And guess what, it's because we are made for each other."

It looked like it just dawned on him. "You're mates?"

She didn't answer. She became unsure of how much she could tell him, a stranger. "Just mind your own business."

She tried to leave him again but he grabbed her wrist. Exasperated, she faced him again. "Can you stop touching me?" Will Alec realize she met another lycan from her smell? She wondered how he would react.

He looked surprised by his actions as well, he immediately let her go. "I didn't-"

She gave him an irritated look before turning her back on him again.

"Are you really mates?"

She ignored him. She would not let a rude guy like him bother her.

"Then why don't you ask him why didn't he mark you yet?"

She almost stopped in her tracks. Her pace slowed down though. Mark her? Didn't she hear the same thing from Alec's brother last night? Instead of turning back, she continued climbing the steps back to where she came from. She would only listen to Alec. She would ask him straight up what he was hiding from her.

Since the place was enormous, it took her a while before she got back to the receiving area where a restaurant was situated. She settled in a chair facing the beautiful view overlooking the entire park. She ordered a cappuccino to ease the cold.

She wondered what Alec was doing right now. He briefly told her they were hired for the security detail of some dignitaries. She kept looking at her phone, hoping to see any message from Alec. But she was disappointed every time. She wanted to call him and hear his voice but she knew she would just be bothering him.

She sighed. 'Is this what having a boyfriend feels like?' she thought. Or was she being obsessive towards him. She didn't really know. She had never had a boyfriend before. She had never fallen so deeply in love like this with anyone either. She's happy, of course. Being with Alec gave her unimaginable happiness, excitement and contentment she couldn't believe possible.

In any case, she should tell her family about him. By family she meant her older sister, Rosemarie. She's living with her husband back in the city with their son and daughter. And of course, she needed to tell Jeanne. Her bestfriend would probably freak out she managed to get a boyfriend without her knowledge.

Her mind wandered to his family. He told her his pack- as he puts it- settled in Isabela. They've been there for generations. If things worked out for them, she would have to move in with him, right? Wolves must stay in their packs no matter what, she had read that somewhere. The mere thought excited and scared her at the same time.

She was oblivious to her surroundings. She was sipping her coffee with a wishful look on her face. The woman really thought she was safe on her own. The scent of her lycan lover was strong, he might even be an alpha. But her natural scent was leaking too albeit very lightly. If he hadn't gotten too close to her earlier he might not have noticed. He got curious because he got a whiff of a lycan scent from her then he got a better hold of her scent. It was sweet. He didn't know how else to describe it.

A movement from the corner of his eyes caught his attention. It's Jacob, a younger cousin of his. He looked like he was watching her too. No wonder he's got the best nose in their pack. He picked up her unusual scent right away.

When Jacob started to approach the woman, he immediately reacted before he could even think. He intercepted his cousin.

He looked surprised to see him. Was he so focused with her he didn't realize he was nearby? "Luke."

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked in a low but menacing voice.

"Do you know her?"

"No, but she's obviously with a lycan."

"So? He hasn't even marked her yet, how serious can they be?"

Luke remembered how the woman looked infuriated when he made fun of their relationship. She looked ready to spit fire. "Serious or not, we can't afford to wage war with another pack over something... this petty."

"But can't you smell her? I've never met anyone like her before. Just what is she?"

That's what Luke wanted to know. He glanced at her again. She was blissfully oblivious to the possible danger she could be in. She kept on glancing at her phone, obviously waiting for her lover to contact her.