End of the Beginning

"Uh, excuse me." Athos whimpered from below Este. Mircea noticed her long silky dark hair cloaking her golden white skin. Everyone in this kingdom had beautiful genes running through their werewolf veins. 

"He is your mate?" Frey asked after he put down Mircea, she scrambled away from him. Everything had transpired so fast she almost didn't register Frey had picked her up. The Este girl was still sniffing in Athos' shoulder. Mircea had no idea what was actually going on with her. 

"Yes." Este replied in a soft voice this time. 

"Mate?" Athos' pained voice called out. Mircea looked between Frey, Este and Athos. Urban had mentioned about mates and how he believed they existed. Soulmates or mates, whatever. Werewolves were known for having real mate bonds. However, Athos was a human. Why was she calling him her mate? How had she known he was her mate before they even met?