Chapter 2

Mihiro

It had been a few weeks since she had been back home. A few peaceful weeks where all she did was work and go home and tend to the things there. It was still early spring and though her days were busy at work she still would go home and tend to all things there. Gardens of flowers and herbs. Vegetables and fruits. All her grandmothers things, now hers.

The bell above the door in the little shop she worked in went off and pulled Mihiro out of her current thoughts and away from the cleaning she had been doing. She plastered the smile on her face and watched as a few children walked in. Human children just looking to buy some candy or drinks. Inwardly she sighed with relief. It was a dangerous game she played most days. The pack had to of known she was back, she had spotted a few different sets of prints just inside her property line, never too close to her home but clearly there to have been keeping an eye on her. She continued to watch as the little children walked around looking at all the various types of candy and snacks there were when the bell went off again. This time when she plastered the fake smile upon her face it took everything in her to keep it on her face. Her eyes collided with those of the most amazing blue eyes she had tried to forget.

Kayos

He walked into the little store his beta Mikhail had told him she had been seen working in. He wanted to find out what she was doing back. Not that he minded, it had been several years since he had seen her last and each time he did she seemed to take his breath away. His wolf knew her. He knew her. At least he knew a woman that looked a little like this one. Same moonlight colored hair and colored eyes. But then again all those fancy hair dyes and wigs and contacts that people could get their hands on made it impossible to know for sure.

He began to walk through the store passing a few younger children looking at some snacks, these children were talking excitedly about some new thing or another and he let out a little laugh causing them to look up at him as he passed by. More excited whispers and he shook his head. The sound of the bell went off again as he was walking toward the back of the store when his wolf tried to fight for the urge to get out.

The force with which his wolf was fighting to get out surprised him. But then he realized that it was her, Mihiro, he could hear her talking to the person who had just come into the store. He had not heard that sound in years, but it was as if she had just been speaking to him moments ago. The wolf in him still fought to get out.

Mate. That is my mate, she has returned.

He smiled knowing he found her again and that it was indeed the woman he spent years, far many more than he cared to admit to, watching and liking if only from a distance. Timing never seemed to be opportune for him to tell her, and once he had made up his mind to tell her and try to make her his she had vanished. Not this time. This time he would not let her slip away. He grabbed the few items that he had originally come in for and went to wait for her to be able to ring in all his items.

The bell sounded. Once and again a few moments later signifying the departure of the others in the store. Leaving it just the two of them. Slowly he strode toward the counter.

Mihiro

There was only one person left in the store now. She watched as the man strode toward her a confidence unlike any she had seen in some time. Wolf she thought as she watched him. His scent familiar. She had known him once. A long time ago. Her own wolf became restless, not in the sense that she was agitated. Just restless. Some thing was happening.

She blushed as he walked up to the counter and set his things down. She rang them all in not really even looking up at him, the pink hue still upon her cheeks. "Will there be anything else for you?" she asked glancing up at him before finding the most gorgeous blue eyes looking back at her.

"No Mihiro, this is all." he said his voice deep and almost seeming to resonate through out her entire body. Her nerve endings seemed to come alive from just a few words from her.

Her eyes widened in shock as and she quickly looked away from him to grab a bag and place the items in. "Well alright." she said a little shyly before giving him a little half smile and handing him the bag.

"Welcome home." he whispered to her giving her a smile all his own as he took the bag from her and turning away and walking out the door.

Kayos

He was still smiling as he climbed into his car and set the bag in the passenger seat. She had recognized him. That he was sure of. He had seen the blush on her cheeks. He had smelt her. He had heart when her heart rate accelerated.

She would be his, she was his. Mate. The one chosen by the gods for him. The one that could work with him as if she were another part of him. Partner and lover. The pack would know and if any of them tried to cross him there would be hell to pay.

He pulled into the drive way and saw Mikhail standing on the front porch, waiting for him. He sighed as he reached over and grabbed his things from he passenger side. Mikhail had that look on his face that Kayos knew meant there was going to be some unpleasant business at hand. He just wanted to go back by Mihiro and see how many other ways he could make her blush, but alas being the alpha meant he had many more responsibilities to attend to.

Kayos got out of the car and watched as Mikhail began to approach him. Given the way the other man was approaching he knew something unpleasant was going at hand. "You may as well just spit it out." Kayos said the annoyance was plain on his face and in his voice, causing his beta to pause a moment before continuing toward him.

"Alpha." Mikhail said in greeting before he reached him. "Out with it." Kayos said not wanting to waste time on things that were not necessary. "It seems that on one of the most recent patrols there were tracks of rouges." Mikhail said reaching into the pocket of his blue jeans and pulling out a pack of cigarettes. Kayos's eyes snapped to that of his beta. Sure there had on occasion been issues with rogues here and there nothing that couldn't be dealt with before and certainly nothing that would have Mikhail looking so worried. "Go on." Kayos said, his voice sounding far more calm than he was beginning to feel. Something about the way Mikhail had approached him set him on edge. The wolf in him ready to tear things apart. That feeling could be because now he knew she was here his mate and he wanted to keep her safe.

"The tracks are close to the edge of our territory. More close to the girls property. And given the treaty with her family we cannot really interfere." Mikhail said as he lit one of the cigarettes.

There it was, the reason there was tension coming from the other man near him. The rouges were too close to the town, too close to the pack. With Mihiro back the pack warriors couldn't go and try to drive away what rouge or rouges there may be. Mihiro had every right to not allow the pack on her property, and by doing so she would be putting herself at risk. "Yo Kayos?" he heard Mikhail saying and it took a moment for him to realize he had been growling. An unusual response. "I will talk to the girl." Kayos said his voice coming out far more rough than he had intended.

Mikhail raised a brow and watched as Kayos seemed to get further lost in thought. Something was up with him. Different. "You want me to come with you?" Mikhail asked watching closely. Blue eyes that could have been ice daggers shot the most foul of looks at him. "No. I will go alone." Kayos said, a command from the alpha. Mikhail nodded. "Very well." his only response before turning and walking away.