All I Wanted was a Mate
Chapter 2- Blood Moon

I quietly closed the front door and turned to face the forest, also know as my new beginning. The deep dark abyss of the woods during the night always gives me the creeps, but there isn't enough time to waste cowering over it. Hesitantly, I made my way down the porch steps and the driveway. I walked along the dirt road until I came to the forest line, I took a deep breath and walked into the dark city of green.

After a couple boring minutes of walking, I decided to shift into my wolf to speed up the journey. I set down my duffel bag and stripped off my clothes; I didn't want to rip them like most careless people. Placing my clothes inside the duffel bag, I shifted into my golden brown wolf, just like my mothers. Picking up the bag, I I carried it in my mouth, and continued deeper into the woods, heading South.

After about two more interminable hours I was exhausted, I guess that's what I get when I leave at ten o'clock. Prancing up to a soft brush of bushes under a giant tree, I curled up under the foliage and relaxed my aching body. I peered up at the full moon, high in the sky with stars scattered around it, my eyes slowly shut and soon enough I drifted off to sleep.

~•~

My eyes fluttered open, and I was greeted by large trees, jade bushes, aged rocks, and a girl about my age... Wait, what. Immediately I got up, shaking the leaves and dirt off my wolf, ready to defend myself.

"Can you shift back?" She asked politely.

First I thought this is just a plan and she's going to attack me, but scanning her carefully I noted a few things. She has nothing with her, she doesn't seem like much of a fighter, and she has Alpha blood. I could sense her power as soon as I calmed down.

I nodded and grabbed my duffel bag going behind the tree that doubled as my temporary bed. Shifting, I put my clothes back on and walked out.

The girl was now sitting on a medium sized boulder, but when she saw I was done, she jumped off the rock and came closer.

"I'm Katy." She held out her hand, and I shook it.

"I'm Anna," I stated nervously, what was she doing in the middle of the woods? What if I crossed on her land?

"So what are you doing out here?" She asked curiously.

"Uh, I was just about to ask you that." I countered raising an eyebrow.

"I'm on my way to Blood Moon pack, just farther South." Her arm stretched out and not surprisingly pointed South.

"Oh. I'm going to California." Picking up my duffel bag, I decided that it's better to keep moving.

"We're going the same way; I'm going to Oregon."

"Oh ya, I guess so." I nodded and started to walk.

"Why don't we walk together, we're almost at the Washington, Oregon border?" She asked with puppy dogs eyes. "I've had a lonely trip."

Amused by how charismatic she is I smiled. "Sure why not." She did seem kind of cool, and having company would be nice. She had long Blond hair cascading down her back and bright blue eyes, making my dull brown hair seem boring.

But we started walking and got to know each other.

"So are you from Washington?" She asked looking up at me.

"Yeah."

"Are you a rogue?" I could hear the regret in her voice, but I didn't mind her question.

"I guess, I left my pack last night." I sigh, I wonder how Frank is doing. Hopefully, he understands why I made this decision, I mean I already made a friend which is a good sign.

"Why did you leave?" She asked curiously.

I glanced down at my feet and took a deep reassuring breath.

"Oh I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me."

"No it's okay, my pack got attacked almost a year ago killing most of us, and the pack was going under so we split up, and I decided to become rouge. I wanted to be free." I lightheartedly explained, ignoring the gruesome details.

"Oh, I'm so sorry about your pack."

"Thanks." I continue to watch the dirt and leaves covering the forest floor. "So what about you, why are you out here and not at your pack?" I ask changing the subject.

"My bossy brother the Alpha-" She said in a funny voice. "- made me go and talk to the Alpha of Moon Stone about some alliance." She says in a bored tone.

I'm surprised I didn't see her while she was at Moon Stone, well I was only there for an hour at the most.

"So don't you have family or a mate that you're supposed to be with?" She asks looking up at me again.

"Oh um, my family died in the attack, and I haven't found my mate," I mumble, so much for no gruesome details.

"Oh. I'm so sorry." She peers down at the floor, apparently thinking she hurt me.

"No, it's fine, it happened a while ago." I brush it off like nothing, even though it was. Who knew a couple of months, was as long as a while.

"So have you found your mate?" I ask trying to lighten up the conversation.

"No, but it's not that big of a deal." She shrugs. "How old are you?"

"Nineteen."

"Oh, then you should replace him soon." She smiles.

We kept walking for about two more hours until we reached the border, we kept walking after that for at least another hour talking about her pack and school, even though I graduated last school year. I learned that she loves to sing, so I told her how I loved to dance. I've been dancing since I was five, it took my mind off pack business and rouge issues. When I was eight, I got into ballet and stuck with it since, but I stopped dancing after the rouge attack, I'm probably pretty rusty.

"Oh, the Blood Moon territory border is just up ahead." Katy motioned further ahead. It was getting dark out, so I checked my watch, it's eight o'clock. We kept strolling until a man came into view.

"Come on; they don't bite." Katy chuckled. I followed her up to the tall, muscular, intimidating man and started to get a bad feeling.

"Hey, Mikey I'm back!" She calls to him, his face softened, but when he saw me, he became alarmed. Katy noticed and rolled her eyes.

"She's my friend, and we're just going to the pack house."

"Katy I better go-"

"No I won't let you sleep in those creepy woods, plus there have been rogue sightings close by." She argued. I just sighed, but I am a rouge.

"I don't want to be a burden."

"Hey, I could use some company, it's not like my brother will paint nails and do each other's hair with me!" She whined dramatically, using it to her advantage.

"If it's not too much trouble..."

"It's not now come on!" She grabbed my arm and dragged me towards a big mansion like house, which I'm guessing is their pack house. We hurried inside and into a living room with comfy looking white couches and a big flat screen tv. She pushed me down on one of the couches, and I snuck into the plush cushions. Katy turned on the TV; we watched Friends and Full House for a while. She was laying down on the couch next to me and laughing hard whenever something funny was said during the shows. I decided to loosen up and laugh along with her, she noticed and turned around smiling at me. Talk about an instant friendship.

We continued watching TV and laughing our butts off until someone interrupted our giggling fest.

"Katy whose your friend?"

We turned around to see a muscular guy with shaggy dirty blonde hair.

"That's Jackson, our Beta," Katy informed me not caring about what Jackson asked her.

"Katy, did you at least ask Tyler?" He sighed massaging his temples with his fingers, seeming stressed.

"Um no, but I'm his sister I don't have to ask, she's my friend it's no big deal." Katy waves her hand motioning for him to leave.

"Fine but if you get in trouble, it's on you." He points to her, turning on his heels he walks away.

I tense in my spot and sit up straight.

"Hey it's no big deal, Jackson can be such a rule follower." She rolls her eyes.

"Katy am I allowed to be here?" I ask her seriously.

"Anna there's no need to be worried just chill okay? My brothers out of town anyways, he's visiting one of his Alpha friends."

"Okay...but if I get in trouble, it's on you." I point at her.

"Wow, I've been getting that a lot lately."

After another episode of Full House, our stomachs started to rumble and made monstrous noises, so we headed to the kitchen.

"What would you like to make for dinner?" Katy asks me.

"I'll eat anything." I shrug, and that was the truth.

"How about pasta?" Jackson pops his head into the kitchen.

"Okay, then I guess we're making pasta." Katy glances to me, and I agree.

"Oh and make extra, Michael and Nicole are coming over too!" He popped his head out of the doorway and yelled thank you from the other room.

"Okay then, let's get started!" Katy cheers, grabbing packages of Bow-Tie noodles out of the pantry.

"Who's Michael and Nicole?" I ask leaning against the kitchen counter.

"Michael is the third in command and Nicole is his mate."

"Oh okay, where are the pots?"

"Down in that cabinet." She points to a white cabinet next to the large fridge.

"Let's get cooking!" Looking at her weirdly, she just continued to act like we were suddenly on a televised cooking show.

Together we decided to make chicken Alfredo pasta, using the recipe that my pack taught me. I used to help the pack members make dinner when I was younger, they adored my help and taught me secret pack recipes which made it all worth it.

When we were finished, we poured the pasta into a big glass bowl and set it on the dining table along with plates, silverware, and glass cups.

"Jackson dinner is ready!" Katy called from the kitchen.

The doorbell rang, and I heard talking, as it grew louder Jackson and two other people entered the dining room. "Oh, Anna this is Michael and Nicole." They waved at me, and I waved back. "This is Katy's friend Anna."

"Hi," I mumble, ignoring the fact that in one day I went from a lonely rogue to having dinner with the Beta, third in command, and Alphas sister of Blood Moon.

They greet me back, and Katy joins us in the dining room. "Okay everyone we shall eat!" She cheers again, and we chuckle as we pick our seats at the table. I sat beside Katy and Nicole, across from Jackson.

"Oh my god it's incredible!" Nicole moaned while eating her food.

"It's Anna's recipe," Katy tells her.

"Anna this pasta is the best thing I've ever put in my mouth!" She complements, not noticing the hilarious looks from her mate.

"Oh, thanks."

During dinner, we chatted about random stuff, whenever someone would ask me about my pack or family Katy would change the subject, which I was grateful for. It turns out Nicole is pregnant; she said she's almost at two months. We talked about baby names and their plans; it cheered me up to talk about babies instead of deaths.

When we all finished, I helped Katy clean up the plates and put away leftovers. I also received many more compliments on the food. For once after the attack, I was... happy.

After we had finished cleaning up Katy and I joined the others in the living room. We just chatted more until we heard a car door shut from outside. I started to feel funny, but I couldn't put my finger on what was causing these uneasy feelings. The air filled with an irresistible scent, it was musky, woodsy, and sweet. I started squirming on the couch like I was being held down.

"Anna, you okay?" Katy asked me with a concerned look.

"Yeah, yeah I'm all right." I breathe out, but I was lying. The scent was starting to become stronger, making me more restless. I could hear my wolf whimpering on the inside, wanting to go to something.

Trying to control myself I took deep breaths and attempted to clear my mind of all thoughts.

All of the sudden the front door swung open forcing me to turn around.

He was tall and muscular like a warrior. His face was chiseled with a jaw like stone, and his eyes were a dark blue oasis. This man standing in the doorway was the most handsome, perfect, sexiest person I've ever set my eyes on. Our gazes connect, and I'm in a trance, my wolf keeps yelling at me over and over again one word.

Mate

It's my mate.

This perfection of a person standing in the same room as I, driving me insanely crazy, is my mate, my other half. My heart stops and doesn't plan on acting anytime soon. I couldn't read his expression, was he disappointed that I am his mate? Did he not want me? Am I not good enough? My wolf started to panic as these thoughts ran through my mind continuously. Just being in the same room with him I felt safe, I felt needed.

"Oh, Tyler you're back early," Jackson mutters surprised.

I tear away from his hypnotic gaze and stare at Katy wide-eyed. She notices my staring and shakes it off turning to face Tyler.

"Oh yeah, Tyler this is my friend Anna, she's going to sleepover." She states not even caring about his answer.

I glanced back at Tyler—my mate. His eyes are still resting on me, only causing me to become hotter and bothered.

"Tyler!" Katy yells trying to get his attention.

"Tyler." She waves her hands up in the air.

She gazes back at me, then him, then me, then him. I think she's finally catching on.

"Oh."