Chapter 4

(Alpha Dax)

Dax has only arrived at Wendy's parents' quarters to reject her.

Most of the Omegas were indoors. It was late at night. Around 3 a.m.

Dax had first gone home when he finished mating with Emma. He met his mother, Stella, in the living room of their magnificent white mansion. She asked him, "Dax, what kept you so long outside in the woods? I almost sent Beta Jeff to search for you."

Dax gritted his teeth. Jeff Parker was Emma's older brother. Of course, Dax knew that Jeff was aware he was in the woods with his younger sister. Jeff knew they were mating, so he didn't come to search for them.

"Mom, it's late. You should get some rest," Dax told her as he strode over to meet her.

"What's that mating smell? Did you find your goddess-gifted mate? You smell so different," Stella asked, stepping closer to meet her son. She tried to scent him out. His familiar coffee scent was mixed with a new scent.

Dax stepped backward, avoiding his mother's nose.

"Mom, I find that disrespectful. I haven't found my goddess-gifted mate," he lied, avoiding her eyes as he strode over to the stairs.

"Dax, if you didn't find your mate, why then do you reek of sex?" Stella asked, her tone sharp. Of course, Dax was her only child. She was worried about him. She stood in a red dress, looking at him.

Dax paused at the top of the stairs. His eyes darkened. He needed to go and reject that mute mate, before she revealed to the pack that she was his mate, or he was mated to her.

His fist clenched around the stairs pole. "Mom, I was out in the woods with Emma. Isn't she back yet?" Dax asked calmly.

Just then, Emma stepped into the Alpha's mansion. Her lips curled in a smile. She felt like the new Luna.

"Yes, Luna. Dax and I were together," Emma said. She reeked of the same scent as Dax.

Luna Stella felt a wave of relief crash over her. She looked over at Dax and Emma.

"Alright. You both reek the same. Go and have your baths," she dismissed them with a knowing smile.

Emma purred and looked over at Dax. He has never allowed her into his bedroom.

"Why are you here, Emma? You should go home. It's late," Dax said, striding downstairs to meet her.

"I want to stay with you. Please, it's the full moon. Maybe we can become fated mates," Emma said, her tone hopeful.

Dax's gaze softened. He wished the same. But wishes were horses.

"Emma…" Dax drawled.

"Please. Let me spend the night with you. I want to lay next to you on your bed," Emma said, stepping forward. She hugged Dax as he stood before her.

Luna Stella smiled at them. She knew that Dax and Emma were not true mates. But she certainly hoped that Dax would make Emma his Luna. She was a picture-perfect Luna.

"Dax, I will be heading back to my room to join your dad. Goodnight to you too," Luna Stella said, her lips curled in a smile. Her eyes winking at Dax.

Dax sighed and looked at Emma hugging him. He loved her, but he could not bring her to his suite yet. They were not yet married or mated.

"You have to wait until the mating ceremony. It's a taboo to live with a man who isn't married to you yet," Dax reminded Emma of the rules governing the Boston Pack.

"But it's no taboo to mate with a person you ain't yet married to? Ain't you the new alpha, babe? You should abolish such ridiculous taboo," Emma said, her voice coated with anger.

Dax's throat tightened. "I cannot break the rules. The twelve elders set the rules. I cannot do anything against it. They know wolves love to cuddle and mate. So they allow mating. But not coexisting together until the mating ceremony is completely done."

"Why? I don't mind living with you. I want us together. To bear your pups."

"You will," Dax replied calmly. "But you know, without the mating ritual, it's difficult to bear a child. You know these rules affect our pack. It's important that we follow them. If not, our efforts will be in vain and our love will not be enough to sustain it," Dax replied calmly.

Emma moved away from hugging Dax's chest. "I hate those rules. I want us together. Then let's get married. Why are you delaying the mating ritual? Are you hoping to find your goddess-gifted mate?" Emma asked, her large brown eyes meeting Dax's gaze.

Dax's expression darkened. "It's not that. I want to graduate first before we get married. I'm still a student and I don't want to mix my studies with marriage. Don't worry. I promise to marry you."

Dax's hands reached to comfort Emma. She looked up at his face. "Are you sure?" Her voice was thick with disbelief.

"Trust me," he declared and kissed her lips. "You should head home and have your bath."

"Alright. I will. Good night, babe, my Alpha," Emma purred as she smiled and walked away. She knew Dax's wolf didn't like her. She bounced away in her red dress and went back home.

Dax stood watching Emma leave his father's house. He breathed out heavily and knew he had to break the bond between him and that mute omega.

Dax knew the elders would refuse to allow him to pick a chosen mate other than his goddess-gifted mate. He moved out of the Alpha's mansion. His Gamma, Ares Jackson, stepped forward.

"Alpha Dax, are you heading somewhere?" Ares asked. His job was to patrol the pack at night. He was tall, dark-skinned, and a 22-year-old man.

"No where. You should keep up with your job. I want to check out something in the Omega's quarters," Dax replied briefly.

"The omegas? Did they do something wrong or steal?" Ares asked. His voice thick with concern.

"No. Get back to your work and keep off. It's important that I handle this alone," Dax replied, his voice firm.

"Got it, Alpha," Ares said, walking away.

Dax paused and warned him. "Ares, don't mention this to anyone."

Ares looked at Dax confusedly. A wave of uneasiness washed over his features.

"Got it, Alpha," Ares replied and walked away, while Dax went to the Omega's quarters. He shifted to his black wolf, Daniel, who was annoyed with him.

"Why do you need me now! What the hell are you planning to do to our mate?" Daniel asked, refusing to move. He feared Dax was going to strangle Wendy to death.

"I'm not hurting Wendy," Dax replied to his wolf, as he didn't want any omega to spot him. He knew if anyone caught him sneaking into the omegas' quarters he would be reported to his father. So shifting to Daniel was the only solution.

"But you're going to see Wendy. If you don't tell me what you want to go and do to her, I will not move," Daniel replied firmly.

Dax's mood darkened. "I'm your human. You cannot support that mute over me."

"She is mine. I will not hurt her or reject her, wolf, Poppy," Daniel retorted.

"Fine. Let's go and claim Wendy," Dax replied, trying to pacify his wolf.

"Are you sure? I will not accept for you to reject her," Daniel told him, still refusing to move.

"Fine. I will not reject her," Dax replied, and his wolf started to move to the Omega's quarters.

When Dax reached Wendy's father's house, her peony scent was thick in the air. It hit him hard, surrounding him like a blanket.

Dax moved towards Wendy's window. Her scent was thick, flowing out of the window. His heart throbbed. He sensed she was in pain. He jumped into the room and shut the window.

His wolf growled at him, "Mate!"

Dax watched Wendy sprang up on the bed and turned to face him. Her orange eyes locked with his blue eyes. He could hear her increased heart rate.

He moved slowly to the bed to meet her. Her mind linked with his, "Why are you here?"

Dax shut the mindlink. He could hear Wendy's voice through his mind. But he couldn't hear her speak to him like that out loud.

"Shut up! Who said you could mindlink me?" he snarled at her and shut the mindlink. He wasn't going to accept her, but seeing her beautiful face, he was conflicted.