What is the big secret?

Daniel Grey's POV.

You are not even jumping to conclusions. You are leaping. All Aubrianne had said was that she did not know her father or anything about him.

But why is Alpha treating Aubrianne this way? When you think of it, there are not many options. Unless Alpha knew her father, or she was some distant relative or so.

Again a stretch, ok Daniel. Enough!

Oh, the mysteries of Aubrianne. I smiled as I remembered what started this infatuation in the first place, and maybe I just wanted to know everything for selfish reasons.

I have to admit, I loved her from the moment I saw her. It was on that faithful day I walked into my dad's office, he was not there, but there she was.

Strolling towards his desk, I zoned in, just browsing, he has been so busy lately, and I am next in line for the position of Beta in our community, so I am always eager to assist in any way I can, which is why I usually check in from time to time.

The most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on was right there on his desk, slightly peeking out a folder. I was captivated instantaneously, my interest peeked, and I wanted to know more.

I demanded more that very same evening when my dad returned from his meetings. I recall all he had said was that she was a potential intern for Theodore Claude Thornton and Associates (TCTA).

With one look at her photo, I was intrigued, mesmerized, and infatuated for sure. I did not know what it was__ maybe it was just lust because of her beauty, but that didn't stop my heart from wondering if it was more than that.

I wondered, no scratch that. I hoped that the feeling I was consumed with was because there was a chance she was my mate.

Oh, how I wished for her to be my mate, but sadly, she was not, I confirmed after finally meeting her. I was ecstatic when my father asked me to pick her up as he was busy with Alpha being away on his trip. He needed to hold down the fort, among other things.

He did not have the time to allocate to pick her up from the airport and get her settled in, so he delegated that responsibility to me, and I was all too happy to oblige.

Nevertheless, my mate is still somewhere out there, I hope.

I really hope she is not dead.....

But darn it, I wished Aubrianne was my mate! However, the Divine Moon Goddess knows best. All of her creations are blessed with their true soul mate, their other half. One made specifically for them, and we don't go against our Divine Moon Goddess.

I pull up at Transcendent Lotharios Crescent Moon, the pack community, and the gates open for me.

This is the Transcendent Lotharios territory, and it's huge with all the different communities within and the cities. However, this gated area is at the very end, and behind us are only mountains for as far as the eyes can see.

What a day! I sighed as I rubbed my hands over my face, acknowledged the guards by the gate, and drove to my home.

Reaching my two-bedroom home, I got out and headed inside, making my way up the stairs straight to the shower. Then I will grab a bite, $h!t I forgot my dinner.

Sighing, I turned on my heels, headed back to my SUV, and drove to the pack house.

It must have some sort of leftovers. The pack house is just a house where the kids hang out and young unmated adults stay, so yup, there is food.

Pulling up, I got out and made my way to the kitchen after walking through the front door.

I crossed paths with some of the teens. A lot of noise was coming from the game room, and a small gathering was to my right in the living area.

I continued with the task at hand. Stepping over the threshold into the kitchen, I was greeted by Daniela, and she was eating ice cream with her friend Jenna.

"Hey, sis, Hi Jenna," I greeted them both, giving them each a side hug, stepping between them.

Jenna, as usual, held on a little longer than I would like, hands around my neck, moving slowly down my hands, feeling on my biceps, with a huge flirtatious grin on her face.

She has always been a flirt. I have no idea when she will give up her infatuation, though.

We have yet to find our mates, but she is my sister's close friend, so I would not dip in that pool. Gently pulling away, I made my way over to the counter where Mary kept the food.

Mary was like our aunt. She was everyone's auntie. She always looks after us and prepares the meals for the pack along with her staff.

Pulling open the cabinet doors and checking around for something to eat, I continued musing. I can't say that sometimes I was not tempted or had not been in the past.

Because I was at times, but I held my ground, and that was before I even saw Aubrianne's photo, and sometimes, no matter how clear you make it when you say no strings attached, someone always ends up with strings.

I myself, at one time, ended up with strings. I laugh to myself. That was SO long ago.

I was a teen thinking I was in love.

But needless to say, I didn't want to give anyone false hope, especially if there was a chance with Aubrianne. And who knows, we may not be mates, but what if our mates are dead? Both of them?

My wolf growls, Cassius is annoyed by my thoughts, and Aubrianne, he simply wants his mate.

Suddenly drawn to me by my outburst, Daniela turns to me and asks, "What's going on over there?"

I was now blankly staring into the cabinets, door wide open, lost somewhere in there. Fingers still holding on to said door knob. Returning to the present, I slowly turned to face Daniela and told her, "Don't fall in love. Just wait for your mate."

She looks thrown off by my words. She straightened her back, her eyes narrowed, and her eyebrows furrowed. She said, "ookkk?" Knowing my sister, I knew she wanted to pry, and her lips twitched.

But instead, she gave me a look that read, 'we will discuss this another time,' and she said. "Anyways, there is a plate made for you in the oven."

Arching an eyebrow in question, I looked at her...

Then she adds, "dad asked Mary too, just in case you didn't get the chance to grab something to eat or were too tired to whip something up as you had a busy day planned."

Dad, hmn, is always looking out for us, but he is hiding something. And yes, I understand he cannot defy his Alpha's orders, but I want to know what is the big secret between the two of them.

A thought pops out of nowhere. Is it about our mother's death? And if so, I had the right to know what's going on, or maybe I am grasping at straws here.

How in the world would Aubrianne be connected to my mom's death?

Nevertheless, I have always been suspicious of her death. The last time he was this secretive was when mom died, which was heartbreaking for him in so many ways, and for us, but for him, it was on a different level. He lost his mate...

They say when you lose your mate, you can go mad, grieve to death or even die as the pain of the loss inside you is so excruciating. They say death would be a blessing. But my dad was strong, and I know he stayed strong for Daniela and me.

Taking the plate out of the oven, I uncover it and inspect its contents. Mixed vegetable rice, macaroni salad, and a juicy piece of lamb, my stomach growled on cue.

I shove the plate into the microwave and heat it. Daniela and Jenna were already back to their hushed shushings, with Jenna throwing seductive glances my way occasionally.

Gross!