5

Crispin's POV

Carter's loud snores filled the room as he lay against me. Or should I say hung against me? He wanted to sleep in the bed with me, and after his bath, he had become agitated so I gave in a bit too easily.

It was now one in the morning and I lay there wide awake. Staring at the ceiling, in the room that was supposed to be just for Carter, letting Rena have her own space. But also William was not a fan of me trying to lay by another when we knew our mate was so close by.

Mate.

I had a mate.

And it was the most rugged-looking man I had ever seen. He was daringly handsome, in an intimidating way. And his voice was so deep it caused the room to shake. Or perhaps that was just my perception.

He stared at me for ages, I could feel his eyes trail me. Those hazel almost amber-like eyes swallowed me whole every time we made eye contact. It was overwhelming, to say the least.

Then there was his interaction with Carter.

He had been so...kind to him.

It only made the sentiment worse when Finnick said he was not much of a talker, and I could tell. But the fact he still entertained Carter, going against his nature did something to me.

Dieter.

A strong name. A name that demanded respect and attention. As well as his presence.

He was...I don't know. We seemed so different in a lot of ways. He leads a large pack, and mine minuscule. Would he see me as less of a leader because of it? Did he think me poor and incapable?

These are thoughts I'd never had before...until now.

These were also the thoughts that were keeping me wide awake.

He lived hours...days away. On the east coast and we lived in the North. Two very different worlds or so it seems. Though I wondered if mine would be enough.

Plus after this weekend when would I see him again? We both had packs to lead, him more than me. But neither of us could just pick up and leave for days at a time. It was like the moon goddess blessed me with a mate that I can't have.

I sighed, finally feeling slightly tired, but what helped my body sleep faster was knowing that when I woke up, I would get to see him again. Even if it is just for two days. I would cherish them.

*****

"Oh, James no. Please no. I don't want to do this." Finnick sighed as we walked into his training center.

I was hyperaware of Dieter behind me, his gaze burning a hole in the back of my head. I was hoping there would be a time for us alone so we could speak to one another and just learn about each other.

Though he was standoffish there was so much more there that I wanted to uncover. And I knew that once I did, I would be the only one to know it. And that caused such excitement in me.

"We are fighting, like men!" James yelled as he ran into a sparing circle. I inwardly groaned but held in my discomfort. I wasn't much of a fighter, personally, I despised it. But if it was needed I was able to hold my own.

"No this isn't fair! You already know Dieter is going to win!" Alexander chimed in and pointed to Dieter who stood with his arms crossed and his hair pulled back. Which made the scar on his face even more prominent. I wondered what the story was behind it.

"He beat, a fucking Lycan. He can beat our asses any day." That caught my attention. I wondered if it was true, but the way the rest of the guys were looking it was. I wanted to know more about it.

Dieter just grunted in response which I found slightly amusing.

"Yeah, James, I think I'm going to sit this one out. I'm not much of a fighter." I told him truthfully and he groaned.

"Of course, you'd sit out, Mr. Peacekeeper." He rolled his eyes but took a step back. "Everyone else has to participate."

"What does the winner get?" Alpha Tanner asked. He was a normal-looking wolf, with short brown hair and brown eyes. In my personal opinion, he wasn't much to look at.

"The losers have to buy the winner as many drinks as they want when we go out tonight. Which means, Crispin you lose as default." I nodded in understanding as James continued. "And Dieter, go easy on us, please."

"No promises," Dieter responded and his voice rumbled in my chest. It made me want to roll up in his arms and purr.

"Okay! Jonathan against Tanner. Finnick against John, and me against Alexander. And then Dieter you just stay there." James said and the rest of the boys followed him out and they started their fighting.

I could smell him as he approached the side of me. His arms were still crossed. He was wearing dark jeans and a T-shirt which contrasted my slacks and button-up.

"Where is Carter?" He asked, his voice was low. But the question hit a spot in my heart I didn't know I had. It made my affection for him grow.

"He is with Ben today. I don't think I could handle having him run around me while these shenanigans go on." Dieter let out an amused and low chuckle that didn't show on his face.

"I would have helped you." I had never wanted to jump a man as much as I do now. "I watched cars last night," I spoke too soon.

"Oh? Did you?" I turned to look at him and he hummed in response and his eyes turned to me for a moment.

"I quite enjoyed the little cartoon. You tell him that for me."

"Or you can tell him yourself?" I turned to him with a soft smile on my face. I can't believe I'm using my son as an excuse to see my mate again. Does that make me a bad dad?

"Perhaps I will." If having a smile on my face wasn't already a staple of mine, I'm sure I would look ridiculous. I couldn't even hide my joy even if I tried. Though did I want to? No...I didn't.

"Your pack is around here?" He asked breaking the silence between us.

"Yes, I live just two hours North of here. It was an abandoned town before the pack took it over. Small but it gets the job done." Though I was proud of my pack and the leader I was, I was desperate for his approval.

"You live far." The statement was a knife into my chest and a rude awakening to my reality. Our reality.

"Isn't that a shame?"

"It is."

Though he didn't talk much, when he did it struck a cord. But there was a weird part of me that felt that he was very much talkative just in private. And I wanted him in private for more than one reason.

I never thought I'd be attracted to a man, let alone a man so different than me. He dressed casually and was standoffish. But it added to the mystery of him and it pushed me to want to know more about him. He was much bigger than me and I loved it. He was stronger than me too and it gave me a strange sense of security.

I had never been in the arms of a man bigger than me before, and now I wondered what that felt like.

"How old are you?" I asked him.

"Twenty-eight, and you?"

"Twenty-four." He hummed in approval and looked at me from the side of his eye. I smiled at him as he stared and I saw the corner of his lip twitch slightly.

"You smile a lot." He said as he averted his eyes back to the sparring in front of us. I found it strange that when he talked it barely looked like he moved his mouth when he did. To the point where I'm sure the other guys thought I was talking to myself.

"I have a lot to smile about." I shrugged and readjusted my cufflinks and my collar.

"Hmm, like what?" The question caught me off guard for a moment, I had never been asked it before.

"Well, you for one."

The words came out way too easily and I could see it caught him off guard. His eyes went wide and his lips parted slightly. I then noticed his cheeks begin to warm in color. I had never felt so accomplished in my life.

"DADDY!!!" Carter's voice rang through the training center and I turned quickly to see Ben and our guests walk through. Carter was in Ben's arms and Rena was towards the back laughing at something Dieter's sister, Danielle, had said.

Ben sat Carter down and he ran his way towards me and I leaned down with my arms wide. I picked him up swiftly and held him in my arms.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him but it was mainly directed towards Ben as he got closer.

"He kept asking for you, and wouldn't stop screaming until I brought him."

"You were misbehaving?" I asked Carter and his eyes were no longer on mine. He started messing with my collar which is how I knew Ben was telling the truth. "Carter...do we need to talk?"

He shook his head quickly and he turned to the side and realized Dieter was standing next to us.

"Deder!" He yelled and put his arms out for Dieter to grab him, trying to get away from me. Dieter looked hesitant at first, but Carter had this way of getting what he wanted. He gave these big puppy eyes and any man would give in. And Dieter did, he grabbed Carter quickly and held him close to his chest. "Deder, save me!"

Dieter chuckled lowly, which of course didn't show on his face, and rubbed Carter's back. A sight truly to be seen. I couldn't even be mad at Carter anymore.

"Anyways, are you fighting?" Ben asked pointing to the boys as they were still going at it. I was annoyed, to say the least, that they have interrupted Dieter and I's conversation. I felt as though we were getting somewhere.

"What a ridiculous question," Rena spoke from where she was standing though still not leaving Danielle's side. "He does not fight." She continued.

"Right, of course. Well, then who is winning? It is my James?" Ben walked forward and we all turned around to watch the sparring.

I didn't try to talk with Dieter, I knew he wouldn't say much with this many people around anyways. But I did listen to his conversation with Carter...I couldn't help it.

"I watched cars." Dieter rumbled out. I saw Carter's face light up with excitement. He put his little hands on the side of Dieter's face.

"Is it your new fawrit movie?" Carter questioned.

"Yes, I liked it very much."

I had never seen Carter so happy with someone else other than me before. It just went to confirm that this giant, rough-looking man was my mate and there was no denying it.

"We can have a movie night! You gotta watch number two." Carter yelled out. Dieter had a look of amusement on his face as he watched him.

"Maybe one day."

Though I wouldn't mind having a movie night with Dieter and Carter, but I knew it couldn't be tonight. And tomorrow night we head back to our packs. He goes back to the coast and I will be stuck hours away from him. And just that thought itself caused my mood to sour.

I knew what responsibilities waited for me back at the pack. I knew as my birthday was now approaching, the union between Rena and I was going to be pushed, but now that I have my mate I can't do it.

But I wondered if Dieter felt the same way.

There was much we needed to talk about and discuss. We needed a moment alone. Or maybe...I just wanted one alone for other selfish reasons.

"Dieter, you're up. You against Finnick."