Chapter 23

Gideon

"Alright, I'll be back in a month. I'll still be following up on cases daily and expect reports as usual if anything happens with the girls' mind-link me immediately no matter the time.” I use my Alpha aura as I leave my last command to Tyson and Marcus. “Are we clear?"

"Clear as mud." Tyson can be a bit of a smartass.

Marcus rolls his eyes, "yes, Alpha, the twins are in good hands, and so is the pack." Marcus was a bit more serious.

I take a deep breath. "Please have Shay and Jorden face time me with the girls every night. I'll let you both know when I arrive." I was known as a cutthroat and brutal Alpha, but when it came to my daughters, I was a sucker. I get into the driver's seat of the SUV. I am bringing two of my elite team with me to assist in James' training. It's about a 4-hour drive so we should arrive midafternoon.

For the past eight days since the twin's birthday, my recurring dream of Amelie has changed. She is always in the mountain clearing under the full moonlight, but now, she takes my hand as I am reaching out for her. With my hand in hers, she brings it to her lips and kisses my knuckles, then brings my hand to her cheek. I pull her in and hold her close. I can never make out what she says. Her mouth is moving, but I can't hear anything. I lean down and kiss her, and then I wake up. As soon as I wake up, I want to go back to sleep; I long for more. I need to calm down. I'm going to be around her for a month. The last thing I want to do is offend Alpha John. I know everything that has happened to Amelie and that the whole family has been through a lot, plus the youngest daughter moving to Texas to be a Luna. I need to keep my distance and be professional.

I have never been this unfocused in my life. I know I asked for a second chance mate from the moon goddess. I have been lonely raising my girls alone, and I find Amelie irresistibly attractive. My head is truly a mess, and I'm walking into my own Honey Trap.

I see a town coming up ahead. I decide we need to stop. I need to stretch my legs and get some fresh air before continuing the next two hours. I pull into a gas station; I go inside and grab a coffee, hoping it will help me focus. As I am walking out, I notice a little old lady selling small bundles of violets. She looks up and me and smiles.

"Violets are one of the first flowers of spring and a symbol of faithful love. Purple violets are for new love. Doesn't your new love deserve some?" She picks up a bundle tied with a white ribbon. I don't tell her no, I don't say a word for a moment, just give her a dollar and turn and walk away.

I stop and turn back to her, "Thank you." And keep walking just looking at the little bundle of purple flowers.

I get back in the SUV and put the violets in the cupholder. My men look at me oddly but don't dare say a word. We continue the rest of our drive. The Black Hills is true wolf country, and it feels great. We turn down the road toward the Ashwood Pack, and I look down at the bundle of violets in the cupholder. I didn't even know what I am going to do with these. Why did I buy them? My brain was a severe hazy. I take a deep breath. The Ashwood Packhouse is insight, and I pull in front of the main entrance. Alpha John is waiting for us. I stop the car, and before I hop out, I look at the bundle of violets again. I want to bring them with me, but it feels awkward. I leave the violets and get out of the SUV.

"Alpha Gideon, welcome back!” Alpha John reaches out and shakes my hand. He looks like he's aged five years in the short months I haven't seen him. “How was the drive."

I pat him on the shoulder, "Thank you for have us. I'm excited to train the new Alpha; where is James?"

"He's helping his sister in the greenhouse. He will meet us inside. Since only a few of you are here to train the next Alpha, I invite you and your men to stay in my family wing. It will be easier to train James and handle meals. Matt is preparing your rooms. He's been a great help." I am stunned Alpha John is having us stay in his family wing of the Packhouse. It's well known he keeps it closed off, allowing his family to live privately.

"It's a great honor to be invited into your home. We'll move the vehicles and unload." I signal to my men to get back in the SUV. We move around to the family wing entrance. I look back at the violets again. "Oh hell." I pick them up and put them in my jacket pocket. I'm sure I smashed them in the process. I get out of the SUV and follow Alpha John inside.

This is the first time I have been in the Family Wing. I was surprised how much it felt like a typical home. I expected it to be all white and grey and extremely modern, like the Packhouse Wing. It was not like that at all. It was warm and comforting. A large family portrait hung above the fireplace. It looked about ten years old as James was just a boy missing his front tooth. The furniture was brown leather and overstuffed. The walls were off-white, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the woods and so many house plants made the room feel almost like it was outside. It felt like a family home. A stairway leads to the two floors above with a dark wood banister that lined all the way around. It was fantastic you could walk out of your bedroom every morning to the full view of the woods.

"You all will stay on the third floor. My family is on the second. James' room is the first one at the top of the stairs. I'm sure you will be dragging him out of bed in the morning." John laughed. Alpha training is long and hard, and starting when you are 17, still being very much a kid at that age makes it more challenging.

I laugh, remembering my own training, "Well, I think we were all that way. I cannot even count the number of times my father had to drag me out of bed for training."

Suddenly, I am hit with the incredible scent of honeysuckle, it's stronger than before, and it's mixed with something unexpected, the mate pheromone. You can only smell the mating pheromone of your mate. My heart rate starts to rise. It's my second-chance-mate; I can tell she's standing in the doorway to my left. I am nervous to look because I do and don't want it to be the one person I can't get out of my mind.

I turn. It's her It is Amelie, and she is standing in the doorway in shock. I know she smells what I smell and feels the same pull. I can see it on her face. Ulv takes over; he walks over to her, "Mate!"

I can see her chest rising and falling quickly as she says, "Mate." She steps back and turns and runs through the kitchen and out the back door. Before I can run after her, someone grabbed my arm. I turn to look, and it's Alpha John.

"Stop. Let me talk to her. Wait for her." He uses his Alpha aura on me, which worked somehow, but I'm so confused and happy all at the same time. I just nod my head, and he goes after his daughter. And leaves me in the doorway.