My Little Mate *Austyn and Zeus*

eight

Austyn

"Bye friend for the night. I loved meeting you. I doubt I will ever see you again, but you are the coolest human I have ever met. Not that I have met many, but you and all these people here rock," Emilee shouts as she runs over to me. "Just kidding, but I hope to see you again some day, Austyn. Keep standing up for yourself. You have motivated me to do the same. Maybe things will work out for us both," she says, and now that she is closer to me, I pull her in for a hug. I don't like touching people, or people touching me, but it just feels right at this moment. It feels like I am saying goodbye to an old friend, even though I just met her.

"Maybe one day we will meet again," I say. "I hope so. I have to go now. I have to change and wash off your human smell before I see my father. He can sniff anything and anyone out," she says, and I laugh at her weird way of communicating. "Hey, truthfully, your father sounds like a complete jacks$$. If I ever meet him, I'll make sure to tell him to eat sh!t, and I will kick him where the sun don't shine for ya," I say, and she bursts out laughing hysterically. "You better, but seriously though, bye, before Zeus gets angry. I know he is annoyed he had to babysit me. I ruined his vibe. Sorry. That man only has patience for you," she says, and runs off to where Zeus is standing, checking his phone. I wave goodbye. I watch her and Zeus walk away into the night. Now I am really sad, but I make my way back to my family. "Austyn, it's time to plan your 18th birthday party," Mom says. Oh gosh, here we go.

Zeus

We get back to the pack, and Emilee says she has to go, and she runs away to her bedroom. I don't give a sh!t what she has going on. I took her with me so they could have their meeting, and so Valen could get what he needed from this Alpha and his pack. Now, I have brought her back. She is safe, and not my problem any longer.

I walk to Valen's office, and luckily he is alone. "How did it go?" he asks me. "I should be asking you that," I shoot back. "Stressful dealing with that man, and his Payne pack, as he calls them, but I got an in. I am taking some warriors to his pack. I agreed to stay for a week, but I plan to go in, retrieve what is mine, get rid of the rogue problem, and return home within one day. Easy as that," he says. Guess he has it all planned out. I know Valen though. He already had it all worked out in his mind before he even scheduled a meeting with this Alpha.

"I will need you around a lot more. I hope that now that Austyn is turning 18, you will be around more? No-more traveling, and leaving for long periods of time? To need to get away anymore?" he asks. "Yeah, I plan to be around more often. I'm going to have to figure out a way to talk to Dallas and Tyler, then talk to Austyn, or the other way around. I still don't even know how I am going to go about this. I'm terrified bro." I tell him honestly. "Don't be. Everything will be fine," he says, and I can just hope so, but he doesn't know how hard it is to have a younger mate. To be friends with your mate's parents, and be 13 years older. It's really complicated. When he and Cat met, they were already both over 18, and both had lost their first mates. One to death, the other to betrayal, but it all worked out for them. They were always perfect for each other. My situation is completely different. A human mate who is much younger than me, with a complicated, crazy, very famous mother. It's a natural disaster.

"What if they don't accept me?" I ask him. I have no clue what I will do if Dallas and Tyler aren't accepting of me wanting to be with Austyn. She is my mate. She is mine. In my world, no-one would bat an eye. Anyone would be happy if their daughter was mated with me. Werewolves would throw parties and celebrate it. They would be thrilled to be able to be on Valen's radar and good side. We have money, power and protection, but this is a completely different situation. I can't imagine not being able to be near my mate anymore if her parents don't agree.

"As long as Austyn accepts you, Zeus, there's not really anything they can do. Dallas and Tyler will have to get on board eventually. She will be 18, and can make her own decisions," Valen says, and I know he is right. "I don't want to ruin our relationships with them. They are good people, and Cat and Cali are like sisters now. You and James are like brothers. He even seems like one of us, attending our training and willing to learn about werewolves. They will clearly take their side in not wanting me to be with Austyn," I tell him. Maybe we should have talked to them all and come clean about who we really are. Only Tyler and James knowing doesn't seem like an advantage to me now like it did back then when things went down, and they needed our help.

"I know, but we went into this to help you. You are our family, and we look out for you first. Don't worry about everyone else or them taking sides. Just worry about talking to your mate. I will talk to James. He is the more reasonable one. Like you said, he acts like one of us. If anything, he will understand. That whole family values his opinion, so if he understands, they all will. Plus, do you think me talking about mates to him has been for nothing? He even told me he once dreamed 5 baby wolves in his back yard. 4 boys and 1 girl running around. He said one wasn't physically there like the other 4, and only he could see that little wolf. He felt him there with them too though. I think it's because he wishes he was one of us. Look, James is with the business. I don't even think he will get involved. He allows his kids to make their own choices and, if anything, will probably advise Dallas and Tyler that they should do the same.

Now, Tyler knows about us, so I don't think you have anything to worry about. You are just nervous and overthinking things. Don't worry, they will come around, and about Austyn, Cat thinks she looks at you with heart eyes, so don't worry there. There is a mate bond for a reason. The moon goddess chose her for you. Remember, she makes no mistakes," he tells me. He grabs us a shot glass and pours us each a drink. We cheers to love and mates, and take the shot. Maybe I am overthinking it, and need to relax. I still have a couple of days to figure things out. All of a sudden, we hear heavy footsteps coming down the hall. "What the f*ck is he doing?" Valen says as the Door slams open.

"What did you do with my daughter?" The Alpha comes storming in, dragging his daughter by the hair. She is soaking wet and wrapped in a towel. Valen looks at me, then back at the situation.

"Calm down and explain what the h3ll you are talking about, and let her go," Valen tells him. "Do not tell me what to do with my daughter," spit flies everywhere. His eyes are red and nearly popping out of their sockets. Catalina and this Alpha's Luna rush inside and gasp at the scene happening in front of them.