Adeline was only 5 feet 4 inches tall

Corbin Warner smiled as the companion of his daughter entered the Alpha's study. While he worriedly massaged the man's chin with his fingers, he studied the man. Even for an Alpha, the man was tall, whereas his daughter was quite small. He would guess that the man was about 6 feet 6 inches tall. Adeline was only 5 feet 4 inches tall, and her partner towered over her almost protectively.

Overall, he would be a good match for his daughter if first impressions were correct. He didn't really have much say in the matter. It was too strong for the mate bond. With a worried glance backward, Adeline left the room and shut the door.

I'm glad to have met you, sir. Corbin was informed by the man, "My name is Hunter Douglass of the Lassen Pack." He gestured his head in regard to the two men in the room. " You may not have heard of us yet because we are new to the area. We are a small but powerful group.

Before speaking, Corbin gave his response some thought. Since his wife and mate had passed, he was a man who rarely spoke. He spoke with intent when he did.

"I had heard of a new pack in the area, though I had not getting around to arranging a meeting with your Alpha," Corbin said in a tired voice, as if he were making a weather-related comment.

Alpha William, my father, would undoubtedly consider it an honor to meet with you. Especially now that your daughter is my mate," Hunter responded cautiously.

Corbin continued, blinking at him. If you would arrange a meeting with your father, it would be beneficial. Our packs' relationships should take precedence.

Even though my father will be stepping down as Alpha in a few months, I will arrange for us to meet. "When I take the position, I will ensure that peace remains between our packs," he told Adeline's father, "whether he approves of a pact between us." I wouldn't let Luna suffer because she can't freely visit her family.

Alpha James grinned as he observed Corbin begin to unwind. He was aware that after losing her twin sister and mother, his Beta's greatest fear was losing his only child.

To facilitate the strain all around, Alpha James chose to talk.

"And Hunter, what about your family? Any children?" He pressed. He was aware that how a man spoke of his family could reveal his character.

"Tristan, my younger brother, and Penelope, my sister, are my siblings. Ages 20 and 18, respectively," he smiled and responded. Patricia is my mother, and she was born into the Bounty Pack in Canada.

"And how old are you, son?" Corbin inquired.

Hunter stated, "22, though I will turn 23 in a month."

"Have you not attended a Claiming ceremony before? When you don't find a mate by the age of 21, it's usually required," the Alpha asked him.

"I was away at school until this previous year's Guaranteeing. In the summers between years, I took a few night classes but was unable to attend The Claiming. Fortunately, you won't have to go this year," he said with sincerity. To tell you the truth, I'm glad I didn't make it in previous years; otherwise, I might not have found my mate.

I should say, "Destiny works most mysteriously." Alpha James mused, his lips twitching with a small smile.

As they thought about how they had met their friends, there was a brief moment of silence. James had met Corinne while out celebrating the birthday of one of his best friends in a small town in California called Redding. When he reached out and touched her arm, she accidentally spilled her entire platter of drinks on him. She was a server. An understatement would have been to say that she was shocked.

Much less exciting was Corbin's meeting with his deceased wife, Lucinda. Before they turned 18, the typical age at which one would find a partner, they had been best friends for years. He was the first to feel the connection because he was a year older than Lucinda. Before finally admitting to her that they were mates, he had been debating the matter for months.

Corbin's mate had been discovered by Lucinda, who was a year older. He had avoided her like the plague for months before he realized it was her. She was upset when she realized it wasn't her that he was spending time with his partner. In fact, he was attempting to avoid her until she reached adulthood. On her 18th birthday, they had completed their marriage.

Corbin had believed that the wait had been well worth it.

Corbin finally said, sighing, "You can stay here for the evening, but I ask that you do not mark my daughter tonight or without her permission." Son, if you ever hurt my daughter in any way, you won't be able to give me grandchildren.

With just the right amount of venom, he added that last sentence to frighten the younger man without making him think he was too cruel. He didn't need the Alpha to worry that he would hurt his own daughter, even indirectly.

The man's words made Hunter look appalled. Under your roof, I would never impose my will on another person, nor would I violate your rules in any way.

That got Corbin to nod. Although I am certain that my daughter is listening outside the door and will be doing exactly that, I will send new clothes up to your room. Take a shower and go to bed, I say. It's too late. In the morning, we'll talk more.

When Corbin spoke once more, Hunter halted his exit from the room. You will be directed to Addie's room.

That brought Hunter a grin. He liked Adeline's nickname and had gained her father's approval as well. He would permit them to rest in a similar bed, however Adeline was above and beyond the time of assent. Also, bringing her back to his pack with her father's blessing would be easier for him.

"I'm grateful, sir." Before leaving the room, Hunter spoke quietly. He exhaled deeply with relief. He wasn't used to being submissive as an Alpha, but he would be on another person's land and certain to be with his mate's father.

Adeline was standing in the hallway that led to the stairs after Hunter had quietly shut the door.

I grabbed some towels and clothing for you. She continued, "I heard my father," grinning lopsidedly. Although he doesn't say much, I can tell he likes you.

They had been running around in their wolf forms for several hours at well past midnight. They would have been too exhausted to mark and mate Adeline that night, even if her father had approved.

"You can take a shower in my bathroom. She said, "I will use the bathroom in the hallway," as she moved toward the steps. Hunter kindly followed her to her room.

******

"All in all, what is your take of the kid?" James, Alpha, questioned his Beta.

Corbin said indignantly, "He seemed...respectful." James grumbled.

"What about marrying your daughter? I realize you support him or he would have been out the entryway with an impression inserted on his butt," James said.

I'm happy with him so far. Before making such a binding decision as being marked and mated, I would like Addie to speak with him more, he admitted to his Alpha.

That should be obvious. But you do know that eventually, even if he was an asshole, the bond would grow stronger, and their wolves would have to take over in order for them to mark and mate. In the were world, it was common knowledge that a true mate's bond was nearly indestructible. They wouldn't be able to resist the urge to join forces. Before that could occur, it was always preferable for the human half of them to bond. There is no doubt that forced marks can cause problems in a relationship.

"He is by all accounts a solid match for her. Corbin stated, "I think they will do well together." However, in the event that he injures my infant daughter, I will ensure that he walks around with one less appendage."

James gave a light chuckle that turned into a gnashing of the teeth yawn.

Corbin, "Those two lovers upstairs aren't the only ones who need some rest." Before getting out of his chair, he patted his friend and Beta on the shoulder and said, "Let's both get our asses to bed before the sun comes up." He didn't want to tell Corbin about it, but he knew his wife had trouble sleeping when he wasn't by her side. Since Corbin had spent many years sleeping alone, stating it would have been too painful.

"Okay, James. I will see you toward the beginning of the day," he told his close buddy. " Then I will conduct a full CSI investigation into that boy and his intentions for my daughter.

****** Adeline left the bathroom in the hallway wearing only her underwear. She was dressed in a pink tank top and gray yoga pants. She had brushed the long locks as much as she could out of her still-wet hair, but with the amount of hair she had, it was nearly impossible for her to dry it completely before going to bed. She also detested using a blow dryer.

She knocked on the door to her own bedroom, embarrassed. Since she was a baby, she had slept in the same room, but this was the first time she felt compelled to knock.

From the other side of the door, a soft voice said, "Come in."

Before noticing her companion's figure, she quietly entered her room.

He had a strong build, broad shoulders, and a waist that tapered like an Olympic swimmer. The boxers he was wearing were low-hanging on his hips to show the happy trail that ended at the top band of the plaid material. He had a small amount of blond chest hair.

Adeline's large partner was fortunate because her bed was queen-sized and would comfortably accommodate them both. She would have been humiliated assuming that she had a little single or standard bed that his feet would hang off of.

As she entered the room, Hunter was sitting at the edge of the bed and observing her.

How was my father's conversation? As she began putting all of her dirty clothes in the basket by the bathroom, she inquired of him.

As he watched her effortlessly move about the room, Hunter told her, "It went fine, though we will talk further in the morning."

"Before returning downstairs to retrieve you, I-I didn't have time to change the sheets. She said with timidity, "I hope you don't mind. When she first cuddled with her partner, she would have preferred new sheets.

He said in a soft voice, "They smell like you."

"And what smell do I have?" Inquisitive, she asked.

He said, "Honeysuckle with a hint of vanilla." It's divine."

His admission caused Addie to blush. She spoke in an effort to detach from herself. You also smell like pine and cedar. It was how I found out that a different person was in the area. She went on to say, "There aren't many cedar trees in the woods here."

"Does that smell good to you?" He pressed.

It has a wonderful aroma. She continued, "Natural yet masculine," before blushing an even darker shade of red.

The bed's sheets were pulled back as Hunter stood up. He made a gesture toward the bed as though he were grabbing a seat for his date at a posh restaurant.

He mumbled, "After you, my little mate." To make her partner feel at home in her bed, Adeline climbed between the cool sheets and patted the person next to her.

Subsequent to moving under the covers, they really wanted to gaze at one another unobtrusively.

"Do you like to be called Adeline or Addie?" Hunter asked without warning. She smiled at the question, but she kept her surprise well hidden.

She stated openly, "I prefer to be called whatever you are comfortable with." I'm just known as Addie by the majority of people. Not the actual name would irritate me, however the manner of speaking behind it."

"What is your center name?"

With a frown, she replied, "Graciella." I know. It's a mouthful, even with my first and last names. Which is yours?

He responded, "Preston." It was the first name of my grandfather.

She smiled and told him, "I like it." As they struggled to come up with something to say, there was yet another prolonged silence.

"I-" Hunter appeared bewildered by the deafening silence. Adeline, may I kiss you?"

He observed as her face turned a pretty pink.

She replied to him, "Of course."

He gave her a light kiss on the lips. She felt a gentle tug in her stomach as his mouth moved gently against hers, and his lips were warm and soft against hers. Tracker finished the kiss very soon for her taste, yet she got it. Her own father would probably not want her to be marked and mated on the first day because he had probably read him the riot act about hurting his only child.

"I'm grateful, Adeline." He spoke, pressing his forehead against hers. She was snugly pressed up against his hard chest as he gently wrapped one arm around her waist. On the other, he wrapped his arm around Addie's back and under her pillow. He drew her close to him and inhaled her sweet honeysuckle aroma.

"Good evening, Hunter." Her voice was muffled against his chest, she said.

As they both closed their eyes to allow sleep to sweep them away, Hunter whispered, "Goodnight, my future Luna," into her fragrant hair.