Kell stared out the window and cracked his knuckles.
Gabe and Dante briefly looked up from their conversation but didn't say anything. After Friday Kell had become increasingly moody. They'd sent Brianna in to try and cheer him up on Saturday but that was a disaster. Kell hadn't been interested and Bri was not the type of girl that liked being ignored. Finally, Kell had sent her into the woods for a three-day forced vacation. Just long enough so that she wouldn't be back until he'd left for Scotland.
After a lot of prodding Kell had told his betas about the scent.
"I can still smell her and it's driving me crazy." Gabe and Dante had been more than a little surprised. It wasn't Kell's style to get stuck up on any one girl. But that was nothing compared to their shock at what he said next.
"She's my mate. I'm sure of it. I wouldn't be so out of control otherwise. What's killing me is that she doesn't know my scent. Which means she..."
"....is probably fooling around with some other guy." Dante finished for him.
"Exactly" Kell growled, not pleased at all with that idea. He'd told his betas his suspicion that Lachlan knew the owner of the scent. Kell just hoped it wasn't Lachlan's current girl he was after. It wouldn't matter though. She'd be his either way; there was no denying mates.
Kell had been so unpleasant to be around that by the time they'd gotten on the plane to head over to Scotland Gabe and Dante had taken to just leaving him alone.
Kell cracked his knuckles. Again.
***
Lachlan was there to meet them when their jet landed at the Douglas compound.
The younger alpha strode forward with a big grin on his face. "Kell, Dante, Gabe. Glad you could make it. We're all excited you're here. My parents can't wait to see you again Kell."
"Glad we could make it?" Kell laughed. "You practically twisted my arm to get us here. Not that I'm complaining. I seem to remember your uncles know how throw a party."
"Yup" Lachlan smiled. "Uncle Ron's planned quite a celebration for tonight. He's perfected his brewing since the last time you were here. Man's a genius. Churning out some real potent stuff."
Kell smiled, more relaxed than he'd been in days. Just being in the Douglas compound was lightening his mood; he sensed he was closer to finding her. Tonight he was going to have a long talk with Lachlan. Anticipation was riding him hard, but it was much more tolerable than the anxiety he'd felt over the weekend.
"Lets sign these papers and head out to the training field, I want to see all these techniques we've heard so much about.
***
"This is the main field. It's where most of the sparring and target practice takes place. We try to do most of the work outside because there're more distractions and the weather's always unpredictable. The indoor facilities have the weight rooms, pools, etc." Lachlan explained in an animated voice. It was more than obvious he was proud of the efforts they'd made to update their training program and facilities.
"All Douglas wolves begin some form of training at age six. At first it's playing games where they learn basic defensive moves, then as they get older they can choose the specific skills they want to learn."
The group arrived at the edge of the field. They were still somewhat far from the actual fighting, not wanting to disrupt the training session, but close enough that they had a good view of the action.
"Hand to hand combat is one of our specialties."
Kell nodded, impressed by the techniques the two fighters sparring were using. His men were good, but these guys were using some moves he'd never seen before.
Kell's eyes were fixated on one of the fighters. He was smaller than his opponent, but very fast and obviously the better fighter. There was something odd about the way he looked, but it didn't click until Lachlan spoke up.
"That's my sister, Aislin. She's one of our best fighters."
"Woah." Dante said, rocking back on his heels. "I didn't realize that was a chick." He realized that might not have come out right and added a quick, "No offense."
Lachlan just laughed, crossing his strong arms across his chest. This was obviously not the first time he'd heard something along those lines. "None taken. At least on my part. I wouldn't say that in front of my sister though, she might not be so pleased."
They all watched as she kicked her legs out and deftly flipped her opponent to the ground. Her partner was quick though and scissored his legs so that she fell on top of him.
Her legs caught his head in a headlock, pinning him to the ground and immobilizing him. Both of them were breathing hard, but they could see Aislin's lips moving as she explained something to the man under her.
Just then the wind shifted and Kell got a strong whiff of her scent. His wolf rushed to the surface. It took all his strength to keep from shifting. Even then he wasn't completely successful. His canines elongated and his eyes glowed brightly as he breathed in her scent. He was unprepared for how potent it was in person, the spiciness calling to his wolf.
He wanted her off that other male. Now.
Without saying anything he strode away from the men, quickly reaching the pair on the ground and lifting Aislin up.
"Mine." He growled as he stared into her startled eyes.
"This should be interesting" Lachlan said in a low voice to Gabe and Dante, looking a little shocked. "I think Kell's about to get more than he bargained for with Aislin."
***
Kell looked down at the female in his arms. Her scent was still driving him crazy but he could finally think now that she wasn't touching the other male. He felt his canines retract, but his wolf was still dangerously close to the surface. The wolf recognized his mate instantly, it was the man that was having trouble.
She wasn't anything like he'd envisioned she'd be. Up until now he'd preferred women who were feminine, soft, sensual. They wore dresses and wouldn't leave the house without makeup on. Old school maybe, but he liked his women chock full of sex appeal.
This woman was none of those things.
She was caked in dirt, sweaty from fighting. He squinted, trying to see her features through the grime.
***
Aislin was caught completely off guard, something that almost never happened. One second she'd been sparring with Sean and the next thing she knew she was being lifted up against the chest of some crazed were.
She could tell his wolf was fighting for control, his eyes glowing and teeth bared. She'd been frozen for a second, frightened by his strength, but her instincts had kicked in and now she was trying desperately to think of how to neutralize the situation. He tipped his head back and she was able to get a good look at him.
He was hot, gorgeous really, and smelled divine. Her senses were immediately overloaded by the smell of pine; it was literally all she could think about. She tried leaning closer to smell him better but his grip on her arms prevented her from moving even the slightest bit.
Her brain was scrambling to remember what he'd said. A startled gasp left her lips when she remembered his guttural, "Mine."
That meant. Her mate?
Her wolf howled in her mind, obviously agreeing with the male. But, if he was her mate why was he standing there frowning at her like he wasn't too pleased with what he saw?
***
By this point Lachlan was striding towards them, Gabe and Dante careful to stay behind, not knowing how in control Kell was of his wolf.
"Uh, Aislin." Lachlan said once he reached them. "This is Kell, alpha of the Hackett Pack."
"Kell this is Aislin, my sister."
If Aislin was surprised to find out who he was she didn't show it. She'd sensed that the man holding her was important. His grip on her was unbreakable and he had the most powerful aura she'd ever felt.
Lachlan's introduction seemed to snap Kell out of his reverie. He let Aislin's feet touch the ground but kept his grip on her arms. He just couldn't get over it. His mate was just not what he expected. Aislin could see it in his face and couldn't help but feel hurt.
Whatever, she thought to herself, I could care less if he likes what he sees. Aislin knew she was pretty, well, when she wasn't caked with dirt and all sweaty from fighting. Looks weren't super important to her, but she did her best to maintain what she considered a pretty decent appearance.
She knew she was grimy from sparring but did he really need to look so appalled? He'd probably visualized his mate as some fluffy little she-wolf, petite and ready to roll over every time she saw him. Maybe someone more like her sisters, who were boy crazy. She loved her sisters, a lot, but that wasn't her.
Enough was enough.
"Well that was fun" Aislin said dryly, staring defiantly into Kell's brown-green eyes. "I can see I'm not what you were expecting." She paused and gave him a once-over. "But then again you're not really my type either. A little too buttoned-up."
His eyes narrowed. Loving the huskiness of her voice but not pleased by her words. Buttoned-up? His mouth opened with a retort but all that came out was a low growl.
"Down boy." She said, narrowing her eyes.
Not ready to accept him after his clear dismay at finding out she was his mate, she knew she had to get away quickly. She licked her lips and watched his gaze immediately dropped down to her mouth. Grimy or not she was getting to him. She was going to take full advantaged.
