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.
***