Chapter 5 - Zoe

Our rooms at Ironfur were nice. My room even had a beautiful view of the lake. Papa’s room was across the hall, so he had a view of the drive and wooded area of the narrow island. He didn’t seem to mind. The two other rank-blooded females flanked my room. Séréna has kept to herself, probably in her best interest. I have a feeling she’d be a pain in my ass while I’m here—the other female, April seemed polite enough. The male, Gamma Heir Emmett, was another story. 

“Beta Zoe, may I have a moment?” Emmett paused, fist raised to knock when I opened my bedroom door.

In a few years, he might be cute. He has potential, but he’s still young. Or he looks young. I could be wrong, and he’s closer to my age than I believe, but I doubt it. I’m generally good at guessing someone’s age, and he still has a baby face like he’s not old enough to have been shaving for long.

And he’s also a blonde, which I don’t hold someone’s hair color against them. I don’t go for blondes. Blonde males make me think of Papa and Alexander. It’s not something to get anyone’s engine revving. 

“What did you need?” I asked as I stepped into the hall.

“We are on our way to a meeting with Alpha Finn, so please make it quick,” I explained, nodding behind Emmett to where Papa had stepped out of his room.

“Did you need something, Emmett?” Papa asked, making the young male jump.

“Oh… hello, Beta Damon… sir.” Emmett bowed his head.

‘Zoe, why is the barely old enough to have shifted male all jumpy? Tell me you aren’t his mate or something.’ Papa asked in our link.

‘First, ew. Second, you’re the Beta to an infamous Alpha who wouldn’t be jumpy?’ I rolled my eyes.

“So, what was it you wanted, Emmett?” I asked, already starting to walk away.

Emmett hurried to catch up as he realized I was serious and that he needed to make it fast.

“Will you be attending the ball tonight?” Emmett asked.

“It would be rude if I didn’t. I am an unmated female, and for all I know, my mate will be there.” I shrugged.

“Unless you are my daughter’s mate and awkwardly beating about the bush, which she’s already said you aren’t her mate, I suggest keeping whatever it is to yourself.” Papa sighed as he opened the front doors for me.

“Oh, right. Well, I was hoping maybe even though we aren’t mates, you’d dance with me tonight.” Emmett nervously said what he wanted.

“Not to be offensive, but not thank you. I’m only interested in finding a mate, and if he isn’t there, I’ll likely only stay long enough to be respectful before leaving.” I let him down as gently as I could.

He at least didn’t make a fool of himself. He stayed inside the packhouse and watched as Papa and I crossed to the Alpha house for our meeting. I have a rule about males who are younger than me. That rule is that they are a no-go unless they are my mate. Which Emmett was certainly not.

Our meeting with Alpha Finn and his Beta Clarence went well. It wasn’t all that different from all the other meetings we’ve had since we started traveling nine months ago. I was all boring politics discussing the benefits of an alliance. Papa and I discussed what the three Sicilian packs brought to the table, while Finn and Clarence did the same for Ironfur. After the meeting, I was whisked away by Luna Lorna to get ready for the ball. 

I will give her credit. She at least has taste. I was surprised she had something ready for me, but she explained that they made a dress and got my measurements from my Luna since they knew I’d be here. Of course, Katrina was in on this and kept it from me. I won’t complain. I’m all for adding a new stunning gown to my wardrobe. 

The skirt was flowy, soft pink chiffon, with a deep v-fitted bodice with thin straps that looked like vines. The straps and bodice were covered with pink flowers cascading down the skirt, thinning out as you reached the bottom. And when I say deep v, I mean the v went down to my belly button. I handled doing my hair and makeup to go with the soft pinks of the dress.

The only problem with the dress was that I had to bundle up under a jacket and hold the skirt up to avoid getting it wet in the snow. Papa opted to stay in his room. When I left, he was on a video call with Mama, and I didn’t want to know what they would do while no one was around. I accept that my parents have an active sex life. I don’t want to think about it or know the details. 

I had to travel by car with Emmett, April, and Séréna around a segment of the lake to the large hall that would be the ball’s location. Like the packhouse, it was a lovely venue—the rustic exterior fit perfectly in the wooded surroundings. Inside, the heat had been turned up to counter the cold and make the decorations feel more fitting. 

André would love this. It truly felt like you’d walk into the essence of spring. Flowers were everywhere, and with the soft fairy lights strung up, it felt like you’d walked into some fairy gathering to celebrate spring. I suppose that was the effect Luna Lorna wanted. 

“Allow me, Beta Zoe.” A voice I didn’t recognize but a familiar accent offered.

I furrowed my brow and glanced over my shoulder at the male, who smiled as he took my coat. He wasn’t someone from Nebrodi. While we aren’t as small a pack these days as Ironfur, I know everyone. But he is from one of the Sicilian packs. He wasn’t from Incubi. He looked around my age, and I knew every Incubi male near my age. I slept with several of them. That only leaves Madonie.

“Thank you….” I arched my brow, indicating he should fill in the blank.

“Primo Albricci, of Madonie.” He smiled.

Objectively, he’s an attractive man. Checking the boxes for what I generally look for physically in a male. The only problem was he wasn’t my mate. His scent did nothing for me or my wolf, and I felt nothing when his fingers brushed my shoulders. If I hadn’t promised to abstain from sex unless, with my mate for this trip, I’d give him a whirl.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. There are several of us from the three great packs of Sicily here. We had been looking forward to the arrival of our Betas.” Primo continued as he handed my coat to someone.

“I do not see my Beta. Where is Beta Alexander?” He asked as he looked around for my brother.

Why did he want to know where my brother was? Did he have pack business to discuss? Or is my gaydar super off, and I’m the wrong Petridis he wants to fuck? Either way, I don’t plan to tell him my brother’s exact whereabouts or the reason.

“Alexander did not join us in Ironfur. I’m sorry you missed taking your shot at him. But as a member of his pack, you should know he doesn’t swing that way.” I smiled.

Even if I’m right and he’s not interested in Alexander sexually, putting Primo on the spot like that was amusing. His brown eyes went wide, and his face paled at the suggestion he was sexually interested in my brother.

“No… that’s not why I was asking.” He shook his head. 

“I very much am heterosexual. And if I were going to take a chance on hooking up with a Petridis Beta, it would be you. Especially in that dress.” He winked as his eyes traveled down the open v of my dress.

“Flattered, but we both know we aren’t mates. And while on this diplomatic trip, the only male I’m willing to entertain will be my mate.” I smiled tightly.

This interaction all felt off. Primo’s flirting felt forced. If his reaction to the implication he was gay weren’t so genuine, I’d think he was simply in the closet. So, why is he trying if he’s not actually into me? I don’t care. It’s not my problem unless he makes it my problem. He better not make it my problem because it won’t end well for him.

‘Speaking of mate.’ Viatrix sat up at attention as a scent invaded my senses.

I didn’t even say anything to Primo as I started to walk away, following the alluring scent of nag champa and sandalwood entwined with drifting smoke and exotic vanilla. I’d gotten a few steps into the massive hall when a second hit filtered in, competing equally with the first. It was similar but still unique. This second scent that had every cell in my body buzzing was like flames in a massive stone fireplace, drifting wood smoke and gentle vanilla.

Why were there two scents? No one’s scent should get this reaction from me but my mate’s. And there’s no way I’d have two. I’m not Katrina. There’s nothing special about me to warrant more than one mate. Yet both scents had my body buzzing and Viatrix inching forward, eager to find the sources with a repeated mantra of ‘mates’ in her thoughts.

Nope. I cannot deal with this. I’ve spent years looking for my mate, and now there are two of them in the same place. I’ve had my share of threesomes, but that was just sex. This was too much to deal with. And Viatrix was going nuts in my head. I needed air. I didn’t care how cold it was outside. Anything was better than being inside with their scents overwhelming me. 

I took a deep breath of the cold air as I stepped outside.

‘What are you doing out here? Our MATES are inside! Go back inside!’ Viatrix insisted.

‘I need a breather. There must be a mistake.’ I shook my head, dismissing the idea of two mates.

‘I would have thought you’d be all about this. That’s two for one.’ Viatrix corrected me.

Our internal argument was tabled when the scents hit me again, stronger than before, and I heard two deep, gravelly voices growl ‘mate’ behind me. I closed my eyes and silently prayed to the Goddess for mercy. I turned to find two massive males stuck in the French doors that, for any other two males, would have been plenty of room to let both through. It’d be funnier if the reality of who these two men were didn’t hit me so hard.

I recognized their faces. They were in all the family pictures hung in the Alpha house. Alpha Finn’s younger twin brothers, Gunnar and Henrik Kilbourn. Physically, they checked all my boxes. Tall, dark hair, dark eyes, muscular, and handsome. Even under their tailed black suits, I could tell they were built like mountains. The only difference between them and a statue is their flesh.

Okay, so their looks had certain parts of me taking notice. And maybe the whole two-mates thing won’t be a big deal since they are twins. Sharing a mate with a brother rather than a stranger must be easier. Right? 

“What do you think you’re doing, Henrik?” Gunnar grunted as he tried to get past his twin.

“I’m trying to go meet my mate. But your bulky ass is getting in my way.” Henrik grunted, and the two finally freed themselves of the doorway at the cost of tearing their suit jackets. 

So much for that idea of twins being better about sharing. This was not going to go well. I’ve seen twins fight. I’ve witnessed Katrina and André get into it over a guy. Usually, the debate was settled by learning the guy’s sexuality. There was that one time when the guy was bi and suggested they have a threesome. He was sent to the hospital with a broken nose and two black eyes when they punched him at the same time.

“She’s not yours. She’s mine. Go back inside to Mom.” Gunnar snorted.

I groaned as the two grabbed the other’s jacket, ready to start fighting not only over me, a woman they hadn’t met, but in front of me. To some females, the idea of men fighting over them would be hot. That’s not me. To me, it’s a total turn-off. I’m not some prize a winner gets. I like a protective man, but this isn’t being protective of me. This is childish and territorial.

“Excuse me, toddlers.” I clapped my hands, treating them like I would, Gwen and Christina fighting over a toy.

“I am standing right here and this…” I gestured to them. “Is one hundred percent a turn-off. I only involve myself with grown-ass men. So, sort your shit out and talk to me when you can act your age.” I rolled my eyes and shoved between them, heading for the open doors.