Loving The Beast Within (Sequel to Shifting Love)

Chapter 7: A Woman With A Plan And A Secret

Darkness was all I felt from the two rabid wolves chained in front of me in our backyard. Their minds refused to link with mine even when I used an Alpha command on them.

One of the wolves pulled their bottom lip back in a snarl before attempting to bite me. Cooper immediately lashed out and whacked Theo on the nose.

This wasn't what I expected from them at all. Sweet, perverted at times, Theo was a wild animal now. I turned my attention to the other wolf, Scott. He looked beaten and worn down. I wasn't used to this version of Logan's older brother.

"Scott?" I pushed into his mind.

I jumped back in shock when his mind finally linked with mine. It was like nothing I ever heard before. There were no words running through his brain, just snarls and growls. He was speaking wolf even in his mind.

Logan was right. These wolves lost control of their humanity. It was up to us to get them back. The only thing was, how was I supposed to do that?

"Logan?" I called my friend over.

"Yes?"

"Can you get in touch with Scott's mate? She should be down in the village at the car shop."

"Arianna, Scott doesn't have a mate," Logan quickly responded.

I rolled my eyes, "What is it with the men lately? Why is no one telling anyone about their mates anymore?"

No one responded.

I think I just had a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I seemed to always be around for men meeting their mates or at least around to hear the gossip about it.

A week before the wedding I brought my car in for a tune up. Cooper offered to go along or rather do it for me, but I loved my car and wanted to be there. Scott was picking up parts for his motorcycle when it happened.

Stella had just started working at Eddie's Garage last week. I thought they hadn't had the chance to meet before this. She was a part of the Water's Edge pack and younger than Scott.

I loved watching mates meet for the first time and seeing the love take over their emotions. But when Scott laid eyes on her it was a chilling reaction.

His face shone with love then became a mask void of any emotions. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion when he spun around and walked out of the garage. I immediately followed him and gave him a good earful about abandoning mates.

He let me berate him with every curse word I knew. It was then I realized he had met Stella before and had been avoiding her for a while. After I lectured him he turned back around and struck up a conversation with her.

When I picked up my care later that afternoon she thanked me graciously. He had denied her before because of the war going on between our packs. But I wasn't one to deny her into our pack just because her Alpha was an idiot.

"Just trust me on this. Her name is Stella and if you don't hurry up she will have gone home for the day. Oh and bring her twin, Lyndsay."

"And why am I bringing her too?"

Cooper growled from behind me. He didn't like it when pack members questioned my motives. I had to admit, I didn't like it either. Especially with time running against us at finding Dante.

I sighed, "I am almost positive she is Theo's mate. These two idiots here have been denying their mates because they used to be in the Water's Edge pack."

A few growls rumbled from the pack members around us. No one was too happy with this information. But they wouldn't dare question me with Cooper here.