Alpha King's Missing Mate (Book 1 Of The Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 26

Ragnar Asgrim pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed as he sat back in the passenger seat of the black SUV. He'd been in Texas for the last couple of days, meeting with the alpha of the Lonestar pack to discuss a rogue problem. While he didn't have a problem with rogues in general, this group of rogues seemed to be involved in quite a bit of criminal activity.

Lonestar had been monitoring them for a few weeks before alerting Regal Eclipse. Ragnar had come to Texas to learn what they had found. It was worse than what he had originally believed. The rogues were involved in trafficking drugs, guns, and humans. They were building quite an enterprise.

The problem would have to be dealt with before the human authorities became too aware of what was going on. That wouldn't be a good thing and would create even more problems for his pack. It would be a major mess to clean up. Ragnar would return to his pack and present the information so they could decide what to do. Though more than likely, Daniel would let Lonestar take care of it. He'd been very distracted lately.

"You okay, Beta?"

He glanced up at Eric and smiled. "Yup, I'm good." Eric was a Gamma in the Lonestar pack and had been tasked with taking Ragnar back to the airport. "Hey, can we stop at that little cafe on our way out? I'm starving."

Eric smiled. "You have time?"

"The plane ain't going to take off without me." The plane was a private one and would take off when he wanted it to. He was the only passenger. They were there for him.

"Alright then, let's go."

Lonestar pack was currently the biggest pack in the United States and had a lot of land. They had their own private airport and a small town with a convention center that could be rented out by both humans and werewolves. They also ran a huge cattle ranch and supplied beef to most of the packs in the States and some to humans.

Eric pulled in behind the cafe and parked. Both males headed inside the back entrance of the small place and found a booth near the back. Ragnar picked up the menu, though he already had an idea of what he wanted. He'd been here many times before and usually made a point to stop by every time he came to Texas. Some of their dishes were excellent, but he wanted the steak. It was supplied by Lonestar.

A gorgeous blond she-wolf immediately walked up and bowed her head. "Welcome! What can I get you both to drink?" she asked as she placed silverware in front of them.

Ragnar glanced her over quietly as she gave him a flirtatious smile. It really was too bad he was flying out this evening. It was also too bad that he avoided she-wolves like the plague. They were much too complicated, power hungry, and hopeful that he would take them as a chosen mate, something he had no intention of doing.

Humans were so much simpler. They didn't know what or who he was and generally were not looking for anything long-term. They were just attracted to his werewolf good looks and the pleasure he could give them. He could get what he needed and get out without them wanting something more. But it was all meaningless to him anymore. All he wanted was his mate, elusive creature that she was. He was convinced he was mated to a unicorn.

The ringing of the bell above the front entrance, followed by a small intake of breath from Eric, pulled Ragnar from his wandering thoughts.

The Gamma was looking towards the front door, and Ragnar followed his gaze. A female had walked in and was now waiting to be seated, and it seemed she had caught the attention of everyone in the room, though she seemed completely oblivious to it. She was a tiny little thing with brown ringlets piled up on top of her head. Her colorful sundress was pulled tightly around her very pregnant belly. She was quite human and very beautiful. If she were single, he might enjoy seducing her.

The hostess hurried over to her and bowed her head very slightly to her. She then led the female to a booth, and she sat down facing Ragnar, a small look of relief crossing her face. She was tired, and he had a feeling she was somewhat miserable.

"Who's she?" Ragnar asked Eric, completely intrigued by the beauty. She even had his wolf's, Rollo's, attention, which was unusual. Rollo was never interested in any of the females Ragnar was interested in. He mostly ignored them or half dozed in Ragnar's mind. 'Pointless,' the wolf had told him more than once.

"I have no idea," Eric muttered quietly as he watched her.

"Every wolf she's walked past has bowed to her," Ragnar stated. 'Who is she?' he asked Rollo.

His wolf was at full attention now. The beautiful female had him captivated, and he peered out at her. 'Let me take over.'

'Okay.' Ragnar gave Rollo complete control, and the wolf glanced at the Gamma, who was staring at him with his mouth hanging open. "Mind your business," he snapped, releasing a bit of his powerful aura.

Rollo looked back at the female and took a deep breath, leaning forward in his seat. She looked up, and their gazes met across the cafe. She smelled... interesting. Human, but her baby... a she-wolf pup that smelled especially intriguing, almost like... but then another smell caught his attention, completely distracting him, and Rollo stood up and headed up the aisle towards her.

Ragnar's eyes widened in shock as he watched from his backseat position. Rollo had picked up the one smell he never thought they would ever find. MATE!

Rollo walked past her and out of the cafe, then stopped. He took a long, deep breath, and a small, frustrated growl rumbled in his chest.

'She has come in contact with Mate,' he told Ragnar. Rollo walked down the sidewalk a bit, stopping every so often to smell the air. Finally, the wolf sighed in frustration and allowed Ragnar his control back.

'Her bag smells like Mate, but mate is not in this town,' Rollo sighed quietly.

Ragnar turned back to the cafe. 'Should we question her?' He stepped back inside and started towards her.

'No. It's not the right time,' Rollo said, sitting down dejectedly.

'What? What do you mean, it's not the right time? This is the first lead we've ever had in finding our mate.' Ragnar slowed his steps down as he passed the female by, his gaze sweeping over her and then to the large bag next to her. He took in a deep breath, committing the scent of his mate to memory. He wasn't ever likely to forget it, but he'd been longing for that scent for a very long time. The scent called to him and told him that his loneliness was coming to an end. He'd thought more than once that he was just destined to be a lone wolf.

'We will meet Mate soon, but not until it's time. She probably doesn't even know who Mate is. She doesn't smell of pack,' Rollo said.

Ragnar sighed and sat back down at his table. Their drinks had been dropped off while he'd been outside, and Eric was staring intently into his own, not looking up. 'Rollo, did you command him?'

'Maybe?' his wolf said sheepishly.

Ragnar internally rolled his eyes at his wolf. "Gamma," he said sharply, and Eric's gaze snapped up to him. "Stop minding your own business."

"Are you gentlemen ready to order?" The she-wolf was back, but Ragnar found that he'd lost all interest in her. She still smiled flirtatiously at him, but he ignored her. He kept taking deep breaths, searching for the scent of his mate, which he would very occasionally catch whiffs of.

A male had now joined the mysterious female at the table, though Ragnar could only see his back. From his scent, he gathered that the male was related to her. Not that father of her child, and he smelled nothing like Ragnar's mate. He sighed internally and diverted his attention to the appetizers that were placed before him.

'Soon,' Rollo reminded him. 'We'll meet her soon.'