The Panther's Second Chance (Book 10 of the Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 9

"You ready to go, Natalia?"

She looked up at Jenna and nodded, her nerves spiking. She'd been at Jenna's for the last few hours, spending time with the women in her family, chatting and listening to them talk, somewhat, though her mind had been elsewhere.

It had drifted back and forth between her dream, Dominic and the fact that she could actually find her mate now. Mostly on Dominic though and what kind of mate he would be. She really had no idea. She didn't know him well enough and it wasn't like he ever brought a woman to the pack house.

Soon she would know. Know if anyone in her pack was her mate. Know if Dominic was her mate. She stood and followed them out of Jenna's apartment and down the hall to the elevator. She stepped on and it took them down to the ground floor.

Natalia stepped off and breathed deeply. The scent of something amazing caught her attention and caused her heart to flutter. It caught Nala, her wolf's attention, causing her to almost come forward. Natalia took a deep breath. Someone smelled amazing. She wanted to follow the scent, but she held back and followed her mother and father outside. If that was her mate's scent, they'd been through here at some point recently. Which really could be anyone.

They headed up the path towards the clearing, and Natalia had mostly lost the scent. She kept picking it up though, here and there, making her think that whoever it belonged to was more than likely at her party, which wasn't a surprise. Most of the pack would be there.

They'd gone all out. There was a bonfire, and tables had been set up and the grills and smokers had been running all day. The scents of food overwhelmed any others and made her mouth water. She was hungry.

But right after she walked into the clearing, a breeze blew through, causing her to shiver, and bringing that scent back to her. The overwhelming one that smelled truly amazing. She breathed it in deeply as she looked around, trying to figure out where it had come from.

Finally, she spotted him. Their gazes met, and her world was flipped as the word screamed through her mind. Mate! Nala was at full attention now, and Natalia felt almost dizzy for a moment as she stared at him, and saw his mouth drop open in shock. He knew too.

She immediately pulled her gaze away from his. Her family would pick up quickly on the fact that she'd already found her mate, and she wasn't ready for that. Not yet. She needed to wrap her head around this, and she was sure he did too. She'd been a bit more prepared for it than he was, judging by his shocked reaction.

Of course, now everyone wanted to come up and hug her, and wish her a happy birthday, though Natalia was preoccupied with thoughts of Dominic. Her gaze darted around the clearing at every chance, looking for him.

She finally found him standing near her brother, which wasn't a surprise. Malachi and Dominic were best friends. She studied him quietly. He wore a mask of indifference right now, and she wondered what was going on in his mind. Was he freaking out? She imagined he probably was.

He seemed to know she was staring at him and he suddenly met her gaze. She almost couldn't look away from him. He looked absolutely beautiful tonight in his T-shirt and jeans. And completely on edge.

His body was tense and he looked like he desperately wanted to get out of there. Her heart broke for him and she wondered if he was expecting her to reject him. Not happening, Dom.

She realized she was going to have to talk to him tonight. Reassure him, and find out if he wanted her. She wanted to mind link him, but she wouldn't.  She thought about mind linking Kai as well, but she wasn't really ready to let her brother know about all of this either. Not until she talked to Dominic first.