Finding Love

The Royal Team

The room we've entered is huge. It's built like a play house or opera house. It could probably fit three thousand people at least. And it's already two-thirds full. We head down the aisle and slide into the two seats that Naizie saved for us. It's a good thing she got here early, otherwise we'd be standing in the back. As it was, we were in the very front, next to the beta and alpha. I was never going to get used to this.

There was a buzz of small talk going on all around us, too much to focus on, so I study the stage before us.

Naizie had said the Alpha King of the US, Kade they called him - short for Kaden - was back from his travels along with Jas' brother, Jake, and the Beta, Ceren, who they call Cer sometimes when speaking in conversation.

No one is sure what the agenda is exactly, although most are certain that it will be concerning their past trip and the rumors of a new build going on in central Montana. No one is sure what it is for yet.

Twenty minutes pass and the room is at capacity I'm sure, people even standing in the aisles.

Another ten minutes pass, lights go dimmer, and everyone begins to quiet. Three unknown men - I'm assuming they're shifters; can't catch their scents from here - come from backstage, two flanking the lead. They reach front center stage.

Everything goes dead silent as the shifter in lead opens his mouth to speak. His smooth, deep voice breaks out over the room, "Thank you all for coming. We are grateful for your continued support in our endeavors to make a better world for shifters." This must be the Alpha King, Kaden. That would make the man at his right his Beta, Ceren, and the man on his left his Gamma, Jake.

It's interesting. Maybe it's because they're further away, but it's hard to feel their dominance. Or maybe I'm immune to them too. I still find it strange that I'm more dominant than my uncle.

I listen as the Alpha King talks about his trip. Apparently he's been meeting with a bunch of different tribes in Africa, shifter and non-shifter. They have resources there that he wanted to trade for.

He was also buying up small parcels of land there and setting up a new agricultural system upon it, hiring locals alongside his experts that he flew in. They were beginning small but if the system was a success, they would begin spreading it to locals throughout Africa, granting access to governments and local partners to come and see their system to discover if they wanted to partner with his group to implement it in their area.

I'm curious about the system but he doesn't go into that.

He gives everyone a run down of the status of relations with a few other countries they visited, then begins to speak about packs in the US.

As he talks, my eyes wander to his Gamma, Jake, who truly is a master at standing still. The Beta as well, although his eyes flicker, scanning the crowds, ever vigilant it seems. Jake is probably paying just as strict attention.

All three are attractive. The Alpha King and Beta stand about an inch or two taller than the Gamma, although the Gamma is easily 6'6" if not a little taller. All are toned. The Gamma is a bit bulkier in muscle, looking like if he hit you, you'd be down for all the counts. Interesting because Jas isn't built like that, and they're twins. He must work out a lot. The Alpha King looks to be the next bulkiest, with the Beta only slightly on the leaner side. The Gamma's scruff highlights his face's angles. Both other men are clean shaven but have defined faces as well. The Gamma and Beta are dark haired, and the Alpha King is blonde in the style of Alex Pettyfer.

As I'm observing this, there's a subtle shift in the room. Air conditioning. Hallelujah.

Then a scent hits me, flowing from the stage.

I feel my eyes go black, my body tensing. My gaze locks on the Beta.

The Beta to the Alpha King. Second strongest wolf in the US. Hot as all get out according to Naizie. Spine of steel according to the stories.

And apparently my mate.

Fuck.