Hunter’s Pov I cringed when I heard the pure anger in my mates voice, and if I wasn’t so focused on how everyone in the room seemed to pale at both her comment and tone I would have taken in how my mates form seemed to tremble before she managed to get a grip of her emotions. “Everyone this is Zoe, my mate” I introduced as I wrapped an arm around my mates waist, her eyes focused on her parents as pure anger radiated from her every pour. I cringed yet again; this is not how I wanted this meeting to go. I had planned to introduce her to my parents, keep her calm before attempting to approach the topic of her staying the night or moving into a spare room at the least. But I knew that idea was blown out of the water since the last thing I had wanted was for my angel to feel pressured, plus I couldn’t exactly approach the subject now since she was looking at me as if it was my fault the idiots were here! Once Zoe’s pathetic excuse of parents finally snapped out of it they plastered fake smiles on their faces, though I could see the wheels turning in their heads as they clearly recognised the girl by my side as the daughter they had made a rouge. If they were any other parents they would be as pleased as hell that there daughter had mated with the alpha, but I could tell from how uneasy they held themselves under our gazes that there past was catching up with them. My eyes held threats and promises; they would suffer to the pits of hell when I was finished with them. “Urm, hello dear” my mother greeted, sounding as if she was conflicted on whether to feel fear or excitement at meeting Zoe for the first time. She somehow seemed to be feeling both while my father was studying my mate, taking in whether or not he approved that she would soon be the alpha female of the pack. It’s not it would stop me seeing and marking her if he said she wasn’t good enough for the position, but it would be nice to have his blessing for me to mate with her even if it wouldn’t stop me if I didn’t. “Leave” I growled at Zoe’s parents, my voice rumbling through-out the pack house as my tone left no room for discussion. The couple quickly left, though not before shooting warning glares in my mates direction causing me to snarl furiously at them, fare to say they ran the rest of the way. It was too late if they expected her not to talk about what they did, I knew thanks to Jack and I would not be forgetting it any time soon that was for sure. “Fucking bastards” I heard her mutter as she relaxed slightly against me, though she was still tense as she eyed my parents through narrowed eyes. I sighed; this is not how I wanted this to go at all. “Mum, Dad this is Zoe. Zoe these are my parents Tom and Stella” I introduced as I pulled her towards the table, pulling out her chair as she took a seat. I was as nervous as hell as I raked my fingers through my now messy hair, so much for giving a first good impression I thought bitterly. Yet another thing to hate her parents for, I mean why did they have to arrive back today of all days? “Hello Zoe, it’s nice to finally meet you” My mother greeted as she shuffled further to my father as she did so, obviously worried about my mates reaction. “It’s nice to meet you to, I apologise about my attitude just now but those people are a touchy subject to me” my amazing mate said sweetly, her tone so soft and apologetic that I could immediately see the impact that her words had on my parents. I was stunned before I couldn’t help but grin, my mate was truly amazing and I was glad I hadn’t fucked up. “That’s fine dear, so why don’t you tell us how you met?” My mother continued, leaning forward as she rested her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands, it was clear she was going to try and get every bit of information out of my mate that was possible. I would have been amused if I wasn’t worried about how Zoe would take my eager mother, though thankfully she seemed to take it into his stride. “School actually, he made quite the impression” Zoe stated causing me to stiffen, but one look in her direction was enough for me to see the small smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. I sighed out relieved, glad that she had seemingly forgiven me and looked past how I had treated her so horribly at the start of the school year. It still hurt me to think about my harsh comments and actions towards her, but I knew I had the rest of our lives to make it up to her. “That’s my boy, so Zoe why don’t you tell us about yourself” my father asked, obviously pleased with how she had suddenly turned her attitude around and spoken to my mother with kind and humour filled words. “Not much to say really. I was kicked out when I was younger so I was forcibly labelled a rouge, I would never had come here if it wasn’t for the law” she stated honestly causing me to clench my fists on my lap as I thought back to her past, I still couldn’t believe how a parent could do that to a child, especially when the child had clearly done nothing wrong, hell she was 12 for fucks sake! “Oh my” my mother gasped, slapping her hand over her mouth as she gazed at my mate in a whole new light. I could practically see the sympathy and pity rolling off my mother, my father quick to comfort her but I could tell he was just as horrified by her comment as my mother was. “Well I am glad we have none of that in our pack” my father stated causing me to internally wince, if only he knew it had in fact happened right under his nose when he was the running alpha. I was actually looking forward to that conversation, knowing I wouldn’t be the only one out for blood when it all came out. He had after all issued searches for my mate when the news got around, hell the family was fussed around by the pack due to their apparent loss! They had milked the attention for all it was worth, the thought sickened me. The rest of the day was thankfully not as dramatic as it was at the start, the bastards not coming back and my parents getting alone with Zoe like a house on fire. It wasn’t until it was time for Zoe to head home that I found my whole body protesting, wanting her to stay and not to leave me yet. “I should be making a move, it’s getting late” she seemed to sigh reluctantly, and while it warmed me that she didn’t seem to want to leave me as much as I didn’t want to part from her I still didn’t want her to leave. “Already? Why don’t we watch a film?” I asked, panicking slightly since neither me nor my wolf wanted her to leave just yet. The rest of the pack had arrived hours ago, in their rooms with their mates as I sat in the living room with Zoe who was currently curled up at my side. I had never been more comfortable then I was now. “I don’t know-“ “Please” I breathed, my tone filled with hope and longing. I didn’t care if I sounded pathetic, as long as she stayed then the desperate vibe I gave off was worth it. I watched as she seemed to considered it, her emerald eyes running over my features before she sighed and relaxed back against me. I grinned; I couldn’t help it as she rolled her head to the side to look at me, her dark locks sprawling over the back of the couch as she locked her eyes with mine. “Fine, put something on then” she sighed with a smile causing me to grin, my arms having a mind of their own as they wrapped around her waist and pulled her onto my lap, her squeal of laughter and surprize causing me to grin as her laughter filled the room as I tickled her sides. I couldn’t help but smile as her laughter filled the room, and while her body wiggling and rubbing against mine only fuelled my urge to claim her I tried to push past it as I concentrated on the adorable giggles which spilled from her curved lips as her eyes shined with mirth and humour. “You’re beautiful” I found myself saying as I laid her on the couch, straddling her hips as I leaned over her panting and flushed form, my nose nearly brushing hers with how close I was. I didn’t mean for the comment to slip out, but I couldn’t help but be honest with her and that was exactly what she was. She was beautiful, so beautiful. “You’re not so bad yourself handsome” she winked, her hand raising as her fingers brushed a strand of my dark hair as it fell over my eyes slightly. I needed a hair-cut, but as she tugged on a strand I couldn’t help the groan which came with her action. “Uh huh” I replied; only partly paying attention as she continued to play and tug at the strand of dark hair. “Come on, put a film on” she whined playfully as she gave it one last tug before pushing me off her, my back connecting with the floor causing me to grunt out in annoyance and surprize. “You seem to manhandle me more and more each day” I muttered as I sat up with a scowl, looking in her direction only for my lips to turn into a smile when I saw her. Her hand was over her mouth as she tried to muffle her laughter, her face flushed and her eyes bright with amusement. She was a vision. “You love it” she grinned once she had calmed down, sprawling out of the couch as she watched me grab a DVD before crouching down to put it in the DVD player. She had told me she liked horrors in one of our chats so I specifically choose one for her to watch, not to mention horror was my favourite genre as well. “That I do” I muttered. It may have only been weeks but I knew I was already falling for her, hard, and I found I didn’t mind that I was one bit.