Chapter 6 You Are My Mate?
{Warren's POV}
I leaned against the couch, staring out the window as I flipped through the documents before me. A knock on the door pulled my attention away from the papers. I dropped them back on the table, looking toward the direction of the door.
"You can come in," I said, raising my voice slightly.
The door creaked open, and Jane walked in.
"Alpha," she said with a bow of her head before looking up. "The lady from the night is here. She's brought your shirt and requested to see you."
"Okay, let her in," I told Jane, and she immediately turned to open the door wider. I glanced once more at the documents on the table before closing the file and stacking them neatly. When I looked up again, I saw a girl standing next to Jane.
Her green eyes pierced into mine, but she didn't look away. She had such courage, and I could smell her sweet scent from where I sat. I quickly assessed her features, long blonde hair and perfectly curvy hips.
"Come forward," I said, sitting up straighter. "Jane, please take these documents away."
Jane stepped forward to gather the documents as the lady moved closer, now standing a few meters away from me.
"So you're the girl who brightened my day... my mate?" I asked, staring at her.
"Yes, Alpha Warren," she said, blushing. "At first, I was confused about who it was that night, but when I saw the Moonlight Pack emblem..." She paused, raising my shirt, the one I remembered wearing to Tonia's party. "I knew it was you."
I stood and made my way toward her. She stepped back slightly, and this time, I could sense her fear, though she masked it well behind a facade of courage. She still couldn't look away from my gaze.
"So, what do you want?" I asked, sounding less interested in her confident behavior.
"I... I want to be your Luna, Alpha," she stammered as I finally took her hand, staring at her as I tried to relive the memory of that night.
"Of course. You're my mate, and you're going to be my Luna," I said, letting go of her hand as I stepped away and returned to my seat. "You can keep the clothes. I'll have the guards collect your things tomorrow. You'll stay with me from today until the mating ball, where you'll officially become my Luna."
Her face lit up with happiness as a smile pulled at her lips. "Thank you, Alpha Warren," she murmured.
"You don't have to thank me. I should be the one thanking you for returning to me," I told her. But before I could say anything else, the door swung open, and I turned toward it, seeing my mother rush in.
"Warren, dear!" my mother's happy voice rang out as she cat walked toward me, casting a look at the girl. "I heard you finally found your mate!"
"Yes, Mother," I replied, quickly looking away because I knew how dramatic she could be. When I glanced back at the girl, I realized I hadn't even asked her name or tried to know her better. I had always thought that when I finally found my mate, I'd be over the moon for her. Yet, staring at the lady standing before me, I didn't feel that connection. Something wasn’t right.
"Oh, are you my son's mate?" my mother asked, turning to the girl, who continued smiling brightly.
"Yes, ma'am," she replied with a slight nod.
My mother immediately rushed to take her hand.
"Oh, dear, you're so beautiful! I knew my son's mate would be beautiful. Warren has always looked forward to this day since he was a child," my mother gushed, and I resisted the urge to tell her to calm down, deciding instead to let her enjoy the excitement. "You're going to be a wonderful Luna."
"Thank you, ma'am," the girl said, her cheeks glowing. "I love Alpha Warren, and I know our bond is strong. It took time, but we finally found each other."
"Oh, aren’t you a darling," my mother chuckled, turning to me. "Your father will be very happy."
I shrugged, barely excited.
Turning back to the girl, my mother kept holding her hand and smiling as if she had just won a lottery ticket. "What's your name, my dear?" she asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.
The girl looked at my mother, hesitating briefly before speaking. "Layla Moon."
"What a lovely name. Layla, welcome to the Moonlight Pack," my mother said warmly, finally letting go of her hand.
After my mother left with Layla, I rested my head on the back of the couch, staring at the sky as the hangover from the previous night subsided. I stood up and walked over to the bed, picking up the shirt Layla had left there. Even though I had told her she could keep it, she had still left it behind.
I stared at the shirt, filled with her scent, and brought it close to my nose, inhaling the familiar fragrance. Strangely, it calmed my nerves. A knock on the door caught my attention, and I dropped the shirt back on the bed, turning just in time to see Layla walk in.
"Alpha, how are you feeling now?" she asked, stepping closer. "Jane told me you've been sick. I just wanted to check if you're okay."
I smirked at her concern.
"I'm fine. The pain has already subsided," I replied.
"I'm glad," she said, stepping even closer and placing a hand on her chest. "I'm sure it's the ease that comes with being with your mate, Alpha."
I stared at her as she chuckled lightly, and I placed my hand on her waist, pulling her close to me. She let out a slight gasp as her body collided against mine.
"You're such a lovely lady," I murmured softly, cupping her chin with my hand and as I leaned close to kiss her gently on the lips.