Page 4 of The Alpha's Daughter
Chapter Four
GUNNAR
Nothing could have prepared me for the chaos that was the Moonmate Ceremony. Man, wolves really went crazy over trying to be the first to make it up and get a drink from the blessed water and find their mate. It was like extreme matchmaking. I held Lou in my sights as she was led off stage but then lost her in the crowd. In all honesty, I wasn’t even trying to make it up to the fountain, but that was exactly where I found myself as the current of people swept me forward.
“Blessed be your union.” The Grand Master handed me a small cup and then did not spare me another glance as he continued serving those behind me. I downed the contents and tossed the cup into the nearest trashcan, my eyes still furiously scanning to see where she could have gone. I was afraid there wouldn’t be an opportunity to catch her before she was once again out of my reach.
Almost immediately, I felt an intense pull from my chest. Looking down, I saw an arm of silvery pink smoke extending forward until it collided with a matching line that was already coming toward me from somewhere in the large group of wolves. Inwardly, I groaned. I didn’t have time to fend off some lovestruck she-wolf that fancied herself to be fated. Still, the parting crowd presented me with a rare opportunity to surge forward in search of Lou, so I figured I may as well kill two birds with one stone.
I took several long strides forward before slowing to a stop as I came into view of the wolf at the other end of the smoke trail. I looked left and right. This must be some kind of joke. Standing there, the proverbial pot of gold at the end of my pink and silver rainbow, was Lou.
“You,” she blinked, clearly taken aback, before taking a shaky step forward. I remained silent, watching her closely as I slowly stalked toward her, careful not to make any sudden movements. “Who are you?”
I frowned, ignoring her question and stepping directly into her space. She smelled of pine and lavender with just a hint of lemon and it was a heady combination. I breathed in deeply. Now that I had managed to get this close, there was no turning back. I couldn’t walk away if I tried. She squirmed slightly under my scrutiny as I circled her. Everywhere my eyes roamed, her body responded. “M-my name is Lou. Uh… Ramona Louise Griffin, b-but everyone calls me Lou.”
I came to a stop in front of her and looked down, my eyes searching her face. She didn’t remember me. Disappointment clouded my thoughts before I shoved them aside. Of course, she didn’t remember me. She was only nine years old when I left and I was a far cry from the lanky preteen wolf she knew. “Gunnar Aslanov. Alpha of the Wild Ridge pack. Your mate.”
I watched her face, the wheels turning as she worked out why she knew that name. Sudden and definite recognition suddenly lit up her face. Her eyes widened in shock. “Gunnar?”
“That’s right, Shortcake,” I resurrected her old nickname, just for good measure.
“Oh my goddess, I can’t believe you’re here! Why? How? You’re an alpha now? Where have you been all this time?” her questions continued in rapid-fire as she tried to mine through the last twelve years of my life in under thirty seconds. She had no idea how fucking adorable she was, all worked up and talking ninety miles an hour. I couldn’t help but chuckle even though deep down I sure hoped I wouldn’t screw this up.
Stepping closer, I took her hand. “It’s a long story, but now we have plenty of time to get caught up and get to know each other again.”
For half a second she softened and her body leaned in closer to me, but I saw the moment she realized what I meant. She dropped her hand and stepped back, looking up at me suspiciously. As much as I wished I could pull her closer again I also didn’t want to scare her away. I wasn’t going to be that guy. I could see the conflicting emotions flickering in her eyes. Confusion, recognition. Attraction, desire. Rebellion, independence.
“You’re not my mate.”
Well, that was an inconvenient response. But I wasn’t going to let her get away from me that easily.
