***
“Are you alright?” Jeremy asked his brother for the third time. And just as the first two times, Troy’s answer was the same.
“Fine,” Troy muttered.
They were seated in the area reserved for alphas and their mates, in the huge arena of Agyemang’s pack-house. The arena was filled with the adults from Agyemang’s pack and invited guests. The ceremony was supposed to be a celebration therefore drinks and scrumptious finger food were in abundance. The after-party was usually even bigger. The atmosphere was charged with excited anticipation. The crowd obviously couldn’t wait for their alpha to become officially mated. But unlike the excited crowd, the alpha of all alphas was clearly worried about his brother.
“Troy…” Jeremy groaned.
“Listen, that’s the second time I’ve heard your brother say a very false, fine.” Jake T, a seven-foot-tall alpha who was known for his crazy nature drawled. “First of all, young man,” the alpha addressed Troy, “It’s very clear that you’re not fine so can you please spare your brother and we the eavesdroppers the bullshit? Secondly, it’s obvious that you’re pissed off. But from your flushed face, I can tell it’s more like sexual frust…”
“Jake…” Jeremy growled low in his throat as Ryan laughed.
“Aw come on boss, don’t tell me you can’t tell your brother needs to get laid.” Jake T drawled. “I can bet my last cent he’s pissed off at his mate. Where the fuck is Lip, anyway?” Jake T glanced around the buzzing arena but couldn’t see Philip anywhere.
“He went to speak to Agyemang.” Ryan chuckled. “Hey…” He stretched out his hand to a frowning Troy and waited until Troy placed a hand in his stretched hand. “Want to tell me what the problem is?” Ryan murmured, staring intently at his brother-in-law’s flushed face.
But Troy shook his head, his eyes on his and Ryan’s clasped hand. “I’m just…” He glanced up at Jake T. “Can you really tell I need…sex just by looking at me?”
“Yep.”
“So why can’t…” Troy trailed off when the crowd began to clap and cheer. Troy looked up, trying to see what the ruckus was all about, and gasped. Paul had entered the arena. Troy got to his feet and stared at his friend. “Paul…” Even from where he stood, Troy could tell that his friend had changed.
Majority of the pack had never laid eyes on their alpha’s mate. But from their reaction, they liked what they were seeing. Usually, a pack was thrilled whenever an unmated alpha found his mate. And because of who Agyemang was…one of the revered alphas, his pack was even more thrilled that he’d found his mate. To Agyemang’s pack, their alpha’s mate, whose pictures they’d seen on the pack’s website, was a handsome young man. But to Troy, the transformation in his friend was simply amazing.
Paul was in jeans and trainers and nothing more. He looked as though he’d filled out. He was no longer looking all lanky and soft. There was an air of confidence around him that hadn’t been around the Paul that Troy knew and was used to. For a long moment, he simply stared. It took a while for it to register in Troy’s mind that Paul was actually beckoning him with a finger.
“I’ll be back, guys,” Troy muttered as he started for where Paul stood with a delighted grin on his face.
“Troy…” Paul breathed when Troy got to him. Even his voice sounded different. “I’ve missed you so damn much.” The two friends hugged each other fiercely.
The curious looks on the faces of Agyemang’s pack as they watched their alpha’s mate hugging Troy said it all. Some looked disapproving whilst others looked downright incredulous. That was their alpha’s mate after all. But the announcer’s voice soon laid their concerns to rest.
“So for those of you who have only seen pictures of our alpha’s mate, you finally get to see the gorgeous, sexy, strong, smart,” each word was followed by cheers from the pack, “fun, wise, awesome, charming, fearless, sensual, fit, reliable, protective… did I mention gorgeous?” The roar that went up was deafening. The announcer laughed. “I feel privileged to have met and spoken to him. And trust me, he’s all that and more. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Paul!” Everyone was on their feet, clapping, whistling, and cheering.
“They love you.” Troy laughed delightedly as he stepped out of Paul’s embrace.
“It’s so humbling,” Paul said shakily as he waved at his cheering pack.
“For those of you wondering who the handsome young man hugging our alpha’s mate is, he’s none other than Troy Stanton. The younger brother of our alpha of all alphas, Jeremy Stanton and the mate of Alpha Philip Harrington of the Stanwood Pack.” There was loud applause. The pack, who knew about Troy and his story couldn’t hide their excited grins and enthusiastic applause. “Troy and Paul are best pals. He actually led our Paul straight to our Alpha. So this pack owes him.” There were shouts of ‘thank you Troy’ to which Troy laughed.
“Hey, I’ll leave you to this,” Troy told Paul. “I’ll see you after. All the best.”
“Thanks, Troy.” Paul hugged Troy again before allowing him to get back to his seat. He remained where he stood though.
“Without wasting any more time, we will ask Paul who he’s chosen to combat with on this important day.” The announcer’s voice boomed over the loudspeakers.
Troy groaned from where he sat when someone pushed a mic against Paul’s mouth. “Come on, he doesn’t know how to fight.” He looked worried.
“Err…you know it’s just a formality, right?” Jeremy chuckled. “No matter what, Agyemang will declare him the winner.”
“My mate.” At Paul’s answer, the entire arena erupted with ruckus cheers.
“Well, let the combat begin.” The announcer said just as Agyemang appeared on the stage with a naughty look on his face and beckoned his mate.
Paul shook his head with amusement as he looked at his mate, his affection for Agyemang clear for everyone to see. When he crouched down and began to take off his trainers, everyone waited, thinking he wanted to fight barefoot. But when he got back on his feet and began to slowly unzip his pants, the crowd went wild.
“What is he doing?” Troy gasped.
“Son of a bitch.” Jake T breathed. “They gonna fight in wolf form.”
“But they’re supposed to fight in human form,” Ryan said, looking confused.
“He’s the alpha,” Philip said quietly, his gaze on his mate. “He changed the rules.” Their gazes locked.
“Why did he change the rules?” Troy whispered.
“Because he could.” Philip shrugged. “You said it yourself. Paul has had no training. He wouldn’t know what to do in combat. But in wolf form, he can fight. A. G. didn’t want his mate feeling inadequate and embarrassed because he couldn’t fight.”