I had dreamed last night of standing in my late omega father's cactus garden. There was one particular plant, a night blooming cereus, that was his pride and joy. The rare flower it grew only bloomed once a year for a single night. Blink, and you missed it. In my dream, I relived sitting on my dad's lap and smelling that unique vanilla and jasmine like scent. It had only been that one time.

The following year, my dad had moved on to a new interest and the cactus garden had disappeared, replaced by a zen garden. My father had always been in search of peace and beauty in this life. My dream had been a two-fold blessing. On the one hand, I was given the gift of a precious memory of the father that I missed so very much. On the other, I was reminded of that special fragrance that I'd loved so much.

When I woke up though, the vanilla jasmine scent was still strong in the old Victorian manor that I'd recently begun to call home. I was living here as the guest of Liam and Frankie, in exchange for occasional babysitting supposedly. I knew it was Frankie's way of giving me a change of venue after my best friend Dylan had mated with my sister, Raquel.

It was nice to feel useful, and to be free of the pitying looks that I received at the Alpha manor where I'd been staying. When my dad's had been killed by rogue mercenaries during an attack on the den a few months back, the Alpha had taken us all in to live there on huge estate. Until the war was over, all the citizens were there behind his well guarded gates.

The problem was that I didn't really fit in there. I never had, really. I'd always been a bit of a square peg in a round hole in my bear den. I craved affection, playfulness, and above all, to be needed. In my home, I'd always felt superfluous. My dads were fated-mates, and their attention pretty much revolved around each other. My older sister had left for college when I was still in grade school. She'd only moved back to see about me after our parents were killed.

Then she and Dylan had scented each other as fated-mates, and that was that. Not that I felt sorry for myself. Raquel wasn't anyone I wanted to live with anyway. She was much too cold and bossy. Dylan could have fun with that. I wanted to see the world, to travel and see exotic places.

But more than anything, I wanted to do it with a mate at my side and a cub in my arms. That wasn't too likely to ever become a reality though. We bears were much too stodgy. The odds of me finding a kindred spirit, let alone becoming mates with him, were too long to place a bet on.

In the meantime, I was happy in my new little role here. It was a change of scenery, and I had plans to eventually find a paying job. If I could save up enough money, and find the courage to follow through, maybe I would travel someday.

Once I'd dressed for the day and tousled my slightly too long hair, I left my room in search of breakfast. The delicious scent I’d smelled in my room was still strong as I walked down the hall.

The family wing where we lived up here on the third floor was all but deserted. The twin cubs were asleep in their nursery, with a beta staff member sitting in the room with a book to keep an eye on them.

Waving at the girl, I went downstairs. When I reached the second floor landing, I was torn. I heard raised voices coming up from below, and I really wanted to see what was going on there. But at the same time, that vanilla jasmine scent was stronger on this floor. My bear wanted to break free and roll around in the heady fragrance, but I kept a tight reign on him. The last thing we needed was a huge bear loose in the halls of this lovely old Victorian rooming house.

Reluctantly, I took one last inhalation, then went down the stairs. I found Stefan, the Alpha Heir of our den, and his mate standing there with three other men that I vaguely knew as a triad of mates that lived here in town. I knew Colin, the bear member of the trio. His family owned a popular deli here in Mills Creek. The other two I knew to be his mates, but I didn't know them. One of them was another jaguar shifter, I knew that from his smell and looks. He was obviously the cousin that I'd heard Diego had nearby.

Liam and Frankie were trying to calm them down and make them listen. Frankie finally let out a shrill whistle between his two fingers. Everyone stopped talking and stared at him. He grinned and began to speak.

"Now that I have your attention, I need you all to stop talking over each other and listen to me. Yes, Hector arrived last night, as we told you on the phone. He means no harm. He merely wanted to make sure that Diego was okay, and apologize for his father's actions. He was pulled here by fate, if you want my honest opinion, and we all need to give him a chance before vilifying the man."

I bit back a giggle as Diego stepped forward and tried to stand toe to toe with the taller wolf omega. Where Frankie was tall and buff for an omega, Diego was a tiny twink. Our den adored him. He had saved many lives the day of the rogue attack, including that of our Alpha.

Diego was both imperious and kind at the same time. It was funny that he was a feline shifter, because if a cat became human, it would be like Diego. I loved his infectious smile and exotic looks. He and Stefan were adorable together, the way that I fantasized it would be if I ever had a mate. They were either bickering, bantering, or kissing every time that I saw them. And their cub would never be ignored. He was the light of their world, from what I'd seen.

Diego stood to his full height of about five nothing, somehow managing to pull off an imposing glare as he crossed his arms and looked defiantly at Frankie. "Where is he? I wish to speak with the man."

Liam started to say something, but whatever it was didn't come out because a deep, smooth voice came from behind me and interrupted the scene. I was overcome by the scent of him, the vanilla and jasmine flowing over and around me. My bear sprang to attention as he spoke.

"Hello, Diego. You are looking well, old friend."

Every head in the room turned to look at the man that came down the stairs behind me. As he passed, his hand brushed over my back, as if in greeting. At the touch, a spark went up my spine and I gasped. Mate. Mine. This was my mate!

I looked up into the most beautiful pair of chocolate brown eyes. His messy dark brown hair did nothing to detract from the regal way he carried himself. With catlike grace, he moved down the stairs and went to stand beside Liam.

Stefan stepped forward to put his arm protectively around Diego, but the little imp wrenched free of his mate and defiantly stalked the few steps closer to the strange man. Hands on hips, he glared up at the alpha.

"Hector. Why are you here? Was it not clear when I ran away that I did not wish to be purchased as your mate? I have a mate now, so just go away. Shoo!" Diego made a shooing motion while the strange alpha grinned down at him.

Hector. My mate's name was Hector. I rolled it around in my head, tasting the feel of it in my mind. I wasn't pleased to hear that he had wanted to purchase a mate. Not just because he was fated for me, but because that was just gross. I calmed right down though when he flicked a calming gaze in my direction before replying to Diego.

"Yes. I heard that congratulations are in order. Both for finding your fated-mate, and for the birth of a cub. Felicitations on the happy events."

He smiled at both Diego and Stefan. I could almost swear that I felt a calming vibe whisper through the air, and I saw the other shifters visibly relaxing. Hmm. Curious.

It wasn't the normal calming alpha pheromones, this was something different. I was intrigued as I quietly went down the rest of the way to stand at the foot of the stairs on the bottom step.

"Thank you, amigo," Diego said in a much calmer voice. "But that doesn't explain why you have stalked me here. Or stayed after you'd found I was mated."

Speaking kindly, Hector said: "Diego. I was unaware that our fathers were in talks to arrange our mating. If I had known, I would have put a stop to it." He looked over at me with a nearly conceited looked of self-awareness. "I have no need for a mate to be bought for me, I am perfectly capable of finding my own happiness. I found out after you fled in the night. My father and I had quite a discussion, I promise you."

Diego looked somewhat mollified, but still had a bit of starch in his jock when he said: "But that doesn't explain why you followed me, or why you stayed."

Hector threw up his hands and muttered something in rapid fire Spanish. Shaking his head, he looked back at Diego. "Sheath your claws little cat, I did not follow you here to mate you. I have been compelled to come here by my dreams, you were just the tool that gave me an excuse. And as for staying? I just arrived last night! Ay, dios mio. Get over yourself. I needed sleep."

"Did you seriously just stand in my face and call me a tool?" Diego asked with a grin.

Hector snorted and turned to Stefan. Holding out his hand, he said: "Please, allow me to shake the hand of the man brave enough to take this little spitfire on as a life mate. And please believe me when I say that I mean no harm to you or your family."

Stefan nodded reluctantly and shook his hand while Diego glared at them both. He tapped Hector on the arm and said: "Do you swear that you really didn't know? Swear on Ixchel."

Hector shook his head. "No. I did not know. Do not call me a liar, Diego. You know that the word of our people is our bond. And I will not swear on the goddess. You do not swear on the gods, gatito."

Stefan raised an eyebrow. "Did you just call my mate a pet name?"

Jules grinned and stepped forward. "It's fine, Stefan. He just called him little cat. And my primo is a little cat." Holding out a hand to Hector, Jules introduced himself.

"You probably don't remember me, you were only about fifteen with a different group of friends than I had when I left to escape my own arranged mating. I'm the gatito's primo, Jules."

Hector nodded. "I remember you, amigo. You were friends with my older brothers. Raul and Jaime?"

Jules threw his head back and laughed happily. "My goddess! I haven't heard those names in nearly fifteen years! How are your brothers? Are they mated and happy?"

Hector shrugged. "Raul is mated, and has a family. Jaime left the area to escape a mating himself not too long after you."

Diego threw up his hands. "And yet they still try to force these arranged matings on their young? When your kids leave to escape that shit, that should be a sign that you're fucking wrong."

"On that we agree, gatito. It will be up to our generation to do away with them when it comes time for our children to find mates, yeah?"

Diego smiled then. "Okay, Hector. I forgive you for being a creepy stalker. Welcome to the area. When are you leaving? Would you like to have a tour?"

Hector chuckled along with everyone else who'd been watching the strange reunion unfold.

"Actually, I would be interested in speaking to people in the know about this war that Frankie and Liam were telling me about. If I can be of service, I would be more than honored to assist. But as for a tour, I believe that I would prefer a private tour from the beautiful young omega over there on the stairs with the fantastic scent."

I blushed bright red when every eye in the room turned to me with matching expressions of stunned surprise. Stefan was the first to recover, looking from me to Hector with a broad smile.

"Wait, are you saying that you can caught Drew's scent? Seriously? Are all of you jungle cats going to come looking for bears as fated-mates now? That's so crazy!" Stefan was shaking his head in amazement.

Diego put a hand up over his mate's mouth. He looked at me and asked softly: "Is this true? Can you smell my countryman's scent as well?"

My cheeks felt like they were burning, I was so mortified. Hector walked over though, and held out a hand. "Drew? This is your name, lindo?"

Diego snorted out a giggle and said loudly as I took Hector's offered hand with terrified excitement. "Seriously? You're going with pretty boy? What, you think that your mate is some trick from the bar?"

Hector looked over his shoulder and spoke to Diego with blazing eyes and a spine of steel. "No. I called him lindo because my mate is adorable. Look at him and try to deny it. That is impossible, unless you are blind."

Colin came over and stood next to me at the foot of the stairs, putting a friendly arm around my waist. "Okay, guys. Back off and let them talk. We've established that Hector means no harm, obviously, if he's found his mate. But embarrassing Drew is not okay. So everyone back the fuck off, and let's go mind our own business."

My knees were knocking so hard, I was positive they wouldn't hold me upright for much longer. Hector looked at me then as he wrapped both of his hands around my outstretched hand. "Forgive me for embarrassing you, lindo. Shall we start fresh? Hello there, I am Hector."

Smiling at his sweetness, I said softly, "Hello, Hector. My name is Drew."

Colin rubbed my back and asked: "Are you okay, Drew? Should I leave you two in peace?"

I nodded. "Thank you, Colin. I’m fine. I have nothing to fear from Hector."

My stomach chose that moment to growl and everyone laughed at the tension breaker. Hector just leaned closer and said softly: "I have not eaten a meal since lunch yesterday. Would you care to have breakfast together?"

"Yes, that's a good idea," Liam said from behind Hector. With a significant glare to the other men, he said: "Come on into the dining room, Drew. I'll set you two up with a private table so that you can get acquainted without a roomful of nosy nellies spying on your every word."

Hector released my hand and held out his arm for me to take. "Shall we, Drew?"

His eyes were so vulnerable and strong all at the same time. I could do nothing else but take the beautiful man's arm and follow Liam to the dining room as he led us to a table. I didn't pay attention to what the other men did. At this point, my attention was entirely focused on the delicious man whose arm I held.