“Wow, this smells delicious,” I said, inhaling the thick aroma of the beef stew I’d been working on with Patrick, who I had really grown to like. He was shorter than most of us, and bustled around the kitchen like some kind of friendly hedgehog, pulling spices from cabinets, pans and bowls and all the things needed to make dinner for such a large number of people.

“The key is in the spices,” he said, sticking a finger into the stew and giving it a taste. “Don’t tell anyone I just did that!”

I laughed as he mulled over the flavoring.

“Touch more pepper,” he finally said. I quickly handed him the mill and gave a few more twists into the stew. “Give that a stir for me.”

I dipped the large wooden spoon into the mix and gently mixed the pepper in.

“So,” Patrick said in that tone that let me know the gossip was on its way. “You and Matias, huh?”

I felt myself blush and a smile come across my lips. “He’s just so…wonderful.”

There was a long list of other adjectives I could use to describe my mate, but I felt those might be a little inappropriate for chit chat over a stew with someone I’d known for less than a day.

“So – how did you know,” he asked me, putting the lid back on the stew to let it simmer.

“It’s hard to explain,” I told him. “Honestly, it’s like…another sense. You smell him first of course, but then something else takes over. It’s like the universe calling out to you. It almost feels like there is already this chain, this mysterious golden chain linked between us, and it’s always been there. I just had to realize it.”

“Wow,” Patrick said, nodding his head, almost in awe. “That must be incredible.”

“I don’t know if I’m doing a good job explaining it—”

“No, that was great! You should be a writer.”

“It’s funny you say that,” I replied. “Because my mom’s a writer.”

“Really!?”

“Yup.”

“What does she write?”

“Romance novels,” I grinned. “Makes a lot of money.”

“Wow, that is hilariously great!” Patrick said approvingly. “I wish I had any sort of writing talent – or any talent at all.”

“You’re a talented chef!” I replied, sniffing the air again, feeling my mouth water in anticipation of tonight’s meal.

“You haven’t even tasted it yet!”

“Well, if it tastes even half as good as it smells,” I replied. “Then it will be amazing.”

“Kind of like Matias?” He joked, passing me with a gentle elbow to the ribs. I laughed as Noah through the swinging door into the kitchen.

“Hey, guys,” he said. He stopped as the smells from the stew hit him. “Whoa. Is it time to eat yet?”

“Not quite,” Patrick replied. “Still have to let it simmer a while longer.”

“Thought I’d come welcome our new member into the pack,” he said, stepping over to me and extending a hand. I took it and shook it. It was remarkable how friendly everyone was here compared to Buck’s group of friends. Hanging out with them always still felt like something more like a hockey team than a family. Here, it really seemed like everyone took care of one another, and I felt instantly right at home.

“It’s great to meet you,” I told him. “I’m really liking it here.”

“Not too blue collar for you?” He kidded. “Mr. Portsmouth?”

“Oh, stop!” I protested, waving my hands in the air. “Don’t do that to me!”

“I’m just messing with you,” he laughed. “You see Tate and Aiden are here, Patrick?”

“No! Really? When!?”

“They just got here a few minutes ago. Brought one of the trucks down with some wood for Matias.”

“Oh, god!” Patrick said, wiping his hands on the red and white checkered apron around his waist. “We must go say hi!”

“Who’s this?” I asked as I followed Patrick and Noah out into the main dining hall toward the front screen door.

“Tate and Aiden,” Patrick told me, pushing the door open into the slanted evening sun. “Tate’s the leader of the Scarlet Mountain Pack, and Aiden’s one of his alphas.”

“They live up North,” Noah added. “And were instrumental in freeing us from our last pack leader.”

“Kade,” Patrick said, spitting on the ground.

“Bastard,” Noah agreed.

There was a second truck parked in the driveway as we stepped outside onto the porch, the old wood creaking under our weight, and I looked out to see Matias, my beautiful alpha, unloading wooden planks with two other alphas that must have been Tate and Aiden.

Noah pointed to the first one, who was well over six feet tall, with brown hair and an impressive brown beard. He was strong and wore a torn white Henley. “That’s Tate,” He said, almost in awe. “And the other one’s Aiden.”

Aiden was no slouch either, but was more of a bad boy biker type, with long hair like a rock star, and several tattoos showing beneath his black tank top.

“He doesn’t talk a lot.”

“Hey, babe!” It was Matias’s voice from the truck. He set the board down he was lifting and motioned for me to come over. I had to contain myself from skipping across the lawn like a giddy schoolboy.

“Hey, you,” I said, slipping under his arm as he held it out for me. He was sweaty, which just made his scent even more potent as I inhaled. “God, you smell so manly.”

He smiled. “Chase, this is Tate and Aiden. Tate’s the leader of the Scarlet Mountain Pack and Aiden’s one of their alphas.”

“Pleased to meet you,” I said, nodding to each of them.

“Nice to meet you as well,” Tate said with a smile. He struck me as a leader, so it made sense he was head of their pack.

“How ya doing?” Aiden asked. I could see what Noah meant about him being more quiet.

“What’s all this for?” I asked Matias, eyeing the truck full of wood.

“Load of pine from up north,” he said. “The boys were nice enough to spare some for us so I can do some work on the cabins.”

“How nice of you!” I exclaimed. The reality of what it meant to belong to a pack was really sinking in. “Will you guys be staying for dinner? We must have enough for you both!”

I turned to Patrick for confirmation. He smiled. “We’ve got more than enough. We’re always happy to have you, Tate.”

“Whatcha having?” Aiden asked as he leaned on the back of the truck.

“Beef stew,” I replied.

“I’m not one to turn down a free meal,” he replied.

Tate dusted off his shirt and smiled. “We’d be happy to join you.”