"Kai" Sebastian repeated. Goose flesh rose up the sides of Kai's arms. Sebastian's wolf was more than happy to learn the name of their mate. He outstretched his hand to the one Kai had out in invitation, waiting for Sebastian to introduce himself, "Sebastian King"

Their hands connected for the very first time and sparks erupted through the touch, sending a pleasant warmth through their bodies. Sebastian's eye kept switching from blue to black as he forced himself to keep from pulling Kai into his arms and claiming him in front of everyone so that they would know just who he belonged to.

The pleasant warmth and sparks that came from the handshake had Kai letting out a barely audible gasp. There was no longer any doubt, no disputable argument, that the man in front of Kai was indeed his mate. The one he was destined for. The one he had spent millions of years waiting for.

He quickly averted his eyes and pulled his hand out of Sebastian's grip and then turned to all of men and women who stood behind their alpha.

On the outside, Kai kept his calm demeanor. He went from person to person, giving them each a gentle smile and a comforting hand. he listened intently to anything they had to say after he had introduced himself.

On the inside, he was petrified. His heart was beating a mile a minute and his fingertips hummed with magical energy as it was just begging for a reason to be released. He needed to calm down or else there was no telling what would happen if he let his emotions get the better of him.

Cora was watching silently from up above. Her feathers bristled as a chill ran down her spine. She could feel the way the air had shifted and saw how the men and women below tensed and began to shift uncomfortably.

The human counterparts were confused with their wolves' strange actions, and why they felt the sudden uneasiness. Their inner wolves could feel what she could, and they knew that whatever was emitting the stage aura, they stood no match to it.

"Kai, is everything alright?"

"I... I don't know," Kai said in an uncertain and quiet voice. Even in the link, it sounded shaky. "For the first time in years, I don't know what to do, what I am to say."

Cora tilted her head in confusion. Kai always knew what was needed of him, it just came with him being so fucking old. "What's wrong?"

There were a few silent minutes in the link before Kai hesitantly replied,

"I've found my mate."

"...................

....WHAT!"

Kai winced at the shock and volume of Cora's voice. Gasps were heard as she few right up to Kai, continuing in the volume she had yelled in, "Kai are you serious?! You found your mate!? Kai! This better not be a prank! If it is it's not funny! Are you serious?!"

"Yes. Now, will you please keep your voice down or speak in the link, please? You've scared everyone." Kai tried to reach out and comfort his familiar and calm her down but she smacked his hands away with her wings.

"Kai! This is NO time for you to be thinking of others right now! For crying out loud! YOU'VE FOUND YOUR MATE! Who is it? Where are they? Do they know?! Dear Goddess, KAI!!! Do you know how astronomical this is!!? A mate! Your mate! After all of these years. You've finally.. found your....."

Her momentum and excitement began to fade by the end of her rant. And when she finally realized what she was saying and really took notice of Kai's blank features, she slowly lowered to the ground and her happy demeanor turned sorrowful. She looked deep into Kai's dimming green eyes,

"Kai... You've found your mate."

Kai closed his eyes and took a deep berth through the nose before exhaling it through a shaky breath. When he opened them again he turned his head and immediately found those of his mates,

"I know."

-

Sebastian had watched as Kai went around to each and every person in the clearing. The smile on his face was bright and friendly, but if you looked closely, very close, you could barely see that there was a wall that Kai had up that kept it from being completely genuine.

After Kai had basically ripped his hand from his grip, he had not once looked his way, which, unfortunately, was not sitting well with him. He wondered if Kai could feel the mating pull as it always varied with human mates. Some swore that they felt the sparks and instant attraction, while there were some that had also said that the meeting hadn't felt any different than any other.

"What do you think, James?" He needed a second opinion since the mating pull was sure to cloud his judgment. Luckily for him, it wasn't strange or uncharacteristic of him to ask for the opinions of others before he made any decision.

"I think, we need to keep a close eye on him if he intends to stay." Sebastian raised an eyebrow and gave him a look for him to continue.

"He doesn't look at all threatening, not one bit, but.. there's something different about him and I can't place it.

I mean, there are just so many red flags going off in my mind. He lives in the woods, out in the middle of nowhere, alone. He knows about us, about our pack, about werewolves, and he was in the company of rouges. Even if they weren't feral, he knows more than what a human should.

And about before, what the hell was that? When he had yelled for all of just to stop, we all listened. He's human, and even if he wasn't, I haven't heard of any supernatural or spell that can override an alpha's command. It just doesn't work that way."

Sebastian grunted. He had to agree with James' assessment. There was something Kai was hiding, and he was going to figure it out.

"You know," James continued, "When he first stepped outside, I almost thought he was my mate."

Sebastian quickly turned towards James and growled warningly in his face. James' eyes went wide and as he quickly took a step back and confusedly put his hands up in surrender while barring his neck in submission.

Luckily everyone was too engrossed with their new friend that they hadn't taken notice of the dominant and possessive display. The only thing running through Sebastian's mind was the repeated word "MINE!"

"Explain," Sebastian growled through clenched teeth.

"It's just that he smells really good, like, really good." Sebastian growled again and James continued, "And when I looked into his eyes, when he spoke, when we shook hands? Goddess, it's like a dulled version of the mating pull. I've also heard it being questioned in the link from both mated and mateless wolves in the pack who feel the same way."

Sebastian turned his attention to all the others who were crowding around his mate, trying to get as close as possible, laughing and freely touching him. Another possessive growl passed his lips. But then he had a thought; If the others were feeling like this, then was it possible that Kai wasn't actually his mate?

He didn't like the thought of that and his wolf scoffed at him, basically calling him an idiot. The sparks they felt were real and strong, plus if acting like an over-possessive boyfriend was anything to go by, Kai was, without a doubt, his mate.

"Dude, what the actual fuck!? You acted like you were about to rip my head off I nearly shit myself! Why such a hostile reaction?"

Sebastian turned back to his friend to explain but no words passed his lips. His throat suddenly felt really dry. He wasn't sure why he hesitated telling his best friend that he had just found his mate. Maybe because he wasn't sure how he would react to the news since he himself was still unsure of how he felt about it.

"Sebastian?" James was about to push for an answer but an ear-splitting screech rang through the air. Just like many other he covered his ears and looked around for the possible threat.

A large brown and white owl swooped down from seemingly nowhere and continued screeching right in front of Kai. Kai silently tried to clam it down but it continued to flail its wings around as if it was trying to make a point while simultaneously trying t keep itself steady in the air. It took a little bit but when the owl finally began to lower itself to the ground it seemed almost... sad.

"Can he... understand the owl?" Someone questioned openly in the link. It did look like they were having a silent conversation.

When Kai's eyes locked onto his own, Sebastian's face turned hard as unprovoked anger surged through him. He wasn't able to tell what Kai was thinking or feeling. His face was void of any emotions, but he saw the tear that pooled in his eyes, and his heart clenched painfully. He turned his head away and clenched his fists to his sides, grounding himself in his spot instead of going to comfort his mate like his wolf was urging him to do. He didn't like his newfound feelings for Kai and he didn't like how they made him feel in return.

He heard Kai let out a breath and start-up conversations again. He turned to see that the glossiness in his eyes had all but disappeared. That damn smile was back as he stood as tall as he could and laughed along with the people around him. He looked further away than he was before; even though he stood right there he wasn't there.

Kai went around once again and began to say goodbye to everyone individually, sharing laughs, and extending a friendly hand. He let them know that they could come to him any time they needed anything, even if it was just someone to quietly listen, his door was always open.

When he finally made it back to the Alpha, he bid farewell to James and Natash first before even looking at the brooding man who was glaring down at him.

"You have a wonderful group of people who stand by your side. You must feel very honored to have earned such loyalty and respect." Kai said as he finally turned his attention to Sebastian. "Alpha, it's been a pleasure."

"I'm sorry, but we're to done here," Sebastian uncrossed his arms, "There are still some things we need to talk about so if you would kindly follow us, we can continue this conversation in my office."

It wasn't a question. Sebastian wasn't leaving any room for debate, but Kai was adamant that he was absolutely not going to be going with Sebastian. He wasn't sure he would be able to handle it.

"With all due respect Alpha, I have to disagree. There is nothing more that we have to discuss today. If this is about my friends from earlier, as I told you before, they have no intention of harming anyone, they were merely passing through.

And as for my home, it is in nomads land. Cora and I always make sure to never cross a border without permission." "or unless we have reason to" he added in his mind.

Sebastian growled, his argument long gone, replaced with jealousy, "Cora?" He didn't like that his mate was living with someone else, man or woman.

Cora landed on his shoulder and gave a hoot in recognition. "Yes, this is Cora. My dearest friend and companion. She can sense where the barriers are, amongst other things.

But now I really must be on my way, it really was a pleasure to meet you, Sebastian."

A pleasant shiver ran down his spine hearing his name pass Kai's lips. He wanted to hear him say it again.

While Sebastian was distracted for a moment, Kai used it to quickly distanced himself from him, towards his home. "Bye, everyone!"

Sebastian tried to follow Kai and stop him but his warriors had blocked him with their arms as they stepped in front of him and waved goodbye and goodnight to Kai. By the time he was able to push his way to the front Kai was already closing his front door behind him.

-

Once Kai closed the door he waited until the retreating footsteps could no longer be heard. Once everything was dead silent, he out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.

He turned his back to the door. And as his shaky legs could no longer support him, he slid down to the floor. He covered his face with his hands,

and cried.