"How can you see into my eyes like open door? Leading you down into my core, where I've become so numb, without a soul. My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold, until you find it there and lead it back home."

~Evanescence, 'Bring Me To Life'

~~~

*Easton's POV*

I shake out my sweaty hands, trying to calm my nerves as I pace in front of the Grey family's house. It's been three weeks since I met Landon, and the need to be close to him as been growing with each passing day. I raise my fist to knock on the door, pausing when my nerves get the better of me.

Goddess, I can't believe I'm this nervous about asking my mate out on a date.

When I really think about it though, it's understandable that I'm so nervous. After all... this is my first date. 

Among humans, I supposed it would be weird for an eighteen-year-old to have never been on a date before. But as a wolf, it's expected. Dating is pointless, and nearly frowned upon. Why date someone that you're not certain is going to be your mate? All it does is cause unnecessary heartache. Most of us choose to save ourselves entirely for our mates.

Holy shit. Does this mean I'm going to be a virgin until I'm twenty?

The thought of sex just makes me even more nervous, and I start to abort my mission when the door swings open.

"Oh!" Isabel Grey exclaims in surprise when she sees me standing on their doorstep. "Alpha Easton! What brings you here?"

I smile weakly. I hadn't expected Landon to tell his family that we're mates — considering I haven't either — but it still stings.

"Good afternoon, Isabel," I greet her politely, like an Alpha should. "Is Landon here?"

She tilts her head to the side quizzically. "Landon? Did something happen?"

'She thinks it's weird that you want to see her underage son.'

I swallow thickly. "N-No, I—"

'His family will find out, and hate him for being mated to a fucking man.'

"Never mind," I grumble, turning away from the house. Fuck, what is wrong with me? I'm the Alpha, and I can't even go see my mate without freaking out. Goddess, I'm pathetic.

"Easton?" I hear my name called out, and I stop in my tracks. Turning around, my face instantly lights up when I see Landon standing in the doorway. I hurry back over to him; the sight of his bright blue eyes washing away all of my anxiety.

"Hey!" I smile easily at him.

"Hi," he returns the smile, making my stomach do flips.

"Are you free tonight?"

"Tonight?" Landon confirms and I nod. "Hmm... not that I can think of. Why do you ask?"

"Do you want to hang out tonight?" I ask, deciding that's less weird than asking him on a date.

'It's not weird to ask your mate on a date,' Elias scolds, and I wave him off.

"You want to... hang out?" Landon questions with a raised brow.

"Yeah," I grin. "I want to get to know you. We could hang out at the pack house and watch a movie or something."

He pauses for a moment before slowly nodding. "Okay. Sure."

"Cool. Seven o'clock?"

"Sure, I can do that."

My smile widens. "I'll see you tonight."

Spinning on my heel, I head back to the pack house, mentally fist pumping the entire way.

***

I keep my mind occupied for the rest of afternoon by focusing on work. Before I became Alpha, my dad made me learn the ropes for a few years. Attending meetings, helping him with paperwork. Anything I would need to be prepared for when I took over the pack.

Mateo has been overseeing the training for the new warriors, which is great for me. One of the most important lessons by dad gave me was about delegation. A good Alpha knows how to utilize the best wolves in his pack.

Currently, my biggest concern is our pack's education system. As one of the wealthier packs in the area, we've been able to afford having our own school for the pups. Young wolves tend to have less control over their emotions, and it would cause issues for us if they were to throw a tantrum at a human school and destroy a bunch of property. Humans aren't aware of our existence, and a child tearing a door off its hinges would certainly raise some red flags.

With how much our pack has grown, our school is beginning to overflow. Mateo suggested we build another school, but it's not that simple. Even though we're wealthy, the funds required for an entire school would drain our entire budget.

For one, we would have to expand our territory to fit another school. Considering the expenses to buy land, purchase building permits, cost of materials, teachers' salaries... I'm having difficulties figuring out a way we could make that possible.

It gives me a headache just thinking about it. Especially when I look at the way my parents handled the pack's finances. They are very much into appearances; not only do we need to be the best pack, but we need to look like the best pack. And apparently, that involves spending an unsettling amount of money on the physical appearance of the pack grounds.

While most packs are understated — typical, since our goal is to be inconspicuous — ours is very gaudy. Golden gates surrounding our pack. Paved roads that lead to the houses, instead of dirt roads. And our house is practically a mansion instead of an actual home.

If I had it my way, I would change everything about our financial situation. If we cut out constantly giving our pack a face-lift, we could probably afford another school.

'Well, you are the Alpha,' Elias reminds me. 'You can do what you want.'

'I can't disrespect how my parents built this pack,' I argue. 'Our pack is thriving because of them. Besides, any major changes like that would unsettle the wolves. I just became Alpha. I can't afford to have them doubt me.'

'They'll doubt you if you aren't leading the way you believe is best.'

Raising a mental barrier, I shut Elias's voice out. My head already hurts enough without my own wolf adding to my stress.

'Alpha Easton?' Cami, the secretary for the pack house, reaches out to me through the pack mind link. 'Landon Grey is here to see you.'

'Send him up,' I instruct, tidying up my paperwork before heading out to the living room.

The elevator doors ding open, and Landon carefully steps into the room. His blue eyes are wide as he looks around in awe at our extravagant living space.

"Damn," he whistles lowly. "This place is amazing."

"I'm glad you like it," I smile at him. "It'll be your home in a few years."

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I want to stuff them back in and hide them in my cheeks like a chipmunk. I can't believe I just said that! Now he's going to freak out over me mentioning that he'll be living with me as my Luna!

Mentally slapping myself, I prepare to apologize, but the words are caught in my throat. Instead of looking horrified or disgusted, Landon's blushing. A small smile creeps on his lips, and he shyly looks down at his feet.

"I guess so," he says quietly, and my heart jumps out of my chest and flies up to cloud nine. Landon peeks up at me and chuckles softly; the sound reaching into my core and shaking my soul.

"How about that movie?" I croak, feeling my face burning brighter than my hair. Landon's smile widens as he plops down on the couch, already looking like he's home.