I could never have seen this coming.

I have been waiting to find my mate for eleven years now - not counting the year when I could have been discovered after I turned 17. People don't tend to wait for that long.

I was starting to think I was destined to be alone, to never find my mate. Maybe it was some sort of punishment, though I cannot think of anything I have done to warrant such a terrible fate.

I was content on raising my son and making the best life I could for him. I didn't even have time to teach him about mates, though of course he is aware of the concept. Every pup is, though unfortunately he didn't have mated parents to set an example for him. But his grandparents helped in that department. Both of the sets were very active in his life.

Charlie is such a smart boy and I am not just saying that because he is my son. He really is.

I had to escape my pack in order to protect my son from his deadbeat (second) father that never even looked at him until he became the only option for the pack's succession.

Richard, the Alpha of our pack and my son's other father, wanted to snatch Charlie away from me to raise him as his own with his mate. My son is already 11 years old, though I would never agree with this no matter how old he is, now it's just too late for him to take over as parent anyway.

I would rather die than surrender my son to him, or anybody else for that matter. No, Charlie is my baby. I raised him from birth without any help from Richard whatsoever. I should not be expected to give anything up at this point, let alone my own child.

After he turns 18, Charlie can do whatever he wants with his life - including reunite with his other father if he wants. But we are very far from that day. So for now nobody is taking him away from me.

We have been on the road for a week now. Never sleeping at the same place twice, always on the lookout, constantly moving.

It has been exhausting for my son and I. Charlie had a great life in our pack with stability. We left all our friends and family behind, cut off contact with everyone except for my parents.

Even so, I haven't told them where we are or what direction we are traveling in case they are compromised. Not to say that Richard would be bold enough to move against them, my father is a former Beta and therefore is privileged to belong to the Wolf Council now.

Basically, my father is untouchable. Any threat against him and Richard would be stripped from his rank. He knows that, so it's a non-starter. Plus, mom and dad are beloved by the pack.

It sounds harsh to move away from my home and it is, but Richard is a powerful Alpha. Now that he has the support he needs to recognize my son as his own, he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

I know full well the lengths he is prepared to go through to get what he wishes. My harrowing story with him alone is enough to cause me nightmares. And it did for a long time when I was seventeen.

He raped me and ruined my chances of becoming Beta of our pack, using my heat as a smoke screen.

There is no telling how far he is willing to go. But I know he is no stranger to playing dirty to get what he wants. However, this time I am ready for him. Not to confront him, but to escape his paws. Unfortunately, it would be very difficult for me to win against him one on one.

But I am not taking any chances or letting him win this time around. As far as I am concerned, he will never lay eyes on my son. It's exactly what he always wanted, so let's keep it that way. Irony is a bitch.

I drove for hours today. Charlie was complaining of tiredness and hunger. He annoyed me until I stopped at the first town I could exit on the road. I just went for it, I did not pick this city on a map.

I didn't mean to arrive here, much less I thought I'd be detected as intruders. This was highly unlikely.

Usually, we easily blend in with the humans. But this is a werewolf town and the same rules don't apply.

I really thought the mall was the safest place for us. Who can tell one customer from the other at a shopping center? Come on... *sigh*

It wasn't until that lady at the toy store started asking me weird questions that I even considered that she knew I wasn't a local resident.

Still, I didn't think she would report my presence to the Beta of the pack. What the hell did she think my son and I wanted here? We were at a freaking toy store!

Spies don't travel with children, for crying out loud!

I was grabbing a burger with my son when the food court customers started getting restless. I didn't realize why until my eyes started to shine.

What the hell?!

Why? How in the world would I find my mate in some random city far away from my pack?

How could I ever find my mate if he is in Texas and I am from Oklahoma? This is the most random pairing I have ever seen in my life!

Of course, I have heard about mates from different packs. It literally happens all the time. But they are usually from the same state.

We are both from the south, sure. But the south is huge. Enormous. How were we supposed to find each other under these circumstances?

I guess the old saying is true. When the Goddess wants you to be mated, She'll find a way for your mate to appear before you. No matter what. This is truer than ever before...

After my mate escorted me to a room inside the mall to talk in private, he invited Charlie and I to stay in town for the night. It's just past 6 p.m. on a Friday.

He even bribed my son with his favorite video game. There was no chance for me to leave after that. Plus, what's the hurry anyway?

It's not like I have another mate lying around. We only get one of those in life, that is what makes them so special.

I still cannot believe I just found my mate. Now of all times and under these circumstances... I am overwhelmed by this shocking pairing.

We got into a van parked inside the shopping center and went to a place to dispatch the two warriors who were accompanying their Beta. Then we entered my mate's car towards the pack house.

I assume that is where we were going. It is usually a large mansion capable of hosting guests at any time.

I am not going to admit this to my mate, but Charlie and I could use a 'normal bed' to sleep tonight. The motel life is not built for kids.

My son was really excited to play his favorite video game. He would have gone anywhere to have this opportunity.

Finally, we arrived at the pack house where we were welcomed by a handsome couple that I can only assume are the Alpha and Luna of the pack.

"Good evening. Welcome to Regency Falls." A charming young woman greeted us with a smile that could stop a war.

"Good evening and thanks for having us on such short notice." I greeted them, a tad awkwardly.

"It is absolutely our pleasure to meet Stephano's mate. He has been waiting a very long time to meet you." She smiled at me in a good mood. Her partner could not take his eyes off of Charlie and I.

"Hi. I am Linda Pullman, what's your name?" She turned to my son and addressed him directly.

"My name is Charles Lucas Aragon." He replied, timidly.

"What a beautiful name you have. I bet everyone calls you Charlie." She smiled at him, her sympathy was simply infectious.

He smiled at her and nodded along.

"You have a beautiful son, Mr. Aragon." She turned to me with her infectious joy.

"Please call me Carlisle, Luna." I told her, respectfully.

"Welcome, Carlisle. I am Phillip Hollingsworth, Alpha of Regency Falls, and this is my mate Linda Pullman." The tall, athletic man introduced himself to me. I bowed my head to him out of respect.

"It's nice to meet you both. I am sorry for barging in like this." I apologized, awkwardly.

"Not at all. It's our pleasure to welcome you into the pack. My mate and I will escort you to your rooms." He said in a courteous tone.

They walked with us inside the massive house and arranged for two separate rooms for us. I would be okay with bunking with Charlie, but some separation from me might do him well at this point. I am sure he misses his old room back in our house.

We just dropped our luggage and went to the restroom before Charlie demanded to be taken to the playroom like he was promised.

Once we arrived there, he was marveled by the amount of games available for him to play with. He looked ecstatically happy.

"We can leave him playing for a moment while we go to the conference room to talk. It's perfectly safe here, I promise you." Stephano argued in a light tone, gesturing for me to go with him.

My son was hypnotized by the consoles, I don't think he'll have any trouble staying here. He was so mesmerized by it, he forgot I even existed temporarily.

Stephano motioned me to accompany him and the Alpha couple to a conference room, no doubt I needed to tell them my story as to why I came here in the first place.

Oh the casual coincidence of it all...

The four of us walked into a room equipped with a computer, monitor and a data show. There was also a large table and several seats. He told me to sit wherever I wanted.

"Let me start by saying: I never meant to trespass on your territory. It was a complete coincidence, I promise." I began, apprehensively.

"Carlisle, I think that is less important now. You are here, that's what's important. But what we would like to know is why. From your accent alone, I can tell you are not from Texas. I guess we are curious about your story, starting from what pack are you coming from." Stephano told me in a light tone.

I could feel he was trying to put me at ease, to make me comfortable enough to tell them what happened.

I think it's safe to say that if we are meeting here as mates, discovering each other for the first time, there must be a reason for it.

When you think about it, the timing is suspicious. Which can easily lead me to believe that I was supposed to find my mate here and now. I think this was the Goddess way of sending me help when I most needed it.

I wish I could argue with Her, but I could use someone in my corner right about now. Especially if it's my mate, I am in dire need of being supported under the present circumstances.

"I was born in Oklahoma, my pack's name is the Dark Moon pack." I informed them, watching their reaction to my response.

"Oh, I see. Isn't their Alpha a man named Richard Lucas?" Phillip questioned me, unsure of himself.

"Yeah, he is the Alpha of my original pack." I replied and their eyes widened in shock.

"Please tell us your story, whatever you feel comfortable to reveal to us, of course." Stephano urged me, eagerly.

I drank some water that was provided for me upon my arrival to the conference room and began talking. I held nothing back.

I told them my story, from being the Beta's son to the rape part. I didn't leave anything out, especially the part where Richard ignored his son for eleven years.

And now that he seems to have been punished by the Goddess, he is after my son to raise as if he was his and his mate's. As if! *grunts in annoyance*

All three of them were baffled to hear this, but my mate held my hand when I told them about the rape part. Linda was baffled by this as a mother herself.

By the end of the conversation, all three of them felt sorry for me and empathized with my situation. Nobody thinks it is fair for Richard to take an interest in his son now that it serves his own personal agenda.

It is preposterous for someone to ignore his son for eleven years, only to want him now because he cannot have another heir. He should have thought of that before.

He could have co-parented Charlie with me and by now it wouldn't be an issue. But I will be dead before I let him take my son away from me.

"Please know that you are safe here, Carlisle. Both you and Charlie." My mate comforted me in a soft tone. I smiled at him and was enchanted by his natural charm.

"Where have you been all my life?" I swooned at the handsome man.

"Waiting for you to show up." He replied, melting before my presence.

We exchanged a look between him and I, transfixed at each other for a moment, admiring the person we have been waiting eleven years to meet.

Until Alpha Phillip cleared his throat and broke our spell.

"Carlisle, you are free to stay with us for as long as you'd like. This is your new pack now, if you'll have us." He told me, cordially.

"Thank you, Alpha. I really appreciate it." I said, feeling grateful for the welcoming.

"Now I am afraid we are late for dinner. You and your son are more than welcome to join us, naturally." Phillip got up from the table, motioning for us to exit the room.

"We ate not a long time ago, but I'll ask Charlie if he wants to have dinner." I told him, walking out with the three of them.

"Stephano, I think you have some plane tickets to cancel." Linda spoke with a smirk.

"Were you going to travel? Don't let my presence here distract you, it's fine if you need to go somewhere. If you have duties as Beta to fulfill." I tried to put him at ease, considering I was sprung on him all of the sudden.

"I don't have any Beta appointments, actually I am on vacation starting tomorrow. I was going to travel, but you are more important than that." He asserted in a decisive tone.

I blushed at his words, taken aback by his tone. I went back to the playroom to check on Charlie who was so entertained by the video games he was playing that he booed me out of the room.

Children, am I right? He is not going to let go of that console until he is very hungry. But I will probably cut him off by 10 p.m.

Stephano waited for me outside of the playroom.

"I am going to let you rest for now. I'll be back tomorrow morning to see you. Hopefully I can take you and Charlie for a tour of the town." He spoke with his inherent charm.

"I left my car at the mall, I need to pick it up." I just remembered the fact, I came here in his car.

"Oh right. Let me give you a ride to the mall. Is Charlie going to be okay here alone for half an hour?" He questioned me, sounding unsure.

"Oh yeah. Right now he barely remembers he has a father." I joke.

He laughed at that remark and we walked together to his car parked outside of the pack house.

Stephano drove me to the mall to retrieve my car and he drove back with me to the pack house. Then we said goodbye for the night.

I still cannot believe I have found my mate today. This is so random, it is nearly unbelievable.

And to top it all off, it was the last day before he went on vacation. If I had arrived in this town one day later, he would not have been here.

How serendipitous!

I am utterly baffled by this chance encounter. This could have easily gone wrong. It's just as easy for me to have missed him than to have met him.

It really is mind boggling when I come to think about it. He is so charming and pleasant to look at, to be around. I can already feel our connection growing, the mate bond. It is daunting and pleasant at the same time.

Oh Stephano, where have you been all my life?

A|N: This song really nails it.

Buckle up, my dear readers. Because if you think you knew my twists, I am going to knock your socks off.

Next is "Everything Has Changed".

Love,

Léo.