Alpha Armand P.O.V.

“Alpha Armand, It is so good to see you again.”

Luna Claris said with a smile. I turned to her and smiled as I nodded my head in respect

“It is always a pleasure to have your family visit.”

She gave a sad smile when I mentioned her family.

“Have you still not found your daughter?”

I asked her with a look of sympathy. Alpha Wyatt looked at me and said in a low baritone voice

“No, 16 years, and still no sign of our little girl.”

He frowned and pulled Luna Claris closer to him. I frowned and met his gaze

“I wish I could help you find her. Though it would be a miracle if she is still alive.”

I said honestly. They both nodded and smiled at me.

“There is always hope.”

Luna Claris said softly. I smiled and nodded my head. We left the office of the pack house followed by Alpha Nate, his Beta Craig, and my Beta Jax. We entered out respective cars and headed towards the hospital in the center of town in my territory. We had a mixture of humans and wolves here, but everyone here knew about each other. We parked outside the hospital and walked inside.

“Now this is our newly remodeled hospital for both the pack and the humans. We work side by side here to ensure we can save as many as possible.”

I said as I started giving them the tour. We stopped at the check in desk to get visitor passes for our guests. As I was talking to the nurse I was suddenly hit with an intoxicating smell of strawberries, vanilla, and cupcakes. I turned towards the emergency doors and furrowed my brows as the smell came closer. A few seconds later a tall man with dark brown hair, tan skin that was flawless, and piercing emerald eyes ran in. He had on a dark blue EMT uniform

“DOCTOR!”

He shouted as he ran in. The pack doctor came running along with a nurse and a stretcher. My wolf, Tafari, was howling out the word Mate in my mind.

“What do we have?”

Doc asked the man.

“A Jane Doe. Pedestrian versus Vehicle. Hit and Run.”

He said as he laid a woman down on the stretcher on her side. My Beta Jax was also staring at the male in a stupor. My eyes trailed to the stretcher and the woman lying there. She was maybe around 5’3 at most and had long hair that ended at her hips. It was a beautiful shade of reddish brown. Her skin was pale and milky white and she had freckles splattered across her face. She had on a dark red jacket and skirt as well as black socks and sneakers. I could see a silver bar punctured through both sides of her jacket. Dark red blood trailed from her plump pink lips and continued down her chin. She let out a pained groan as Doc examined her.

“Looks like the fence post went straight through her lung. This doesn’t look good, Nurse get an O.R. Now!”

Doc shouted and the nurse took off running. The EMT helped Doc push the woman out of the emergency room and back towards the O.R.

Our group followed silently behind and watched as the EMT stood by the O.R. doors and Doc pushed the stretcher holding the woman towards a room. The EMT turned around with a frown and looked at our group.

“Hello Alpha.”

He said as he dipped his head in respect. He was a human, but he didn’t smell like my mate. I realized this meant that the injured woman must be my mate. I stared silently at the doors leading to the O.R. The EMT walked over to our group and went to walk by when Jax stepped in front of him. The EMT smiled

“Morning Beta.”

He said with a respectful nod. I looked over to see Jax standing there silently.

-“You ok there Jax?”-

I asked him in our mind-link. He blinked and then looked at me before turning his attention back to the EMT.

“Good morning, Valerian. How are you today?”

Jax asked with a smiled on his face.

“Better than that poor girl…”

Valerian said with a frown. I looked over at them both before turning my attention back to the door for the O.R.

“How come you carried her in and she didn’t come in by ambulance?”

Jax asked. Valerian responded with a frown

“I actually found her while I was on my way into work…”

He said before lifting a hand to rub the back of his head.

“I didn’t call it in because I just acted on instinct.”

He said sheepishly. Jax smiled

“You did a good thing. What about your car?”

Valerian let out a chuckle

“No car for me. I run to work..I actually had to break the fence to get her free..”

Jax arched an eyebrow

“You broke the fence with your bare hands?”

He asked in amazement. Valerian laughed out loud and nodded his head

“Call it adrenaline, but yes, I did.”

Jax smiled and continued to stare at Valerian.

“Well, I better go clock in and start my long day.”

Valerian said as he went to move around Jax.

“Wait..”

Jax said as he reached out a hand and grabbed one of Valerian’s wrists. Valerian froze and turned his head around making eye contact with Jax.

“Yes?”

He asked after a few moments of silence. I held back a snicker as it dawned on me that Valerian is Jax’s mate.

“Um..would you like to…hang out sometime?”

Jax asked nervously. Valerian smiled

“Sure. Just leave your number at the front desk before you go.”

Valerian said before pulling his wrist free and walking away. Jax stood there silently staring at Valerian’s retreating figure with a smile on his face. I shook my head and let out a small chuckle

“So I see my Beta found his mate?”

I asked with a smile. Jax turned to me and smiled

“Yeah..and he’s hot!”

He said with a wider smile. I shook my head and turned towards our guests.

“Let us continue with our tour.”

I said with a smile then led them through the hospital. When we were  near the end I ran into the pack doctor.

"Morning Doc!”

I said with a smile.

“Ah, Good morning Alpha.”

Doc said with a smile and a head nod.

“May we tag along to check on your next patient?”

I asked hoping to show our guests our pack doctor in motion.

“Sure Alpha. I am going to check in on our Jane Doe and see how she is.”

Doc said as he began to lead the way to the ICU. As we neared her room the smell hit my nostrils again. I inhaled deeply as we entered her room and I was engulfed with her smell. It was intoxicating to me. Doc walked over to the bed and looked at the machines. She was covered in bandages and a blanket.

“How bad is she Doc?”

I asked as I moved closer. Doc looked up at me with a knowing smile.

“That is privileged information Alpha, unless you are her mate or family.”

He said smoothly. I smiled

“I guess luck is in my favor today. She is definitely my mate.”

I said as I moved closer to the bed.

“I thought so.”

Doc said with a knowing look before his face became serious

“I’m going to be honest here Alpha…She might not make it”

He stated as I sat down in the empty chair by the bed and took her free hand into mine. I felt the sparks running from my hand to hers and heard as the monitor picked up her heart rate a little. I looked at Doc waiting for his diagnosis.

“We were able to repair her lung where the fence post broke through. It was a clean through and through, but I found large amounts of silver and wolfsbane in her system. She is also covered in cuts, scars, and bruises all over her body.”

Doc said with a frown. I looked down at my sleeping mate and frowned.

“How old do you think she is Doc?”

I asked. He ran a fingers through his hair

“I would say around 16, but no older than 17 years old. There is more though.”

He said as he took the other empty chair in the room and sat down. I looked up at him waiting for what else he had to say. He stared down at my mate and let out a sad sigh

“I think she was sexually abused. She’s pregnant…it could have been consensual, but I highly doubt it given the state of her injuries that aren’t related to the accident.”

My eyes went wide as I stared at Doc unable to put words together. He wore a grim look on his face as he met my eyes

“I am sorry Alpha. I know you have been looking for your mate for 2 years now, but please don’t reject this girl just because of this..”

He said with a concerned laced voice. I looked at my mate with sadness

“I would never…not even if she did it by choice.”

I said with finality.

Jax was staring at my mate with an odd look when I looked up again.

“She looks…”

He said in almost a whisper. I arched an eyebrow

“She looks like?”

I asked slightly annoyed. He looked at me and bit his lower lip before he responded.

“She looks like Luna Claris.”

He finally said after a few moments. Alpha Wyatt and Luna Claris were staring at my mate in shock. Doc came back in to draw blood.

“Doc, can you do a DNA test?”

I asked as he drew the blood. He nodded and took out an empty tube from a drawer nearby.

“Sure thing Alpha, who am I testing her with?”

He asked as he looked up at me. I looked over at  Alpha Wyatt and Luna Claris and Doc smiled.

“Ah. I see. Please go to the nurses station at the end of the hall and have them draw your blood.”

He said and he stood up taking the blood samples with him. I leaned my head down onto my mate’s hand and closed my eyes. As we waited for Doc to return Alpha Nate and Beta Craig entered the room. I lifted my head and gave them a smile, but I could feel that Alpha Nate was angry. A flickering motion caused me to look at my mate. She let out a soft and pain filled groan before her eyes fluttered open. I gulped as my sky blue eyes met two different colored eyes. One was a dark shade of blue the color of sapphires with golden flecks and the other was golden like pure gold with sapphire blue specks scattered around. It took my breath away when her eyes met mine. I could see her fear and confusion through her eyes.

~”Mate is so gorgeous…”~

Tafari said in our shared mind. I smiled and agreed with him. I lifted my hand to gently touch her cheek, but stopped when she flinched and tried to move away.

“I won’t hurt you.”

I said softly hoping to calm her down. She stared wide eyed at everyone in the room in silence. The heart rate monitor started beating rapidly and she began to hyperventilate.

“Shh…it’s ok..you’re safe…”

I tried to console her, but she pulled her hand away from mine and backed up. She winced and I smelt blood. I looked down at her bandages to see red soaking the material near her ribs.

“DOC!”

I hollered causing her to move further away and the bandages began turning red faster. Doc came running in just as she passed out.

“She tore her stitches!”

He said as he moved closer to her and called in the nurses. They kicked everyone out of the room and began working on my mate. We all went to the cafeteria and sat there to wait since Doc said it would take awhile. I had my head in my hands as I tried to wait patiently.

“May I sit here?”

I heard Valerian ask and looked up to see him standing with a lunchbox in hand. I put my head back in my hands and nodded. He smiled and sat down next to Jax. I heard Jax gulp and felt his nervousness roll off him in waves.

“So, I heard our Jane Doe from this morning is your mate. Congratulations Alpha.”

Valerian said as he opened his lunchbox. I looked up from hands and let my chin rest on them instead.

“Thank you, but she might not pull through.”

I said sadly causing Tafari to whimper. Valerian frowned

“I hope she does Alpha.”

He said as he looked down into his lunchbox.

“I do too.”

I said as I watched him. Jax was staring at Valerian like he was going to bore holes into his head. I smiled a little and looked at Valerian when an idea popped in my head.

“So Valerian, I know you are human, but what are your thoughts on mates?”

I asked as he took a sandwich out of his lunchbox. He smiled as he unwrapped it

“I think it’s a cool thing. To get someone made to perfectly fit you. To have that one person that will love you no matter what. To be connected in a way no one else is..I think having a mate would be so amazing.”

He said before taking a bite of his sandwich. Jax smiled and watched him so I decided to continue to ask him questions.

“What do you think about two males being mated together?”

I asked with an arched eyebrow. I had to bite back a laugh when I noticed that Jax had paled slightly. Valerian swallowed the bite of sandwich in his mouth before he replied.

“It doesn’t really matter does it?”

He looked up with an arched eyebrow

“I mean, if it supposed to be the one that is meant for you then wether it be male or female shouldn’t matter. I see it that there is a reason that whoever saw fit that you two would work the best. Why?”

He asked before taking another bite of sandwich.

“Just curious.”

I said and then smirked before asking another question. I leaned forward a bit and smiled

“What about you personally?”

Jax sat there frozen waiting to see his answer. Valerian smiled

“I could be persuaded…are you asking?”

He asked trying to keep a straight face. I sat back a little bit and went to respond, but he busted out laughing.

“Your face was priceless”

He said between laughs and I relaxed a little. He wiped a tear from his eyes before he continued to speak

“Honestly, Alpha. If I was given a mate..I would treasure the person..regardless of gender.”

As he said that he looked over at Jax.

I watched as Jax leaned closer to Valerian and continued staring at him.

“You should take a picture. It would last longer.”

Valerian said causing Jax to turn his face away as he tried to hide the blush that crept up his cheeks. I smiled and shook my head slightly. Valerian leaned closer to Jax and said softly

“I don’t mind if you stare, but if you don’t stop I might start getting the wrong idea.”

Jax turned his gaze back to Valerian’s face.

“S….sorry..”

Jax stuttered for the first time I had ever heard. Valerian leaned even closer to Jax causing Jax to gulp.

“I might start thinking I was your mate Beta..”

He said even softer than before. Jax’s eyes went wide as he gulped again.

“Uh…um..”

Jax let out seeming more nervous than before. Valerian smiled and let his eyes roam over Jax’s face.

“I wouldn’t mind so much.”

He said before pulling back and continuing to eat his sandwich. I watched as Jax looked down at the table.

-“Jax…dude…I set that up…tell him!”-

I mind-linked to Jax. He looked up at me then at Valerian who was focused on opening his potato salad that he had taken out of his lunchbox. Jax leaned forward towards Valerian and opened his mouth to speak.

“Valerian?”

He said in a soft voice causing me to arch an eyebrow. Jax was a tough and stern speaking Beta so seeing him so nervous and soft spoken was strange. I watched as Valerian smiled and leaned forward slightly.

“Yes, Beta?”

He said softly. Jax smiled and gulped again

“Please, Just call me Jax.”

Valerian smiled even wider

“Alright, Jax. What can I do for you?”

He asked as their eyes met.

“Um..I…um…well..”

Jax mumbled. Valerian arched an eyebrow and leaned a little closer towards Jax.

“Yes?”

He questioned with amusement in his voice. Jax gulped again and blushed lightly. This was a sight I thought I would never see. I quickly and quietly took my phone out and snapped a picture. Jax bit his lower lip and took in a shaky breath.

“I..I um…you…um..”

He stumbled over his words once again. Valerian leaned a little closer keeping his emerald eyes focused on Jax’s chocolate brown eyes.

“What about me?”

He asked in almost a whisper. I watched Jax gulp again and his eyes widened as he realized how close Valerian was to him. I silently took another picture seeing how Jax was blushing a deeper shade of red. There was a few moment of silence before my mouth dropped open in surprise. Jax had leaned forward and pressed his lips against Valerian’s. I snapped a photo and continued to watch. Valerian blinked in surprise before he lifted a hand and placed it gently on Jax’s cheek. I snickered slightly then looked away. After a few moments I looked up and saw that they both had leaned back in their seats and were staring at each other in silence. I snickered again and snapped a photo of a now tomato red Jax.

“I see…”

Valerian said with a smile before standing up.

“Thank you for letting me eat lunch with you Alpha.”

He said as he packed up the empty lunchbox. Jax stared in silence. I smiled at Valerian and replied

“Not a problem.”

Valerian walked over to the Jax’s side of the table and bent down to look Jax in the eyes again,

“Make sure you leave your number for me so I can get ahold of you”

He said with a smile. Jax looked at him and tuned the rest of the world out

“You are my mate..”

He said softly causing Valerian to chuckle.

“I figured that out Jax. When you kissed me.”

Jax turned red again, but didn’t take his eyes away from staring into Valerian’s.

“Oh…yeah..”

He said softly. Valerian smiled again and leaned down to press his lips against Jax’s lightly.

“I’ll talk to you later mate. I gotta get back to saving lives.”

Valerian said after he stood up. He nodded his head towards me

“Alpha”

He said with a slight nod of his head before walking away. Jax watched as he walked away and smiled.

“Well, that was a sight to see.”

I teased Jax after Valerian disappeared around the corner.

“Armand…his lips are so soft..”

Jax said in a daze. I grimaced and made a fake gag noise

“I did not need to know that.”

Jax glared at me and then smiled

“Wait and see what I do when you tell your mate…”

He said and then frowned when I did.

“Sorry.”

He said softly. I let out a sigh

“I know man, we should be able to tease each other about this stuff…”

I said. We made our way back to my mates room and spoke about what would happen should my mate survive.