Beta Xavier Costa.

Eleanor Amato - POV

I turned around to see Ivan standing a few feet away from me, and unlike the last time I saw him, this time, he was wearing a black T-shirt paired with a pair of grey joggers. “Weren't you on patrol today?” I asked him.

“I was, but I didn't want to spend time with you with only my shorts, so I went back home and changed my clothes,” he explained, and I nodded my head. “Shall we go and take a seat here?” he asked me, I nodded my head, and he led us toward a few flat rocks that were close to the river bank, and we took a seat.

“So, do you have a mate, Ivan?” I asked him, and he shook his head.

“No, but I am still looking for her,” he answered, and I saw a look of longing in his eyes, which made my heart ache. Why couldn't Xavier think about me this way? “But I guess I still have some time.”

“How old are you?” I asked him, and he gasped at me.

“You know, it's rude to ask a guy his age, right?”

“Well, I think that applies to a woman,” I asked him with an arched eyebrow, and this made both of us laugh. “Okay, I will tell you mine, and you can tell me yours. How does that sound?”

“That sounds fair enough.”

“Okay, I am twenty-one.”

“I am two years older than you,” he replied, and I nodded my head. I noticed his eyes constantly move towards the box of apple pie that I had, and from the hungry look on his face, I knew I shouldn't keep him waiting.

“I bought you some apple pie,” I told him and extended the box towards him.

“That was so thoughtful of you,” he said and took the box from my hand. “I have been dying to have a slice of this all morning, but my mother thought that it wouldn't be a good idea to have her boy eating sugar every day.” Ivan casually said before he opened the box and took a bite from the apple pie.

“Wait, are you Mrs.Tanner’s son?” I asked him, and he nodded his head.

“Didn't she tell you she had a son?”

“She did, but she never told me his name,” I answered, and he nodded his head.

“Typical of her,” he said. “Have you tasted her apple pie?” he asked me, but I saw that he was already in the last slice.

“No, but I don't mind, I will buy some tomorrow,” I told him, but he shook his head.

“No way, here, try this,” he said and brought it towards my mouth, and I took a bite. And I must say that Mrs.Tanner wasn't exaggerating about her apple pies. This is really good. I pulled Ivan’s hand and took a few more bites. “It's like a piece of heaven, right?”

“Of course,” I mumbled with my mouth full.

“So, when are you and Beta Costa having your mating ceremony?” Ivan asked me out of the blue, and this made me stiffen. Xavier and I barely spoke more than ten words to each other, and I don't think he would be happy to have a mating ceremony with me.

“Um.” I didn't know what to answer. How can I tell him the truth? that would only make Xavier look bad.

“You should have it as soon as possible,” Ivan told me without waiting for my answer, and this made me frown at him.

“Why do you say that?” I asked him, and I saw a dark look cross his face.

“Beta Costa is one of the best fighters and the second-best leader of this pack after the Alpha. But I hope he has talked to you about his first chance mate.” Ivan said, and this made me curl my hands into fists. “Anyway, after that disaster, he started sleeping with anyone willing to do that. But I guess Jade has got the wrong idea.” Ivan said.

“Wait, you know Jade?”

“Everyone knows Jade. She is like the most popular girl in this pack, and the person who every man calls for a one-night stand,” he answered, and this made my nose scrunch up in disgust. “But for the past few months, she hasn't slept with anyone except with beta Costa.”

Thank god werewolves don't get STDs because she would be the first person to die from that.

“And now she is eyeing for the beta female role, and she will do anything to get it.”

“But I don't think she can have it now that I am here, right?” I asked him, but he shook his head.

“She even rejected her mate in hopes of making Beta Costa as her mate. If I were you, I would make sure the mating ceremony happens tonight.” Ivan warned, and I sensed the genuine concern in his voice.

“Thank you for letting me know about this, Ivan.”

“It's your right to know, Eleanor,” he said, and then we remained quiet again. We stayed there for a couple of more minutes when Ivan finally got up from his place. “I guess we might have to go back home. My mom has already mind-linked me five times,” he said while rubbing his forehead.

“Sure, I guess I will see you around,” I told him, and he nodded his head.

“Sure, but let me walk you back to Beta Costa’s house. It's not really safe walking alone at this time.” Ivan offered, and I gladly took it. We walked through the forest, and while passing the training ground, I noticed there were quite a lot of men practicing today.

“Why are they training this late in the night?” I asked Ivan.

“The rogue issues at the border are getting out of hand, as you must have already known. So the Alpha has commanded to make sure that we are up to our fullest potential if something were to happen,” he said, and we continued walking in silence.

I was looking up at the stars in the sky when I felt a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, which made me double over and fall to the ground. “Eleanor, what happened?” Ivan was quick to come to my side, but the pain was slowly increasing. Tears started flowing down my cheeks, and I couldn't hold my screams anymore.