The Wolf Of Penshaw Lake

*Mason POV*

From that one, simple act of saving her from falling, Mason knew it in both his heart and his mind that Sophie was the one. The warmth of her body against his. The sparks of electricity that her bare skin sent through his body. How he immediately wanted to claim her and never let her leave his bedroom. She was one hundred and ten percent his mate, human or not. He just had to somehow break the news to his pack, and the one person he was afraid of telling. His father.

He was more than aware of the hushed discussions from certain members of his pack, and Isaac already knew. Dee, Kate and Josie were too perceptive for their own good. He rolled his shoulders and straightened his back as he looked in the mirror. No wonder they latched to her the second she stepped off the train. They could tell when they were meeting their Alpha Female, they just didn’t know it yet. Cocking his head to the side, he debated on what to wear as he addressed the pack this evening. He had a meeting with his closest advisors first, then he would announce the finding of his mate to everyone.

Did he have to wear a shirt? Mason tugged off the strangling shirt and picked up another. He really didn’t like clothes, especially smart, formal clothes like the ones he was currently trying on. Clothes were such ahumanthing, wolves did not care for nakedness, it was just a body after all. But perhaps, wolves were used to being covered in fur, humans did not have much to cover themselves with. Modesty was another thing that was irritatingly human. Mason couldn’t get his head around the idea that women could barely show an ankle at one point in history.

He finally chose a shirt, a crisp white one that he had unbuttoned to reveal some wisps of hair on his chest. A shirt was fine,chokingon a button, was not. He paired the shirt with a pair of loose black trousers and grimaced. ′I look like I’m wearing a school uniform’he thought. He could hear the soft footsteps and familiar smell of his Beta enter the room, before the man even announced himself.

“Isaac, I look ridiculous.”

“It’s not often you address the whole pack on such a exciting manner. You need to look presentable.”

“Is my fur not presentable to you?” Mason deadpanned, turning to face his Beta with his canines poking through against his bottom lip, feigning anger.

Isaac simply rolled his eyes, he knew Mason like the back of his hand. “Why not a black shirt then? All black certainly suits you, but also kind of looks like you’re going to a funeral.”

“This is fine, it will do. I am supposed to be announcing that I have found my mate, it is supposed to be a joyous occasion.”

“You have accepted her then? Is she aware?”

“God, no. She caught a glimpse of my eyes yesterday and freaked out. It is not the time, I must gain her trust.” He sighed, “I do wish it were easier and that she were a lycan. But I do not find myself regretting her for a moment.”

Isaac smiled wistfully and Mason caught the glimmer of sadness behind it. “It will be your turn soon Isaac,” He stated.

“I wish it were Kate. Life would be much happier and I would have a close friend by my side.”

“Are you sure it is not Kate? You are close to her.”

“I am sure. She is wonderful, but she is not my mate. She shares my worry though, all she wants is to find her mate. I think we find comfort and reassurance in each other, despite all our teasing and joking.”

Mason finished getting ready by ruffling a hand through his hair. He didn’t ever do much to style it, he was baffled by men who would spend hours primping their hair. Wasn’t that a female activity? But Mason knew the ever-changing species that was humanity. They had been set in their ways for hundreds of years, whilst humanity changed consistently. They changed their morals, their societies, what looked good, what didn’t, their laws and punishments. To a lycan whose own lifestyle hadn’t changed for a long time, it was confusing. Lycans’ only ever attempted to keep up with humanity; while trying to adhere to their own society.

He and Isaac made their way downstairs towards the main dining room. It doubled as a conference room when Mason, as the Alpha, needed to discuss pack business. As suspected, his father was already sat at the head of the table and his mother to his left. Even though Andrew had passed down the title of Alpha to Mason, he still commanded respect. As did his mother. Mason strode towards his father, who stood and shook his hand. Jane smiled and kissed her son’s cheek, before she watched him take his seat at his father’s side.

Isaac soon sat, as did Kai and Eric. Kai was Mason’s third-in-command and Eric his strongest and most undefeated warrior. Will was his pack’s most agile tracker and sat with his mate, Isabelle who was not to be messed with. The woman could sniff out and track a scent from miles away. Dee and Josie took their seats too, not as warriors or trackers, but as close childhood friends of Mason and now close friends of Sophie. It was important, Mason felt, that they be there. Finally, there was Kate. As Eric’s sister, Kate was ruthless in battle and was just as undefeated as her brother. The girl didn’t look strong, nor particularly powerful but she was short, sneaky and sly. She knew just how to overpower her opponent and didn’t need muscles to do it.

Mason stood and addressed the room with a tight smile.

“Welcome everyone,” He began, “Thank you for meeting me, I know this meeting was arranged in a hurry and you weren’t expecting it.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, and looked at his father who frowned at his unusual decorum. “I do have news and I know that some of you may have already figured it out, and some that do not know. Father, before I tell you, know that I wish for your blessing, but nothing you say will alter my mind.”

“Just spit it out Mason for goodness sake,” Jane cried. “Are you okay?”

Mason smiled genuinely, “I think I am. I’ve found my mate.”

The room erupted with congratulations. Dee, Josie and Kate all exchanged knowing smiles and Isaac simply sat and grinned. Mason watched as his mother’s eyes filled with happy tears and his father came around the side of the table to heartily slap him on the back.

“Which pack is she from son?” He asked.

“This is why I am worried Father. You see, my mate is not from any pack-”

“She is a lone wolf?” He barked, “I will not have it. She could be dangerous, she-”

“Human, father. She is a human.”

Andrew stopped in his tracks and stared at his son. His eyebrows furrowed and the corner of his mouth twitched.

“Did you say human? There is no wolf in her at all?”

Mason shook his head, “Not that I know of.”

Andrew sat down at the table, absorbing the information. Jane placed a soft hand on his arm and he turned to look at her lovingly. He knew, just by looking at his own mate, that denying his son of his, would be the cruelest thing he could do as a father.

“I think your mother would have my head if I did not accept this. I would be no father of yours to deny you the happiness of a mate.”

Mason visibly relaxed, he let out a breath he was unaware that he had been holding and let his shoulders slump.

“Oh thank fuck,” came a voice from the end of the table.

Josie had a hand against her heart as she uttered the three words that Mason was feeling.

“You know this girl?” Andrew asked her and Josie looked up at Mason with raised eyebrows.

“She does-” Mason stopped as Dee let out a girlish squeal, “Her name is Sophie.”

“Ah, we have also met Sophie too Alpha Andrew,” Kai nodded. “Sweet girl.”

“The same Sophie who came for dinner with her mother a few nights ago? The Sophie who saved Ella?” Jane asked, stood up against the table, her hands pressed so harshly into the wood that it was a miracle the table hadn’t splintered under the pressure.

Andrew’s eyes widened as he realised exactly who his son was talking about. As Mason nodded, he too relaxed.

“She has already proved herself in my eyes. Anyone who protects my family is welcome into it.”

“She will make a wonderful Alpha Female,” Jane gushed, her wet cheeks glistening with tears.

The rest of Mason’s pack thought so too, as he told them later that evening. Stood in the clearing, his pack eagerly waited for Mason’s announcement, and when he told them, their cheering was bound to have alerted the humans who cohabited this town. Mason did not mind, however, his heart was full and he hadn’t felt such happiness. He only wished that Sophie were there to celebrate with him, it felt strange for his pack to be celebrating a woman most of them had never met.

Still, Mason allowed them to rejoice. An Alpha Female meant heirs and this meant that their pack could continue to prosper and grow stronger. Mason was worried that soon, their pack would outgrow the little town that was Penshaw Lake and that they would need to find a new territory.

The whole of the Lake District sounded delightful.

He chuckled to himself, as he took a sip of beer. That much land required an incredibly powerful Alpha, and he wasn’t there yet. Too many packs would try and take it from him and claim that territory as their own; he was happy with his land and his forest as they were. For now. He thanked pack members who congratulated him, but his mind was only on Sophie.

What was she doing now?

Was she still thinking about his eyes?

He just couldn’t wait to see her again.

Eric approached him with a smile, “The Pack wishes to shift and run. Will you join us?”

It was customary, if a pack wishes to run together, for the Alpha to shift first and lead the pack. Mason nodded and removed his shirt, he was simply thankful to get rid of the human clothing. Stripped bare, Mason shifted into his lycanthrope form, thick, black fur took place of his skin, claws took place of his nails and sharp jaws replaced his teeth. The pack knew, living in England, that wolves were not supposed to live here. Still, it was hard not to howl as he took off into a run, deeper and deeper into the forest.

The barking and yapping behind him indicated to him that his pack was following him. He led them through the dense forest, the branches of the trees scratching his fur and the moon shining down upon them, lighting their way through.

Mason looked to his left and right to see his pack racing all around him. Each wolf, loyal to him and their fellow lycans. If he could, he would have smiled in that moment.

Because just then, everything felt just right.