I am good to go.

My bags are packed, my plane tickets are issued, I even managed to score a ride to the airport, which is three hours away from Regency Falls. We barely have a bus station, let alone an airport.

I mean, there are buses you can catch to and from here, but we don’t have a proper station. There is a massive gas station near the city entrance used for these purposes.

I had time to reconcile with the fact that I am traveling alone and now I am okay with it. This is my life and I have learned to make the most of it. I will have a great time in California. Not to toot my own horn, but a man who looks like me can do well in West Hollywood. Or so I have been told.

I am actually pretty excited about it. Which is a complete 180 turn from the dread I felt when Thomas notified me that I had to use my vacation days. I was not in a good place then, but I am so thrilled about it now.

My parents have subpoenaed me to their house so I can see them before I leave, which I did. I love my mom and dad, that was no problem for me. I even said goodbye to my brother and his beautiful family.

I cannot believe my little brother already has a four year old. It boggles my mind sometimes, but he is 26. It’s fair to start a family right after college, good for him.

Today is Friday, it’s the afternoon. I decided to text Owen to see if he was available to see me tonight, have a proper send off since I only got together with him on my birthday. After that I learned some people started calling him ‘the Beta’s pet’, I was so embarrassed by the whole thing.

But it’s stupid of me to care about what people think or say. The only people I owe explanations are apprised of the situation and encourage me to be happy. Everyone else should mind their own business.

Since he is busy working, I imagine he won’t answer until later but it’s fine. I don’t actually travel until tomorrow morning, so I am good for whatever tonight. If he chooses not to come see me, it’ll be fine as well. Though I highly doubt he will refuse the opportunity.

Not to brag, but I took pretty good care of him last time around.

Iris, for one, cannot wait to see me off. I have been overworking her for almost two weeks now. She needs to do great to fill in my shoes as acting Beta. I am demanding, sure I am. I take my job very seriously - not to say that she doesn’t, of course.

“You don’t have to punch your time card, Beta. You can go home and rest now. It’s five p.m.” She advised me, anxiously. I am at the training center for the remainder of my shift, as always.

“You can stop now, Delta. You don’t have to expel me from the training center. I won’t demand anything else of you.” I rolled my eyes in annoyance. It was cute the first time, but now it is annoying how badly she wants to get rid of me.

Iris smiled uncomfortably and I was not in a better place when her cellphone received an alert. She took it out of her pocket, read something and frowned.

“What? Did something happen to Clarissa?” I asked her, concerned about her daughter who is just 11 years old.

“No, it’s nothing. My aunt just sent me a weird text.” She replied, sounding puzzled about something.

“What does she want?” I questioned her, curious about it.

“She works at the mall downtown and she just attended to a man and his son who she never laid eyes on before, so she thinks they are rogues.” She explained, causing a chuckle to escape me.

“A father took his son to the mall? Did she call Child Protective Services?” I snickered, barely concealing my laughter from the unusual situation. Iris glared at me for poking fun at this.

“Do you know any parents who would go to the mall with their kid on a school day?” She sassed me.

“You said it yourself, it’s 5 p.m. School has been over for a little while now.” I countered, not seeing the danger here. I may not be a father, but I fail to see what is wrong with taking your child to the mall on Friday afternoon. Am I crazy?

Iris contemplated my argument for a minute before replying.

“Yeah, it is unusual but it’s not unthinkable. It is Friday, so…” She agreed with me.

“Exactly. The weird part is that she remembers every customer she has ever attended.” I said, raising a suspicious eyebrow at this.

“She works at the toy store. And she is very active in her daughter’s school. Maybe I should send someone just to take a look. Who knows?” Iris suggested, sounding concerned.

“So, your opinion is that two rogues came into Regency Falls, went to the toy store and are now spying around our town?” I spoke in a humorous tone, finding this story very entertaining.

“Have a great vacation, Beta. I’ll send two men downtown to check it out. You can go home now, I’ll take care of it.” She spoke, glaring daggers at me for poking fun at the curious story.

I felt a bit bad for discrediting her aunt and the story, but it is really amusing. There are tens of thousands of people in Regency Falls. Does her aunt really remember all her customers?

“I’m sorry, Delta. No need to send anyone, I have to buy something for my trip anyway, I’ll go.” I told her, feeling remorse for poking fun. I shouldn’t be so dismissive, it is our job to assess these things even if I fail to see the threat in a father and son walking in a mall.

“Alone?” Iris gasped in shock at my proposal.

“Didn’t you say it was a father and a son? What kind of threats could they possibly impose on me?” I countered, shrugging at her question. I am a trained warrior. I don’t think they are any threat to me.

“I don’t care! You are NOT going alone!” She insisted, adamantly.

I rolled my eyes at this.

“You do know I am your boss, right? You’re not Beta just yet.” I spoke, annoyed at her insistence.

“Yeah, I know. Which is exactly why you are not going to assess the threat alone. If you die, the first thing the new Beta is going to do is to fire me.” She rebuked, already gesticulating for two men to approach.

“Take the pack car to the mall. Beta Cortez will assess a possible threat and you two will act as his backup.” She ordered in a stern tone and they responded:

“Yes, Delta.” The two men turned to me, waiting for me to go with them.

“Bye. I’ll text you after I assess ‘the threat’.” I told her, seeing as now I could not go alone.

“No need, Beta. My men will report back to me and I’ll go from there.” She smiled, boastfully.

I left the training center with the two warriors and got inside the pack van, which is used for transporting people to and from the city border. We arrived at the mall downtown and I looked around the massive place. I have no idea where to start, I cannot tell who is a townie and who is not.

Though everybody knows who I am, so whoever does not greet me, it’s the rogue.

“There, the toy store Delta was talking about!” One of the warriors pointed as we climbed the escalators to the second floor.

“Hi there, I am looking for Ms. Carpenter.” I walked inside the shop and addressed the employees. I should buy something for my nephew, but not today.

“I am Lorraine Carpenter. Are you here for the rogues, Beta?” A woman in her forties introduced herself to me, stepping out from behind the balcony.

“I am, yes. Are you sure they are rogues? How do you know it is not a first time customer?” I questioned her, still suspicious of the whole thing.

“We are the only toy store in town, Beta. If there was a new father in the pack, he would bring a baby here, not a twelve year old.” She replied in a duh tone.

“Who do you think sold your brother toys for his son? Us!” She bragged about the familial connection. I was taken aback by her confidence and so were the warriors.

“I see. Please point me towards their direction. Do you know if they are still here in the mall?” I asked her, politely.

“Last I saw they were going to the food court. You should hurry up, Beta.” She spoke, ushering me to go after them. I breathed out a sigh, but walked out of the store in silence. I need to remind myself that I work for them. The pack.

The three of us climbed on another escalator, going towards the food court on the third floor. Several clicks of teenagers were hanging out there. Other people are starting their happy hour at the local bar.

We wander around the place, not knowing where to find them. I am not sure what to do about a father and son. All I can do is to escort them out of town, I am not going to harm a family. This is not why I became Beta of the pack.

“Any clue? Do you see anything?” I asked the warriors, walking hastily. My presence disrupts the customers present. People are not used to seeing me walking about, much less with two warriors by my side.

The teenagers were all talking about the three of us like something dangerous was lurking in the mall. Whispers about why the Beta would be here at this hour. It was impossible for us to go unnoticed. For me to walk without people staring at me.

Suddenly, the warriors are freaked out about something. Both of them kept on looking at my face in shock. It was then when I noticed why they were gawking at me. I rushed into the direction of the scent I was sensing.

It startled the young crowd inside the mall. People eating at the tables are curious about this. It was a proper spectacle. Suddenly, I was hit by a wave of the sweetest scent I have ever smelled in my life.

“MATE!” I declared in a deep, husky tone. I was watching my mate across the room, mesmerized by me. It was as if the world had stood still. At the same time, our eyes shining has caught the attention of the entire floor.

Everybody was whispering about our mating. Especially for people my age, this scene doesn’t happen very often. All the customers, employees, it was unmissable.

“Oh my Goddess! The Beta found his mate! Isn’t he like 30?” I heard someone commenting and I wanted to slap them for thinking I was thirty, but this is my time. Only the two of us existed right now.

“MATE!” He repeated back to me in a deep, husky tone. Baffled by the discovery, he is staring at me as our eyes connected on a deeper level. We were unbothered by everybody else, that is until…

“Daddy, why are your eyes shining right now?” A pubescent boy pulled at his father’s shirt, dying to know what was going on. That is when I noticed him. I barely had a second to contemplate the scenario before I heard someone else commenting:

“Oh my Goddess, the Beta’s mate already has an unmated child.”

I gasped in shock at the harrowing truth. My mate has a kid already? An unmated child?

Well, that can only mean he is an Omega. I mean, unless he experimented in high school and got stuck with the child. Or maybe it’s his turn to stay with the kid. But why would he come here? Why is he trespassing on our territory?

Calmly, I approached him as he was starstruck by me and the situation. His son was still confused as to why our eyes were shining to each other.

“Hi there. Please come with me.” I greeted them, gesturing for him to accompany me with his son. Our eyes stopped shining and he quickly explained to his son that they were to go with me.

I took them to a private room inside the mall, reserved for employees alone. By now, everybody on the floor saw us getting mated so it was easy enough to get the mall security to collaborate.

I told the warriors via mind link to stay outside while I talked to my mate in private. His son was agitated about the situation and the man was a bit stunned about the development.

“Good afternoon. My name is Stephano Cortez, I am the Beta of Regency Falls.” I introduced myself to him in a polite tone as the three of us took seats by a round table.

“Hi, Beta. I am Carlisle Aragon and this is my son Charlie.” He introduced themselves to me. His son smiled at me for a moment, before snuggling into his father’s side.

“It is very nice to meet you both. Can I ask…”

“What am I doing here, trespassing on your pack’s territory?” He cut me off, anxiously.

“Kind of, yeah.” I confirmed, awkwardly.

“My son and I have been traveling for a while when he started getting restless inside the car. This was the first town that popped up on the road. Basically, I took the first exit I saw and ended up here, completely by accident. I didn’t even know this was a werewolf town.” He explained, honestly. Still perplexed by the coincidence.

“You have never heard of Regency Falls before?” I was shocked to know this. We have a certain reputation.

Carlisle grinned at me, revealing an adorable smile.

“No. I have heard of the Regency Falls pack. But at first, it did not register with me. There was a lot on my mind. It wasn’t until I entered the mall that it hit me that everyone here was a werewolf.” He elaborated, sounding apprehensive.

“I don’t know what your plans are, but can I offer you a place to stay for the night? Maybe we could talk some more? I fear I have to vacate this room soon and my warriors are due to return.” I offered him, feeling uneasy to have this conversation here.

“Well, I wasn't planning on spending the night in this town…”

“Please, mate!” I insisted, looking at him pleading. I did not wait 11 years so that my mate would escape me now.

“I can even provide some video games for your son to play if he wants.” I tried to appeal to the child, who I am sure likes playing games just like the next tween.

Charlie's eyes lit up as I mentioned video games, immediately excited at the prospect.

“Do you have ‘God of War’?” He asked me, his eyes twinkled in excitement. It's a PlayStation game.

“That's my favorite! Even if they don't have it, I'll buy one just for you.” I told him, who smiled widely at me.

“Please, daddy! He's going to buy me ‘God of War’!” Charlie pleaded with his father, insistently.

“Okay. I guess there's no harm in staying for one night.” He gave in at last.

“Just so you know, bribery is very effective with my son. He's gonna love you forever if you buy him a PlayStation.” Carlisle told me, humorously.

“It's just a console. But I'm open to negotiate with his father. I'd like to get to know you.” I said, staking my claim boldly.

My mate widened his eyes at my statement. Charlie looked excited to play and I finally had a mate after eleven years of waiting.

We walked out the room together, then I had the warriors drive us back to the training center for me to get into my car.

I dismissed the men to report back to Iris while I personally took Carlisle and Charlie to the pack house. I mind linked Linda along the way for I cannot bring guests into her home without her knowledge, naturally.

I also notified Phillip that I was coming along. Out of all the things I expected to happen today, the last thing on my mind ever is that I would get mated.

I guess the old werewolf saying is true after all.

If the Goddess wants you to get mated, She'll make it happen for you. She'll find a way for your mate to be brought before you.

Even if your mate is a rogue traveling through who stopped by Regency Falls for no apparent reason.

I am so emotional right now. Eleven years and my mate shows up the day before I travel out of state. Are you kidding me?!

Well, you know what they say… You can't fight the Moonlight.

It's a kind of magic.

A|N: BOOM!

Next is "Too Little Too Late".

Love,

Léo.