Page 47 of In The Shadow of The Wolf

“Not long, I scented my mate there, and I need to set things right and bring him home.” Ivan knew it had been too long. He’d waited for the case to end and then for pack business to be handled, and now it had been nearly five months since he’d scented his mate, and he could not wait any longer.

Viktor nodded his support and understanding. “I’m happy for you, Ivan, and I look forward to meeting him.”

“So do I,” Ivan said with a sad smile. “He was out of town when I was there, but I scented him in the police station, and one of the other officers told me his name. For the past five months, I’ve thought of him every day.”

“He’s an officer in Lonepine?”

“Yes, his name is Jamie McCormick, and he smells like absolute heaven.” Ivan truly could not wait to meet him, and his wolf, which he’d suppressed these last five months, was pushing to leave now.

Ivan contacted Alpha Lance and secured permission to return to Lonepine territory, and now he would be arriving tomorrow. Ivan planned to meet first with the Alpha and explain his situation. From there, he would go straight to the police station and meet his mate. Ivan’s wolf howled at the thought and paced in his mind, anxious to meet and bond with their mate. He’d told the Alpha that he’d scented his mate while in his territory previously but did not divulge the fact that he knew his mate’s name.

Ivan didn’t want his mate to know that he was coming. He wanted to be there standing in front of Jamie when he realized Ivan was his mate. Ivan wanted to look at him and talk to him in case of any questions or difficulties.

...

His plane touched down just before ten, and there was a car waiting for him. His driver, a young man, named Michael, informed him that the Alpha was waiting for him at the police station. Ivan smiled, realizing that Alpha Lance did not need Ivan to tell him who his mate was because he already knew. A good Alpha was always in tune with their pack, and Lance was apparently a very good Alpha.

“Thank you, Michael.” Ivan grabbed his bag and threw it in the trunk before sliding into the back seat of the sleek black sedan.

…

Jamie, Terry, and one of the other officers, Ryan sat there as Alpha Lance looked through a week’s worth of reports and complaints. “Seems that Alan and Joan Perron are keeping you busy.” He commented.

“Yes, sir.” They all answered. They all looked uncomfortable, considering the Alpha never checked the police blotter without reason. Each of them was wondering what they’d done wrong.

“We have a report regarding illegal dumping of trash out near the community hall. May I be excused to deal with it?” Jamie had taken the report just before Alpha Lance had arrived and hoped it was important enough for the Alpha to release him.

“Detective Ivan Rand will be stopping by the office very shortly. Michael has picked him up at the airport and will be dropping him here.” He pinned Jamie with a penetrating stare. “He wants to speak with you, Jamie, so perhaps Ryan should check out the trash incident.” Ryan was on his feet and gone before Jamie could utter a word.

“I don’t even know Detective Rand; what could he want to speak with me about?” Jamie wasn’t questioning his Alpha; he was just confused. “I never met the man. I was out on a call while he was here the last time.” Jamie turned to look at Terry, hoping for clarification, but only got a puzzled expression and a shrug. “Do you know what it is about, Alpha?”

“Yes, but it is not my place to say.” With that, Alpha Lance went back to reading the blotter, and everyone else waited.

Ivan stayed silent throughout the drive. In his mind, he tried to decide what he should say to his mate. He would be meeting Jamie McCormick in a few minutes, and the moment he walked into the office, Jamie would recognize him. He’d purposely not tried to find out what Jamie looked like or any personal information apart from what Officer Moore had said. He needed to wait until he saw him in person.

His wolf had been on edge for the past five months, and now he was wild with the need to find and claim his mate. If Ivan had seen a picture of his mate or heard his voice, Ivan wouldn’t have been able to control his wolf. He would have raged across three states to claim and bring Jamie McCormick home.

Ivan had too many responsibilities to be able to just run off and be with his mate. He had to see the Randall case through to the end, and he had to take care of his Alpha and his pack. He had to deny himself and his wolf for a little while.

As Ivan thought about his choices, he wondered if he’d been correct. Sitting in a car on his way to finally meet his mate, he felt as if he’d somehow let Jamie down, but he pushed that thought aside immediately; his mate would understand. As the Lonepine Police station came into view, Ivan felt his heart leap into his throat as anticipation took over.

Alpha Lance stood up and walked over to the reception desk. They hadn’t had a front desk person for over a year now, ever since Mrs. Doman’s husband retired and they moved to the mountain area of the Lonepine Pack. Whichever officers were available just took care of the walk-ins. The Alpha glanced out at the sidewalk and then back over his shoulder at Jamie. The look told Jamie to come forward. Terry stood up and, being the good friend that he was, stepped up to stand next to Jamie.

The door to the station opened, and Michael Watts, one of the pack soldiers, entered first. He approached and acknowledged the Alpha before stepping to the side. Jamie stood speechless as he watched the most strikingly handsome man he’d ever seen in his life enter and stand before the Alpha. This was Ivan Rand. Jaime wished he’d been around the last time he was in town.

Ivan was an amazing example of male perfection. His black hair, black eyes, and angular features spoke of possible native ancestry. He was tall nearly as tall as their Alpha and muscular, which was commonplace for a beta wolf, but Ivan possessed a strength that went beyond the visible. His formidable presence commanded attention and trepidation from everyone in the room, except for the Alpha. Jamie watched as Detective Rand bared his throat to Alpha Lance and then followed him into the room.

It was the moment Detective Rand locked eyes with him that Jamie realized his life was about to change forever. A moment ago, he was on the outside admiring the view, and now he was at the center of an emotional firestorm that was about to tear him apart. Jamie drew in a deep breath as his wolf slammed into his brain and began to push for release. Detective Ivan Rand was his mate. He stared and waited, he wanted to rush the man and demand his attention, but he stayed rooted to the spot and waited.

Ivan recognized Jamie the moment he entered the station. He was everything Ivan had dreamed of over the past months and more. Jaime was young, of slight build, and had fiery red hair that was cut short, but still managed to curl around his ears. His sage green eyes bore into Ivan, demanding attention, demanding acknowledgment, but he didn’t say a word. Ivan knew he was considered dark, intimidating, and formidable. Some have stated he possessed a threatening air that put people off, but he didn’t want his mate to feel those things. He tried to relax and let down his guard, but it was near impossible.

Ivan walked directly to Jamie and stood in front of him with just a few inches separating them. Jamie did not back up but stood his ground and looked up into those dark eyes once again and waited for his acknowledgment. Ivan was the beta. He would have to accept Jamie, and he would be the dominant in the relationship.

In wolf culture, when two wolves mated, the dominant wolf would rule the pair. Jamie was a gamma wolf, therefore below the beta in the wolf hierarchy. Ivan Rand would rule the pair if a bond was formed. All of these things raced through Jamie’s mind as he tried to come to terms with what was being presented and what it meant to his life.

Ivan reached out and ran his fingers across Jamie’s shoulder up to his neck and then along his jawline. He was amazing, so beautiful, and yet so strong; Ivan could feel the strength and forced control rolling off of his mate.

“You are my mate Jamie McCormick, and I am yours,” Ivan stated and slipped his hand behind to cup Jamie’s neck and pull him up flush to Ivan’s body. He held him there for a moment drinking in the surprise in his mate’s eyes. He then lowered his head and took those plump pink lips in a firm possessive kiss.

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