Alex POV:

I was in the kitchen of the O'Connell home, waiting for Sadie. She should be home any minute and Laura was rushing me just a bit to set the table. I stood up straight when I smelled the scent of wild honeysuckle. God it smelled amazing. Oh no... My mate was here.

I heard a gasp and turned to see Sadie standing in front of me. "Mate." I whispered. Then suddenly Sadie's eyes filled with tears and she ran. "Sadie!" I yelled as I ran after her. John stopped me in my tracks but I kept my eyes glued to her bedroom door. "What's going on Alex?" He asked me. My wolf was panicking and begging me to go to his mate.

"Sadie is my mate." I told him. The look on his face turned from a mixture of anger to sadness all at the same time. "Alex... Don't hurt my daughter. Please." He pleaded. "Let me go to her John." I commanded, using my alpha tone. He sighed but stepped aside to let me go to my mate.

I slowly walked up to Sadie's door and knocked softly. "Sadie?" I didn't hear anything on the other side and knocked again. "Sadie... Baby, please open the door." I said softly. I could feel her heart break and sadness through our bond. I never expected Sadie to be my mate. Now that I know she is, I don't know if I can reject her or not. We've been friends for years and we know everything there is to know about each other. When Sam would tease us about ending up as mates, I have to admit it frightened me because I knew this would happen if it were true.

Finally I heard her faint footsteps as she opened her door. I walked in and turned to her. The look on her face broke my heart. I instantly hugged her and just let her cry.

It was cut short when there was a knock on her door. "Come in." She said as I kept my hands on her hips, not wanting to lose the feeling that she gave me.

When Sam walked in he had a somber look on his face. He was pissed at me but still showed me respect. "Alpha, may I talk to my sister alone?" He asked. I only nodded and kissed Sadie's cheek. "I'll be downstairs if you need me." I whispered before walking out of the room.

Lex walked up to me when I got back to the living room. "How'd it go?" She asked me. I shook my head. "I didn't get a chance to talk to her. Sam walked in." I told her. "Alpha.. With all due respect, if you are going to reject Sadie, please be easy with her. She's been waiting for this since she was a little girl." She practically begged before walking away.

Just after she said that, Sam walked downstairs and over to me. "I don't know if I can reject her, Sam. She's perfect. She would be an amazing luna to our pack and she's everything I'd ever want in a mate." I told him. Sam gave me a sad smile. "Then don't. I understand your reason for this, but like you said, she's an amazing girl and I'm very proud of her. She deserves someone like you, Alex, and you deserve her. Don't let her go because your afraid." Sam told me.

Soon after he said that, I smelled Sadie's scent get stronger and I looked behind me to see her beautiful face. "Our mate is upset. Go to her." My wolf commanded and I obeyed.

I walked to her, took her face in my hands and smiled softly at her. The next words that came out of my mouth, came out with no warning even to me. "I, Alex Cross, alpha of the Blood Moon pack, accept you, Sadie O'Connell, as my mate and future luna."

I saw her eyes fill with tears again, tears of joy. I slowly leaned down and kissed her gently, feeling a jolt of contentment rush over me, making my wolf purr.

When I looked back at her, her eyes showed one emotion. Love. "Happy birthday, baby." I whispered to her.