CHAPTER 6 HIDDEN MATES

HAROLD’S POV

I had thought the entourage coming from the Bluemoon pack with my ‘mate’ would have been here by now but close to an hour has passed and I haven’t heard or seen them. That one hour had been filled with short and curt attempts at small talk between Daisy and me.

As I looked back now at Daisy sitting on the armchair while I kept pacing by the window, I could see how the glint of the moon on her green eyes made it look ethereal like I never expected. She looked uneasy and bored at the same time and I didn’t blame her. My wolf felt the same way. I had done my best to convince him to stay still and not take over especially since if he came out, he would want to mark her and officially make her his. And I didn’t need that happening. Not now.

I turned back to the window and kept pacing like a caged panther, fangs bared in a silent snarl. My amber eyes scanned the moonlit path leading to our territory, a restless energy thrumming beneath my fur. Rax, my Beta and best friend, was supposed to have returned by now with the Bluemoon pack representatives, and the weight of my plan pressed down on me. It was risky and potentially bloody, but it was the key to our pack's survival.

A soft cough shattered my focus. I whirled around to find Daisy hovering right behind me. I was surprised that she would come this close to me and I was able to see all of her features. Her strawberry blonde hair was in a ponytail behind her head and I itched to pull it out from its tie so I could run my fingers through it. The imagination of the soft sensation made my wolf growl and by the way she took a step back and scrunched her eyebrows, I could tell that her wolf was just as giddy. the moonlight pouring in from the window highlighted the concern etched on her delicate features. Her emerald eyes mirrored the apprehension swirling within me.

"You've been standing here for like an hour," she ventured, her voice barely a whisper. "Is everything alright?"

I forced a tight smile, the gesture failing to reach my eyes. "Everything is under control." My tone was clipped. It would take some getting used to acting soft toward her, especially since the betrayal I experienced from my ex, but I knew it would happen at one point. I just had to keep trying to act better.

Daisy's frown deepened and i cleared my throat.

I rubbed my eyebrows together. "There's nothing to discuss. I’ll deal with it. Focus on getting some rest."

Disappointment clouded her eyes, but I could tell she was trying to hold her tongue.

A distant howl tore through the tense silence, a jolt of relief shooting through me. "They're here," I muttered, already rushing towards the large wooden door.

"Harold, wait!" Daisy called out, her tone laced with urgency. She twiddled her fingers together as if she wasn't sure if she wanted to ask that question or not. "What Elara said earlier… about another she-wolf claiming to be your mate?"

I paused, a flicker of annoyance crossing my face. "And? Rumours are cheap currency in the werewolf world, Daisy. We both know it’s false so don’t bother."

"But what if she does something…to you?" she pressed, her voice lowering to a whisper at the last word. "What are you going to do about it?"

I stopped, turning to face her, my expression unreadable. "That’s for me to deal with. Now, not another word, understand?"

Daisy's fists clenched and unclenched like she had more to say. Finally, she turned her down to her lap and kept picking at her nails.

I know she didn’t appreciate being treated like a child and being kept in the dark but what she didn’t know was that there was a bigger game at play, one that went far beyond her.

Hiding the truth from Daisy went against what my wolf wanted, but her safety was paramount. Exposing our bond now would only put a dent in the obvious plan of the Bluemoon pack. I wanted to see what end game they had in mind.

A guttural growl echoed from outside, followed by a low murmur of voices. Rax had arrived. I stepped out into the cool night air, anticipation coursing through me.

Rax walked over to me, leaving the Blyemoon representatives behind. When he got to me, he lowered his voice. “I got your message through the link. Are you serious? You found your real mate?”

I nodded and his voice rumbled low, serious as he spoke "We have to keep this low right now like you suggested. If the Bluemoon pack gets wind of Daisy, they'll see her as your weakness. And we can’t let that happen. Not with the way things are between all the packs.”

I clenched my jaw. He wasn't wrong. He knew how much risk I would be taking by bringing Daisy to the open.

"That's why I haven't told anyone," I admitted, the truth tumbling out like a loosened rock. Telling Rax so soon wasn't part of the plan, but things were heating up faster than I'd anticipated.

Rax's eyes widened in surprise. "You haven't even told Elara?"

I shook my head. "Not exactly.."

"Logical," Rax conceded, "but a dangerous game, my friend. Keeping a mate hidden goes against the natural order. The pack thrives on honesty and transparency. Keeping Daisy in the dark for too long could blow up in our faces spectacularly."

I sighed, running a hand through my fur. "Believe me, I know. But what other choice do I have? If this gets out and the other packs find out that my mate is from a different pack, especially Redmoon?..." I didn't need to finish the sentence. The consequences of losing control of the pack were dire – potential war with neighbouring packs and ostracization from the entire werewolf community. And that’s what would most likely happen if Redmoon pack found out about her.

Rax placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. "We'll figure it out, together. Just remember, you can't keep Elara in the dark forever. Once we've secured the alliance, you need to find a way to integrate Daisy and explain the bond to the pack. As much as I know all of this is a huge power struggle, trust me, a united front with a reliable mate by your side will dispel any doubts the other pack leaders might have about your leadership"

Hope flickered in my chest. Rax was right. Daisy, brave and kind as she was, wouldn't be easily broken. I needed to prepare her for what was coming, to explain why this bond had to stay hidden, for now.