(Leo's POV)

"Alexis,' I murmur softly as she walks out the door.

God, she's gorgeous. Actually, gorgeous doesn't cover how beautiful, amazing and sexy she is. She's like an angel sent direct from heaven, who just so happened to cross paths with me.

I fall back onto the couch where she was seated. Man, I can't get over how amazing she is. Everything about her is so perfect; her long chestnut coloured hair, her warm chocolate brown eyes, her every single curve along her temple of a body, even her laugh.

Man, I sound so whipped! The truth is though, that no woman has ever had such a strong effect on me.

I glanced down at the folded up piece of paper in my hand. I was itching to open it the second she placed it in my hand, but I didn't want to come across as being too desperate.

My heart races as I unfold the paper, careful not to rip it. A smile breaks across my face and my heartbeat quickens when I read what she's written.

Leo,

Thank you for everything today. I really enjoyed it. Maybe we can do it again some other time.

Hope to you see you again soon,

Alexis xx

P.S. Those cupcakes really were amazing!

I flip the note over and almost cry out in happiness when I see her phone number scrawled across the crumpled paper. That has certainly brightened up my day.

One thing that I can't quite figure out is why I feel the need to be close to her. I don't understand it. When she was sitting beside me, I couldn't help but move my chair closer towards her. God, I hope she didn't notice! I've been attracted to women before in the past, but never have I felt the need to be close to them.

There's something in the back of my mind telling me that I've met her before. There's just something so familiar about her. And her eyes, I swear I've seen them before. There's no way that I'd forget those beautiful eyes anywhere.

I make my way to the back of the practice to where the in-patients are kept with a spring in my step. Can you blame me for being so happy? Wait till Brian hears!

I grab a bag of dog food in one hand and cat food in the other. I stop at each enclosure, giving the animal the correct food and checking that their automated water dispenser is working correctly.

Finally, I stop at the last enclosure; a seven-week-old kitten walks on wobbly legs to the door of her enclosure. She meows gently when she sees me, her tiny tail twitching from side to side.

She was found in a cardboard box, along with her brother and sister only last week outside a restaurant. By the time the restaurant owner brought them in, her brother and sister had died.

Simon, the restaurant owner, said that he would love to adopt the little kitten but wouldn't be able to take her for a few days. She's been staying with me ever since he found her, but tomorrow, she will be moving in to her new home.

I open up the enclosure and pick the tiny feline up; she clings to me with her small yet sharp nails. I tickle her stomach gently as I carry her over towards the counter to get her milk for her. I'd be lying if I said that this little lady hadn't wound her way into my heart.

The second she sees the milk being poured into her bowl, she tries desperately to climb onto the counter to get it. I chuckle at her efforts; her little paws flailing in the air as she tries to reach her dinner.

Once the milk is poured, I set her down on the counter. She bounds towards the bowl and practically launches herself into it; her two front paws in the drink as she laps it up.

***

"So on a scale of one to ten, how hot was she?" Brian asks me, his head stuck in the refrigerator as he roots around for the beer.

I had just told him about Alexis and he was dying to know how 'I can get a hot girl and he can't.'

"A twenty wouldn't even cover it, man. I'm telling you, she was beyond hot."

"Damn, so how did you meet her?"

I flip the steak in the pan, before checking on the fries in the oven. Good, they're nearly done.

"She came into the practice today looking for information on dog breeds," I explain to him as I prepare the salad.

Brian came over, like he does every week for dinner. Apparently, my cooking is the best around. Neither of us really go out much so we meet up at least once a week, for dinner and a beer, and catch up. Sometimes some of our other friends come over, but they prefer going out in town. Brian and I aren't too fond of that.

"I swear, from tomorrow morning, I'm working in your practice." He hands me a beer, before taking a swig from his own one. "So, did you get her number?"

"Actually, I did."

"Y-you did?" he splutters.

"Yep," I smirk proudly.

"Nice goin', man."

"Thanks," I say, handing him a plate filled with steak, fries and salad.

Twenty minutes later, Brian is throwing a goodbye my way and racing out the front door. He's a fireman and he can be called at any time during the day.

Apparently there's a small cottage on the other side of town on fire and he's needed there immediately. Luckily we both only had one beer each so he can still drive. I clean up the kitchen and put the plates in the sink.

I make my way into the living room and switch on the T.V. There's a game on that I'm dying to watch. I switch the channel and settle onto the couch, fully intending to spend some time relaxing; my mind and body however, have different ideas.

The tiredness hits me as soon as the game appears on the screen. My thoughts are filled with Alexis and before I know it, I'm falling asleep thinking of her.

(Alexis' POV)

"Excuse me?" I say to Dad, I know I couldn't have heard him correctly. "What did you just say?"

"Your mother, Alexis. She, eh, she wasn't my mate."

"Yeah, okay. Very funny, Dad."

"I'm being serious, Alexis. I never met my mate."

"What are you talking about? Mom was your mate! Anyone could see that, even a blind man could tell you were mates!"

I can't believe he's saying this. What would posses him to even joke about something like that? Unless he's not joking. No, don't even go there. That's not even possible.

"Dad, are you drunk?"

"No, of course I'm not drunk!"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. Alexis, listen to me. There are secrets about our pack, about our family and the Alpha's family in particular, that you need to know."

"What are you tal-" He cuts me off.

"Sweetheart, just listen. Your mother wasn't my mate."

"Why do you keep saying that?" Tears well in my eyes. "What do you mean she wasn't your mate? Are you telling me that my whole life you and Mom lied to me? That the one thing that I wanted most was an entire lie!"

"Alexis, sweetheart, just sit down and listen."

"Don't sweetheart me, Dad. That is if you even are my Dad."

I ignore the look of pure pain that Dad gives me.

"What do you mean if I even am your Dad? Of course I am. How could you even say that?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe the same way that you lied to me for twenty-two years!"

I paced the floor in my room. This cannot be happening.

I always idolized the bond that my parents shared. Even after Mom died it was obvious that their bond still existed. It was one of the reasons why I couldn't wait to meet my mate. How stupid was I?

I turned to look at him. "Do I really mean so little to you that you had to lie to my face for twenty-two years?"

Tears stream down my face. I feel so sick.

"You know that's not true. Sweetheart, you are my entire world. I loved your mother very much and I still do. We both idolized you. You meant everything to the two of us."

"Then why did you lie to me?" I scream, tears clouding my vision.

"We had to. It was the only way to keep you and your mother safe. It was my duty as Pack Warrior."

"Your duty? Well, Pack Warrior, look where your 'duty' got you now."

"I'm sorry," he whispers.

"You're sorry? Do you have any idea how I'm feeling right now?"

"I had to do what was best for you and your mother. There was no other way."

"You think this," I ask, indicating to myself, "is what is best? Mom is dead. She's not coming back. How the hell is that what's best?"

He remains silent, not daring to answer me.

"Did Mom even know you weren't her mate?" I feel sick as the truth continues to sink in.

"Of course she knew."

"What about her real mate? Did she ever meet him?"

"Yes," he whispers hoarsely.

"She did? And I suppose he just let you mate his mate."

"In a matter of speaking, yes."

"In a matter of speaking?" I scream. "Who the hell agrees to that? Dad, you better tell me what is going on right now!"

A knock sounds on the door, but I ignore it.

"Why did you mate Mom? Who is Mom's real mate? And why the hell did he let her mate you?"

"Alexis, I can't tell you anything just yet. Not until the Alpha is with us. He asked to be here when you were being told."

Another knock sounds.

"The Alpha knows?"

"Ye-"

A third knock, this time louder.

I storm towards the door and wrench it open. "What?" I growl at the timid looking she-wolf.

She looks towards Dad. "The A-Alpha asked me to inform you that C-Coby has r-returned," she tells him, visibly shaking in the doorway.

"He wasn't due back for another few days."

"The Alpha a-asked him to come h-home earlier." She throws me a wary glance before continuing. "He s-said; the truth needs to come out, earlier than planned."

"Tell Kent and Coby that we'll be there straight away. Alexis is ready to find out."