"What the hell, Jace?" I growled at my Beta, my gaze fixed on the small figure hiding behind him.

Even in the short time she’d been with Jace, the girl had clearly placed her trust in him, relying on his protection as she took her time to thoroughly inspect me. A pang of unexpected jealousy shot through me.

“Hi Alpha, my name is Mercedes,” she suddenly spoke, her innocent silver eyes still fixed on me. Her voice was soft and a little hoarse, a sound I knew I could listen to for hours.

Slowly, I knelt down to get a better look at her, bringing myself to her level.

“Mercedes. What a beautiful name, just like you,” I whispered, a genuine warmth spreading through me. “You can call me Zane, okay?”

A radiant smile bloomed on her face, and she stepped out from behind Jace, no longer hiding.

“Would you like to come with me to the packhouse, Mercedes?” I asked gently. “I have a few questions about how you got here. And I’m sure you must be hungry.”

She nodded eagerly, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting my eyes again.

“But I don’t have a wolf,” she apologized, a hint of disappointment in her voice. Then, her eyes brightened. “Can I ride yours then?” she asked, a clear delight in the prospect. “What’s your wolf’s name?”

“Jax. And he’d love to have you on his back,” I assured her, a smile tugging at my lips.

I stood up and glanced at the men around me. Jace was staring at me in disbelief, and even Cleo, my usually composed Head Warrior, wore a look of bewildered surprise.

‘Come to my office. I have some announcements to make. We’ll travel back in wolf form,’ I instructed them through the mind link.

I quickly shifted back into Jax. He lowered himself, offering Mercedes an easy climb onto his broad back. She deftly clambered on, holding on tightly. It was clear she’d ridden on a wolf’s back before, a detail I’d be sure to ask her about later. Jax took a slightly longer route back to the packhouse, indulging in the pup’s joyful cries as the wind whipped through her hair. She urged him to go faster, tapping her heels against his flanks, but he maintained a steady, moderate pace, prioritizing her safety and perhaps enjoying the feel of her small weight on his back.

Half an hour later, we reached the packhouse.

Once Mercedes had climbed down, Jax moved behind a nearby tree to shift back into my human form and get dressed. When I returned, I offered her my hand, which she accepted without hesitation. Jace and Cleo had disappeared to shift as well. We waited for them, and when they reappeared, we entered the packhouse and headed directly to my office. I settled Mercedes onto the comfortable couch and sat beside her, while Jace and Cleo each took a nearby armchair.

“Let me introduce everyone properly to you, Mercedes. This is Jace, my Beta, and this is Cleo, our Head Warrior,” I said calmly, offering her a warm smile. I wanted to make her feel comfortable, not to intimidate her. “Now, please tell us everything that happened, just as you told Jace earlier. What’s the name of your pack, and how did you end up in the woods here?”

“I don’t know, Zane,” she said, her voice smooth and clear. “I fell asleep, and when I woke up, Jace was looking at me,” she explained. “I was in the woods behind the packhouse in my pack. I was playing with Marco and the others.” Her big, innocent eyes met mine, and I was instantly convinced of her sincerity. She was telling the truth.

“That’s alright. And what are your parents’ names? And your Alpha’s?” I asked gently.

“My mummy’s name is Selin, and my daddy is Marc. They’re the Beta of Alpha Ahri,” she answered readily.

I glanced at Jace. Her father was his counterpart in the Silver Moon pack. The Betas in the region maintained contact through a group chat, making it easy to confirm this information. Jace nodded and pulled out his phone.

“Who was the last person you saw before you fell asleep in the woods?” I asked, taking her small hand in mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

She shook her head, staring at me.

“We were playing hide-and-seek. I tried to find a good hiding spot in the woods. Marco didn’t come to find me, so I just lay down on the ground to wait. I didn’t see anyone,” she explained.

I understood then that her memory ended there. Whoever had taken her had been careful to remain unseen. But the central question remained: why would someone kidnap a pup from her family and bring her to a foreign pack’s territory?

“Tell me, Mercedes, how old are you? Do you go to school yet?” I asked, shifting the conversation to a lighter topic. A wider smile spread across her face at the mention of school, bringing a sparkle to her eyes.

“I’m ten years old! I’m in fifth grade. My teacher is Alyssa, and she’s very kind,” she chirped. “She says I’m adorable too. She often brings fruit from home for us to snack on. She says it’s healthier than chocolate.”

I chuckled, nodding in agreement. “That’s absolutely true. And if Alyssa shares her own fruit with you, then you must be her favorite student,” I complimented her. Her smile widened, her eyes lit up with joy.

“Mercedes,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “Would you like to visit my pack more often? During school holidays, or when you don’t have homework on the weekends, or something like that?”

As my mate, I desperately wanted her with me as much as possible. Jax felt the same.

 But I knew I had to be patient. She was underage; I would have to wait until she turned eighteen before officially claiming her and making her my Luna. My primary concern now was how this situation would be perceived by the other packs, especially my own. As both the most feared Alpha and a highly respected leader in the region, the news that my mate was still just a pup wouldn’t be well-received by everyone. It was crucial that there was no doubt about my intentions.

I truly believed the Moon Goddess had a reason for bringing Mercedes into my life at this moment. My patience in finding my mate had been wearing thin. By introducing her to me at such a young age, Selene had saved me from the possibility of making a desperate decision, to take a chosen mate.

I looked at Mercedes once more, she still couldn’t seem to take her eyes off me. Carefully, I reached out and gently stroked her hair. She didn’t flinch, a small gesture that filled me with a sense of quiet triumph. I had already gained her trust.

 It was a perfect start. Now, I just needed to speak with her parents and Alpha Ahri about this extraordinary situation.

“Yes, Zane,” she replied with childish enthusiasm. “I’d like to stay in this packhouse with you. But I have to ask my mom and dad first.”