Note: This chapter is just to get a few things out the way. But I hope you all like it.

As we drove to his place, my mind was trying to work through the last few hours. What did this mean for me? Having found my second mate, was nothing something I had taken into consideration. Hell, I didn't even know that was a thing. If that was the case, what did that mean for me and Gibbs? Was I just not destined to ever be with him? I mean he doesn't even know who I really was. But what would happen the day he finds out about both things. Me being what I am and what he means for me. Glancing towards Nathan, I smiled slightly. Gibbs had decided to take Lisa as his mate. And although he hadn't realized it, he made it clear he picked her over me. He did so the day he threw me out the door. I know, I know. 'But Alex he doesn't know who you truly are.' He still decided her and the mutt over me. As a packmate, I was hurt. As a mate, I was devastated.

"Alex?"

I flinched, not remembering where the hell I was. "Sorry, lost in my thoughts."

He jumped out of the car, jogging to my side and opening the door for me. "Come."

Looking around, I noticed we were in the woods. Pine trees surrounding us completely, with only the path we drove up a clear sign anyone lives here.

Glancing up towards the house I was amazed. It was beautiful. Now I see why they called him midnight. It was a two-story modern house, all black. Nathan places his hand on the small of my back, guiding me up the steps leading towards the double front glass doors. He was quick to open the door for me, allowing me to step in first. Inside I was no less in awe, the entire place was painted black! The foyer held a simple, but elegant chandelier overhead. On my left side, sat a sandy-colored table up against the wall. A small bowl sat there with keys and miscellaneous items. He led me into a room on the left, which ended up being the living room. You had the living room surrounded by a box of three steps. On the wall in front of me was a chimney, inside the box-like area were two black couches. In the middle was a glass coffee table, with a white rug underneath.

"There goes the what's your favorite color question." I took a seat on the couch. Looking up to see a large wolf picture hanging on the wall. A beautiful dark-haired woman sat beside the wolf, her hand resting on his back. "Is that you?"

"Yes, my mother and I." Nathan walked over to his bar, grabbing two glasses. "Want something to drink?"

"Just water please."

"Alright, one cold water coming up." He handed me the glass, as he took a seat beside me. "As for your question, yes black is my favorite color."

"I mean the house pretty much gave it away." I chuckled. "So what is it you actually do for work?" I mean this house wasn't cheap.

He slowly took a sip of his drink. "I work with Hotchner."

"That was vague." But I also knew better than to push someone like him into speaking more than he wanted.

He sighed, placing his glass of what looked like whiskey on the coffee table. "Sorry, work talk is the last thing on my mind right now."

"I know, I am just trying to break the ice."

"I thought that kiss broke it already. I mean it got my blood boiling." Nathan tossed his head back with a low growl. "Want a repeat, see if that helps."

I shoved him on the arm. I mean I wouldn't mind a repeat, but I needed to sort all of this out. "Knock it off, we need to talk seriously."

He chuckled, putting on the weakest attempt to look serious. "You're right. Okay, I am serious now."

"I swear you are a man child." Still, seeing that smile had me smiling like an idiot. "Where is your son?" I caught sight of some toys by the table, reminding me of little Aaron.

"He is with the rest of the pack." Nathan replied. "Ty is looking out for him."

"Do they know?" Getting a nod, I huffed. "So everyone, but I knew."

Nathan reached for my hand. "I am sorry Alex. When I first found out I was ecstatic, I still am. But then you told me about Gibbs and well you know the rest."

"You could have told me, I would have-"

"Rejected me?" Nathan growled. "Sorry, but one rejecting mate is enough."

"No!" I was actually hurt he would think something like that. "Nathan I would never have rejected you." Leaning forward, I placed my hand on his jaw. The scruff from his short beard pricking my palm. "Rejecting you would have been the last thing on my mind. Granted I would have been shocked, I mean no one ever told me anything about a second mate. But I would have accepted you with time."

"Accepted me?"

I sighed dropping my hand and my eyes falling to his. They were large, with veins running down to his arms. Something about that was a huge turn-on for me. 'Oh god, stop staring and get a grip. Fuck this heat!'

'You can stare all you want love.'

I groaned, forgetting he could hear me. "Ignore I ever said that."

"Already forgotten." He chuckled. "But what did you meant by accepting me?"

"I meant that by the time I would have accepted you. I have no future with Gibbs. He has his mate and surprisingly I have you. That is if you still want to try whatever this is?" I knew it was a big risk. I was accepting him as my mate and that was a dangerous thing right now. One I didn't have my alphas permission to mate this alpha. Two he was from a completely different and rival pack. Three I still had to break the news to Elston. And four what if along the way Gibbs finds out and he accepts me for who and what I am? I won't be able to respond to that affection. Did I really want to risk losing him for Nathan?

"Of course I want to give this a try." Nathan's deep voice pulled me back to the present. "From what Matt told me you are in heat?"

I hate my brother. "Yes, hence why I am no longer on four paws." That reminded me. "Last time you were stuck as a wolf, how did you change back?"

"What I was injected by was different from your silver. Hunters used wolfsbane to keep us shifted for while. It's easier to drain out than silver." Nathan flinched at the mention of draining out the wolf's bane. "Not the prettiest, but it worked."

"How will this work?" I took a sip of my water, enjoying the coolness as it traveled down my throat and into my stomach. My temperature was higher than usual for a wolf at the moment. "Us mating I mean. When I talked with Elston we said it would unite the packs."

Nathan ran a hand down his face, exhaling deeply. "You're talking about this like a business deal. I don't know what you and that wolf had, but this is the real thing."

"I know." Cupping his jaw once more. "I am sorry. Believe it or not, you cause a feeling in me when I first saw you at the museum. That hasn't happened since Gibbs." I quickly stopped his response. "I am not comparing you in any way. You caused a different, but just as powerful emotion in me. I would be an idiot if I was to let it go."

"We are going to have to go through a lot. Starting with your tie to the mutt."

"Be nice, he is my friend and I will talk to him." The last thing I wanted was a fight to break out between them. I never loved Elston and he knew that. I was attracted to him, yes. But never loved him. Funny how meeting your mate or even the second one can change everything in seconds. "What about Derek?"

"Derek?"

"My alpha." Was he not listening? "Doesn't he need to give his permission? Especially with you being an alpha from another pack?"

Nathan's deep chuckle echoed throughout the room. "You know that is only 'required' when the male is below an alpha and they aren't mates. Derek has no say in what we do or don't. No one does, but ourselves." He leaned closer to me. His breath whispering over my lips. "Any other worries?"

"Our packs?" My words came out shaky.

"What about them?" He pulled back, reaching for his glass of wine and taking a small sip.

"How will it all work once they are united? Who will lead?" If this wasn't a somewhat serious talk, I would have laughed at the face he just pulled. "What?"

"We wouldn't be uniting the pack's love." Nathan suddenly stood up, removing his jacket and unbuttoning a few of his shirt buttons. "Let's get some fresh air." Taking my hand, he led me up the stairs, into what appeared to be his bedroom, and out the balcony. Taking in a deep breath, he was quick to compose himself. "Sorry, now as I was saying. We wouldn't be uniting the packs. We mate, you become the alpha female of my-our pack." Probably seeing how wide my eyes went, he smiled. "That doesn't mean you will have to stop seeing or talking to them, love. I am no one to stop you from seeing who you want. Just try to avoid unmated males."

I noticed the slight stiffness in his body, his back was tensed. His hands were gripping the rails to the balcony. "Nathan, you alright?"

"Yeah, it's just your scent." He groaned. "I had completely forgotten you were in season."

"Shit, I am sorry." I stepped back, only to have him grab my arm and pull me into his chest. I took in a shaky breath, slowly raising my eyes up to his. He was so close. "I haven't learned how to hide the scent yet."

He shook his head, taking a large gulp. "I should be the one controlling myself. Your scent is just so...fresh for lack of a better word. The things it tells me." He lowered his head a tad bit. "No one has touched you. And no one will, but for me."

I was in a trance, my eyes locked on his. I hadn't noticed at what point he had my back against the balcony rail. His hands gripping the edges on each side of me, trapping me at his will.

We both gazed into each other's eyes longingly; not a word spoken by either of us. I was lost within the breathless paradise of his dreamy eyes and no sooner without any authority he clutched his hands unto my hips, leaning me in against his muscular body; as a result, I was weakened by his gentle seductive touch.

While pressing his body against mine and continuing gazing into my eyes, he began kissing my now frail neck which made me even weaker than before. He knows that once he kisses my neck my resistance will crumble. After just a few delicate touches of his warm lips, my hands will start to do his bidding. They will fall down his back as my head swims, all previous thoughts stopped in their tracks. Now there is only one desire, one wish, and we both know it's just a matter of time before it happens.

"If you don't let go of my sister right now, I swear you will never have pups!"

I jumped at the sudden voice of Matt. Leaning my head back, I grinned at his upside-down figure. Hotchner walking a few steps behind him.

"Hey!" Making an attempt to move, I found myself not able to. Looking up at Nathan I frowned at his shifted eyes and the slight rumble in his chest. "Nathan?" His eyes were fixated on Matt and not in a good way. Ever seen a wolf stalk a rabbit? Yeah like that. "Hey, look at me." Grabbing his face, I forced him to look down. "It's just Matt, my brother. He means no harm."

'Kiss him.' Hotchner's voice echoed.

'What?'

'It will pull him out of his trance.'

Without a second thought, I slammed my lips over his. He responded quickly, wrapping his arms around my waist. Once my lungs burned for air, I slowly pulled back. "Better?"

"So much better." His voice was low, sending chills down my spine. His eyes went from the soft, loving ones to guarded and cold the moment he looked up. "To what do I own this lovely interruption?"

"Making sure my dear sister here doesn't rush into things." Matt growled.

Nathan gave out a low growl, warning him to watch himself. "Pretty sure your sister can make her own decisions."

"Maybe, but she did promise to hold off." Matt snapped. "And I don't like you."

I swear Matt can be such a cock blocker. "And I was going to keep it!" I rested my head on Nathan's chest, inhaling his scent. 'Damn he smells good.'

'Thank you.'

I keep forgetting he can hear me! I turned my attention back to Matt. "But you never said anything about the other stuff. And you never like anyone!"

"Especially males looking to trap my sister." Matt scoffed.

Nathan's eyes snapped towards him. "I am not trapping your sister in any way, at least not in any way she doesn't want." I could just imagine the look on Matt. "But since you are here, I will gladly make it official. Seeing you are the closest to her pack right now." I watched confused as he moved my hair to the left, exposing my neck to him. He leaned forward, leaving a trail of kisses along my neck. His teeth grazing the shell of my ear as he whispered. "I stake my claim on Alex Hale, as my mate and alpha female."

I was barely registering his words when I felt his teeth break the sensitive skin on my neck. My hands gripped his sides, clenching at the sensation I was feeling. It was a mixture of pain and pure bliss. Heat in the pit of my stomach began to rise exploding throughout my body. "Oh god!" I raised my hand towards the back of his head, running my fingers through his hair. And just like it had started, it was over. Nathan pulled back, licking the little blood that spilled. "Woah."

"What the fuck!" I turned to spot Hotchner currently holding Matt back. He was royally pissed and close to shifting. "Did you just mark her?!"

Nathan ran his finger across the bite, causing a slight shiver in me. "I staked my claim."