Free Lover's Delight by Diana Persaud

Chapter 1
    Lucien, the Alpha of the Last Hope werewolf
pack, looked around Billy Rae’s Bar and Grill at the males and
females gathered before him. At his request, all of his single pack
mates, male and female, were gathered along the restaurant walls.
All of the former Lost Souls pack members were gathered in the
middle. In front of him, a handful of females stood in front of
their males. Not a single male reached out to comfort his female,
though their distress was evident in their stance as well as their
scent.
    He shook his head and sighed. They had been
in his pack for six weeks and still they acted as if they
were members of the Lost Souls pack.
    “We are gathered here tonight because we need
to discuss the issue of mates. I realize that your previous Alpha,
Murdock, rewarded males by giving them females as mates. This is
not done in our pack. Only true mates are recognized and allowed to
live together. As of this moment, your relationship with the person
you call your ‘mate’ has been severed. You no longer have any duty
to that person.”
    He heard surprised gasps and murmurs.
    “It is my sincere hope that you will all find
your true mate. That is why my pack is in attendance. I am hoping
that some of you find your true mates tonight. This will help you
assimilate into our pack.”
    The crowd parted from the back, allowing
someone to pass through. Lucien swore as he scented his mate.
    “Didn’t I expressly forbid you from
coming here tonight?” he asked his mate as she stood before
him.
    Shaking his head, he held his hand out to
her.
    Lanie smiled mischievously as she responded,
“I vaguely recall such a conversation.”
    She placed her hand in his and he pulled her
up onto the raised dance floor. The females in the front row
cringed, fully expecting him to beat her for her disobedience.
Surprised gasps were heard as Lucien pulled Lanie into his arms and
kissed her softly. His love for her was evident to all of his pack
mates.
    Lanie stroked his face and replied, “They
don’t understand, Lucien. They probably think you are going to give
them to other males.” Lucien swore as he realized she was
correct.
    “You’re right, as usual, My Love.”
    All eyes were glued to him. He turned to his
pack and addressed the newest members.
    “No one is going to force you into a
relationship. When you find your true mate, it will take your
breath away. You will just know he or she is The One .” He
held Lanie close to him.
    “You will want your mate more than the air
that you breathe. You will do whatever it takes to make your
mate happy. It is impossible to deliberately cause your true mate
pain. If you have ever felt pain or caused your mate pain, they are
not your true mate. You do not have to stay with that wolf.” He
paused to let that information sink in.
    “You are all part of my pack now, so please,
socialize with your new pack mates.”
    No one moved. Lanie stepped off the raised
dance floor and walked towards the females in the front row. Being
human, she couldn’t smell their fear or distress, but their body
language spoke volumes.
    “You are safe here,” she addressed them
softly. “As your Alpha’s mate, I promise you, you are safe .
I will not allow anyone to hurt you.” A male laughed behind
one of the females.
    “How are you going to protect anyone? You’re
a mere human ,” he said with contempt.
    “She is my mate ,” Lucien growled as he
stepped down. “She might be a human, but she is as fierce as any
wolf. In fact, she took down one of your young wolves while
two others held her. She did this to protect one of our younger
females.”
    They looked at her in astonishment. She
fought a male ? And won ?
    “Lanie has me, has the entire pack to
enforce her wishes. If she says you are protected, then rest
assured, you are protected.”
    “Did you have a question?” Lanie asked the
female next to her who was biting her lip.
    In a voice so low, she barely heard her, the
female asked,