The boys in the packhouse have been throwing parties nearly every weekend. Now that they are all old enough to find their mate, they think inviting every girl in town will make it easier for them. At first, I thought that was the stupidest thing I have ever heard, that is until I turned eighteen. I have been eighteen for a few months now, and I still haven't found her. I have been going to every party hoping she is there, waiting for me, like I have been waiting for her.
After the first few dozen parties and outings looking for her, I got a bit overwhelmed with frustration because I haven’t found her yet. I ended up hooking up with the first girl that came on to me last night. I'm not going to lie; I felt pretty disgusting afterwards. I know it can take time, but I also know some wolves that never found their mates. And I can’t help but jump to the worst-case scenario, thinking that I will never find her. Sometimes your mate can die before you find one another. But that is pretty rare.
Ever since my eighteenth birthday all I can think about is how my father found my mother almost instantly, same with my grandfather. Which is why I was expecting the same thing to happen for me. After all they were both amazing Alphas, Alpha’s I hope to follow in their footsteps soon. But in order to do that I need my mate by my side, my dad has always said ‘what makes a great leader is the love and support he gets from his people. And ever since then it feels like my father has been testing both me and my abilities.
I have been put in charge of the pack from time to time when my parents have been away. Off on retreats with neighbouring pack leaders to help maintain the peace treaty we have with them. It will come in handy down the track if anyone ever gets thirsty for more power. That’s why my father wants to make it official when I have found my mate and complete the mating bond, it's a tradition in our pack that once you have found the one then you can take over as leader. That said, I have been so busy with pack stuff I haven't been at school the last few weeks. Haven’t had the time, it’s like my dad is trying to give me a crash course on taking over because he feels any day now, I will find her.
I told my father I wanted to take a step back from some duties for a bit, to try and help me regain my focus and finish off this semester with a bang. After all this is my last year before everything really changes, and as excited as I am to be Alpha I know I’m not one hundred percent ready yet. I feel like a little more time with my friends will help me get there. He understood, and as of this week, I am back to school full time.
“Jason! About time! What have you forgotten what time school starts or something? The day is basically over, the last bell is about to ring.”
“Yea sorry, had some last-minute things to take care of.”
“I thought that you weren’t on Alpha duties anymore?”
“I’m not as of today. I had some last-minute things to take care for dad before I returned to school full time. But hey, can’t you just be glad to see me?”
Claire began to roll her eyes as she elbowed Hayden straight in the stomach. He leaned over in pain holing the side she just punched with pretty much all her strength.
“What was that for?”
“Aren’t you going to say something?”
“Like what? He is our future Alpha, I’m pretty sure whatever he says goes. But anyways why are here? I mean school is pretty much over.”
They both kind of have a point, I have absolutely no idea why I am here. After all I knew that I wasn’t going to be finished in time for school, but it’s like something was calling out to me. Like I had to be here or else.
“What? You don’t believe that it is to see your smiling faces?”
“Yea whatever. Am I meeting you at the packhouse after school? Is there a meeting?”
I have known Hayden and Claire my entire life, good old childhood friends. That’s why I feel it made total sense that she and Hayden turned out to be mates, and honestly, I feel like they knew it long before their eighteenth birthday. That’s why it also made sense that I made Hayden my beta, my right-hand man. I can’t think of anyone I would rather have by my side when shit hits the fan, luckily, we haven’t had to experience anything like that yet. But I know once we do, he will be good under pressure.
“Na. I confirmed it with my dad, and he decided no meeting tonight. He said everyone deserves a bit of a break.”
“Oh, please like you two have really been working that hard. I know you two have been going to all of the parties the boys have been throwing lately. And on that subject have you heard that the boys are having another party tonight? I think this is number 8 in the span of the last three weeks. I really don’t know where they find the time and energy to have all of these parties.”
“It’s not like I am really going there to party, I was hoping I would find my mate at one of the parties, so Hayden being a good friend tagged along so I wasn’t completely bombarded with a bunch of chicks trying to convince me I am their mate.”
“Right. So, you’re saying all of those parties were so horrible and that you didn’t have fun at all?”
“Well, no I’m not saying that, wait a minute why are you two sitting in the middle of the hallway and not in class?”
“Free period?”
“Right.”
Just then the last bell rang, quickly filling the empty halls with students in every corner. We start to make our way to exit the building when, my feet stop. Something made me freeze in place, I begin to sniff the air trying to find out where this intoxicating scent was coming from. It's overwhelming. It smells like strawberries and wood? Like when you run through the Forrest after a nice rain, making everything smell sweet and pure.
I whip my head up and down trying to find the source, my wolf is going wild inside me. It's her, it has to be. My mate.
"Jason? What's the matter?"
"I smell something. I don't know where it is coming from."
Hayden looked confused next to me, trying to figure out what I am smelling. I begin to walk towards the smell, each step getting closer and closer to the scent.
"Jason, I don't smell anything. What is it?”
"My Mate."
Both he and Claire look at me with disbelief in their eyes. My feet begin to move faster, like something has possessed my entire body. Make me move at full speed, finally, I turn the corner, and there she is. She is the very definition of perfection. She was standing at her locker rummaging around inside trying to find something. Her hair is like a strawberry orange colour that falls perfectly down her back, landing just above her waist. Her eyes look like a beautiful crystal blue from a distance. My wolf is going wild, getting harder and harder to contain him.
'Now is not the time for you to lose control. Not with all these people around.'
I’m trying my best to soothe him so he doesn't completely take over and do something I am going to regret later. But he seems to understand the urgency in my plea for him to settle down, I know it’s hard for him as well. He longs for her just as much as I do.
I take a step forward to approach her as she is heading my way, but in that exact split second I feel a hand on my shoulder forcing me to turn around.
“Sorry to disturb you Alpha but do you have a second?”
“Is it important I am actually in the middle of something.”
“I have some concerns about the last party we were all at. Can we make some time to have a chat about it?”
“Of course, meet me at the pack house in a few hours and I will happily address any concerns you might have.”
“Thank you Alpha. See you then.”
He finally leaves, letting me get back to the important task at hand. But before I could turn around, I feel a thud against my back and someone crying out in pain. I turn around and look down, and there is my beautiful angel rubbing her lower backside in pain.
She looks up at me with the most beautiful half-smile and says, "Um, sorry. I didn't see you there."
Her voice is so beautiful, exactly what an angel sounds like I imagine. Her voice is soft-spoken and sweet.
"What's your name?"
"Um it’s Lila."
She starts to blush, and her voice comes out almost as a whisper. I slightly bend down and extend my hand out to her to try and help her to her feet. As soon as we touch, my whole body feels like it's on fire. It’s like our touch is sending tingles throughout my body. But before I could say anything else, she rips her hand out of mine and hurriedly starts to pick her stuff off the floor. "Um, thanks. I've got to get going. Sorry again."
As soon as she has all her stuff, she makes a break for the entrance of the school. Before I could think about what to do next my body began to move on it’s own. Trying to catch her before she disappears again. Just as I catch up to her she stumbles as if she is about to fall down the stairs. My body instinctively reacts, as I reach out and grasp her arm pulling her back into mine. This feels like a dream, having her in my arms like this. Although for her I don’t think the sentiment is the same right now.
Her scent is even stronger being in my arms, I can’t help but inhale the intoxicating smell. As soon as I did, I can feel her thrashing around in my arms, trying to break free. As any sane person that has no idea what is going on would. I know I should let her go but the very thought of her leaving me is terrifying.
Just at the thought of losing her sent my wolf into overdrive, taking control of my body. Holding her even tighter against my chest. It’s a struggle back and forth trying to regain control, but I have never experienced this before. He is stronger than ever, most likely because she is in our arms. I try pleading to him to relax that she isn’t going anywhere, but instead of listening he simply replies out loud for all to hear
“Mine.”