The Alpha's Run Away Mate

Vivian Grant

After that day by the lake, Trisha decided to finally leave.

Hugging her smaller frame gently, the Alpha thanked her before Trisha Valerie Storm took off with a genuine wide smile and cute waves of goodbye.

Lucas cannot believe he made a friend. With somebody he did not expect to build an instant connection with. And oh, his heart was glad that Trisha listened to all his problems without prior judgment already scarred in her brain.

He also swore her a promise to look after the fringes of Howling Tribe and take care of those who needed the most help from the government— those struggling and barely surviving every passing day. Those who live like Trisha and her mother.

And he did. For her. For his friend, for the best friend he made in a short period of time.

Then, the next girl after Trisha arrived.

Escorted by a smiling Alexander, she was riding a carousel that shines with gold and jewelries, and Lucas could not believe his eyes when she hopped off in an elegant silver gown.

The girl was Vivian Grant. A visitor from the nearby pack, interested in Lucas and becoming Howling Tribe's Luna, as well as in forming a formal connection between their packs. She is the daughter of Alpha Julius Grant and Luna Venice Grant of Moonlight Chasers pack, a group of werewolves Howling Tribe has developed a reliable friendship with over the years of being territory neighbors.

And Vivian already smelt like both peace and chaos personified, one that makes Lucas's instinct project a warning not to lower down his guard anytime.

“She is the best pick amongst all, Lucas,” Alexander said, grinning as he gently pushed the Alpha towards the elegantly standing lady in front of her service, “Go, get the girl.”

He shook his head and smacked Alexander's arm.

“If she is, you should have made your move, womanizer.”

Alexander left while chuckling, wishing Lucas the best in accommodating their guest.

“It is nice to meet you again, Alpha Lucas,” she said so modestly, softly, “You are looking great, always have been.”

“I do not fall for flattery, Miss Vivian. But you look amazing, too, and it makes me wonder why you chose to be here, of all places.”

Instead of a certain answer, Lucas received a reserved giggle. One that hides many secrets. A laugh he could not fathom, at least yet.

If perfection exists, Vivian Grant is its personification.

She has it all. The brains that could leave Lucas speechless for quite a lot of times. She could very well carry conversations and utter deep remarks over situations and circumstances.

That, on it alone, makes her attractive in Lucas's eyes.

She has it all. The beauty anybody would fall in love with in an instant. Her sweet smile is to die for, one you would sacrifice your life just to keep. Her eyes shine so bright that the sun should be ashamed. Her face is pretty as if crafted by the Gods.

She has it all. The body any man would die just to hold and cherish. Her curves are spectacular, even through the thick gowns she wears.

She has it all. An irresistible background. Her family is famous and well known around the area. They are strong and wealthy. And the pack they lead, Moonlight Chasers pack, is just as strong as Howling Tribe, if not stronger.

Werewolves would fall on their knees to worship her mightiness. A glimpse of her face would be enough to make hearts race. A touch from her fingertips would bring shivers down spines and leave it lingering for as long as possible.

However, first impression does not usually last.

Somehow, Lucas found it funny. Just how much elegance and prestige Vivian holds outside. It is just how much more she keeps behind closed doors, who she really is under the facade of being a perfect woman and daughter of the respected Alpha Julius Grant.

The longer Lucas spent time getting to know Vivian, the more his defenses were loosening up. Because, after all, there is no need to intensify his guard around the girl.

“Can you pass me the meat, please?”

“You are eating too much,” Lucas hissed, “Will your father not notice this when you go back to Moonlight Chasers?”

“I do not care,” Vivian replied sloppily, messily, as she munches her food at the same time, “Besides, I can say you took care of me so well and he will eat it up.”

“You really are something else. Using this opportunity to feel such freedom, eh?”

“You cannot be the one complaining right now. I know you are using this opportunity, too, to get away from women they set you up with. Now, you are stuck with me, deal with it.”

She is crazy, sometimes out of her mind. Vivian is just a simple girl outside of being Moonlight Chaser's heiress. She is jolly and playful, somewhat careless at times.

At first, Lucas was not having it and he asked for Vivian to be sent back home. However, the girl kept on refusing, insisting to get closer to him as possible.

Moreover, she is a pain in the ass. Lucas could barely contain her when they are left alone to freely do whatever.

“Say, Vivian,” the suddenness of Lucas's remark caught the girl off guard. She stopped chewing and looked over to Lucas, “Do you think we can keep on doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Trying. Doing things only lovers would do.”

“What is the matter if we continue, anyway?” Vivian frowned, “I already told you. If I will be forced by my father to marry an Alpha, I would rather it be you than any of those jackass I met before. They are all terrible and ugly, some are even disgusting and perverted old men.”

Lucas clasped his head as he let out a confused chuckle. Full of frustration and regret. It would have sounded terrifying, if Vivian had not turned accustomed to his behavior yet.

Honestly speaking and without further ado, if, let us say, Lucas would be forced to get bond, mate, get married, and have children with someone other than Emily, he would rather it be Vivian than any random omega.

“Vivian, say... are you in love with me?”

“Lucas, I like you as a man, just like I like my father. It is purely platonic, and I am not romantically in love with you, never in that sort. If that even makes sense, but I know you understand it just clearly. You are like a brother to me, the one I never had growing up,” Vivian shrugged. “Why? Are you falling for me?”

They have been hanging out together for nearly a whole month already. Vivian was nothing but genuinely amazing and caring.

Would it sound ridiculous if he said that he did try to fall for her? For the sake of honesty and openness, it would not hurt. He only has Vivian to run to if things do not work out the way he planned— and it goes the other way around, too.

They need each other.

However, whenever they are together, all he thinks about is Emily. In all the stuff they do, all he could remember is Emily's face, all he could recall is her smile, all he could imagine is a day well spent with her— or her waiting for his arrival at the pack house, sitting by his bed.

It is always Emily. Yet, he is not getting tired of it.

The thought of Emily is enough to keep him going. The fact that Emily might be somewhere else keeps him alive. The memories with Emily were stuck in his mind, and they use them as a drive to do well and better each day. So when they meet again, he would have an accomplishment to be proud of. So she would not assume he had become a goner when she left.

It has been a couple of months, but his heart still keeps on shouting Emily's name through the beat of its own natural race.

How could he get rid of this annoying feeling? Even the different girls and countless distractions are not working— no matter how perfectly fit they could be. Even if he tries to fall in love again, he always comes back to Emily. Even if he forces himself to forget about her, he will always come crawling towards her feet.

How did she do this to him, the great Alpha Lucas Sullivan of Howling Tribe, a force to be reckoned with, and a werewolf not affected by love until one girl arrived to ruin all his principles in life?

What drug did Emily possess to keep him this obsessed for so long?

Why is it always Emily, Emily, and Emily?