ALPHA DARREN'S OMEGA MATE

Mall

AMELIA

It had been one month since we left the Claws Pack, and already I felt a world of difference. The warmth and acceptance I experienced here were enough to bloom a hesitant smile across my face, even on days when life felt heavy. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy as we celebrated Annabelle’s birthday. The pack had come together, their laughter echoing through the clearing, and despite the bittersweet memories of my past, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of belonging.

Just one month in, and I had forged genuine friendships with Gamma James and his mate Noah. They were simply the best,each in their own unique way.

“Hey, Amelia!” Noah burst out, his voice bright and full of enthusiasm.

With his dark brown hair styling into cute short curls, he somehow made glasses look effortlessly attractive. The way the she-wolves fawned over him baffled me; he wasn’t overly muscular, but the way he carried himself was magnetic. And did I care about the attention he got? Hell no.

“What's up, girl?” James continued, beaming at me with that infectious energy.

“Sup, my guys.” I said sarcastically as James showed up, his tall frame looming behind Noah.

James stood at 6'3", with black hair cascading down to his shoulders, effortlessly embodying the role of the perfect Gamma. He was the talk of the pack and one of the best fighters you'd ever meet. When he learned about my situation, his outrage and concern had touched me. It wasn’t just anger; it was the kind of sadness that came from knowing he couldn’t be there to protect his friends.

“Not much, just enjoying the fine company.” Noah replied, feeling lighthearted as they stepped closer, sandwiching me between their well-built forms.

Imagine a petite 5'1" girl surrounded by two striking men, strutting down the path. You guessed it; I was the center of attention, attracting the glare of jealous she-wolves everywhere. It was refreshing to be admired, though I was certainly not interested in courting anyone. I made that clear to anyone who dared approach. Noah was slid away from those advances since he was openly gay, a fact that only made him more endearing to me.

“So, where are we going?” Noah asked, leaning forward in his seat, excitement radiating off him like energy.

I smirked, glancing out the window before turning back to them. “Well... I was thinking we could hit up the mall for some shopping.” I said, knowing this would spark Noah’s enthusiasm and James’ reluctance.

“Oh my Moon Goddess, yes!” Noah squealed, bouncing in his seat as if he had just won a prize. Meanwhile, James groaned, rolling his eyes but unable to hide a smile.

“Seriously? The mall again?” he teased, though I could sense the affection behind his playful irritation.

“How did I end up stuck with both of you?”

James chuckled. “You mean blessed, right?”

I shrugged playfully. “Sure, let’s go with blessed.”

We decided to take Noah’s car, pulling onto the lively streets of downtown. The thrill of going out mixed with the feeling of camaraderie settled into my bones, my heart racing as I looked out at the bustling city life zipping by.

“Let's pump up the energy!” Noah declared, reaching for the radio and turning the volume up. “Oh my Moon Goddess, it’s Rihanna!” He squealed again, bursting into a cheerful rendition of “Stay.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, while James grumbled from the driver’s seat. Noah's enthusiasm was contagious, and I found myself tapping my fingers on my knees to the beat, joining in with soft harmonies now and then.

When Noah paused, he struck a pose from the passenger seat, all sass and flair. “I may be gay, but I can get more than you without even trying, honey!”

James scoffed, casually shaking his head. “Please, you’re just a pretty face.”

I glanced at both of them, now feeling just a tad awkward amidst their banter. “Well,” I said, cutting through their playfulness, “I think I could get more girls than both of y’all combined.”

Their laughter rang out loud and free, filling the car to the brim with joy. Noah punched the air dramatically, feigning disbelief, while James fought to keep the car steady, wiping tears from his eyes from their laughter.

“What? I’m serious!” I insisted, my posture straightening as I tried to maintain my composure amid their amusement. “I think I can.”

James finally caught his breath, glancing back at me. “Amelia, you’re incredibly pretty, but do you really think you can outdo these two?” He gestured between himself and Noah, cheekily raising an eyebrow.

“Actually, yes!” I retorted, trying to keep a straight face, though it was hard not to smile.

Both of them exchanged amused glances again, the bond we shared growing stronger with each laughter-filled moment. It felt like home.

“You are as straight as a motherfucking ruler,” Noah and James said in unison, their laughter ringing through the car like music. They high-fived each other, celebrating their ‘victory’ over my supposed lack of charm with the opposite s*x.

“I so can get myself a girl if I wanted to.” I muttered, half-heartedly convincing myself.

“Well, you know I prefer males.” Nancy, my wolf, chimed in, her voice teasing yet firm.

“Oh, I didn’t know you existed until now! How cruel of the Moon Goddess to have me stuck with you.” I joked, trying to deflect the tension that had built up inside me.

“Cruel? If you want to talk about cruel, then look in the rearview mirror right now! We got rejected, and now you want to reject the Moon Goddess’s gift? At this rate, we’re going to die alone.” Nancy growled from the back of my mind, her frustration palpable.

I sighed, feeling her energy shift as she stepped to the back of my head, sulking. She was right in a way—facing rejection hurt more than I cared to admit, and I wasn’t ready to bulldoze through that kind of pain again.

What was the point of having a mate anyway? The thought of getting all googly-eyed and overwhelmed by the feelings that came with it didn’t appeal to me. I had enough burdens already; I didn’t need more.

Since that day I met Alpha Darren, an encounter that had shaken my world, I had done everything I could to avoid him. Our brief interaction had left me vulnerable, and I wasn’t ready to step back into that chaos. Even my wolf was mad at me for distancing myself; she could sense the connection I was trying so hard to ignore. But the thought of rejection—of experiencing that pain again—made my chest tighten. No. There was no going back.

“Hey, Miss Daydreaming! We’re here!” Noah snapped me out of my thoughts, his voice bright and lively.

I turned to look out my window, and my heart lifted at the sight of the mall. It was massive, its ample parking lot a convenience, and the endless variety of stores inside promised everything I could want for an afternoon of distraction.

“Let’s go!” I announced, forcing a smile as we exited the car and made our way toward the entrance.

As we walked, the world around me buzzed with life. People milled about, laughter mingled with the sounds of chatter, and the scent of fresh pretzel dough wafted through the air. I inhaled deeply, the aroma drawing me into a lighter mood. Today was supposed to be fun—just me, Noah, and James. I could shake off the shadows of my doubts and allow myself to enjoy the things that made me happy.

Inside the mall, the atmosphere changed slightly; the warmth of the sunlight turned into the cool embrace of air conditioning as we entered. Brightly colored signs hung above us, leading to every imaginable store, from fashion boutiques to electronics shops.

“What do you want to hit first?” James asked, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Clothes or some fancy gadget you don’t need?”

“Gadgets! Always gadgets.” Noah exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious.

“Clothes can wait.” I added, fully embracing this moment of camaraderie. I felt lighter, my earlier tensions fading like morning mist under a rising sun.

We strolled through the maze of shops, laughter and chatter weaving a tapestry of joy around us. Noah and James bounced between stores, teasing each other as they pointed out strange items or fashion disasters. I couldn’t help but join in, my earlier reservations slipping further away. For now, I was just a girl with friends who made me see the brighter side of life.

“Look at these!” Noah shouted, holding up a pair of ridiculously oversized sunglasses. “I dare you to wear these for the rest of the day!”

I burst into laughter as I accepted the challenge, sliding the comically large shades onto my face. “How do I look?” I asked, posing dramatically.

“Fabulous!” James declared, snapping a picture on his phone. “You’re definitely turning heads!”

As we continued our playful banter, I put aside thoughts of rejection and my inherent worry about Darren. With Noah and James, I could laugh and just be me,stray thoughts of mates and heartbreak evaporating like morning mist under the sun.

For this moment, I was free.