4. My Mate
1030 Words
Cindy
I nodded my confirmation. Why did I feel like a child being taught how to behave? In their minds, I was no better than a wolf pup.
"Perfect. If you have any questions to ask, now is the time."
His second in command was browsing through my photos. I grabbed my phone from him, not caring if it seemed rude. "Yes, just one for the moment."
"Alright. Speak."
"Will I be receiving food?"
His brows furrowed and his expression softened. He looked a bit confused, but also offended. I hoped I didn't make the wrong choice by asking. I only wanted to know if I would be given cooked food or if I had to prepare it myself.
"I know we didn't meet on the best of terms, however, did you really think I would have you in my house and not feed you?"
I gulped. "I-I didn't mean it like that…"
"Yes. You will be fed."
A breath of relief escaped my lips and I relaxed a little.
Reiss sliced the orange through the middle. "He will take you to where you'll be residing. I will be on the second floor, down the hall from your room. Someone will call you down for dinner. Do what you want until then."
Cerberus sighed and gestured to a set of stairs in another room. As he got up, I followed suit.
"Hey."
I paused. "Yes, Alpha Reiss?"
He stepped forward until he was right in front of me. My first thought was that this man was about to threaten me. Instead, he asked something odd. "May I hold your hand for a moment?"
Weird, but I saw no reason to deny him. I raised my left hand and he took it. His lips twitched as if he was struggling to keep something in.
Reiss held my hand like it was the first time he had touched one. The atmosphere was quiet yet stiff. I could hear my heart thumping. One toned thumb slid over my skin ever so gently, and I became mesmerized by how it moved.
"Alpha Reiss?"
"Yes, Cindy?"
"I'm uncomfortable."
Thankfully, he let my hand go without complaint and even apologized. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s okay, I guess.”
I left the kitchen, resisting the urge to turn around and take in the look on his face.
That night I lay in bed playing the scenario over and over. I sighed, sinking my head into the pillow.
Come on, Cindy, it's only your body reacting to someone you find attractive. Remember when he said you were beautiful for a human?
Nevermind, I hated him and everyone else here. Wolves of the same fur howl together.
Such trivial thoughts did distract me from looking at the bigger picture. Here, I am the outsider. My Alpha lied because he figured they wouldn't be so stupid to harm a human when the laws prevented it. That didn't make me feel safe. It made me feel used. Why can't these men find a way to resolve their differences without involving me?
But there was one thing that made me smile as sleep consumed me.
He might just be the most handsome man I had ever met.
*Alpha Reiss*
I blew out a puff of smoke. The moonlight shone on the cigarette in my hand.
I inhaled one last time before putting out the butt. Sleep wouldn't come.
As soon as I saw her, I knew she was special. She refused to look me in the face but I could tell. Even my wolf could tell.
She's the one.
She's my one, true mate.
Why had she come so late after all this time?
It’s said that werewolves mature at the age of 20. The older wolves told me that after five years of becoming an adult, there would be no chance for a wolf to find his mate. It'd been eight years for me.
And two years since Emery and I started dating.
Yet, here she was. If I listened hard enough, I could separate her breathing from all the other noises of the night.
It was like a dream come true. My wolf was so happy it jumped around in circles. It called her beautiful before I had a chance to stop it. She's so calm and quiet. So cautious.
But why did she have to be human?!
I checked the information that Chairman Roger Brice sent me. She's at the age where she would have known I was her mate if she was a werewolf.
Not only that, but we had yet to know anything about why she's here. I refused to believe Colt sent her with no ulterior motives.
If I let her know that we were fated, she might use it to her advantage. I had to remember that regardless of how I felt, I meant nothing to her.
Someone was approaching. I sat up quickly but relaxed once I recognized the footsteps.
Emery closed the door behind her. She released her red hair from a scrunchie. "Missed me, honey?"
"Of course," I replied with a smile.
"Everything’s done. The other Gammas agreed that we’ll be focused on scouting for tomorrow’s training lesson." A black leather bag slipped off her shoulders. She reached for the hem of her dress and pulled it over her head.
I opened my arms, gesturing for her to come to bed. Emery removed her panties and allowed me to unhook her bra.
In the next second she was in my arms, her head resting on my chest. "I like listening to your heartbeat," she whispered.
I pulled the blanket over both our naked forms. Her small body felt warm against mine. Outside of our pack, no one would have thought that she was a Gamma.
"I'm glad, cause I like having you here."
I kissed the top of her head.
And what about Emery? I asked her out because she amazed me with her potential. Am I actually going to dump her for someone who might never love me?
Maybe I'm thinking too hard. Tomorrow, we'll see what kind of person we're dealing with.
- Writer
