The First Warrior Wolf

Chapter 4: Reception Time

_Allison POV_

I felt the mate bond tingle and hated that my body betrayed me. Because damn, it felt good. He had me trapped in his room. The only way out was to let him ask what he wanted.

I took the single chair. No way was I giving him a chance to sit next to me. I wasn’t a possession. Bond or not, I’d set boundaries.

He sat on the couch closest. Our eyes met. His scent hit me and I hated how drawn I was.

He looked lost in thought, then smiled. A quiet giggle. “Did you ever learn to swim?”

Shock hit me. I knew exactly why he asked.

Helen and I at the pool. Summer. Matteo invited Alex and his posse. Alex, shirtless, tribal wolf tattoo on his shoulder. I gawked like an i***t. Jennifer sent a lackey to push me in as I walked away.

I nearly drowned. Lysander saved me. Helen tore into all of them, including Matteo. Alex’s response?"Stay away from water if you can’t swim._ He laughed.

The memory made me furious. I kept my face blank. “I have. And if you plan on taking trips down memory lane, let me stop you. Those pranks you remember weren’t the same for me. Very few memories of high school are good for me.”

I was irritated. “I’m sure this isn’t all you want to talk about?”

He recovered fast. Asked the question I expected. “Why are you and my brother so close?”

I raised a brow. Allegra thought it was jealousy. I scoffed but answered. “Lysander was married to my cousin Helen. She helped me build relationships with pack members, especially Sanders. After she passed three years ago, we got closer. Comfort. Support.” I refused to give more. Helen’s death still hurt.

His tone changed. “Look, I’m sorry I let others bully and hurt you. No excuses. But I can make amends. All I’m asking is a chance. Get to know you. Start with friendship.”

I didn’t expect that. _‘Say yes. Give mate a chance. Maybe he changed,’_ Allegra said. _A leopard can’t change his spots,_ I told her. _Good thing he’s a wolf. Helen would want you to give him a chance,_ she shot back.

Allegra was all for her mate. I couldn’t blame her. But I didn’t care for him. _Fine,_ I told her. Least I could do for my partner in crime.

I nodded. He smiled. “I’ll shower. You explain the pack changes.”

The second he left, I exhaled. Started explaining pack dynamics on autopilot while I texted Rose: _Where was Alex before coming home?_

The goddess’s vision said the enemy was close. With Alex back, I wasn’t taking chances. After the rogue attack that took Helen, we don’t trust easy.

I was still giving Rose instructions when his scent hit me full force. I looked up and caught my breath.

Built like a god. Toned muscle, sun-bronzed, water droplets tracing his six-pack to where the towel rode dangerously low.

Allegra peered through my eyes to look. Our eyes met. He raised a brow. I pulled myself together, irritated he caught me staring.

“You do know there’s a connecting door from the bathroom to the closet, right? I laid out three tux options.” I went back to my list.

He walked out with the white rose. I couldn’t deny he looked good. Everything fit perfectly. He stared at me. I looked up. He smiled and a shiver ran down my spine. Since when was he sweet to me? Mate bond?

I let him take my hand and lead me out.

At the hall doors, I fixed his bow tie, looped my arm through his, stood straight, pasted on a smile. “Smile,” I whispered as the doors opened to a hall of wolves at attention.

Warriors whistled and whooped as we walked in. Most she-wolves smiled. A few shot jealous looks. Many shot lustful glances at Alex. I heard _w***e_ and _slut_ whispered as we walked to the stage.

I knew a lot of she-wolves didn’t like me. I still had to win over warriors who didn’t know me. I hated the attention. Mixed emotions rolled off the pack.

Alpha Manuel made announcements. Speeches were given. I sat like a zombie, smile fixed, waiting for the night to end.

Finally, food. I wasn’t hungry. I picked up my plate and dished Alex’s favorites: gemin, roast beef, roast potatoes, spicy rice, mac and cheese. I frowned at the plate. Even after all these years, I remembered what he liked.

I swapped his plate for mine. He gave me a questioning look. I shrugged. “Not hungry.” He looked worried but started eating. I was grateful he didn’t push.

I scanned the crowd, watching the pack.

Drama started when we went to mingle. Arm in arm, table to table, accepting congratulations. I got caught discussing a pup’s training progress. Alex got pulled into “good old days” talk with classmates.

I let him be. Ended up on the opposite side of the hall with Lysander. Then Culim grabbed the mic.

He wanted a father-daughter dance. My blood ran cold. Sanders swore. All eyes on us. I couldn’t run. I froze a smile in place and took his hand.

He gripped my waist hard, digging into skin. His hand crushed my fingers. I kept smiling despite the pain.

As we danced, he hissed, “Pathetic excuse for a wolf. You better satisfy your mate. Disgrace me and you’ll regret it.”

I looked aside in time to see Jennifer — Alex’s ex — in a black dress with a high slit, hugging every curve of her hourglass shape. She threw herself into his arms. He smiled at her.

I watched her hands stay on my mate’s chest as she pouted. “Alex, I’ve missed you. Forever since you returned and now you’re stuck with a pitiful omega.” She ran her hands up and down his arm.

Culim kept turning me so I missed Alex’s face. Seeing this hurt more than the physical pain Culim was causing.

Culim dug his nails into my skin as a warning when the dance ended. He bowed, walked me to Alex, who took my almost-healed hand. He put his hand on my waist and we started dancing to Elvis Presley’s _Can’t Help Falling in Love_.

He smiled down at me. I kept my eyes down. I couldn’t believe what I’d seen. But what did I expect after all these years?

He pulled me close, inhaled, then frowned. “You’re bleeding. When did you get hurt?”

Startled, my eyes snapped to his. Worry there. I shook my head. “It’s fine. My wolf healed it. It’s nothing.” I looked away.

Moments ago he was wrapped in Jennifer’s arms. Now he cared about a healed wound? As we danced, Alex suddenly scooped me up princess-style and walked out.

The hall erupted — cheering, whistling, crude remarks.

My face burned. “Alex, put me down!” I demanded as he strode down the garden path to the pack house.

“Alex, where are you taking me? Put me down!” I demanded again once we were alone.

“I will when you tell me who hurt you,” he said, entering the pack house and taking the stairs two at a time.

“What’s the point? My wolf healed me. I don’t want drama.”

He stopped. Looked down at me. “The point is you’re my mate. No one has the right to hurt you. As your mate, I protect you. If someone hurt you while I was present, I need to know who.”

For a second I almost believed he cared. Then I remembered Jennifer’s arms on him. I tried to get out of his grip. He growled.

“Put me down, Alex. I don’t need your protection. Go spend more time with Jennifer. I’ll deal with Culim like I always have.” Tears pricked my eyes. I took a breath to control it.

He put me down only to grab my face and kiss me. I resisted at first, but he deepened it and I gave in, savoring his lips, his tongue. He pulled back so I could breathe. I heard him chuckle. My eyes were still shut. I snapped them open and pushed him. He wrapped me in his arms.

“So my little live wire was jealous because another she-wolf talked to me,” he chuckled. I stopped fighting.

“I am not jealous. I feel disrespected. Keep your hookups for private spaces,” I said, finally breaking free. But he picked me up again and kept walking.

“You can’t get away from me, mate. I’m an Alpha. Bigger and stronger than you.”

“Call it what you will, but you’re jealous and it’s okay. Know this: I don’t want Jennifer or any other she-wolf. I promise you won’t witness a scene like tonight again.” He met my eyes. I saw honesty. My anger crumbled.

My cheeks burned. I looked away and realized where we were headed. “Why are we going to your room?” I asked as we hit the Alpha floor.

“Well, firstly, it’s _our_ room now. Secondly, I think we should talk more. Build a bond. Learn about each other. Work through stuff. Plus, I really want to kiss you again.” Mischievous smile.

I blushed at his teasing and hid my face in his chest. He chuckled. I looked up as he pushed the door open with one hand, locked eyes with me, and bent to kiss me again.

He walked in, kicked the door shut — but before either of us could speak, a shriek came from the bed.

We looked. Jennifer’s naked body sprawled on the bed. Alex dropped me. I hit the floor with a thud