My Best Friend's Alpha

Nial The light peeping through the curtains stirs me from my slumber. Just 5 more minutes Rolling over onto my front, I bury my head into my pillow. 'Today could be the day! ' A voice echoes in my head, clearer than I've ever heard it before causing me to jolt upright in bed. Today is my 18th birthday! 'That's right Nial I am your wolf, Alistair. Are you ready to find our mate?' My attention was diverted with knuckles wrapping on my bedroom door. 'Come in' Tobias, the current Alpha of The Black Orion pack sheepishly peers his head around the door. 'Happy birthday, Son' 'Thanks Dad' I smile politely. 'Today is an important day Nial, your wolf should awaken.' He grins excitedly. As the son of the Alpha, he has been preparing me for this day for my entire life. Rigorous training sessions from the age of 14, taking me on patrol from 16 and including me in pack meetings since last year. 'I know' I sigh. Fumbling with my hands in my lap. His face fell. 'What's the matter? This should be one of the best moments of your life, but you look like you've just been winded'. He stood there patiently waiting for my answer, after a minute or so of complete silence he closed the door and carefully perched on the end of my bed. I look up from my lap to find his dominant grey gaze eyeing me quizzically. 'It's just a lot to take in, Alistair'... I stopped hesitantly, realising that he wouldn't have any idea who Alistair was... 'my wolf' I continued... 'He wants to find our mate'. My dad smiles and nods in the knowingly manner he often does. 'You're worried. You love Lana but now you're worried that she's not your mate'. Lana is my girlfriend, the love of my life. We have been together for so long now that I couldn't imagine my life without her. 'I know it's hard Son, but there's no rush. Quite often the mate of the Alpha- in-waiting is the descendant of an Alpha within another pack, just like me and your mom.' Completely torn between my love for Lana and my curiosity to find my mate, I sigh once again. 'You know, there have been cases... And they are quite rare, but definitely possible'... Peaking my interest, my eyes look up searching his face for clues. Satisfied I was listening, he continued 'Some wolves are said to have an early intuition into who their mate is. They meet at a very young age and end up making memories together to then discover at 18 that they are indeed mates' My dwindling hopes begin to restore. 'Really?' He nods slowly, deep in thought. I let the air blow out quickly from my puffed up cheeks and jump up from the bed. 'Okay, enough of the heavy stuff. What's the plan for today?' A devious smirk appears on his face. 'I have some errands to run' He stands and walks towards the door, stopping just before he vacates my bedroom 'but we're doing something later.' he grins, his raising eyebrows hinting at a surprise. Gulp Inviting wafts of freshly cooked bacon invade our nostrils. My Dad and I grin at each other 'Breakfast!' Racing him out of the door, we follow the mouth watering aroma into the kitchen. Hearing our approach, my mother sets down the frying pan and scurries over to wrap the arms of her tiny 5 foot 3 frame around my waist and arms to embrace me warmly. 'Happy birthday my darling boy' My mother is an old soul, with wisdom that surpasses her age. Her glistening eyes and youthful smile are embedded in a face mapped with wrinkles, which she prefers to call worry lines- the burden she bears of being Luna, the wife of the Alpha. My muscular stature fast outgrew her arm span when I entered my teenage years and although her petite fingers can no longer meet when wrapped around me, she is satisfied with the squeeze. Cupping my face in her hands, her kind eyes sparkle as she smiles. 'Look at you, I swear you get even more handsome as each day passes' 'Doesn't he just' Our heads snap round in unison to find Lana leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, grinning like a Cheshire cat. She really is a sight to behold. A petite turned up nose covered with a sprinkling of freckles sits between the depths of her emerald green eyes. Her delicate heart shaped face is framed with long sleek dark hair, flowing past her shoulders to the middle of her back. 'Just in time Lana, we're about to eat. Please sit' Motioning to the table with one hand, my mother reclaims the frying pan with the other. 'I hope you're hungry' she beams, as she presents each of us with a plate stacked high of pancakes and bacon, drizzled in maple syrup. We devour the succulent feast, uttering the occasional appreciative moan and one by one, the cutlery clangs down on the plates as we slump in our chairs. Mmmm Alistair purs in approval. 'Thank you Deena, that was delicious' Lana mustered, her stomach fit to burst. My father excused himself to run his morning errands while Lana gathered up the plates and proceeded to assist my mother with clearing away. I watched in admiration at them chatting as they worked, any doubt in my mind of an alternate mate is cast aside as my heart swells with love, or so I thought. 'She's not the one Nial' The words burn like acid as Alistair rears his head again. 'What do you know' I retort, shaking my head as I try desperately to surpress my inner wolf. Lana will make a fine Luna, I smile to myself. The rest of the day passes in a blur of pack meetings and preparations for The Full Moon ceremony. In just 2 short weeks I will be ordained under the light of the full moon as the new Alpha of The Black Orion pack, with Lana as my chosen Luna. The sun is setting as I make my way back to the cabin, it is suspiciously quiet, the chilled whisper of autumn lurks in the breeze. Lana eyes me deviously as I round the corner, a strip of dark fabric dangling between her delicate fingers. 'You're coming with me' she giggles, placing the fabric over my eyes, plunging my sight into darkness.