My Best Friend's Alpha

8.

Meela

Greeted with the mouthwatering smell of my favourite dish... My mother's Lasagna, I skulk quietly through the cabin door.

My mother, who is busy washing dishes suddenly announces, without so much as a glimpse in my direction.

'And so the wanderer returns'

Evidently, not quiet enough then!

We stand there in silence until she's finished scrubbing. She dries her hands and turns to me with open arms and an expectant smile on her face.

Rushing into her warm embrace, I begin to sob.

'Hey, what's all this? I won't have tears on your birthday'

I sigh heavily.

'I almost didn't come back, Karmen made me'

My mother, now holding me at arms length, studies me quizzically. I wipe the tears from my face.

'Karmen is my wolf. She convinced me that I had to face my problems, and that I took her away from her mate too'.

My mother slowly nodded, epathetically.

'Well, she's not wrong sweetheart.'

I hugged her tightly once more.

'I've missed you so much, I've been worried sick about you. I'm so glad you're home. Your father will be relieved to see you'

Just then, the door swung open to reveal a beaming smile on my fathers face.

'You're damn right I'm relieved to see you, get over here and give your old man a hug'

I couldn't help reflecting a smile back at him as I was scooped up into a bone crushing bear hug.

'Dad, I can't breathe'

He set me back down on my feet.

'Happy birthday, slugger' he booms as he tussles the top of my head.

'How long til dinner darling?'

My mother peered through the glass of the oven door.

'About 10 minutes'

'Great stuff, I'll hop in the shower'

He smiled at me once more before making his way to the bathroom.

My mother motions for me to sit with her at the dining table and pours us both a glass of homemade lemonade.

'So' she starts. 'Talk to me, tell me how you're feeling'

With my head bowed, watching my fingers fumble against each other nervously in my lap, I attempt to unscramble my thoughts.

'I always knew there was a possibility that my mate could be a member of our pack, I just never thought for one second that it would be Nial.'

I raise my head to look at my mother, she sits patiently waiting for me to finish.

'He's Lana's boyfriend Mom, how could I do that to my best friend?'

My mother sat upright and let out a sigh, always a sure sign that she is about to impart some of her wisdom onto me.

'You know Meela, they both knew the risks of dating before coming of age. The chances of them being mates was always an unlikely one.'

I raise an eyebrow in confusion. She continued to explain.

'As the next Alpha, Nial has to be mated with a female who is a direct descendant of an Alpha bloodline. You, my dear child, are the only feesible option. You are grandaughter of Alpha Graham from The Silver Mountain pack and the Great grandaughter of Alpha Kane of The Lake Onix pack'

Sipping my lemonade, I contemplate this for a moment.

'Lana is from a long bloodline of Omegas. If Lana and Nial were mated, the Alpha bloodline would seize to remain pure.'

Reaching for my hand, my mother smiles.

'So you see sweetheart, it is destiny'.

Karmen leaps gleefully in my head

'Mother's always know best'

Demonstrating that I understand, I slowly nod.

'Lana is still yet to turn 18 Mom, do you think she'll be able to find her mate straight away?'

Gulping down half of her lemonade, my mother considers the question.

'Well, if he belongs to another pack then she might have to wait until the harvest moon gathering'

The timer on the oven pings. My mother pushes her chair out to stand.

'You need to know though Meela, the Moon Goddess doesn't often give out second chance mates, so think about it carefully before you rush in to reject him for Lana's sake. Remember, her mate is out there somewhere too'

My father returns from his shower as we serve up the lasagna, I eat in silence, my mother's words running through my mind. I finish dinner quickly, wash my plate and start towards the cabin door, turning to face my parents as my hand rests on the door handle.

'I need to speak to Nial, I'll be back before curfew'

My father nods once in acknowledgement, my mother smiles warmly.

'You're 18 now sweetheart, as long as you stay within the perimeter you can stay out late, but you do have presents to open.'

'Thanks, I won't be late, we'll watch a movie when I get back, yeah?'

'I'll make popcorn' my father declared with a grin.

I could hear the voice of my father, faintly reassuring my mother that everything would be fine as I walk the path towards Nial's cabin.

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Lana

The door slams behind me as I return to my empty cabin. My parents are obviously still busy with pack duties.

Removing my heels, I throw one at the wall in anger. Even after I have given him everything he could ever wish for, he's still considering her!

I stomp my way into the bathroom and scrub the makeup off my face and change out of my clothes that were now ridden with the stench of s*x. Spying my packet of contraceptive pills, I grab them and sit on the edge of the bath. Counting them, I realise I haven't taken any for the past 4 days. A devious smirk curls at the edges of my lips.

What if I did get pregnant with his pup? Surely he would have to make me his Luna then?

I smile to myself at my genius plan, as I empty the packet of pills into the toilet and flush them.

If I could seduce him again, maybe just once or twice, I'd be sure to fall pregnant.

I walk swiftly to my bedroom and lie down on my back with my legs pulled up to my chest, praying to the moon goddess to bless me with the child of the next Alpha. I will get him back one way or another, even if it means playing dirty!

-----------------------------------------

Nial

I barely heard the knock on the door for Syd's shouting, having just had his arse handed to him again on the xbox.

'Oh come on man, how did you get me from that angle?'

A roar of laughter escapes my chest as the knuckles wrap on the wood once more.

'Come in'

Both Syd and I turn in unison to find a very awkward looking Meela stood in the doorway, looking down at the floor.

I jump to my feet in disbelief.

Her dark curls hiding her face, glistened auburn in the last few rays of sunlight. Her perfectly straight teeth sink into her plump bottom lip as she fumbles nervously with her fingers. God, she's beautiful.

'Hi, I didn't realise you were back'

Sensing the tension, Syd jumps up and pats me on the shoulder.

'I'll catch you later dude' he shouts as he exits past Meela.

I step closer and her scent hits me, igniting an instant spark. Alistair is howling like crazy inside my head. Breathing deeply, I struggle, but refrain from taking her into my arms. It has taken her 11 days to get here, I don't want to risk scaring her off now.

After what feels like a lifetime, I manage to break the silence.

'Would you like a seat?'

She shifts uncomfortably, as if still deciding whether she made the right decision coming here, all the while avoiding making eye contact with me.

I pull out one of the dining chairs and proceed to sit in one on the opposite side of the table. Slowly, she glides forward and takes the seat. Clearing her throat, she begins to talk quietly.

'I'm sorry, I ran away and that wasn't fair on you.'

I close my eyes and appreciate the melodic tones of her voice.

'Lana is like a sister to me, I feel like I'm betraying her'

Meela has the biggest heart.

'She will make a fine Luna' Alistair muses.

Opening my eyes just in time to witness a tear land in Meela's lap, my heart aches. I just want to hold her, reassure her that everything will be okay, that I will protect her from the world.

'We were paired for a reason Meela, I cannot just ignore that, no matter how hard it is to see Lana heartbroken.'

I slide my hand across the table and link my finger around one of hers. Surprisingly, she gently squeezes it rather than moving her hand away.

'But please don't think this is easy for me, because it's not.'

She slowly lifts her head, our eyes meet. The pull in undeniable, a bolt of electric flows through our touching hands. My heart rate quickens. Her lips part, her breathing accelerates. The scent of her arousal invades my nostrils, sending Alistair into a wild frenzy. She can feel the connection too and we both know it.

Her tongue pushed against the roof of her mouth in an attempt to prevent the inevitable word that eventually escapes her lips.

'Mate'