The Alpha's Choice

Chapter 3: Five pups for Dexter

With a forward bend, I put my hand on top of the magazine and slide it down to meet her dark brown eyes.

"Tell me." I whisper to her, bringing our eyes to meet.

"Okay, fine! Dexter wants some pups." She deadpans.

"Oh, okay?" That's a positive thing, correct?" I make an unsure offer.

My best friend never mentioned she didn't want to be a mother in any of our 'Nora-ish' chats, as far as I can recall.

Selena blows a strand of her curly hair out of her eyes and sits up.

"Nora," she begins, "he wants them now, like, right now!"

"He wants me to quit my job here, stay at home and give him not one, but five goddamn pups!" She dejectedly buries her head in the magazine.

"You don't desire children?" I gently poke her.

"Have I missed something or what? You think five is too many?"

My friend looks up again and sighs, "It's not that. You know, I just don't think I'm ready yet."

"Since many of the werewolves in this pack are older than twenty-one, and are still waiting for the call," she continues, "I knew that my odds of finding a mate were good, but I had assumed I would have more time before having to raise a family."

I get up and circle the desk, closing the door behind me.

Taking her hand firmly in mine, I asked, "Did you express your feelings to Dexter?"

'I told him I didn't feel ready yet, and he said all the right things, like we have loads of time and he is delighted to keep me to himself, but his eyes told me that he was disappointed." Selena explains.

With a shudder, she added, "I hate it that I hurt him because I'm not on the same page as him."

I started, patting her back. "First of all, Dexter is not disappointed in you. He is simply disappointed that he cannot enjoy that experience with you at this time. Dexter wants this with you because he loves you. Second, raising a pup requires a significant lifelong commitment! You and I, who are both twenty-one, still seek the advice of our mothers when we have even the smallest problem. You cannot bear children just because you want to please your partner!"

With a nod and a few blinks, Selena raises her head "Well technically, you won't be twenty-one until Friday," which makes me sigh.

I whisper to myself, "Oh, thanks for reminding me that tomorrow night I get to sit in this damn clearing in the forest in the dark, and watch my wolf do whatever the hell she does to draw her mate to herself."

Selena laughs, and it makes me glad to see her goofy attitude coming through once more.

"She will call out to her partner, Nora, who will run through the forest and hold you tight like a jewel!"

That sounds like the plot of a paranormal romance novel—a lady who falls in love with a random wolf just because she's instructed to.

I offer her a little smile and say, "If I eventually try to run away, just throw things around the vicinity of the border or do something else, to allow me to pass undetected."

Selena laughs briefly again.

"Maybe get naked and dance for the border police; the quarrel that will ensue when your partner finds out will be a fantastic way to divert attention from me."

With a smile teasing her lips, Selena tilts her head to observe me, but she doesn't laugh as much as I had anticipated.

She asks sadly, "You're still not happy about the whole fated mate thing, are you?"

"I genuinely believed that the closer your birthday approached, the greater the likelihood that you would recover." She added, disappointment written all over her.

I shrug my shoulders and reach up to pull the ponytail band tighter.

"I don't mind fated mates," I say, "but why is it a taboo to desire to be courted, like the mortals? Why must we be claimed like some kind of property, and in the goddamn woods for that matter?"

Selena says nothing about waits for me to finish.

"I want someone to court me, not like this ridiculous mate bond, is that really too much to ask for?"

She pats my hand and whispers, "It's going to be fine, Nora. I understand that this isn't what you want, but when will you let yourself feel those butterflies again?"

Selena looks at me with a mixture of determination and concern, her eyes reflecting the weight of our shared history. "Nora," she says gently, "I understand your reservations, but having a mate is not just about tradition or fate. It's about protection, especially in our world."

She takes a deep breath before continuing, her voice filled with the echoes of the past. "You remember the war, right? The one we fought against the vampires a decade ago. Some of our own were left vulnerable because they had no one to protect them. They lost their powers, their essence. We can't afford to be weak, not in these times of uncertainty."

I nod, memories of the fierce battle and the sacrifices made by our pack flashing before my eyes. The pain of loss still lingers, a reminder of the dangers we face as supernatural beings.

Selena's grip tightens on my hand. "Your mate will be your shield, Nora. In a world where darkness lurks, having someone by your side, bound to you by fate, can make all the difference. It's not just about being claimed, it's about having a partner who will stand with you, protect you, and strengthen our pack."

Her words sink in, and I swallow the lump in my throat, understanding the gravity of her message. The need for protection in our world is not just a formality; it's a necessity, a matter of survival. As we reach the edge of the woods, I meet Selena's eyes, gratitude and determination flickering in my gaze.

"Alright," I say, my voice steadier now. "I'll face this with an open heart. I'll embrace the bond, not just for me, but for our pack, for the protection we all need."

Selena smiles, a mixture of pride and relief on her face. With her support, I find the strength to move forward.