My Mate Is An Outcast

Homecoming

Five years later

Allison

It was spring and the flowers blossomed with health. I sat under a shade with the rest of the labourers, watching the wind toy with their tender petals. Flower gathering was not the hardest job in the world but it required gentility and foresight, two things I still struggled with.

“Stop strangling the poor flowers, ogress,” a co-worker yelled at me as we began to harvest them. My hand stopped in the process of hacking at another stalk and I heard the muffled giggling. The tulips were just too delicate and no matter how gentle I tried to be, the petals ended up sagged and drooped. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and I straightened up, my head bowed in guilt. It was Sinatra, the head labourer.

“Maybe you would be better off bundling them into the storehouse,” he suggested kindly. “Everyone has their place and maybe harvesting is not your specialty.” The older werewolf took the sagged tulips off my hands and gave me instructions based on the bundling. I went off, sweating profusely from being under the harsh sunlight. I passed by the Gammas in the offices and it reminded me that I could never be like them because I was too stupid to learn how to read and write. I had no friend at Lory’s Garden and I was too shy to talk to anyone anyways.

After Sienna had found me in the woods that day, I feigned a migraine and headed home to be alone. Selfish though it seemed, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the only friend I ever had. For a she-wolf, after graduation, one was expected to either move away to find a job or to find one’s mate. Sienna did both: she moved away and found her mate, a certain Riveira from another pack. I don’t know if she ever forgave me for missing her graduation and her mating ceremony. I was such a terrible friend.

“Allison Duke, your sister is here to see you,” Fay, from the front desk informed in a loud voice. I took my bundle of roses in and ran my thumb across my forehead. The weather was hot and unbearable that the thought of a shower after work felt so relieving. Emmaline had graduated also two years ago and was employed by the Household of Alphas. Lucky Emmaline, always so lucky.

She stood impatiently in the lobby, tapping her foot restlessly. Once she saw me, her eyes narrowed in disgust and though I was older and taller, I shrank underneath her gaze. Standing beside her, no one would guess we were related because it was ridiculous. Emmaline had blonde hair like mine but that was where our similarities ended. She was petite with crystal blue eyes that sparkled with brilliance. She preferred to keep her hair at a shoulder length, cutting it once a month so washing it would be easier. Her wolf was even more magnificent, a beautiful creature with a white, smooth fur that glowed.

“Here I am. What is it?” I shifted on my feet uneasily.

“Do you know that I can’t believe you work here? It’s not like you even work at the desk because you just had to drop out. You toil under the sun like a slave and come home looking terrible. I mean, just look at yourself, all sweaty and itchy.”

I fought the urge to inspect my appearance and made my back rigid instead. I was used to her insults for five years and they no longer hurt as much as they used to. My hide was tougher and despite the stress, I loved my job. Fay listened in to our conversation, her eyes snatching up at Emmaline’s harsh tone.

“What do you want, Emmaline? I’m sure you did not come all this way to tell me this.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “Of course not. I took some money from your pillow after you left. I will replace it later.” She waited for my reaction and I honestly had nothing to say. It was not the first time she was taking what belonged to me without asking first and it wouldn’t be the last time. So, I shrugged and she stomped out immediately. Fay gave me a sympathetic smile and I went back to work.

Lucian

It has been five years since the last time I was home. Moon Valley was home and my father ruled supreme. My assistant was in my room, packing suits that I would not need where I was going. The world had evolved, even Moon Valley was embracing education and change but some things were set in stone and thus, could not be conformed to change. Goddess knew that there was no event at home that would require my wearing a suit but so as not to disrupt her peace of mind, I let her do her job, keeping her in my line of sight.

Linda was attractive but she was bone-thin, like one of those cloth models, half-starved all for the sake of professionalism and beauty. She was unaware of who I really was and I preferred it that way just as I preferred keeping her at arm's length. She was my employee and even though it was not enough reason to keep my hands off her, she did not appeal to me.

“Your car is waiting outside, sir and so are your siblings,” Linda enlightened me, dragging my valise down the stairs behind her. Her eyes were wet and she kept them averted when I had already seen them. She had been crying and it probably had something to do with my indefinite trip.

“Linda, look at me,” I coaxed, tipping her chin with a finger to rid her of any choice she had to hide. She licked her red matted lips, her eyes glassy with reserved tears through her slim glasses.

“Will you be back, sir? If only you would tell me where you are going—”

“Hush, Linda,” I silenced her in a soft whisper, gently pulling down the zipper on her dress. Her breath hitched in her throat and she gulped in trepidation. I was not moved by her model body but I would miss her a little. She gave a good head when she was not telling off a junior associate. However, I was worked up for a totally different reason and she would do for now.

A homecoming indeed, I declared to myself as I took her on the cold tiled floor of my living room.