Her Mate

Chapter 1: The first meeting

Chapter 1:

"So, did you hear?" Maya asked me with so much excitement.

"No," I replied back to her, actually confused about what she was referring to.

She rolled her round eyes at me and let out a little sigh, "Honestly Isabella, it's like you live under a rock".

I knitted my eyebrows together and pursed my lips into a small pout. "Maybe I do. I'd rather live under my rock, than spend my day gossiping like you," I told her annoyed.

"Don't get so mad, but maybe you should listen in on the gossip around here. This one got everyone on their toes," she said, while giving me a little wink.

Maya and I had been friends since birth. Her father was Alpha Dean's beta. He was the second person to be killed during the invasion years ago. I remember us being held in one cell together the day we were captured. Maya had also kept her identity hidden, knowing if Jeremiah knew who she was, then one way or the other he would break her down until she told him about my whereabouts.

We held onto each other so tight that night, not wanting to let go. The cell was cold, damp, and dark. However, it was also cramped with all the other orphans who had been captured that night. It was an unspoken promise between Maya and me that our identities would stay hidden, till we were safe.

I looked back at Maya and admired her tan skin, her jet black hair, and silver eyes. She was beautiful and everyone around us knew it. Maya had many admirers within the pack. Some were guards, some were the male servants, and others were even wealthy men. Yet, Maya didn't bat an eye towards them, she was waiting for her mate. Her hope was that he belonged to a different pack, so she could leave her job, her past memories, and the reminders. A part of me hoped she wouldn't find her mate and be by my side for as long as possible. I had lost all of my family, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

"Well, what's the gossip? Tell me before your head explodes with all this useless information," I told her, once I snapped out of my own thoughts.

She cleared her throat dramatically as if she was presenting an award to thousands of people. "The Alpha's son is coming to the pack for the first time. I believe the word is he is arriving today. Can you believe it?"

My eyes went wide at the news. I knew Jeremiah had a son, but he had never set foot on pack grounds. Instead, Jeremiah had his son study at some prestigious boarding school, while the children who became orphans at his will rotted in poverty. I knew in Maya's voice she was as shocked as I was.

"After everything he did to us. Can you believe how lavish he and his family live in your house, Isabella?" Maya spoke in a harsh whisper, I knew if someone heard us we'd be in a lot of trouble for talking so poorly about the Alpha and his loved ones. Not to mention the questioning of how this house belonged to me.

I shrugged, "what's the point of remembering all that, Maya? No one even remembers us, we're lucky to be alive."

I knew my words hurt her; Maya wanted to fight all the injustice that had occurred to us in the hands of our capture. However, what were we going to do? No one dared to fight Jeremiah and the original members of his pack. My father, Maya's father, and those who died that night were all forgotten. Everyone had moved on and continued with their lives. Most of us orphans lived off of manual labor and got paid little to no money. Maya and I were lucky that we were at least given livable wages.

I glanced at Maya from the corner of my eye and watched a small frown appear on her face. She was upset with what I had just said, but tried her best to compose herself as quickly as possible. "I guess you're right, what's the point," she mumbled.

A small sigh left my lips as we both continued our work in the kitchen in silence. I knew Maya probably would try her best to put our conversation beside us and act as if no words were exchanged on the topic. She always did, whenever the topic of vengeance came up.

"Do you want to come over tonight?" I asked Maya, in an attempt to change the mood.

She continued to knead her dough and without looking up said, "sure, it's not like I have anything else to do".

I rolled my eyes at her tone; Maya was strong headed and not to mention that she wore her emotions on her sleeve. Everyone in the room knew if Maya was happy, sad, or nervous. She was as open as a book. However, I took her callous yes as compromise to not wanting to discuss Jeremiah or his son any more.

We both stayed quiet as we concentrated on kneading the mounds of dough in front of us for tonight's occasion. I assumed the rumors were true, his son was returning to the pack. There was copious amounts of food being made in some celebration, the halls of the house were being decorated, and I could hear Jeremiah's wife yell orders at the staff not too far from us.

"Oh, I can't stand that wife of his," Ms. Agatha mumbled under her breath as she made her way towards me with more dough.

I gave her a small smile before replying, "Don't say that, she could have heard you."

Ms. Agatha snickered, “That’s where you’re wrong, my dear. Our devoted Luna is too busy listening to her own voice than to hear mine”. I appreciated Ms. Aggie’s honesty, since Jeremiah’s wife, Gisele, was anything but kind and warm-hearted.

I had known Ms. Agatha since I was a child. She was the head chef of the Alpha’s house and her cooking was quite famous in our town. After my father passed and I was brought to the house as a maid, Ms. Aggie took Maya and I under her wing. Both of us helped her with anything and everything that had to do with the kitchen. For special occasions, parties, and banquets; Maya and I were her right hand girls.

“Enough talk about her, I need you to go into the dining banquet and set up the table. The Alpha’s son is arriving sometime before dinner,” Ms. Aggie told me.

I knitted my eyebrows together, “So the rumors are true? He actually is joining the pack.” I replied.

She nodded her head, while saying, “Now go before Gisele comes for our heads”.

I quickly gathered myself and brushed off all the excess flour on my uniform. I soon scurried out of the kitchen and quietly made my way past the Luna, trying my very hardest to make sure she wouldn’t see or hear me. I was soon faced in front of two large wooden black doors, those doors could fit in about fifty people at once. Though they looked incredibly heavy; they weren’t. I swiftly pushed them open to find a slender, but muscular man about 6ft standing straight ahead with his back facing me. There were two lean, long legs wrapped around his torso. They obviously belonged to a woman and she seemed to be hoisted onto the dining table. Her hands were snaked through his brown, curled hair. Small moans escaped her mouth as his head nuzzled into her neck further. Her eyes were closed and the rest of her face was covered with his broad shoulder.

I stood there hazed, my eyes glued to them for some reason. My cheeks were most certainly a rosy pink color. I soon mustered up enough courage to clear my throat, loud enough for them to hear. The woman’s hands quickly fell from his hair and pushed the man away as a small squeal left her lips. Soon, they both stared at me and I quickly recognized the women.

“Corinne?” I questioned, not being able to take my eyes off of her.

“Isabella, I can explain. Please don’t call Luna, she’ll fire me instantly!” She begged, soon stepping away from the man and her cozy seat on the table.

I watched Corinne make her way towards me, fixing her maid uniform as she did. “I won’t, but you need to leave. Ms. Agatha asked me to come in here to set up the dining table. You’re not supposed to be in here without permission,” I told her.

She nodded her head and walked out the front door, leaving the scene like a gust of wind. She was right to be terrified of the Luna. Gisele didn’t take kindly to us, maids and servants, fraternizing with people above our social class. I moved my gaze away from Corinne briskly walking down the hallway to the man standing in front of me. There was a strange heaviness to my chest as I slowly brought my gaze back to him.

The instant our eyes connected, I felt a bolt of lightning run through my veins. A heavy, yet sensational feeling was emerging from my whole body. “Mate,” Angelique’s voice rang through my mind.

“He’s our mate, Isabella.” Her soothing voice said.

I stared at him once again and this time taking in his appearance. He was handsome and there was a charm to his smile, yet you could tell he wasn’t to be trusted. His hair was a light, chestnut color with short curls, he had these captivating emerald eyes, and a devious smile to adorn his chiseled face.

“Mate,” He calmly spoke as he made his way towards me.