The Alpha's Healer

Mateless

Ari's POINT OF VIEW

Most of the females in the pack had one goal as their top priority, and that was to find a mate. With a mate, one doesn't have to go about dating different people for comfort.

I'm not going to lie, that was my dream as well – one of them at least – but I wasn't sure if I was qualified to have a mate.

"I mean, who would want me?" I blurted out. I was in a pack where I wasn't deemed worthy of anything. I wasn't pretty like the rest of the girls because literally everyone in the pack said so.

As I watched the guards' train from afar off, a thought crossed my mind. It was my birthday soon and since I wasn't going to be celebrating it, I thought I might as well just hang onto the hope that I would at least find a mate.

Deep in my thoughts, I didn't know that someone would sneak up on me.

"Ari!" The voice yelled, and I swear I felt my heart jump out of my mouth. I knew that voice. It belonged to my best friend.

"Jesse! What the heck was that for?" I queried her. "What if the others had heard you?"

"And that's exactly why you shouldn't be here. What if they catch you?" Jesse said, frowning her face at me. I didn't care how she felt, but she had no right to almost give me away.

"And as my friend, you're supposed to look out for me, not give me away."

"You're supposed to be in the pack house, doing something…anything," she said, reminding me of my position in the pack. I hated it.

My parents were just ordinary members of the Nightshade Pack, and as such, I had no place whatsoever. I had to be ordered to work in the pack house if I wanted to mingle with the others, but then, they saw me as a weakling.

At the pack house is where I met Jesse. She was the Beta's daughter. Meeting her wasn't something I thought would happen to me, but it did.

"Come on, let's get out of here," Jesse said, pulling me away from the scene and dragging me back to the pack house. I knew she was doing the right thing, but I had already done my chores for the morning. What else was I supposed to do?

Getting to the pack house, she took me to her room where I laid on the bed, thinking about my sad life.

"It's so boring in here," I retorted, still vexed that I had to leave the training ground area.

"Well, it's better you're seen here than to be caught at the training ground. The Alpha won't stand for it and I can't defend you anymore!" She said, placing her hands on her hips and giving me a stern look.

"Fine!" I huffed, turning away from her.

I could hear a sigh. I'm pretty much sure that she was done with me and my little sassy attitude as well.

"Look, Ari. You know what Alpha Dominic does to you when it sees you there. You have the scars to show for it. Just let it go."

" I hear you."

" But guess what?" I heard her say.

" What is it?" My response came out as a crumble.

" I have a birthday gift for you!' She said, squealing like a schoolgirl.

I turned around on the bed quickly to face her. "A birthday gift for me?"

Nodding her head like a lizard, she affirmed her words. "Yes, I do! I know your birthday is in 3 days and, as we all know, we get to meet our mates then!"

"I have never gotten a birthday gift before, but what has that got to do with anything?"

" Well, for starters, you'll find love, and I'll spice up your day with my gift!"

Jesse went on and on about the gift she had for me, but I knew better than to keep my hopes up. People like me never get gifts. As for the mate part, I was waiting for that as well, hopefully it was someone kind.

A fairytale romance, just like my parents. I may be their only child, but I was a damn good one.

"Ari!" A voice called, followed by a violent shake, drawing me out of my thoughts. My eyes focused on her again.

"Yeah? Did you say something?" I asked, slight confusion lacing my face.

For a few seconds, silence ensued, but as I was about to make another remark, she spoke out again.

"You mean to tell me that I've been rambling on and on to myself? Hmmm?" She questioned. "What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing." I refused.

"You're crazy, just know that. Anyway, I asked what you are gonna wear just in case you see your mate on your birthday?"

What was I going to wear? That couldn't be right, right?

"Jesse, it's a school day. Monday is a school day, of course I'd be in uniform," I said, rolling my eyes at all her fantasies.

For a Beta's daughter, all Jesse knew about was love. She wasn't a warrior or a fighter based on her rank as the Beta's daughter, she was more like a preacher of love.

"Oh come on!! But even at that, you have to look and smell your extra best on Monday. You have to get your hair and makeup down, and I can help you out with that!" Jesse said, beaming with excitement and I could tell because her eyes twinkled as she spoke.

" You know, for someone whose birthday isn't on Monday, you sure are more excited than I am," I said, getting up from the bed and standing in front of her full-length mirror. "But I guess you're right. Putting in the extra effort just for Monday doesn't hurt, right?"

"Of course, it won't. It's your day on Monday and no one can ruin it for you, not even yourself."

We heard loud noises coming from downstairs and we both knew that Lucas, the Alpha's son, and all the mateless female's crush was back from training, and Jesse was hyped about it because she was among the number of females crushing on him.

I found it weird, but I couldn't complain. At least she had a crush. I didn't have anyone.

I'm guessing she noticed my mood, because she tilted my chin to look at her.

"Don't be so moody. You're just 3 days away from your fated mate."