My Mate or My Pack?

Oh No, Not Now!

POV Alice

I heard my mother go to my father’s office as I closed my bedroom door. My room was spacious and reflect of who I am without my brother’s consent comments of calling me pup. With a queen sized bed in the corner, accompanied by a bedside table and a desk against the wall. Photos of friends and family and inspiring photos hanged along the walls in somewhat chaotic but organised way. But there was plenty of space for more memories. Baby blue and shinning sliver coloured its way throughout my room with my personalised items with its off white, cream coloured walls. I chuckled to myself knowing that mother still hasn’t let me paint the walls to a different colour to complement my choice of colours.

But again, the same goes for my brother’s bedrooms.

Making my way to my walk-in closet as I think to myself of what to wear. Now I’m more of a jeans, shorts and tank top type of girl but knowing what my mother expects of me for our mysterious guest, I’ll honour her wishes. So to the back of closet I go, pulling out a flowing dress that has off the shoulder straps, white with small sliver laced details at the bottom that’ll come up to my knees…well maybe mid-thigh or just above my knees. I don’t know since I haven’t worn it in so long. I decided to match it with my white sneakers just so I don’t embarrass myself in the un-walkable heels my mother expects me to wear. I’ll wear the dress but I draw the line when it comes those uncomfortable shoes.

Taking the dress and my new white sneakers over to my bed, I felt a warm feeling creep up my spine. What was that? It’s mid morning and the weather doesn’t get this hot at this time of year. I crunched my nose in confusion as I thought about it.

“Alice…” my wolf, Sliver whined in my head.

“Whats the matter Sli?” I asked softly, I loved her. She is more quiet than me but she seems so wise beyond her years but too shy to know it and too timid to show it most of the time.

“Alice I don’t know what’s happening to us but we’re burning up and I have the urge to take control” she answered, sounding worried and that made me more worried and suddenly nervous.

“Are we going through The Change?” I asked, hoping for another reason. I cannot do this right now, not when mother and father are counting on me for tonight.

I somehow doubted my brothers would show up for our guest but I had faith…kinda.

Sliver whined and didn’t answer as I felt her went to the back of my mind. I wish she answered me at least but obviously she wasn’t too sure of what to say.

Heavily sighing nervously, I walked to my bathroom, needing a shower before anything else. The sudden warm feeling that crept up on me is still lingering and I don’t like it. My hands were sweaty and I felt like a fever was coming on. Great just what I need before tonight. The shower on with cool running water should at least keep whatever this is at bay but I highly doubt it because after my shower, I was still warm. Am I going into heat? No that’s impossible I need to complete The Change fully to be able to do that. Well there goes that idea.

After getting fully dressed, sneakers on and everything I looked at my reflection in my full framed mirror. I breathed in relief that the dress wasn’t too short and held my figure nicely. My dirty blonde hair was all I needed to do. Walking over to my bathroom once again I started figuring out what to do as the unwelcoming warm feeling was ever so slowly becoming hotter. I looked in the mirror and my rosie cheeks were flushed down to my neck. I leaned forward, expecting something else to happen. Then all of a sudden my eyes shifted into wolf like, making me gasp and flinched back. Slowly I walked forward and pulled my hand up to my face as I looked deep into my own eyes through the mirror. “Sliver?” I whispered then a loud and urgent knock occurred on my bathroom door, making me squeal in fright. I spin my head around to see my mother, standing at the door all dressed up and ready for our guest.

“Ah ma! You scared me!” I whined, still trying to catch my breath with my hand on my chest.

“We’ve been calling you sweetie, I’m sorry but it’s time to come down and meet Alpha Russel and his only son, Kaleb” she explained as she came over and quickly but somehow gracefully brushed my hair and pinned the top half up with clipped, decorated with a night like blue flower and a sliver moon. “There beautiful, now let’s go” she said, eager to get to our guest.

Wait…Alpha Russel? And his son Kaleb? The Alpha Russel, who is the leader of the biggest pack in the northern hemisphere?? The Red Rivers Pack?? Here??? He’s our guest???

I looked at mother with a grateful smile but nervous eyes “thank you, but why is he here? And why did he bring his son?” I questioned but didn’t get an answer as she took my hand with a reassuring smile and lead me out of my room and to the stairs. She made me wait until she’s halfway down the stairs until I followed her. Okay because that’s not weird. What is with everyone today? My brothers trying to bail on greeting our guest with training and now my mother with the stairs? And not to mention this lingering heat in my body that keeps getting hotter so slowly that it feels like I’m about to burst!

With a pout, I kept my opinions to myself for once and followed my mother once she got halfway down the stairs. As I tried to be presentable and graceful like my mother until I caught a scent I never smelt before. Was it because of the guest? It smelt something earthy like the woods mixed with a spice of cinnamon and that made my body shiver, despite the warm feeling growing inside of me. Maybe this is part of The Change? Sense of smell dramatically increasing?

I tried to ignore it and came down the stairs with a smile on my face but I could feel Sliver inching closer to the front of my mind. As I came down to the bottom of the stairs I saw my mother smiling, wearing her light blue and sliver mid length dress that covered her shoulders and her blonde hair, tied up in a bun with just enough hair hanging down to frame her gorgeous face. My father, Alex who was dressed in his second best suit as he liked to call it as it was his wedding suit his very best suit. Wearing a dark grey opened suit, with a crisp white shirt just leaving two buttons undone for more of a causal business effect but yet still welcoming. His short brown hair had some greys slicking through as he had a rough but rugged look to it. With a grateful smile my father showed me as he stepped over and took my hand.

I smiled happily at my father. I always loved his soft hazel eyes. I wished I had my mother’s deep blue eyes but I was thankful that only James and I had our father’s eyes as the twins had my mother’s.

“Alice, I’ll would like to introduce you Alpha Russel of the Red Rivers pack, and his son Alpha Kaleb” he father spoke softly and welcomingly “Alpha Kaleb is due to take over his own pack soon, so he’ll be joining us tonight” my father explained as he gestured to the two men who stood before me.

My body felt warmer and warmer buy the minute but I managed to keep a soft smile on my face. I looked up to Alpha Russel, meeting his brown eyes. He looked around the same age as my father, wearing a dark blue suit pretty much the same way as my father. Giving the more smart casual appearance.

I bowed my head in respect “Alpha Russel” I greeted him but to my surprise Alpha Russel stepped closer and took my free hand in his.

“It’s a pleasure to meet one of my oldest friends pups!” He smiled whilst shaking my hand. “It’s been so long, last time I visited you were still in your mother’s womb” he chuckled.

Yeah cause that’s not gross to put it like that.

I chuckled with a nervous smile “nice to meet you Alpha”

Alpha Russel gave me a look “no Alpha Russel to you dear, please just call me Russel” he smiled again.

I giggled at that comment but soonest I giggled a low growl came from Russel’s side. Which startled me as I quickly pulled my hand away from Russel and stepped back.

Alpha Kaleb.

Sliver purred in my head at the growl he made. Wait purred?

I looked over to Russel’s side as my eyes caught onto a set of deep dark brown eyes. His eyes are nearly black!

I headed pounded as sliver went wild. I never felt her like this before. “MATE!” she howled in my head.

Kaleb was wearing a black open suit like his father, white crisp shirt with the top three buttons undone. His hair was black and short on the sides, leaving the top of his hair slightly longer to come just above he’s eyes, giving him the effect that his eyes are black as his hair. With possessive smug looks on his face, he looked at me like he was the hunter and I was his prey. “I appreciate if everyone could stop touching my mate!” He shouted with a growl. I quickly flinched again and held my hands to chest nervously. His smugness quickly changed into something softer as he generally smiled at me “I’m sorry, lil one. I didn’t mean to scare you” oh god his voice was like heaven on earth but deep enough to rumble the earth.

I couldn’t manage words to come out of my mouth as I stared at him. The warmth in my body was hotter than before and my mind was going hundreds of miles a second.

Come on Alice…say something!

“H-h-h…I….I…” I stuttered as my cheeks became bright red

Good job Alice! Now he’ll think we’re mute!

Alpha Kaleb stepped forward as I felt movement behind me, guessing it was my parents moving aside from the possessive alpha. He leaned forward with his hand close to my waist, felt like he was caging me in but I felt safe and protected. He was close to me as I felt his minty breath on my face.

“Are you okay, lil one?” He asked again but softer than before.