Anyone But You

Chapter 6

As I stood in front of my mirror brushing my long red hair, I gazed into my green eyes, trying to feel anything. Lara’s comments about feeling different were living rent-free in my brain, and frankly, wreaking havoc.

Why didn’t I feel different? Was I not close enough to eighteen? No, Lara said she’s been feeling like this for two weeks. What if my wolf is weak? What if I don’t have a wolf? Would my father be disappointed in me? Is this my punishment for my mother’s death?

The questions came like rapid fire, and I felt the room start to spin.

Can I still be Alpha? Would I still be able to have a mate? Would my mate want me?

One after another, each brush stroke, another question.

My long forest green dress hugged each of my curves as I did my best to stay on my feet. My tan skin was a total contrast to the pale color that had begun to cover my face. My six-foot frame began to shake, and I was very glad I hadn’t put my heels on yet.

I leaned against the vanity as I set down the brush and took a few deep breaths to try and calm my nerves. I closed my eyes and could feel my pulse in my head. Is this what a panic attack feels like?

I stayed like this until the shaking had stopped, took one last deep breath, and looked in the mirror.

“You're overthinking, stop it,” I told my reflection.

After making sure my gold earrings, necklace, and eye shadow were perfectly placed, I coated my lips in a nude shimmer lipstick, slid into my gold heels, and walked out the door without another look.

As I reached the top of the staircase, I could hear all of the Alpha’s talking and laughing. Alpha Samuel was the loudest of them all. He was a big boisterous man who kept things very entertaining the best he could.

As I looked over the railing I saw my father and the other Alpha’s standing around the table laughing. The boys were, not surprisingly, sitting on the couches playing video games. I couldn’t help but smirk at them.

As a female, if I had never met them before I would be tripping over my tongue at the site of them. All three were about 6’1-6’2 and built like linebackers. They were tatted with different ink that scattered across their arms.

Atlas had jet-black hair and ice-blue eyes, and his skin was tan. His smile was wide and revealed his gorgeous dimples. He wore a silk black suit and a forest green tie that looked like a piece of my dress.

Aramis and Arthur looked like they could be twins. Both have dusty blonde hair and brown eyes. Also tanned and toned, both had chiseled jawlines, but no dimples. The typical Alpha looks in their black silk suits. Aramis accented his with a silver tie, and Arthur had gold. All three were chased day and night by the unmated she-wolves in their respective packs as well as mine. If only those poor girls knew the true mess those boys were.

“Ari, so glad you could join us. You look beautiful,” Alpha Wesley said with a smile as he gestured for me to come down, reaching out a hand. I walked down slowly to keep from falling.

“Thank you, Alpha,” I said as I reached the bottom of the stairs and took his hand in mine. I walked over to my father’s circle and let the Alphas gush over me.

“She looks like a spitting image of her mother,” Alpha Samuel said as he took my hand and kissed the top of it.

My father instantly went rigid as the air shifted. I glanced between them, making sure my father kept Onyx at bay.

“She really does. You’re going to need to beat the boys off with a stick.” Alpha Edwin said as he gave me a side hug. This kind of interaction would be weird to anyone looking in, but these men were basically my uncles.

“Once she finds her mate, he will do that for me.” My father said with a tight smile.

My father hated thinking of me with a mate. He had been my constant forever and not once did he ever have to share me. He knew it was the natural order of things and would never step in unless he felt it was necessary, but he despised the idea of his little girl growing up so fast.

I smiled wrapped my arm around him and pulled him into a tight hug. I couldn’t hear what he was thinking, but I could see it written all over his face.

“No one will ever replace you, Daddy,” I said with a smile as I looked up at him, trying to ease his tension. He gave me a small smile and kissed the top of my head.

Releasing me, he turned me around to face the three junior Alphas who had abandoned their game and gathered around the bottom of the stairs.

“You clean up good, I have to admit.” Aramis said with a playful smile.

“Awe, too bad I can’t say the same,” I said giving him a wink. He giggled and pushed me gently. “You all look really good though,” I said as I looked them all up and down.

The boys blushed, it was fleeting and only in their eyes, but it was there. I couldn’t help but giggle.

“You two look like the perfect couple.” Arthur said as he gestured to Atlas and me.

“Why do you have to say such hurtful things?” Atlas questioned, not even sparing me a glance.

“Funny, that’s exactly what I asked my father when he was talking about you as my potential mate,” I said annoyed.

“If you were my mate, I’d reject your ass before you had a chance to register it.” He said angrily.

“If you were my mate, I’d accept,” I said pointedly and walked off towards the table. All three stood frozen, watching my retreating figure as I strode away.

“What the hell was that about, man?” Arthur asked arms splayed out at his sides.

“I need her to know exactly what she is going to get with me,” Atlas said shrugging his shoulders.

“Come on man, for all her faults, the girl is gorgeous,” Aramis said with a grin.

“Then you be her mate,” Atlas spat. “In a heartbeat,” he said, kicking him in the ass as he followed me into the dining room.

“Who knows, she might come with a muzzle,” Arthur smirked as he walked past Atlas slapping him on the back.

As we all sat at dinner, I listened quietly as our fathers regaled us with stories from their childhood and the antics they had all gotten up to.

“Oh kids, we have something we would like to discuss with you after dinner.” Alpha Edwin said as he methodically cut his steak.

“It’s not another challenge, is it?” Aramis asked stuffing a fork full of food into his mouth.

The Alphas shared a knowing glance and continued to eat in peace. The four of us us looked at our fathers and felt a pit growing in our stomachs as we wondered what in the hell they wanted to say.

“As long as I’m not dodging bear traps, I’m all in,” I said obediently with a smile.

“You would,” Atlas spat at me as he glared me down from the other side of the table.

“What’s the matter Charts, afraid of being rescued by a woman again?” I spat back.

The tension hung in the air like a thick blanket as the two of us stared each other down, hoping the other would break first.

“Enough,” Alpha Samuel’s voice echoed as he smacked the table, making us both jump. “You two better learn to get your s**t together and quick.” He continued as he sat back down in his chair.

“I swear to the moon goddess, you two better not be mates, or you’ll both end up dead. Whether it be by your hand or ours.” Alpha Wesley said with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes and continued to eat in silence.

As dinner continued, I started feeling very uncomfortable. My back was getting warm, and it felt as if my body temperature was rising on its own for no reason. I squirmed a bit in my seat trying to get the heat to stop, but it only felt like it was getting worse.

“Can you stop moving? You're knocking the table around,” Atlas sighed as he picked up his drink to keep it from spilling. I said nothing to him and kept my eyes down trying to focus on anything but the heat.

“Ari… are you okay?” A voice asked.

The heat had turned into a searing pain, and I couldn’t focus on who was talking to me. My breathing became staggered as I gripped the table hard, causing my knuckles to go white. Pushing myself back hard, I knocked the chair over as I stood holding myself up by the table and let out an ear-shattering scream.