Her secret mate

Moment it all...

Even without looking, I knew that Darcy's eyes were directed at Colin, because it looked like the other man was ready to jump into a fight at any moment. I knew right at that moment that if I did not step in this would turn ugly.

This was strange, because this was so unlike how Darcy had ever acted around other alphas. He has never been tentorial or jealous, but I guess he never had anyone challenging him. All the other alphas were scared of him.

Not knowing what else to do in situations like this, I laid my hands over his that were tightly wrapped around my waist. He was holding me so tight, as if he was afraid that the other man would try to take me away from him. Which was a stupid idea.

"Sorry for wandering off, but Alisha and alpha Colin wanted to give me my birthday present."

I lifted the bag that I was holding in my other hand.

"Well, how nice of them, but I thought that the Executioner left before the party started?"

Colin visibly flinched at the name he had been called. I guess he did not enjoy the little nickname the other alphas gave him. Which was strange, because it did not seem like he cared when my father called him that. But then I saw his eyes turn to his sister, and it was clear that he did not like his sister to hear him being called that.

"I asked him to stay, because I really wanted to wish Valerie a happy birthday before we left, and I really wanted to go to her party, so we could celebrate her birthday together."

The brightness in her voice was very passive-aggressive and when I turned to look at her, I saw why it sounded like that. Right now she looked like her brother again. There was this fighter energy in her eyes that made it clear that she was ready to fight the other man for her brother. It was actually quite sweet to see her act like that.

"And who might you be?"

From the instant blush on her cheeks, I knew that Darcy flashed the young girl his famous heart-stopping smile. I had been at the other end of one of those smiles one too many times, so I knew what that girl was going through. The thing I could do was give the younger girl an apologetic smile as the young girl tried to get her thoughts in order. It was clear that she was having a hard time and I knew how that felt, so I chose to step in and help her out.

"This is Alisha, she is Colins sister. She was staying with my parents while he was guarding me."

I put extra pressure on my voice as I said Colin's name as a way to tell Darcy that I did not like him using his nickname. If I was honest, I'm not sure why I cared how he or Alisha felt. I was still a bit shocked that I cared about them in any way or form, but right now I did not want to think about it too much.

Behind me I felt Darcy's body stiffen as I said Colin's name, but he did not let me linger on his reaction because he pulled the bag from my hands and handed it to one of the passing servants, who knew that they had to put it in the pile alongside other presents that I received today.

"Well it is lovely meeting you, Alisha. Thank you for caring about my Valerie so much and for the present, which I'm sure is lovely, but it's almost midnight, we have to go to the front. Luna sent me here to bring Valarie, so she could blow out her candles. If you could excuse us."

He released my waist completely and took hold of my hands as I smiled apologetically to the two people we left behind.

As we were walking away, I could not help but notice the way Colin was looking at Darcy's hand wrapped around mine. The expression on his face told me that he did not like it at all, but I did not have time to think about it as he led me to the front of the room where both mine and his parents stood next to a huge pink and white cake.

When we walked to the front of the room, I could not help but see the annoyed looks of my parents and the indifferent look on Darcy's father's face. At a steady, calm pace, we made our way to stand between them.

"My dear friends and family, I'm so proud and happy to see my daughter all grown up. It feels like it has been just yesterday when she came into this life screaming and kicking. That it was only yesterday that she asked me to play tea party with her."

Which he never did, and I had to do it all on my own.

It took a lot more effort to keep a straight face on as my father continued with his little emotional speech about how grown up I was and how sad it is to see me go.

"But I'm happy and proud to see you go, and I wish you all the luck in this world on your next steps in life."

The room filled with applause and the staff started lighting the candles on the cake.

"Make a wish baby."

I heard Darcy whisper into my ear and I closed my eyes to think about what I really want. When I opened my eyes, I was met by his eyes, and I knew what I wanted.

I want to live a happy, quiet life with my mate.

With that wish in my mind, I blew off the candles.

As the last one died down, I heard the clock in my parents' living room hit twelve, and it was officially my eighteenth birthday.

My heart was beating so fast as I turned back to Darcy, waiting for the pull of mate to bloom in my chest. I was so sure that it was going to happen at any moment now...