Hate to Love

3

Alice

The two last days passed in a haze and it was finally the day of my birthday. I had planned on a simple party in my garden because I was not much into big parties. I planned on barbecue, drinks and some music. That was enough for only my coming of age.

The guests arrived by wave in the late afternoon while I was preparing the grill with my best friend Veronica. She was a small blonde with bright blue eyes, curvy like me but not as fit because she did not need to train to be Gamma. She was dominant enough to be Delta but she would gladly take the rank of her mate as she told me many times before. I did not want to be defined like that but it was her right and I respected it. I knew that if my mate was more dominant than me anyway, I would have to take his rank. It did not mean that I had to like it though.

"I think we have enough, girl." My friend said, holding the meat.

"Yeah I guess you’re right." I nodded.

"Do you know if… Everyone will come?" She asked casually.

I knew that the question was not casual at all though. She was in love with dickhead Julian so she was a bit scared that I did not invite him. As much as I would have loved for him to stay away from me, he was our future Beta so I could not not invite him. Jasper would have killed me. I sighed thinking about the Beta.

"Don’t worry he’ll be there. I mean you’re not even his fated so why do you still hang on?" I asked. I did not understand her one bit. He was so mean and... How could a she-wolf like him?

"He doesn’t have one yet either so a girl can hope." She shrugged.

"I hope my mate will be better than him. I want a good guy." I frowned at her.

"I know who you want. You’ll see in a few minutes if he’s your mate." She teased.

"I guess you’re right." I smiled.

I was secretly in love with Jasper and hoped that he was my mate. I was thinking about him when I picked up the scent of the sea. My favourite. My wolf stirred inside of me and wanted me to follow but I had to prepare more food for the party.

I walked to the kitchen and was all alone to lay down the food on a plate when the door opened and the scent of the sea overwhelmed me. I looked up to hope and find dark green eyes but no. I had dark blue eyes in front of me. My jaw dropped while my wolf was bouncing in my head. Then I felt disgust and rage well up in me. There was just no way. How could the Goddess do that to me?

"No way…"

The dark blue eyes that had been surprised up till now were looking hurt. Join the club, dickhead. I was hurt that he was my mate.

"That’s just…" I did not have the words to continue that sentence.

I did not even know what to say to him. I wanted to reject him but my wolf was fighting me on this. The door opened again and Jasper entered smiling at the both of us.

"Nice Jul, you came first to congratulate our little Alice." He said joyfully.

He came to hug me but Julian let out a low growl. The... He had no right to growl like I was one of his possessions!

"What’s up with you man?" Jasper asked, frowning at the Beta.

As an Alpha, he did not like being growled at. I did not like the attitude of the Beta either but I at least knew why he was reacting like that. It was hard on males to see other males touch their mates. Even if we were not fully mated, I belonged to him until one of us rejected the other.

"Don’t touch her please." Julian said through gritted teeth.

I sighed and took the plate in my hands. I needed to get out of here because I certainly did not want to face this situation. Seeing him act like a normal mate was putting more salt in an open wound. I used to love this man with all my heart until he took it right out of my chest and stepped on it. It hurt too much to hope that it could change, that now that he was my mate maybe... No. I would not think that way.

"Don’t pretend like you care." I snarled as I got close to him. "Just reject me so we can be done with it or do you like to see me miserable?"

"I won’t reject you." He said his eyes narrowing.

"Wait wait… You’re mates?!" Jasper said shocked. "That’s… Oh my Goddess… Why?"

"That’s what I’d like to know." I sighed. "Let’s talk about it later. I have guests and a party to deal with."

"Alice." Julian said but I just walked out the door.

I could not take it anymore. Why did the Goddess think I could be made for that… Jerk! I did not even want to be in the same room as him any longer. He was just hurting me by his sole presence. I did not forget what he said to me two years ago. I could never forget that. I was beat down after my brother left and he just kicked me down again.

I had expected him to support me and be there for me but no. He just turned his back on me. How could we ever make a mate bond work without trust and all those hurt feelings? I could only see a big disaster ahead. Why did he not want to reject me? That was beyond me but I was not sure that I was ready to hear the answer.