The Alphas Mate

2.

Layla'h

I break through the tree line into a clearing and come to a stop. There's a beautiful lake, I can see the reflection of the moon and stars shining on the lakes surface. It's beautiful. But it's never been here before in any of my other dreams. I swing my head round, trying to look around me to see if anything else has changed. The big black wolf uses my distraction to his advantage and starts to circle around me. By the time I realize he is there it's to late I can't run from him. So I watch to see what he's going to do, taking in the details of the wolf like I haven't been able to do before now that he's so close. He has the most piecing blue eyes I've ever seen, fur so black it's almost blue under the moonlight and he towels over my little form so much he could probably tuck me in between his legs while I'm standing at my full height.. I see him sniff at my hind legs, then my flange before circling around to my face. His tongue darts out and he licks the side of my muzzle s couple of times before rubbing himself against my side. My wolf lets out a light growl almost like a purr and he pushes into me again.

 I wake with a start to my phone ringing on the nightstand. By the time I've orientated myself it's stopped ringing so I flop back down on my bed covering my eyes with my arm and try to get my mind back in order. Today's dream was so much more detailed. The lake, the details of the black wolf, the way my wolf felt with him being so close. I know I've never seen the wolf before in my life and I know if it's that big and because it's got black fur it's an Alpha wolf but I know it's not Chris. Chris has beautiful light green eyes in wolf form which match his human eyes. So I don't know who this wolf in my dreams is or what the dreams mean. I'm pulled out of my wondering's by the text notification on my phone. Rolling over to get my phone I notice I have a couple of text's. I open the one from Lexi first. 

Lexi: Happy Birthday Babes. Come to the pack house for breakfast we're having birthday cake!!

I quickly text her back to let her know I've just woken up and will be there in an hour. Before opening the next one from Chris.

Chris: Happy Birthday Tiny. Come see me in my office when you wake up I have a present for you x. 

There are a couple more from Luke, Rhys and Lexi and Chris's parents. All wishing me a happy birthday. I text them all back a quick thank you before deciding I better get up and head to the pack house to see Lexi. I have a quick shower, tie my hair up and pull on a comfy pair of leggings and a tank top and head to the pack house. Lexi meets me at the door, throwing her arms around me in a hug the second I get out of the car. Screaming in my ear at the top of her lungs. 

"Happy Birthday Babes! come on we're having birthday cake for breakfast." she says pulling me by the arm inside towards the kitchen. 

"Woo, hold on Lexi, I got to go see Chris first and then I'll come have cake and we can hang out for the rest of the day." I tell her pulling away from her to head towards Chris's office rather than the kitchen. 

"I better get to see you today, don't spend the whole day with my brother" she yells as I walk away. I wave at her over my shoulder before getting to Chris's door. I stop outside the door needing to get a deep breath before knocking to calm my nerves. I know that once I walk in there we will know if we're mates, no matter what it's going to change everything. Rising my hand I knock quickly before I lose my nerve, waiting for him to let me know I can come in. No doubt he's in the middle of some sort of pack business which is why he's working on a Sunday, either that or he just wanted to do this away from everybody else.

The door opens and Luke walks out. He pulls me into a hug wishing me happy birthday before letting me go and heading down the hallway. I walk in closing the door behind me before looking towards Chris whose already coming around his desk. My heart starts to sink as he come's to a stop just in front of me. 

"Happy Birthday Tiny." 

Chris whispers gently to me as he cups the side of my face lightly running his thumb over my cheek. I can see the sadness shining in his eyes reflecting mine, even though he's got a smile on his face. Letting out the tears that have been building in my eyes I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my head into his chest and cry. I can't believe it. All this time, we're so close, we've been friends for years. He's been my rock ever since my parents died. He's the one who's looked out for me, cleans me up, let me cry on his shoulder, held me when I was lonely and his not my mate and this is all going to stop. I'm going to lose my bestfriend. 

"We're not mates" 

I whisper out. Saying it out loud makes me cry harder. Chris wraps his arms around me picking me up and walks over to sit back in his chair, holding me tight to his arms and lets me cry into his shirt. 

"Shush Baby, it's going to be alright." 

I hear Chris breath into the top of my head. It doesn't make me feel any better though, it just makes me cry more because I know it's not true. It's not alright because we're not mates which means we both need to go our separate ways and try and find our mates. We can't cuddle or sleep in the same bed anymore. He can't be the person I turn to when I'm sad or lonely. He was right. Yesterday was the last morning where he can rub himself all over me as a joke so that I smell like him. 

Chris

I don't know how long we sat there together. Layla'h wrapped up in my arms cuddled into my chest while she cried herself to sleep. I tried my best to comfort her even though my heart was breaking just as much as hers. I've loved this beautiful women for the last 2 years maybe even more. When I turned 18 and didn't find my mate I had hope that the moon goddess was going to give me Layla'h. We fit together so well. At the start I tried my best to keep things solely friends but the more time we spent together the harder it became until one night this went further than before. We stopped in time before we did something we couldn't take back and made our agreement that we would wait until she turned 18 and we knew 100% that we were mates. So for the last year we've waited. Pushing and teasing each other without fully crossing the line. We waited for today. I knew as soon as Luke opened the door and I saw her standing there that we weren't mates. That there was no mate bond. I didn't know what to do so I just wished her Happy Birthday anyway and now like any time she's upset I've sat here holding her, trying to give her peace and calm while watching her fall apart. 

Layla'h's fast asleep while I sit here watching her beautiful face when I hear a soft knock at the door. I can smell it's Lexi so I mind link her to let her know she can come in. I don't want to wake Layla'h. I look up as Lexi opens the door. She spots Layla'h curled up on my lap asleep, with her tear stained face and she knows without even asking. 

"You aren't mates." Lexi mind links me so she doesn't wake Layla'h. 

"No we're not" I reply looking back at Layla'h brushing the hair off her face. 

"What are you going to do?" 

I know Lexi was hoping that we were mates just as much as we were. Layla'h is her bestfriend and after Lexi mated with Luke she really wanted Layla'h to stay with the pack as well. 

"Can you pass me the blanket from the couch" 

I say instead of answering her. I watch Lexi grab the blanket and bring it over and wrap it around Layla'h and I while I think about Lexi's question. What am I going to do. There's really not much I can do. Letting out I sigh I finally answer her.

"I'm going to let her go so she has a chance to find her mate and maybe in a couple of years if neither of us still don't have mates then maybe we can be chosen mates instead. There's not much else I can do Lex and we all know it." 

"I know, it still sucks though. Do you want me to get one of the guys to put her in bed?"

"No, she's fine here. I have some work to do and after today this is gonna be the last time I can hold her like this."

Lexi nods her head at me and leaves closing the office door quietly behind her. I spend a couple more minutes watching Layla'h before getting back to work. I answer some emails, take a few phone calls. Rhys comes in to give me a report, Luke comes in and we go over the budget for the next quarter all the while Layla'h sleeps peacefully in my arms. Rhys and Luke both give me a sad look but don't say anything about it. I know Lexi would have told them and at this stage I'm just thankful they didn't say anything, I'll deal with it at some stage after I know that Layla'h okay. At lunch time Mum comes in bringing me a couple of sandwiches for lunch. She gives me a heartbroken look so I know that she knows as well. At this rate the whole pack will know before the day is over. That's going to make life harder for Layla'h. I know that some of the females in the pack give her a hard time because of how close we are. I'm sure they all think we're been sleeping together for years now and when they all find out Layla'hs not my mate it's going make things worse. I mind link Lexi while I eat my sandwich.

"Lexi, how many people have you told. You know when this gets out the pack shanks are going to make life worse for Layla'h." 

"I only told Luke, Rhys and Mum and Dad. Only because they all asked where Layla'h was. We all already agreed to keep it under wraps, we know what everybody is going to be like."

Happy with her answer I cut the mind link without saying anything further. I know the rest of our group are looking out for Layla'h as much as I am. She's had it ruff for the last couple of years since her parents. So we all do what we can for her. I finish my sandwich and get back to work. Half an hour later I get a mind link from Luke. 

"Hey you need to come out to the broad."

"Why? what's the problem?"

"Alpha Xavier is here, he's wanting to speak to you."

"Layla'h is still asleep and you know I can't leave her today of all days. Ring me I'll talk to him over the phone."

A couple minutes later my phone rings. 

"Alpha Xavier, how can I help."

"Ah Alpha Chris, it would be nice to see you in person can you get your Beta and patrol to let us in to your territory?"

"I can't see you today, I'm tied up with something for the rest of the day but I'm sure my Beta would be able to help you anyway we can. What's going on?"

"We've been tracking a rogue who kidnapped one of our pups for the last couple of days and the trail seems to have cut through you territory in the north west corner can we come in and see if we can pick it up?"

"That would be the rogue we spotted last night. Luke knows all about it, so he can help you out. I'll organize some rooms for you and your team incase you need somewhere to stay for the night and I should be able to catch you in the morning."

"Much appreciated."

I work for a couple more hours, ever now and than stopped to watch Layla'h sleep. I haven't seen her like this since her parents died. It's almost like everything was to much and her mind and body shut off, leaving her to sleep. It's starting to get late and I haven't heard or seen anyone for a while. I'm not sure how Luke got on with Xavier and his guys or if they are still here. That's a job for tomorrow. I decided to finally call it a day and take Layla'h upstairs to bed. She can stay with me for the last time tonight and then tomorrow I will get her to focus on trying to find her mate at school. I sit in bed leaning against the headboard with Layla'h still cuddled into me and watch tv. We've only been in my room for about an hour before she finally starts to stir. I watch as her beautiful blue eyes slowly pop open and look at me. 

"Hi Tiny, how you feeling?" I ask her gently, I already know she's not going to be in a good way but I ask anyway.

"Like I've been hit by a truck. What are we going to do Chris?"

I know what she's talking about from the sad smile on her face but that's not the answer I give her knowing that she needs to eat before we talk about it.

"You're going to have a shower and I'm going to get us some dinner and then we're going to cuddle in bed and watch tv until we fall asleep." 

I tell her while kissing her on the forehead. 

"That's not what I'm talking about"

"I know it's not Tiny, but you were upset this morning and have slept all day so your body needs food, then we're going to enjoy the rest of the night together and tomorrow morning we will come up with a plan before you go to school. Alright?"

She agrees with me and I let her go and watch as she climbs off the bed and heads to the bathroom. I wait until I hear the shower running before I head downstairs to the kitchen. Lexi is the first one to spot me when I walk in. 

"How is she? is she awake yet?"

"Yes Lex, she's awake, she's having a shower. I'm just grabbing something for her to eat. I don't know how she is yet. She just looks sad." I say rubbing a hand over my face.

"You guys are going to be okay. We're all here to help." my mother says.

"I know mum. I'm more worried about tomorrow when she goes to school. When those bitches find out it's going to be a s**t show." 

"Nobodies said anything so nobody at school should know, nobodies seen either of you all day today. So it should buy her some time." Rhys suggests. 

"They're going to know the second she shows up at school without a mark." I shoot back.

"It's alright I can keep those bitches..."

Lexi is cut off by the voice from behind me.

"Ah Chris, you are here today."

I turn to see Xavier walking into the kitchen followed by his Beta Dylan.

"Xavier" I nod in greeting. "I've been here all day, have only just left my office actually."

I watch as they both look me over before Dylan comments. 

"Looking a bit ruff there Chris. Been a long day has it."

"You could say that. I'm just dealing with some stuff, I've just come down to grab some food but I'll be around tomorrow to have to chat with you guys if you're still here. I'll be free after breakfast." 

"We won't be at training in the morning." I let Luke know before Mum brings me over two plates before I nod and say my goodbyes to everyone and head back upstairs. 

Layla'hs out of the shower and sitting in the middle of my bed with her long brown hair down, wearing one of my t-shirts. I climb into bed joining her before handing her one of the plates. We eat in comfortable silence, when we're both finishes I take Layla'hs plate stack it on top of mine and put them both on the nightstand before wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into my chest. I turn on her favorite movie and switch the lights off. She only gets half way through the movie before she's fast asleep again. I watch her sleep while the movie finishes before dozing off myself. 

Layla'hs already a wake and watching me when I peel my eyes open the next morning. 

"Morning Tiny." I mummer to her as I rub my nose along her neck. 

"You can't do that any more Chris." she tells me but doesn't pull away.

"I know baby. You're going to have to go home and have a shower before you go to school today."

"What about training, it's almost time to start I won't have enough time to go home"

"Luke knows we're not coming today, we have some things we need to sort out. It's okay to miss just today."

"I supposed they all know." she sounds worried so I pull back enough to see her face. She's biting her bottom lip while watching me.

"It's just us Tiny. Luke, Rhys, Lexi and my parents. They didn't tell anybody else. It's going to be okay." I try to reassure her. 

"I don't know if I want to go to school today. Why couldn't it be you Chris, why does the moon goddess hate me so much she couldn't even give me you." she says as she looks away from me, I watch a tear roll down her cheek. This women is killing me. I hate seeing her like this. I hate hearing her cry, that's why I crawl into bed with her that very first night all those years ago. 

"Hey baby, look at me" I trap her chin between my thumb and finger and tilt her head up so she has to look at me. "Tiny the moon goddess did give you me, I've been here every day for the last couple of years. No matter what I will always love and care about you and I'll always be here when you need me. We've waited this long and we can wait longer. You're going to go to school today and you're going to try and find your mate. You're going to keep looking till you find him. And if in a couple of years you still haven't found him and I haven't found my mate then we can always choose each other but you have to try okay."

I watch as tears roll down her face the whole time I'm talking. I gently wipe each one away before pulling her closer to me. It's killing me knowing I have to let her go, that I have to let her look for her mate and I can't take up all of her time anymore. We stay like that for the next hour taking comfort in each other. Before I send her home to get ready for school. I let her know I'll get Lexi to meet her at her house. Giving her one last kiss before heading back inside. 

I'm in the kitchen having breakfast when everybody gets back from training and they all start in on me about Layla'h.

Xavier

I head downstairs hoping to get some breakfast and find Chris to have a chat with him about the rogue before I need to head out of his territory this morning. His Beta was helpful yesterday but I still like to talk to the Alpha whenever I'm around someone else territory, it keeps everyone on good terms and with the rogue attacks and how them taking one of our pups the last thing I need is to piss off another pack. 

Just as I near the kitchen I pick up the tail end of a conversation. 

".... meet her at her place before school" it sounds like Chris so hopefully I'm in luck today and he's dealt with whatever he was doing yesterday. "how bad is she?" and I think that's his sister Lexi. "Bad, she doesn't want to go." Chris answers just before I round the corner. Luke spots me giving me a wave, they stop talking everyone in the kitchen turns to face me. Everyone's here, Chris, his Beta Luke, his Gamma Rhys and Lexi. 

"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. Was just hoping to get some breakfast. I'll get out of your way so you can finish dealing with your pack business." I let Chris know. I know what it's like being Alpha and trying to get key people in on important stuff specially when everybody already has their own jobs the kitchen and breakfast is some times the only time you can get everybody together in an informal setting and I can tell that's what's happening here, Chris is shirtless in just a pair of grey sweats so I'm betting he hasn't even had a shower yet.

"Xavier, it's no worries. Come have something to eat, we can catch up over breakfast and you can tell me about your rogue problem." Chris says waving me in. 

I sit that the table grabbing a plate and filling it with the breakfast food spread across the table. I watch as Luke and Rhys leave with a nod goodbye, before Lexi gets up sticks her plate in the sink before giving her brother a kiss on the cheek. "I'll keep you updated during the day. Don't worry about it I'll watch out for her." she says before leaving the kitchen. I eat my breakfast keeping silent as I watch Chris deflate in his chair rubbing a hand across his face. s**t must be pretty bad if he's letting another Alpha see him like this. Not that I mind and Chris would probably be the only person I would let see me like that too, we're on pretty good terms. We both took over the roll as Alphas of our packs around the same time. I give him a couple of minutes to work things through in his head before I speak up. 

"What's up man, you look like you got some serious stuff on your plate, anything I can help with."

"It was just a long day yesterday. Nothing I can do about it, I just gotta wait and let things run their course. Tell me about this rogue."

I let it go and we spend the next hour going over the rogue troubles we've been having at the breakfast table. Chris gives me his take on things and mentions that the only rogue they've send lately is the one we're been tracking for the last couple of days. He tells me what his Beta told me yesterday about it. We catch up on a couple of other things before Dylan my Beta shows up to get me, telling me it's time to go. Chris walks me to the front door of the pack house and I ask if it's possible for us to come back and stay again tonight, the trail lends into no mans land and I don't really want my guys staying out there tonight if possible. Chris agrees and we do one of those man shake, shoulder tap, back pat hug thing guys do. That's when I notice the most delicious scent I've ever smelt. It's a vibrant citrus orange smell, it's so fresh and clean.

"Bro, please tell me you didn't just sniff me. I know I haven't had a shower yet but you held me up at breakfast." Chris says with a laugh. 

"Sorry man, didn't mean to. I'll catch you later tonight." I say before heading to the car with Dylan. 

Dylan waits all of two minutes after we both get in the car to hit me up about sniffing Chris.

"Man, did you really just sniff Chris? what is up with that." the bustard is laughing his ass off. 

"Shut up and fucken drive man." I growl at him. I love this guy like a brother but he can be one annoy f**k when he wants to be. 

"But seriously, what's up?" He just doesn't give up.

"I notice the most amazing scent I've ever smelt, like cold oranges on a sunny day. f**k if I know why Chris smells like that and I sure as hell wasn't asking. I didn't mean to sniff he alright." 

"Okay boss man, but Chris doesn't smell like that, so it must have come from someone else. Did you find out what he was up to yesterday? he didn't look like he slept much last night."

"Nah I asked, but he said there's nothing he can do and he just needs to let it run it's course. I did catch the tail end of a conversation before breakfast about some young she-wolf though."

Dylan shrugs it off with a nod and continues driving. We spend the rest of the day tracking on foot before heading back to the pack house later the night.     

Layla'h

I did as Chris said. I went home, had a shower, got dressed, did my hair, had breakfast, got my stuff together for school and waited for Lexi to arrive and she drove me to school. She didn't ask about it, which I'm thankful for. I didn't really want to talk about it yet and I'm guessing Chris filled her in already. I kept my head up and walked into school ignoring everybody like I normally do. Natalie and her group of shanks trying coming over the hassle me but Lexi stopped them and told them to piss off. I went through the whole day at school waiting to pick up that scent or feel tingles along my skin whenever any body touched me but nothing. If I'm being honest I'm actually a little relieved when school finishes and Lexi drives me home. I made it through the day and didn't find my mate. I know I told Chris I would try but I'm not sure I want to find them just at the moment. I'm still trying to come to terms that Chris isn't my mate, I don't think I need my actual mate to show up just yet. 

Lexi asks me if I want to have dinner at the pack house but I turn her down. I think I need to be by myself for a little while. Chris texts to check up on me and make sure I'm alright. I heard from Luke and Rhys a couple of times too. It almost feels like my parents death all over again. I know they are all just looking out for me and I love them all for it, but I just need some time. I end up turning my phone off and crawling into bed. I asleep somewhere around 8pm. I wake to Chris climbing into bed next to me sometime during the night. 

"Hey Tiny, go back to sleep. I just came to check on you." he whispers before wrapping me up in his arms. I fall back to sleep and dream of the black wolf with blue eyes. It's the first time I've ever had the dream while Chris has been while me. 

I wake in the morning to the sound of my shower going. Rolling over to look at the clock I see it's only 4am. A couple minutes later Chris walks out of the bathroom fully dressed in workout clothes drying his hair with a towel. 

"Come Tiny, we've got training and I'm not letting you make me late." He tells me throwing the towel at me. Rolling out of bed I mutter under my breath as I strip off the t-shirt and sleep shorts I'm wearing before finding some workout shorts and a sports bra. 

"Tiny, you really need to stop getting naked around me." I hear Chris say with a groan. 

"It's not my fault you're in my room Alpha." I say with a smirk as I hear his growl and it feels like we're back to normal before my birthday happened and I love it.