The Alpha's Mate

Chapter Three

Today was the day. Candace and Elle were going to the doctor's for Elle's first visit in this town and Candace couldn't help but feel anxious. Not bad anxious. Just strangely worried about everything. Usually, she wasn't this anal about stuff, but today she wanted everything to be perfect. Today was announcing to be good and she didn't know why. She just hoped her feeling would be confirmed.

The appointment was at 9 AM but Candace woke up at 5:30 AM. At freaking 5:30 AM!! And not because she had a nightmare. No. Simply because she felt like today was going to be a good day.

By 7 AM, she had finished obsessing over everything and was waiting for her angry young daughter to wake up.

"Mom, why you put this thing here?!", Elle asked, banging at the security child gate, a scowl on her small face.

"So that little girls like you won't fall over and get hurt", Candacd replied, going up the stairs to get her baby.

Elle turned her face away from her mom's, refusing to hug this one back. She was pouting and was on the verge of throwing a temper tantrum, something Candace was desperate to avoid because she wanted this day to be perfect.

"Oh, come on baby. I made your favorite okay? And if you're a good girl, mommy will take you to get ice cream with an extra scoop", Candace said, trying to keep the tears and scream at bay.

"One extra scoop?", Elle repeated dubiously.

"A big extra scoop", Candace affirmed.

"Pinkie promise?", the little girl said, extending her small pinkie.

Candace joined their pinkies together and smiled, "Pinkie promise".

***

"Elle baby, please sit still and you'll have your ice cream", Candace threatened, making an exuberant Elle quieten down.

"But momma, I just want to say hi to my friend!", Elle exclaimed, looking at her mother with a puppy dog face, an art she had already mastered.

Candace sighed. "Where's she?", she asked.

"Right here", Elle answered, pointing at a giggling little girl who was sitting next to a woman who looked to be her mother. They were sitted just right next to Candace and Elle, so Candace saw no harm in leaving Elle interact with her.

Giving a tired nod, Candace acquiesced, grateful the little brat was already making friends. She had chosen a strategic time to move to Clairey; midsummer, so that Elle could make some friends before going to school and not feel alone.

She was lost in her thoughts that she didn't even notice someone sliding next to her.

"Hello", the person said, making Candace jump. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you", the soft voice turned concerned looking at the frightened look on Candace's face.

Candace schooled her expression into a normal one. Sometimes, she went back to the dark place she had been during the early weeks of her pregnancy.

"Oh no. It's okay", she replied, forcing a smile at the other woman.

"Still, I'm sorry. I'm Daisy, Hailey's mom", she said, stretching her hand, then elaborated when Candace tilted her head in confusion. "The little girl playing with your daughter"

"Oh, I'm Candace and that's Elle. Nice to meet you", Candace answered, shaking the woman's hand.

As Daisy opened her mouth to say something else, Candace's number was called. She smiled apologetically at the woman, "It was nice meeting you but that's our number the nurse just called"

"Oh no it's fine. I'm sure we'll see each other around town", Daisy replied, smiling brightly.

Candace returned the smile then took Elle towards the doctor's office, smiling at the pretty nurse.

***

Rafe tried to relax, putting his hand to his neck to try to relax the aching muscle. There was a stubborn crick in his neck. He supposed it was because the night before, Kyle, his wolf had not stopped being jumpy and itchy to come out.

There was a knock on the door and the scent behind it sent Rafe's heart and wolf into a frenzy. He rolled his eyes and opened the door, curious to see who had had such an effect on Kyle.

Standing in front of him was easily the prettiest woman he had ever seen. She was beautiful with big brown expressive eyes. Her hair was curly, falling past her shoulders. Her lips were full, the top one darker than the bottom one and her skin tone was the smoothest he had ever seen.

Kyle kept saying something but Rafe was so enthralled on the woman in front of him that he couldn't and didn't want to concentrate. Her lips started moving, she was saying something but he just couldn't hear over the beating of his heart. He had never had this type of reaction towards somebody.

"Get out of the way dumbass and let our mate in", Kyle shouted, startling Rafe who came out of his reverie. Then he realized what Kyle had just said.

***

Candace looked at the man in front of her with a look that was not quite frightened,  not quite confused. He had been staring at her more the last five minutes and he was making her uncomfortable.

"Sir? Sir? Sir!!", she shouted, in vain. He was still looking at her. Then suddenly it was like he came out of his reverie. He widened his eyes momentarily then ushered them in.

"I'm sorry", he said, "It's been a long day"

Candace thought that was more than the effect of a long day but kept quiet, scared of the retaliation that was going to come.

So she asked instead, "Are you Dr. Sawyer?"

"Yes that's me. And that should be my patient", he answered, sending a cute smile at Elle, who as usual, was sucking up as much attention as she could get.

"Yes. This is Elle", she answered, "Baby, say hi to Dr. Sawyer"

"Hiii doctor Soyerrrr. Are you nice?? Will you give me my lollipops??", Elle screeched, trying to scoot over the table to go into his lap.

As Candace was reaching to pull her over, Dr. Sawyer casually takes her into his arms and laughs. "Only if you're a good girl"

Candace looked at them. His laughter had made the whole zoo to start marching in her stomach. What the hell??