I'm Your Alpha, not Your Luna

Mates?

Lucy POV

Lexa and I ran up on the battlefield to see my father, the current alpha, helping with training. What’s the big deal? I thought. He’s the alpha-it’s not that unusual for him to be helping with training. I glanced over at Lexa, but she looked just as confused as I was.

Look closer, your father is battling a stranger. That’s what everyone is freaking out about-no one knows who this guy is or why he is here. Indigo, my wolf, chimed in.

“Do you know who that is that my father is fighting?” I asked Lexa, pointing at the stranger.

“I have no idea,” She responded. “I know some Alphas and Betas and some of their warriors from surrounding packs were going to be visiting in the coming weeks. Maybe he is with one of those packs. I’m not sure why they’re visiting though-maybe you should ask your dad when he is done sparring with whoever that is-I’m sure he’ll tell you since you are training to be Alpha.” Lex shrugged. “He sure is hot though. That’s probably why everyone was freaking out and running outside. Either that or because your dad is sparring with a stranger.” She smiled at me and shrugged again, and we kept walking toward the training grounds.

“Yeah, right. I forgot every she-wolf immediately freaks out over hot guys and wishes that they were mates.” I rolled my eyes at her. Maybe I would feel differently if I was not constantly fighting sexism in a male-dominated world, but I did not want my place in this world and pack to be defined by whoever my mate was. I was seriously dreading finding my mate, which could happen anytime now since I had turned 18 two years ago and had had a connection with my wolf since then. Most wolves find their mates almost immediately after turning 18, and I was nearly 21.

If I found my mate, hopefully, it would be after my 21st birthday, because that is when I would officially take over the pack as Alpha. If I already had the title, it would be a lot harder for the elders to take it away from me if my mate came into the picture. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely want love and kids someday, and a she-wolf has needs only her mate can satisfy, but for right now, I am perfectly content being on my own with my wolf.

It was, for this reason, I was specifically not looking at the “hot guy” as Lexa put it. We had reached the training grounds, but my dad was still sparring with the guy, so we stood off to the side with the rest of the onlookers. However, I started feeling pressure from my wolf to look at him. Look at the stranger, I need to see his face. Indi said, almost anxious and panicky. She was pacing back and forth in my head.

Calm down girl, it’s just a dude. We see them every day. I’ll look at him when I go ask my father who he is when they finish fighting. No rush. Relax. I told her, feeling a little agitated myself.

Look. Up! Indi said, continuing to pace in my head.

Fine weirdo. It’s just a guy, but if you insist, I said and looked up at the fighting men. They had turned so that the stranger was facing me. I gasped as I took in his features; he was younger than my father-honestly, he looked about my age or maybe a little older. He had dark black hair, high cheekbones, and flashing green eyes that just happened to be staring into mine. He was shirtless, showing off his chiseled abs and muscled arms. Clearly, this guy trained a lot and took it seriously. He must be a warrior of high ranking. Stop it! I chastised myself and Indi as I realized not only had I been looking at him but I had been checking him out. I let my eyes drift back up to meet his, and it felt like he was staring into my soul. He did not feel like a stranger, rather, someone I had known my entire life.

Suddenly, I was hit with the most delicious smell of strawberries and chocolate. Oh no, I knew what that meant-my mate. Wolves' mates smell like their favorite things to them because it makes it easier to find them as well as draw them together. I instantly started to panic. Indi was pacing in my head even faster now, muttering “mate” over and over under her breath.

The man started walking toward me and I could not stop my feet from carrying me to meet him halfway. As soon as our hands touched, electricity sparks lit up across my entire body. Indigo yelled out MATE in my head. My mate pulled me into his arms and buried his face in my neck, inhaling my scent. I started to relax in his arms, but then remembered what was happening here and realized everyone was looking at us. I pulled back from him, almost hyperventilating.

“Sawyer, Lucy, what is the meaning of this?” My father interjected. I turned to look at him and also saw Lexa behind him looking at me with wide eyes.

My mate, Sawyer I guess, took my hand again and pulled me toward him so I was facing him again. “Mate?” He asked with confusion, his eyes full of hurt. I’m sure he was confused, most people welcomed their mates with open arms. But not me. I started to back away shaking my head, my breath quickening even more. Indi was whimpering in my head and I could feel how much I was already hurting my mate, but I just couldn’t do it. “Lucy? Mate?” Sawyer tried again. I swear I almost swooned when he said my name, it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I wanted him to say it again but knew it could never work.

“I can’t. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I said with tears in my eyes. Indigo had gone from whimpering to angry to outright ignoring me and retreating into the back of my head, blocking our connection. I felt like my heart was breaking in half, but I had to do this. I took off, running back toward the packhouse and to the woods behind them. I wanted to shift, but since Indigo was blocking me, I was forced to continue running in human form.

“Lucy!”

“Lucy! What’s wrong?”

“Come back!”

I could hear my father, Lexa, and Sawyer calling and running after me. But I wanted to be alone. I can’t face anyone right now. I wanted my mom, but I knew I would be immediately found if I went to her. So I took off into the woods and kept running.