The Alpha's Hidden Mate

Episode 3

Episode Three: The Weight of an Alpha

Alexander’s POV

My office was quiet, but the silence offered no relief. Papers were stacked high on every surface—reports from each of the hundred packs under my charge. Every number, every complaint, every petition demanded my attention, and still, there were more. I rubbed my temples and leaned back in my chair, letting out a long, weary yawn.

Sometimes, I wondered why I had ever agreed to lead so many. My wolf, Alex, stirred beneath my skin, restless and impatient. You’re ignoring it again, he growled inside my mind. You’ve waited long enough. Stop sitting there.

I glanced out the window at the forest beyond the pack house. How I longed for a mate to share these burdens, someone to calm my chaos and soothe the constant ache in my chest. Someone who would belong to me—and only me.

A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. James, my Gamma and lifelong friend, strode in, his shoulders broad and confidence impossible to ignore. Even tired and worn, his presence carried strength. He had found his mate, and just the thought made my jaw tighten. The way he laughed with her, the way he could afford to rest while she comforted him… it was infuriating.

“Alexander,” James said casually, leaning on the edge of my desk. “When will you find yours?”

The words struck harder than any sword. My eyes narrowed, my patience evaporating like mist. “Leave.” My voice was sharp, final.

James smirked, unbothered, and glanced over at Jonathan, our Beta, who handled the pack in my absence. He hadn’t found his mate either, and James had a habit of reminding him, loudly, in front of everyone. My chest tightened with a familiar jealousy—the sting of seeing friends comforted by mates I had yet to claim.

I slammed a fist against the desk. “I said leave!” The force of it sent a tremor through the room, and I knew even without seeing it that they had stopped in their tracks. The power radiating from me was unmistakable, the Alpha’s authority laced with something more primal, more commanding.

Slowly, one by one, they bowed their heads, exposing their necks in submission before quietly leaving the office. Even James hesitated, catching my glare, before retreating.

The moment the door clicked shut, Alex, my wolf, surged to the forefront. What are you waiting for, Alexander? he snarled in my mind. You sit, you wait, you let time slip by while others hold what should be yours. Do you want her to find someone else first?

I clenched my fists, feeling the familiar heat of my wolf’s anger and frustration. I know, I muttered under my breath. I’m… trying.

Trying? Alex’s growl rumbled through my chest, deep and accusing. You’ve been trying for years and yet do nothing! Sitting behind papers, playing the perfect Alpha while your mate waits somewhere out there. Do you even care?

The words echoed in my mind like a hammer. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My wolf prowled the edges of my consciousness, circling with frustration and warning, reminding me of every moment wasted. Every day I failed to search.

I leaned back in my chair, breathing heavily, letting the tension in my body surge. James had found his mate. Jonathan still had hope in his Beta duties, yet even he had begun to feel the weight of longing. And me? I had only my wolf and the endless duties of a hundred packs.

Alex growled low, a sound that vibrated through my chest. Enough waiting. It’s time. Move. Hunt. Claim what is yours. Stop hiding behind exhaustion.

I closed my eyes, feeling the truth in every word. Yes, I was tired. Yes, I had responsibilities that demanded every ounce of my strength. But Alex was right. The mate I had been waiting for all these years—my destiny—was out there. And if I didn’t move soon, someone else might reach her first.

The papers could wait. The pack could survive a few hours without me. Tonight… tonight, I would find her.