MY POSSESSIVE MATE

Two

Pushing through the throng, my vision blurred with tears, I scanned the room desperately for Sophie, finally spotting her dancing at the fringes of the crowd.

Hurrying over, I wiped away my tears, careful not to smear my mascara. Sophie noticed my approach, offering a smile that quickly faded into concern as she caught sight of my tear-streaked face.

"Diana, are you crying?" she exclaimed, her brows knitting together in worry as her eyes widened in shock.

I nodded, swallowing hard as I sniffled in confirmation.

"What happened?" Sophie's voice was urgent as she grasped my shoulders, her gaze piercing into my tear-filled eyes.

I swallowed hard, the memories of the unsettling encounter threatening to overwhelm me once more. "Some guy..." I began, my voice faltering as fresh tears welled up.

"Some guy tried to touch me," I whimpered, shaking my head, still remembering how his slimy kisses felt against my skin.

"Who was it?" Sophie's voice dripped with fury, her scowl deepening as she awaited my response.

I shrugged helplessly, still shaken by the encounter, and watched as my mate stormed back to his group, his expression dark with anger.

Sophie followed my gaze and let out a low growl. "Was it him?" she demanded, her voice dripping with anger.

"No, he—" I started to explain, but Sophie was already striding toward my mate, her fists clenched in fury.

Frantically, I chased after her, pleading for her to stop, but she seemed consumed by rage as she confronted my mate, pushing against his sturdy chest with a feral growl.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" my mate's voice boomed, confusion etched on his face as he confronted Sophie.

"Sophie, please, stop!" I pleaded, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to defuse the situation.

"What the f**k are you talking about?" growled my mate, his friends exchanging perplexed glances as they tried to make sense of the confrontation.

"You can't touch women without their permission. You're disgusting!" yelled Sophie, waving her finger at him.

"She's crying because of you!" I choked out, hastily dabbing at my damp cheeks, praying that my eyes weren't too red. The last thing I wanted was for my mate to witness me in such a vulnerable state.

"I'm not getting involved in this," my mate muttered, pushing past us and exiting the club, leaving his friends to exchange puzzled glances.

"Sophie, he didn't lay a hand on me. He actually stopped the guy!" I insisted, running a hand down my face in frustration.

"It's okay," I murmured to Sophie, offering a small reassuring smile as she glanced awkwardly at the group of men who were still watching us with curious expressions.

"He's my mate," I whispered to her, prompting a gasp of realization from Sophie as her eyes widened in astonishment.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I had no idea," she exclaimed, her apology tinged with genuine remorse. "I was just so angry that—"

"His mate?" asked one of the men, clearing his throat awkwardly.

I nodded, fiddling with my hands nervously as the men gave each other perplexed looks.

"Alpha Blake doesn't do mates," one of the men clarified, a hint of uncertainty in his voice as he chewed on his lip.

My heart sank at the revelation, a sharp pang of disappointment coursing through me, accompanied by a wave of nausea.

"What?" I uttered, unable to conceal the hurt in my voice as I struggled to comprehend the implications.

"He's not one for relationships, so don't get your hopes up," Sophie interjected, her tone laced with frustration as she scowled up at the group of men, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You guys don't know what you're talking about," I insisted, feeling a flicker of defiance despite the sinking feeling in my chest.

The men simply shrugged in response as Sophie pulled me away, her eyes rolling in exasperation. "Where did your mate go?" she inquired, her voice tinged with concern.

I shrugged despondently. "I think he left."

"Go check outside. Do you want me to come with you?" Sophie offered, a comforting smile on her lips.

"No, don't worry. I can handle it," I replied with a shake of my head, the taste of anxiety souring my mouth as I chewed on the inside of my cheek.

With a deep breath, I made my way toward the exit, feeling my heart race at the prospect of confronting my mate, knowing he wouldn't be pleased about Sophie's accusation.

As I reached the door, I navigated past a few couples lost in passionate embraces, until I stepped out into the brisk night air. The harsh wind tousled my long brown hair, sending it streaming backward as I braced myself for what lay ahead.

Squinting into the night, I scanned the silhouettes of the people milling about, searching for any sign of Blake. Disappointed, I rounded the corner, seeking solace in the quieter surroundings and the cool night air.

Leaning against the brick wall, I relished the sensation of the cold concrete against my flushed skin, closing my eyes and releasing a heavy sigh. The wind whipped around me, threatening to topple me over with its force.

Suddenly, my reverie was shattered by the strong scent of musk that filled my nostrils, causing me to shiver involuntarily. I turned to see Blake standing across from me, his lean frame pressed against the opposite wall, head tilted back with eyes closed.

Gasping in surprise, I took a few hesitant steps toward him, my heart pounding in my chest as I struggled to maintain my balance.

Blake's gaze lingered on me, his eyes tracing every curve and line of my form with intense scrutiny.

"Are you alright?" I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, my nervous habit of biting my lip betraying my unease.

"I just needed some space," my mate responded with a heavy sigh, his expression troubled.

"I'm sorry about Sophie," I blurted out, feeling the need to explain. "She's just—"

"Protective?" Blake finished for me, raising an eyebrow in understanding. I nodded in confirmation, my anxiety manifesting in the nervous movement of my lips against my teeth.

"Yeah, well, so am I," I asserted, my tone firm, though my heart fluttered at his proximity. Unable to find the right words, I simply found myself admiring my mate, captivated by his striking appearance.

"Don't stare," he chided gently, pushing himself off the wall and closing the distance between us. My throat went dry as a small smirk played at the corners of his lips.

As the sound of giggles and hushed whispers reached our ears, Blake turned his head to see a few girls standing nearby, eyeing him up with flirtatious glances, causing a surge of jealousy to wash over me.

I felt a sense of relief wash over me as my mate ignored the girls' advances, his annoyance evident as he turned away from them, putting an end to their flirtation.

Clearing my throat awkwardly, I shifted my gaze, unable to meet his eyes. "What happened to the guy?" I inquired, my voice hesitant.

Blake ran a hand through his dark brown hair, a hint of frustration flickering across his features. "He's been dealt with," he replied cryptically.

"What do you mean?" I pressed, my words coming out slightly slurred with nervousness.

"It means he's been taken care of," Blake growled, shaking his head in exasperation.

My eyes widened in alarm. "You didn't... kill him, did you?" I asked, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

Blake shook his head, a wry smirk playing on his lips. "No, but I probably should have."

I swallowed hard, my nerves intensifying as I chewed on my bottom lip. "So, your name is Blake?" I ventured cautiously, noticing the subtle tension in his body at the mention of his name.

Blake's expression remained neutral, though I detected a hint of guardedness in his eyes as he nodded slightly. "And you are?"

"Diana," I replied, the sound of my own name feeling foreign on my tongue.

"Okay, you're cold. Let's go inside," Blake suggested, his hand finding its way to the small of my back as he pushed himself off the wall, urging me to follow him.

"I'm not cold," I insisted stubbornly, though the chattering of my teeth betrayed me.

Blake chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes as he raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

My teeth continued to chatter as I stood there in my little black dress, my brown locks swirling in the wind. "You're an Alpha?" I blurted out, the realization hitting me like a bolt of lightning.

"Yes, Diana," Blake sighed, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. My name on his lips caused my heart to skip a beat, leaving me momentarily breathless, a reaction that didn't escape his notice as he smirked.

"Which... which pack?" I stammered, mentally kicking myself for sounding so nervous.

Blake shook his head, studying me intently. "You're drunk," he stated matter-of-factly, his tone tinged with concern.

"I am not," I countered, my brows furrowing in frustration.

"Diana, look at yourself. You can barely keep your balance and you're slurring your words. You're drunk," Blake insisted, his tone firm yet concerned.

"Well, that's what people do at clubs!" I exclaimed, gesturing wildly with my arms. But in my fervor, I lost my balance, and my ankle twisted beneath me, sending me stumbling forward.

Blake reached out, his large hands softly gripping my waist as he propped me back up, not letting go until he was sure I had control of my balance.

"You're going to hurt yourself," he growled lowly from his chest.

However, I couldn't focus on what Blake was saying. The tingles were still erupting all over my body, causing a huge spark of arousal to rush through me, making me lose my breath.

Blake studied me intently, his gaze sweeping up and down my form as he stiffened, a furrow forming between his brows. He exhaled deeply, a conflicted expression crossing his features.

"Your friends said you don't do relationships," I stated, watching his reaction closely. Blake's brows furrowed even further, his hand absentmindedly trailing along his stubble as he seemed lost in thought, avoiding my gaze.

"Which one said that?" I shrugged in confusion.

Not liking the way her had responded

"I don't know, he was tall,"

"Let's go inside," he suggested, striding purposefully towards the entrance, leaving me standing there feeling confused and hurt, wondering why he seemed so distant.