Alpha Ellis

Not my mate

Raven's pov

Today is my 18th birthday. The day I will hopefully find my mate . My father is Alpha Richards of the blood moon pack . He is more old school then most of the current Alphas . Most other packs have young Alphas who have taken over for their fathers but mine has no blood sons to pass his pack too besides my older brother who's not so well suited to manage a pack.

Alphas are the only wolf's who can produce pups with she-wolves that are not their fated mate . I always assumed that was because Alphas have to have heirs to run the pack . As a result I come from a blended family . My mother is Luna of the bluegrass pack . My step dad was Alpha Bailey . A few years ago he was in a horrible accident that claimed his life . My mom was devastated as he was the love of her life and her mate . She is a strong she-wolve and has ran the pack ever since . when my brother turns of age he will step in and become Alpha .

My parents have never been the best at communicating but they have always agreed on one thing . I am a product of a long line of alpha blood and therefore I should be mated to a strong Alpha . The moon goddess works in mysterious ways . Sometimes a wolves mate isn't even a wolf , sometimes if can be another supernatural being or even a human . I am praying that my mate will be my boyfriend Rylan .

Rylan is an ordinary human boy that I meet at the public high school we both attended . We have been dating for two years and my parents are livid about it. I truly believe that the moon goodness will bless me and allow Rylan to be my mate.

I can't stomach the thought of living life as a luna . Alphas are so controlling and territorial . Most have cocky attitudes and bad tempers. Rylan isn't a saint even being the quarterback to the football team he was always getting into trouble . Before we started dating he was convicted of possession charges and it seemed that trouble just followed him .

All of that has changed now . He works for an oil and gas company so he travels alot but he always tries to see me when he's home . A lot of girls probably wouldn't like being with a man who travels but because humans are forbidden from knowing about wolves if works for us . My family and friends disapprove of him even after two years . So much so that my parents have come together to host a mate ball .

Unmated wolves will come from other packs in hopes of finding their mates. I am excited for the members of both my packs to find their mates but I truly believe in my heart that Rylan will be mine .

I have felt a pull toward him from the day we met and I hope it was the mate bond waiting to be revealed. Since my parents are hosting this ball I told Rylan that we could meet for coffee at our favorite shop before my birthday party . I told him that my parents were throwing a family get together for me and that I would meet him after as well . A human at a mate Ball would throw my dads temper over the edge so it's better to just deal with the ball and then make my own plans after.

Rylan's POV

Today I will ask the most beautiful girl I've ever met to marry my . My girlfriend Raven is 5 foot 3 inches of perfection. she has the most gorgeous brown eyes that remind you of pools of honey , and the most beautiful long brunette hair that lays in loose curls. Her skin is perfectly tan all year and her short frame has curves in all the right places .

We have been dating for two years and today I hope she says yes to a life time with me . Her family and friends don't care for me much and I can't blame them. I was a trouble maker before I met Raven, always into something I shouldn't have been . Even so her parents and her friends have never accepted me. Her friends all keep to their group and usually change the subject or shoot me dirty looks when I arrive. Her folks are divorced and they live in separate gated communities .

I have never been inside the communities because Raven says it's just better to meet on neutral ground since her parents don't approve of me . I hope that one day they can see that I am a good guy ,that I have changed. I'm meeting Raven at our favorite coffee shop right outside of both of her parents communities .

It's usually not this crowded in here . I'm not sure what's going on but this place is packed today . I was nervous already but now my heart is racing . There are so many people here I have never seen before , there must be some kind of conference going on near by .

Just when I'm going over my proposal in my head a pale man with dark eyes and blonde hair slides into my booth . "My name is Jake you look uncomfortable".

"yeah I am planning on proposing to my girlfriend today , it's not usually this busy in here , I Guess I am a bit nervous "

"For some reason I don't think this is going to go how you planned , here's my number in case you need a friend after your coffee date."

Just like that the man disappeared into the crowd of people before I could say anything else . How strange. Why would a stranger approach me and leave his cell number on a napkin and disappear as fast as he appeared .

Raven's POV:

I wore Rylan's favorite dress . A black a line that stops right above my knees. It fits me like a glove hugging my body in all the right places showing all my curves , yet still makes me look sophisticated.

Because I do believe in the mate bond I have never slept with any one not even Rylan. It's one thing I agree with my dad on . The mate bond is something that should be cherished. However that doesn't mean I am not excited to finally give myself fully to him tonight and I want him to be drooling thinking about me until I am able to sneak out of the ball .

Pulling into the coffee shop parking lot I can already smell the amount of wolves inside. I didn't expect this place to be so packed , but I guess I underestimated my parents invitation list .

As soon as I get inside the smells hits me it's putrid , a vampire . I can feel eyes watching me but I make my way to our regular booth and see Rylan looking kind of upset and confused. I make a mental note to tell my dad that vampires have been close to the territory.

My heart sinks as I slide into the booth Rylan has his usual scent of musky yet delightful pine , but it isn't irresistible . He is not my mate .

"Hey, what's wrong ?" I ask.

" Some strange guy was talking to me , made a remark about how things won't go how I planned and then disappeared " he said .

Now I am on high alert I can smell that the vampire had been in our booth but he is gone now his scent is fading from the building , and I am confused as to why they would be talking to Rylan in the first place .

Rylan starts to fumble with something in his pocket and I realize he's got a small box with a bow . My heart sinks and he can read my face . He asks what's wrong and just as I am about to tell him I won't be able to meet him after the party I get a hint of something delicious . My wolf Ava screams mate in my head .

I quickly tell Rylan that something has come up and I have to go . I leave him looking crushed an make a run for the door . This can't be happening to me , why would the moon goddess be so cruel to not only have Rylan not be my mate but have my fated mate be in the same coffee shop as the man I love . I see my best friend talking to some omegas from other packs and I quickly grab her arm .

"Becca we have to go now ! " I was frantic to get out of there . Ava was pissed " You knew

that boy wasn't our mate , I told you ! " " Shut up Ava we will deal with it later not here !" Becca followed me out side to my car . "what the hell Raven ?"

Becca has been my best friend since we were just pups , I know she hates Rylan but she is the only person who has ever stood by me no matter what my decisions.

"I think my mate is in the coffee shop. " I tell her .

" Then why the hell are we running out , isn't Ava pissed your leaving ?"

" I was meeting Rylan before the ball , I couldn't let the mate bond take over in front of him , even if he isn't my fated mate I couldn't do that to him , and vampires were here. They told him that something was going to happen between us today. "

"what how would they know that and since when did vamps get so brave that they would come so close to not one but two Territories ?"

I don't know but we have to leave , I am guessing who ever my mate is , he is here for the ball so I will meet him later . Right now I just need to leave and clear my mind ."

" Do you need me to drive ? you look shaken up , I don't mind ."

Becca always had a way of calming what ever storm I was going through . I let her drive back to the blood moon pack . The trip was quiet as I in the passenger seat I couldn't help but let the tears welling up in my eyes escape . I had so many questions and my emotions where a mess . Rylan was texting me wondering what the hell just happened but I didn't have the words or the heart to explain to him .

I believe in the mate bond and my wolf Ava was screaming for me to turn around and find our mate . I could still smell his sent . It was like a crisp summer morning when the dew had fallen mixed with an over powering sensual musk of pure delight.

Becca broke my thoughts as we pulled into my driveway .

" Are you going to talk to your dad about what happened back there ?"

" I have to tell him about the vampire, but I don't want to tell him about meeting Rylan. He will be pissed that I was there with him , you know how against me dating a human he was and if he knew I snuck out to meet him before the ball he would be furious. I also don't want to tell him I ran from my mate . "

" I understand . I will cover for you , tell him we were getting coffee and we ran into Rylan there and then just leave out the mate part for now ."

"Thank you, I don't know what I would do with out you , I'm sorry for pulling you away. "

"Nah , don't sweat it , none of those hunks were my mate. I hope he comes to your ball tonight though, I won't run of I find him ."

"Gee , thanks for making me feel better asshole "

"you know I have to mess with you , I think you are the only she-wolf I know strong enough to run the opposite direction of her mate. "

Becca always has a way of making a joke out of everything, I am thankful that she's my bestie .

We headed up to my dad's office to tell him about what happened at the shop.

" Dad , is it a good time to talk ?"

" Well actually I am a bit busy with these last finishing touches for the ball tonight , is it important?"

" Yeah , It is . Becca and I just came back from town . we were having coffee at the little shop that is in-between here and moms . There were a lot of people there today , alot of wolves from other packs , I know they are here because of me and the ball . But when I got there I could feel someone watching me . Rylan was there too and so we went to sit with him for a few minutes before getting our coffee and I could smell a vampire in the building. But that's not the only thing that was off . Rylan was upset , he said a man had come to him right before I had arrived and told him that things weren't going to work out for him and I and it had him pretty well shaken up. I could tell that the vampire had been the one sitting in the booth before us his scent was strong there , but faded shortly after we set down."

"Raven honey , vampires know better then to mess with wolf's especially with the quantities that are here in both your mother's pack and ours for your ball . I will send a few men to patrol Rylan's neighbor hood this evening just to be safe , but I told you that messing with a human wasn't smart . The Vamps know your coming of age and my guess is they wanted to shake him because they know an alpha will be your fated mate . "

"Dad you don't know that. It may not be an alpha I am mated too ! why do you always have to assume that it will ! And that doesn't explain why vamps are suddenly so brave to come into a coffee shop full of wolves knowing they are our sworn enemies."

" Raven, you are over reacting because of this boy , the coffee shop is out of territory , we will keep our ears and eyes open , but the sooner you forget about that human boy the better , the ball is soon , you should go get ready ."

Goddess does that man know how to get under my skin. Dad may not be concerned about the vamps but it just doesn't sit right with me that they would be so brave .

Becca followed me to my room to get ready for tonight . She has always had better style then I have . I'm thankful that she's here to help distract me from todays already eventful drama . I just want to get this stupid ball over with . First I have to find a way to break it to Rylan that we need to break up. As much as it hurts my heart to do , my wolf Ava will never allow me to continue our relationship. She knows that we have a mate , and it would be cruel of us to deny that bond.

My hair and makeup was a mess from running like we did and crying in the car , so Becca went

to work on making me feel like my self again .

I also decided to change my dress. I didn't feel right wearing a dress that Rylan loves when I would probably be meeting my mate in just a short few hours from now . I changed into

a deep red dress that Becca helped me pick , and my make up and hair were on point thanks to her cosmetology skills. The red dress has a low back that came down to just above my ass outlining it perfectly , the front was just as reveling with a plunged neckline and off the shoulder sleeves . Becca suggest some pearls that were handed down from my great grandmother. This dress hugged me just as tight as the black one showing all my curves and stopping just above the knee . Becca suggested I wear the black stilleto heels she bought me for my birthday and I have to say it was a good choice .

we were ready to head down to the ball room in my father's huge pack house . But my phone had started buzzing again and I knew who it was . Reluctantly I opened the 10 missed text messages .

"what the hell Raven , what was that ? "

"Please answer me "

"Raven , please I need to know what just happened "

" I am so creeped out by what that man said then the way you ran out , is something going on that I don't know about "

" look I know I travel a lot , If you are seeing that man just tell me ."

I couldn't bring myself to read the rest , I just sent a short txt back .

" I am sorry Ry , no I'm not seeing that man , but I can't see you any more . I do love you and I hope you forgive me . "

then I shut my phone off and headed down stairs with the hole in my heart growing . Ava was pleased , she never wanted me to date Ry , she always said she didn't think he was our mate , but I didn't listen to her . I just hope that our mate is at least a nice man who will help heal my broken heart.