AN ALPHA FOR ME

CHAPTER 3

"Mate?" Someone asks, more of a question than a statement.

I don't remember saying the words out as I scan the shocked faces of our small group.

A look at the young man tells me the words were from him.

My mother is shocked and so is everyone else.

The alpha is the first to recover from the shock as he clears his throat and speaks in a whisper.

"Let's take this away from the crowd"

Every other person snaps to reality and so do I.

"I'll take the boys away. C'mon this way boys" Charity quickly leads them away.

"I have to go " I mutter, throwing one last glance at the young man whose eyes seem to beg into staying, I bolt.

I can hear my mother calling me but I ignore her and throw apologies to random people as I push my way out of the feast. Hands shaking, I try to insert the keys into the car before a hand stops me.

Tiffany's blue eyes stare at me with concern."Go to the Passenger's seat, there is no way I'm letting you drive"

Although I silently obey her, I'm grateful to have someone drive me.

"A mate?"

I'm probably the only werewolf who questions the whole scenario. I don't believe we are destined to have only one mate, there are millions of werewolves in the world. Why would I be forced on one with a mate tag, I don't believe in it. I believe I should be able to choose like humans, I should have a say in who marks me. That's why the moon goddess gives us a chance to renounce the mate bond.

I don't want to be forced with someone I don't know.

Growing up, I watched my mother suffer in marriage. Of course, the marriage was just a front for humans but truly my father was her mate. For years she ignored his laziness and shouldered all responsibilities. She could have left but she clung to him and the mate bond.

Every day she wasted away, too burdened by the weight on her shoulders. But just two days away from that and she is glowing.

And now, I'm supposed to run down the same path with someone I don't know and when I'm not even ready. I'm rejecting whoever that was.

Even as I make this resolution, I feel my wolf whining in sadness but it doesn't matter.

" Thank you, Tiffany," I mutter.

" It's okay, just go get some sleep and rest."

I nod before jumping up the stairs. I don't sleep, I just lay down until I hear the rest of the family return. My eyes are still open when I hear my mother thank Tiffany, but as I feel her take steps to my room, I close my eyes.

She opens the door, waits for a while, and then shuts it.

As her steps recede, I drift to sleep.

The sun is already up when I rise. s**t, I'll be late for work. I shower and head downstairs, the house is quiet, another indication of my oversleeping.

I hurry through the leftover breakfast before bouncing out of the house.

The text message from Tiffany said she was already at work so I jug in that direction. By the time I get to work, I'm breathless.

The coffee shop is already filled with customers who glance at me, immediately I walk inside.

"I'm so sorry Ha.." I begin immediately see Hakeem's familiar face.

"Verity, are you okay? Tiffany told me what happened yesterday"

"She did? " I inquire before casting Tiffany an angry glance.

"Yeah, she did. You had a bad mixture of drinks and got sick" Hakeem continues.

I shoot an apologetic and thankful glance at Tiffany and she smiles.

The morning rushes on with me serving coffee to customers. From the little lecture, Hakeem gave me about coffee making, I get a hang of their menu.

From morning till mid-afternoon, we are all busy either serving coffee or selling books.

Hakeem's distributors arrived, according to Tiffany they will be taking the supplies to the local school and college in the next town.

After the mad rush, I finally get a break. May the moon goddess bless Tiffany for bringing lunch for two, I crunch hungrily on the sandwich while reading a book I borrowed from the library.

"Woah you better slow down before you choke" Hakeem interrupts me with a lazy smile.

" I'm sorry about the book, I just thought I could borrow it"

"Relax Verity, you can borrow whatever you like," he tells me.

Stealing a glance at the title he smirks " Assassin's blade huh?"

He isn't wearing his glasses and I can glimpse at his evident brown eyes.

"Yeah, it never gets old"

"So who's your favorite, Celena?" he inquires

"Isn't she everyone's favorite?"

We spend a good amount of town discussing books and how he came to own his business.

" It's odd that you would even think of opening this in a small town," I say waving my hands around.

"Yeah, I got that a lot but here we are. Let's say I'm doing some good for my pack "

The door ringing to indicate the entrance of someone, followed by a growl beats me to talk

We turn to face the intruder, I'm shocked to stare into the face I ran away from yesterday.

He growls again and I can already feel my wolf dancing in excitement from the mate bond.

"Get away from her" he commands Hakeem.

Hakeem only smiles " What do you want Lukas? You do know your powers don't extend to my business or how I relate to my employee"

"Don't talk to me that way" Lukas barks

I don't know how Hakeem remains cool and unbothered. " What do you want Lukas, rumor has it you've found yourself a mate. Isn't that enough to keep you occupied?"

Oh s**t, how did he know? No one outside that group heard us.

Lukas smiles with triumph " And you are seating right next to her so f**k off what's mine."

Hakeem stares at me with shock before masking it.

"I'm so sorry"I whisper.

"Can I just talk to him for a min, please "

Hakeem nods understandably " I'll be in the library "

Lukas watches him like a hawk till he disappears. I break the silence.

"I don't appreciate you walking into my workplace, insulting my boss, and acting some terrestrial bullshit. I don't even know you and no mate whatsoever gives you the right to do that"

His eyes narrow in shock or hurt, I can't decide which.

He walks closer to the seat across from me.

"Hi Verity, I'm Lukas and the next alpha of our pack"

I roll my eyes at the i***t. " And so?

He frowns in anger " I don't know why you are being so rude. People are supposed to be happy when they find their mates. Why are you making things difficult?"

I smile" Lukas, I intend to reject the mate bond so you don't have to worry about all those questions."

The door rings as Tiffany walks inside.

"Please leave, I have work to do"

He looked dejected and angry. He chuckles"You would reject an alpha? Do you know how many people would kill to have an alpha for a mate? And you want to reject what the moon goddess has given you for free" he rants

I stare at the man in disgust. Tiffany is dumbfounded enough to be tongue-tied.

His raised voice must have attracted Hakeem.

"I won't tolerate you shouting on my property. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave Lukas." Hakeem says still in a calm and collected manner.

"And if I don't, what will you do Latent?" Lukas smiles

Hakeem smiles, walking closer " Would you like me to show you?"

Oh, dear Moon Goodness.

The atmosphere is tense as they both stare at each other. Lukas finally breaks off the contest before storming off.

Hakeem also walks away to the library.

"What the hell just happened?" Tiffany asks wide-eyed.

" I don't know?"

I make my way to the library, and the last thing I need is to lose this job. This town is a small one with scarce jobs and we need all the extra cash we can get.

Hakeem is bent over a table.

"I'm sorry Hakeem, I just found out he is my mate last night and I plan to reject the bond anyways. I didn't expect him to come here."

"So that's what happened last night not awful drinking "he jokes

I nod slowly.

"You can't say no to that family Verity. They are pretty proud "he says

" Well, they've met their match" I answer.

Hakeem lets out a laugh which I've almost become accustomed to.

" I have that feeling too"

"How did you know he found a mate?" I ask him

"My uncle is the Beta and my cousin is the next Beta ".

Wow.

"I'll get going, " I tell him

He nods. I'm already at the door when he calls me again " Verity "

I turn to face him.

"You're not going to ask me about the latent?"

"It's frankly not my business and even if it was. It doesn't matter, you are a werewolf "

His face lits up and changes to concern. "Be careful Verity "

On our way home, I fill Tiffany in on everything that happened including my plans to reject Lukas.

"I don't know about the rejection. Are you sure you want to take that decision?"

"Yes, my mind is made up"

" He did sound like an ass though," Tiffany says preceding to mimic Lukas.

The laughter immediately cheers me up.

Mom is around when I get home and as usual, Eli is at his new second home.

I can feel my mother itching to talk about last night but I put her off till I'm done showering.

"Verity…" she begins but I cut her off.

"I know you want to talk about last night and I'm telling you I have decided to reject Lukas "

She recovers from her shock "It's s

okay, I mean you are an adult and you know what you want. I just hope you are making the right decision"

"Thank you, mom"

She smiles "The alpha has invited you over "

I nod "It's fine. I already told Lukas and I'll tell the alpha."

"Okay"

I drive mom's car to the alpha's house. The house is furnished to extreme taste, the interior so much better than the exterior.

" So Verity, how old are you?" Fiona the alpha's wife asks as we devour dinner.

" Nineteen, turning twenty soon."

"Oh that's good, my baby is twenty-three. I can't wait for you two to start making pups"

I choke on my food while Lukas smiles at me.

The alpha finally says " Don't rush them, darling. They both have all the time in the world"

The alpha stares at me as I try to process his words.

I clear my throat "Like I told Lukas today, I intend to reject him as my mate"

The room goes stone cold. The only person with a shocked expression is Luna, Lukas isn't surprised but the alpha stares at me like he already knew.

His son must have told him.

"Let's finish dinner first, shall we?" the alpha gives me a lazy smile.

I shiver, and Hakeem's warnings ring in my ears.

The rest of the dinner is silent and awkward.

"Can I talk to you Verity, Lukas I hope you don't mind if I borrow your mate"

"Of course father, I don't "Lukas answers

I frown at both of them but still, I follow the alpha to the study.

"I'm sorry Alpha but I don't appreciate you calling me your son's mate. I'm ready to ride.."

"You will do no such thing Verity" the smiling Alpha is gone.

Even though my family is yet to complete all the formalities and get the pack link.

As his pack member, I feel the weight of his tone.

"You will not embarrass my son and family in that way"

I smirk not caring if he is the alpha or not "And what will you do? Force me?"

He smiles "Verity your family stood on eviction and had no source of finance before moving here. I wonder what will be your fate if perhaps your mother lost her job and the pack banishes your family, turning you into real rogues "

His smile lingers.