Love Me Back, Alpha

Chapter 2

Katie

My breath caught in my throat the moment our eyes met. If the stories had made him sound like a hero, seeing him in person made him look like a Greek god. Frank stood tall. His broad shoulders and commanding presence made him stand out among the council members. His long, jet-black hair framed a face that was both striking and intense. His hazel eyes seemed to pierce through me. At that moment, I felt exposed and vulnerable in a way I hadn’t expected.

The entire room seemed to still as he approached. The council members and even my father were fading into the background. This was the moment I had dreamed of—the moment I would finally meet my fated mate, the wolf I had admired for so long. My heart raced as the anticipation built with every step he took toward me.

“Katie, meet Frank,” Alpha Bloodfang’s voice broke the silence. His tone was full of pride as he introduced his son. “Your mate.”

I couldn’t breathe. This was it. The moment I had prayed for, the moment I had imagined a thousand times in my mind. Frank, my Frank, was standing right in front of me. Everything about him radiated power and control. There was something with the way he moved and the way he held himself. It was… different but in a very good and attractive way.

“Hello,” I managed to say, although it was almost a whisper.

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Hi.”

My stomach flipped, but not in the way I had imagined. There was something about the way he looked at me that felt… off. His expression was distant, almost detached as if he was going through the motions but not truly present in the moment. His smile seemed forced, and the warmth I had expected from him was missing.

As our packs mingled and celebrated the news of our union, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him, hoping to glimpse the affection I so desperately wanted to see in his eyes. But every time I looked, he seemed further away. He was lost in his thoughts and almost felt like he had built a wall between us. The butterflies that had once filled me with excitement now turned into a heavy knot of worry in my stomach.

The announcement of our mateship overjoyed both the Longridge and Silverwolf packs. The celebration was in full swing, with laughter and cheers filling the air as the two packs came together to honor our future.

But despite the joy around me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. My excitement had initially bubbled over, making me feel lightheaded and happy. But now that giddiness was fading fast. I had spent so much time imagining this moment, dreaming of how perfect it would be, but the reality turned out to be far from what I had hoped.

Frank’s expression remained unreadable. His body language was distant as he interacted with the other pack members. He seemed polite, offering smiles and nods to those congratulating him. But there was a coldness to him that I couldn’t ignore. I wanted to believe that he felt the same spark I did, but the more I watched him, the more uncertain I became.

“Katie, are you all right?” Ari’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She was standing beside me. Her eyes were filled with concern as she touched my arm. “You look pale.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a smile. “Just… overwhelmed, I guess.”

Ari didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t press me further. Instead, she gave me a reassuring squeeze before returning to the festivities. I wished I could shake off the unease that was settling over me, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t ignore the growing anxiety that had taken root in my chest.

The celebration continued into the evening, and I did my best to engage with the guests. I tried to smile and laugh as everyone congratulated me on finding my mate. But every time I caught a glimpse of Frank, the knot in my stomach tightened. He was still distant, still detached, and it was becoming harder and harder to pretend that everything was okay.

It wasn’t. Everything between Frank and me wasn’t okay.

As the sun began to set, I stood alone on the edge of the gathering, staring out at the jagged mountains in the distance. The cool evening breeze brushed against my skin, but it did little to calm the turmoil inside me.

I had imagined this day so many times, pictured Frank standing beside me with his arm wrapped around my waist as we shared in the joy of our union. But instead, I stood alone, with nothing but my thoughts and the sinking feeling that something was wrong.

Why did Frank seem so distant?

Why wasn’t he as excited as I was?

Suddenly, I caught a familiar scent in the air. When I turned around to confirm, I saw someone walking toward me. My heart raced as I realized who it was.

It was Frank, smiling at me lightly as he spoke. "Katie, can we talk?”