Falling For The Alpha

Chapter 3

"This has to be some serious joke" I heard my mate mutter under his breath as he watched me like I was an alien from another planet. He didn't take another step forward.

For some reason, that hurt me. It hurt me more than it should. 

Of course, this wasn't the reaction that I thought I would be receiving from my mate when I find him but life is all about surprises, I guess. I didn't expect him to dance in joy but I did expect him to show maybe a teeny tiny hint of happiness. 

I could feel my packmates' curious gazes on me but all of them remained silent. 

"Irina..." My father called out, making me drop my stare down with my mate. With a herculean effort, I looked away from my mate, letting my eyes fall on my father who looked pale now. 

I stared back at him in confusion. Why would he be this shocked? I mean, it's pretty normal for any wolf to find their mate after they are sixteen. I raised my eyebrows at him in question but before he could mind link me or say something out loud, Alpha Lucas greeted the newcomers. 

"Welcome, Alpha Xander" Alpha Lucas started formally and my mate nodded his head at him. 

My eyes widened in shock as I stared at my mate in bewilderment. I did not see that coming. I expected my mate to be a warrior or a gamma. Who thought I will be mated to an Alpha? The Alpha of the Black Alder pack at that. 

All the color on my face drained as my father's words echoed in my mind again.

"I shudder to think how his mate would react when she knows that she is mated to one of the cruelest Alpha in the world"

Fuck. Of all the wolves that I could be mated with... The Moon Goddess had to pair me with him. 

He is the merciless Alpha that my father has been talking about. My eyes shot back to my father and found him already watching me with concern in his eyes. 

"We're honored to have you here" Luna Hazel chipped in. I looked up just in time to see her flashing a soft smile at Alpha Xander. But that big bad Alpha's face remained stoic. He didn't smile back at her. 

Luna Hazel had the most alluring smile that I have ever seen and I didn't know how he managed to not smile at her in back. 

I took that very moment to really look at this were-man. He was gorgeous, obviously. He had this beautiful shade of reddish hair that was tossed to his right messily due to the wind. The wind blew again making his hair tremble softly and my fingers were suddenly itching to feel his silky hair against my skin. 

His eyebrows were thick, slightly darker than his hair, framing a set of magnetic amber eyes. I think the Moon Goddess wanted to mock the female population as his eyelashes looked like he had false lashes on. So very thick. 

My eyes traveled down to his nose. It looked a little crooked but that didn't make him any less attractive. Then, my eyes fell on his beautiful plump lips. 

Just so moist and soft. 

Then his lips started moving, making me blink in surprise, "Pleasure is mine" He said, scratching his attractive five o'clock stubble. His eyes darted towards me but I looked away before he catches me gawking at him, "Perhaps we could take this conversation to somewhere much comfortable and civil" He added. 

I didn't have to look up at him to know that his burning eyes were on me. I squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze not quite sure if I like the way he is looking at me right now. My wolf, on the other hand, yipped in delight, basking in her mate's presence. 

"Sure, we will lead our way" I heard Alpha Lucas say. 

I braved myself to look up again. Instead of letting my eyes rest on my mate, I let them wander behind him, noting the group of wolves that he had brought with him. 

There were only four of them. It surprised me again. Usually Alpha brings at least ten pack wolves with him but Alpha Xander must be insanely courageous to bring only three wolves with him. 

Or insanely overconfident. 

Alpha Lucas started making his way towards the pack house with Luna Hazel by his side. The rest of us waited for the group of wolves to follow them. 

Alpha Xander started to follow Alpha Lucas and Luna Hazel. I held my breath as he passed in front of me but he didn't even spare a glance my way as he walked. He kept his face ahead, stoic of any emotions. 

My wolf started to whine, not liking the way he is ignoring us. I hushed her to be quiet and not to be pathetic. She didn't say anything else after that. 

I watched mutely as the three other guys follow behind their Alpha wordlessly. I sighed before following behind them with my father without saying anything. I caught my father's glance occasionally at me worriedly but I kept my head down. 

My head swam with a lot of questions as we strode towards the packhouse. My biggest concern was why he didn't just cross that distance between us and address me as his mate the very second his eyes fell on me. 

I looked down at what I am wearing and began to question if I haven't impressed him at first sight. Or is it because I wasn't pretty enough to stand next to him? Or because he thought I was too young for him? 

Or was he trying to play hard to get? 

If he was going to play hard to get then he should know I can play that game better than him. 

We patrolled them until we reached the packhouse. 

"Are you sure that's your mate?" My father asked me once the Alphas disappeared into the office room along with the three wolves that had accompanied Alpha Xander. Our former Alpha, Alpha Lucas's father went in as well. 

Beta Jason joined the group. Beta Jason didn't come to welcome the wolves as he had some stuff to take care of back here in this packhouse. 

"My wolf recognizes him as our mate" I  snapped at my father and then, I bit my lip in regret right after raising my voice at him. I was downing my frustration over someone on him and he doesn't deserve that. 

If my father was hurt by my unforgiving behavior then he did a good job of masking his emotions, "This is seriously f****d up, alright?" He cursed under his breath. My father never used such words in front of Nate and me since I can remember so that again was another surprise. 

This day is full of surprises so far. But I am not quite sure if I like these surprises or not. 

I wonder how my mother and brother would react to this news. Would they be happy or would they be horrified? Or would they not know how to feel about this like me!? 

My father started to pace back and forth in the hallway, looking really troubled now. I let my eyes follow his movements, "I can't imagine you being next to him. He could break you like a twig if he wants to-" He started but I shook my head at him, interrupting him. 

"Dad, you forgot that I am a warrior wolf" I smirked at him smugly, not letting it show that I was afraid as well, "Nobody breaks me daddy" I gave him a confident nod. 

My father shook his head at me, "Yeah this is Alpha Xander that we are talking about" He stressed my mate's name with dislike in his voice, "The last time someone spoke of him, they mentioned that he had no morals" He added grimly. 

I stayed quiet, not knowing what to say to that. My mate doesn't like the fact that my father is talking lowly of Alpha Xander but I just shrugged her off. If I let her take control of me, then she would probably barge into that office and claim Alpha Xander right then and there. 

"What's with the commotion here?" I heard a familiar voice ask. 

I turned my head to the side and found Blair walking towards us with a friendly smile playing on her lips. She was carrying a file and I immediately assumed that she was going to join the meeting as well. 

My father was supposed to join them as well but he had asked Alpha Lucas to excuse him from this meeting as he is not thinking straight now. Alpha Lucas didn't even ask for an explanation but he had asked us to stay for a little while longer outside. 

"Blair, she is mated to that Alpha" My father literally hissed through his teeth. 

Okay, I get that he is not happy with my mate but he had to cool it down. This is something that neither of us has control over it. Even I was a little disappointed to find my mate at this young age. I was hoping I would find him in my twenties. 

"Alpha Xander?" Blair gasped, pulling me out from my reverie. I looked at her to see her eyes almost  popping out wide from their sockets, "The Alpha of the Black Alder?" She asked again, gesturing her hand towards the office room.

"Yes," I nodded my head before my father could bark out again. 

Blair's widened even further if that's possible, "f**k" She cursed under her breath, "Is he going to take her away with him?" She asked, looking up at my father. 

"I don't know-" 

My father stopped talking when we heard approaching footsteps from the inside of the office. I quickly sprang to my feet from the chair that I was sitting on and held my breath, waiting for the Alphas to come out from the office room.

The door opened and Alpha Lucas stepped out from the room, "Alright then" He said, looking behind at Alpha Xander, "We will talk the rest of it in the zoom meeting" He added whilst offering a friendly smile. 

"Sounds great to me" Alpha Xander grunted out, still stingy to smile. He looked up and our eyes met again for the second time that day making my wolf yip in delight. 

This time I stood still, refusing to avert my gaze away from him. A smug smirk played on his lips, "I have to talk to one of your packmates before I leave" He said, his eyes never leaving mine, "Her" He pointed his hand at me. 

Alpha Lucas's eyes followed the line of his hand and they softened when they landed on me. "You have to ask her permission for that" Alpha Lucas said, offering me a smile. 

Alpha Xander actually looked a little taken aback by this. Like he didn't expect Alpha Lucas to actually treat us like this. And that honestly made me afraid. 

Nevertheless, Alpha Xander looked at me, "Can I talk with you for a minute?" He asked me reluctantly after a few seconds of painful silence.

I glanced at my father who was already looking at me, waiting anxiously for my answer. I sighed and looked at Alpha Xander again. It seems like he was growing irritated at each passing second so I nodded my head at him, not wanting to piss him off. 

He exhaled sharply and started to walk away. I felt everyone's eyes on me as I followed behind Alpha Xander without saying anything. 

Alpha Xander walked out from the packhouse, heading towards the woods. It was actually a little hard to keep up with his pace without running. Every stride that he took him far away from me. I had no choice except for jogging behind him. 

Once we reached into the heart of the woods, he stopped walking abruptly. I halted to a stop a few steps away from him and stood there, waiting for him to say something. 

He slowly spun around to face me. I stiffened when our eyes met again. He had the most gorgeous eyes that I have ever seen but unfortunately, his personality did not impress me the way his eyes did. He looked at me like I was a speck of dirt or something and I was starting to get annoyed with this indifference. 

I tried not to squirm when his eyes started to travel down my body and he blatantly clicked his tongue in disapproval. 

My wolf was whining but I was shaking with fury. 

I don't know how long had passed but his shameless eyes were still scanning me up and down. As the last vestiges of my patients start to crumble away, I boldly cleared my throat, "Are you going to keep staring or what?" I asked rudely. 

His eyes shot up to my face again from my body and he looked irked again, "What's your name?" He asked, looking impatient. 

Well, that makes the two of us. I am getting impatient as well.

"Irina," I said, looking away from him. 

"Irina?" He asked. 

Something about the way he said my name didn't sit well with me. Usually, when one's mate says their mate's name, it should erupt a wave of emotions. It should erupt desire and happiness.

But the way he said my name only made me mad. He sounded uninterested. He looked uninterested. 

Ignoring my wolf's cries, I clapped my hands together at once, "Alright, let's cut this short" I said, trying my best to look impatient as well, "I didn't expect to find a mate this soon and I am not ready to leave my pack yet" I stated without any emotion in my face and voice. 

There is a tiny bit of hope left in me and I thought that it will knock some sense to him. I thought it will make him anxious. I thought he will ask me to follow him to his pack. 

But he smirked at me. His eyes held the slightest hint of surprise and in a flash, he crossed the distance between us making me take an unsteady step behind. 

"Until next time, then" He smirked and then he was gone. 

He left me, here all alone.