The Alpha's Warrior Mate

Mate Ball

I looked at my appearance in the mirror. The dress Mason had given me cascaded perfectly over my newfound curves and fell around my belly perfectly. I smiled as Miriam clipped one side of my hair back with a simple barrette that sparkled in the light. Resenting the swelling that puffed my feet and ankles, I slipped my feet into nude flats because heels were completely out of the question at eight months pregnant. I met Mason at the top of the stairs who whistled low as his eyes swept up and down me. I rolled my eyes at his obvious show and slipped my arm through his. It would never be the same as it was with him. It was just going to be different, and I was going to have to get used to it. 

As we walked into the main dance hall we were met with pack members from our own as well as members from neighboring packs. Most knew immediately when they arrived where their mate was, so we had missed the chaos that erupted at the beginning. People were still streaming in the main door filling the room with chatter that echoed off the marble walls. The ceiling was high above us. A stage was made on one side of the rectangular room while opposite was a wall of large windows that led out into the garden. Mason led me out onto the dance floor as we started a trend of couples leading themselves out for a dance. I smiled up at Mason and for a moment it was just us. He leaned in to place a kiss on my forehead and I stole a look up at him. I couldn't help but let myself think, we could find ourselves falling in love. 

Suddenly his face changed. He furrowed his brow and looked as if he was suddenly concentrating solely on his feet. Pain traced the lines on his frown and I tried to catch his gaze when his arms went slack around me. My own arms mimicked his as I stepped back to find him swallowing hard. 

“Anna... I am so so sorry,” he barely choked out.  

I followed his eyes out  across the dance floor to where a tall woman stood perfectly still. Her dark skin was perfectly complexed and her braids cascaded down her back, stopping to bring attention to her curvy waist. Her white gown hugged her hips perfectly and I saw her looking around until she locked eyes with Mason. I knew what was happening before he left me. I sank back into the crowd behind me as Mason left to meet his mate.  I felt hot tears prick at the back of my eyes, partly from the emotion of my friend finding his mate and partly because I knew I lost the most stable thing in my life. I drew a deep breath when an arm snuck around my waist and I turned to see Darian. He pulled me out the side door into the moonlit garden. 

“I figured you could use a minute,” he said quietly. I took a breath of the cool night air. 

“Thank you, I definitely do.” The silence between us was comfortable as friends but I could feel pity rolling off of him in waves. It was pity I didn’t want. I was already a prisoner, then a broken mate, then a refugee. I didn’t want anyone’s pity anymore. I let a few cathartic tears fall. I mean... why did she have to be so gorgeous? 

 “I really am happy for him. He deserves this,” I forced a smile over towards Darian. 

“I believe you,” he said looking towards the tree line. “It smells like rain, I wonder if it will come tonight or tomorrow,” he said changing the subject- always a man of few words. In this case, it was sweet respite for the moment.

“Yeah, well I can’t smell anything,” I said tapping my nose  letting loose a sardonic laugh. “Apparently werewolf pregnancies mess with your sense of smell.” 

“Do you want to dance?” He asked changing the subject once more. 

“Sure, inside?” I responded. He laced his hand through mine and took me back inside to the mass of bodies that covered the dance floor. I knew it was to save face but it didn't change the fact that I still didn’t want anything to do with the rest of this ball. Darian led me to the center of the floor as if to make a statement. A statement that said I was fine and I was happy with what was happening. I couldn't differentiate between the embarrassment of being left so very publicly and the disappointment that said I would have to start over somewhere else. I knew she wouldn't want me here. She wouldn't say it, but it was unspoken. I scanned the crowd for the different packs represented. Maybe one of them would take in a poor runaway pregnant girl. s**t, I sound like a lifetime movie. 

“Man, this is exhausting,” I whined to him knowing he probably didn't care. 

“Just a few more hours and you’re done,” he winked at me. It was so out of character I didn't know how to react but the ache in my feet won out.

“Can’t I pull the pregnancy card?” I whined some more letting myself sag a little in his arms. 

“Anna, you don’t want people thinking you’re upset. Even if you are, it won’t be good for you or him.” He nodded over toward Mason who was entranced in a deep conversation with his newfound mate. 

“I love him like a brother. We both knew it was mostly platonic. I really am just exhausted from trying to grow a person 24/7.” I shot back at him with an unmistakable sharpness. He seemed to think that was funny because he didn't try to hide the sly smirk. He was about to respond when a low possessive growl ripped through the room and everything went silent. Darian and I turned to see where the noise was coming from and I got my answer almost immediately. 

“Ethan” I heard myself say through an astonished breath.