The Alpha's Warrior Mate

Chosen Mate

I followed the smell of coffee into the Pack house kitchen. Everyone had finished moving in last week and I was enjoying the time I got to spend getting to know the new faces. Smiling over at Carter and Sage who were engrossed in a conversation a few tables over, I opened the fridge to pull out the egg carton and set to work on breakfast. My growing belly made the task more difficult every day. Since the news of my pregnancy broke, everyone had taken to helping me with daily tasks. Full training was out of the question  Mason had told me around five months, much to my chagrin. I still went on runs with him in the mornings before he went on to handle his alpha duties. 

Instead, I handled most of the cooking. It took several terrible meals for me to get the hang of it but I really started to enjoy creating new recipes for the rest of the pack to try and vote on. I opened the little wooden box that read “Suggestions” to see if anyone had added in a new meal request since the day before. Pulling the papers out, I skimmed them before checking on the biscuits baking in the oven. 

Once the food was done, I rang the bell to signal that it was time for everyone to eat. As everyone came from their rooms I couldn’t help but notice Mason’s absence. I shook the thought the top back of my mind as I absentmindedly traced my hand over my growing belly. Eight months in and I was still having a hard time processing the little life growing inside of me. The baby had begun to kick and squirm. The very first time it did, Miriam happened to be sitting next to me so I grabbed her hand and placed it where the baby was pushing. She was so happy that tears streamed down her face and the rest of the pack came to find out what was wrong. They had all laughed when she explained what happened. Mason had been there too, I locked eyes and gave him a wide smile which he folded his sculpted arms over one another and returned my smile. He was usually gone during the day, but it was rare for him to miss breakfast. I continued to search the room in case he was showed up but instead made eye contact with a young couple who waved me over to sit with. I recognized them from around the pack but couldn’t remember their names.

“You need to rest!” The girl said leaning over the table to grab my hand. 

“I know, I just like to keep busy! It keeps me sane,” I replied as my eyes met hers. She seemed to read my mind and she gave my hand a tight squeeze before releasing it. 

“Are you excited for the Mate Ball?” Her mate asked to change the subject. The Mate Ball was just a silly term for a big party, I was learning. Apparently they had them once a year here and it was a big to do. Mason suggested this one to lift everyone’s spirits after the rebuild. It seemed to be working, at least for the girl, her name was Ashley I learned, who jumped into a long conversation with her mate who tried hard to keep up with her about dresses and decorations. I winked at him as I got up from the table to head back into the kitchen area. Rounding the corner I was met by the smiling face of the recently returned alpha. 

“Hey!” I greeted him.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said anxiously.

“Oh really? Is it more dirty dishes?” I teased heading over to start cleaning up. 

“No... it’s upstairs. Let’s go check it out!” 

“I’ve got to clean up but then I’ll go with you,” Mason pretended to pout. “If you help, it’ll go by quicker,” I smirked at him. He opened his mouth to protest before deciding he better not. Instead he grabbed the sponge on the side of the sink and helped me make quick work of the dirty plates. 

I followed Mason up the stairs and to his quarters, almost out of breath by the time we made it there. 

“Okay, what’s the big surprise?” I asked while huffing and puffing oxygen to my lungs. The bigger the baby has gotten the more crowded my lungs seemed to be. Mason rounded the corner carrying a large garment bag.

“This is for you,” he said softly. “To wear at the ball.”

I couldn’t breathe when he revealed a royal blue dress underneath the bag. It was a sweetheart neckline with small jewels on the top that flowed down into an a frame skirt. 

“Mason, I can’t accept this,” I said as tears formed in the back of my eyes.

“You can, and you will,” he said firmly laying the dress down across the bed. He crossed the room to take me in his arms. It felt good to be held for the moment, it wasn’t like the mate bond where everything was right in the world, but it was comforting to have him near. 

“Anna, I wanted to talk to you about something,” he led me to the foot of the bed to sit on the ottoman. “I know I will never be your mate, and that may be a good thing for you. It’s just, I can’t help but feel like we are connected. I want to be with you and I want to help you raise this baby. You deserve the world and I know you will make an excellent Luna, will you be my chosen mate?” 

“Mason... what about your mate? She’s out there somewhere!” I protested.

“Anna, I’m 35, this pack needs a Luna. I need a mate... if she was out there...” he stopped mid sentence. 

“You think she’s dead?” I asked. 

“I think there’s a high probability I will never find her so yes, I think she is dead.” Grief rolled over him in waves. I responded by squeezing his hand lightly with mine.

“Yes, I will be your chosen mate.”  

Masons eyes locked on mine and he broke into a wide grin. He c****d his head to the side for a moment as if considering something then slowly lifted his hand to my chin. I sat still as a statue as he brushed his lips to mine. They were warm and inviting and most of all, they were safe. I kissed him back before he slowly pulled away and studied my face. 

I gave him a shy smile. The boundaries between friends and mates were now blurred. The kiss wasn’t anything like it was with Ethan- natural, electric, like if I didn’t get more I would die. With Mason it was comfortable and safe. It wasn’t romantic love, not in the traditional sense but it was mutual respect and friendship, something that would make us a good pair, and would make him a good father. My wolf seemed to agree, she wasn’t happy but she wasn’t fighting it and I took that as permission to continue. With one more peck on the lips Mason stood up and pulled me with him.

“Come on, we’ve got news to share,” he smiled down at me lacing his fingers through mine.