The Alpha's Human Mate

Life Goes On

2 Years Later

"Can we please get out of this weather and inside already?" Cindy Henderson says as she hops between her feet, trying to keep warm as she tucks her glove covered hands under her armpits to keep them warm. 

"How are you so cold and a wolf? Like honestly Cind, you do know we have body insulation right?" Maddie Senider asked laughingly as she huddles closer to her and under the cafe umbrella.

"I can't believe that she-"

"I'm sorry, i'm sorry!" Gemma Lockhart said as she ran up to them, her voice carrying over the heavy rain from under her red umbrella.

"b***h, where were you?" Maddie asked as Gemma gave each girl a hug

"Connor wouldn't let me go for ages and we ended up checking out of the room a little late. That's him away now"

The girls looked at her as Cindy turned around and opened the quaint cafe door. She immediately spotted the vacant couches at the far back corner where a small wood stove was burning and  the smell of coffee filled the air. Cindy walked quickly and sat her bag down with a great sigh before taking off her gloves and warming her hands in front of the fire. 

                                                                  Gemma and Maddie walked towards her at a slower pace, laughing at her actions. They looked at each other as they sat opposite her, taking off their own coats and putting them to the side. Gemma took off her red scarf and beanie while pulling her wavy black hair away from her face; her eyes darting to counter as she waved to Milly the cashier.

"So what do you guys want?" Gemma asked as she grabbed her black Jimmy Choo wallet out from her designer bag and looked at her cold friends.

Maddie fixed her blonde hair, putting it back into place after the wind had blown it around. She sat more comfortably on the black and green couch, sinking into the red pillows behind her. She looked up at Gemma as she grinned

"I know what you want" Gemma smiled "You coffee fiend"

"Hey, what can I say, a Piccolo Latte completes me" She sighed dramatically

"I don't know how you drink that stuff!" Cindy shuddered "Could I just have a Green Tea, oh oh no wait; a organic ginger peach white"

"And I don't know how you drink that stuff" Maddie said as she made a face 

Gemma laughed as she listened to the age old argument between her friends; moving towards the counter. Maddie called out to her as she waved her own money to her. Gemma waved it away as she stood in queue behind two people while looking at the the pastries on display

"So, when are you gonna tell her?" Cindy asked as she turned to look at Maddie while tucking her brown hair behind her ears. 

Maddie looked at Cindy, her face falling as she leaned closer to her friend. Her grey eyes darting towards Gemma who was now being served and then back to their table. 

"I'm not...well at least not just now" 

"Maddie!" Cindy hissed quietly "You can't not tell her"

"I said not just now" Maddie whispered back "There not back for at least another month or so. I'll tell her nearer the time"

"Yeah and you said the same thing two months ago. They're back almost 5 months early because of how well they did. Don't you think you should at least give her time to prepare?"

"I -"

"Ok here we go'' Gemma cut in as bought over the tray. She placed it down on the coffee table in front of them and the girls eyes widened when they looked at the full tray. Gemma passed each person their drink and placed her own hot chocolate and cream at the opposite side where Maddie sat before handing each person a small white plate with spoons.

"Gemma!" Maddie groused as she took her small plate.

Gemma smiled mischievously as she pointed to the three delicate pastries and cakes on the bigger plate and started cutting them all equally into small portions for her friends.

"What?! I just thought it's a cold day and it will go well with our drinks"

"Mum is going to kill us if we can't finish dinner you know" Cindy said, even as she reached for a bit of the cinnamon bun; groaning in appreciation as her taste bud's exploded.

Maddie took her share of the chewy chocolate brownie and sank further into her seat, moaning loudly as she then took a sip of her drink. 

"Geez Mads. Why do you sound like you're in your own porn movie" Cindy said as she looked around the cafe, hoping no-one was looking their way.

"And why do you know what porn movies sound like?" Maddie replied back as she laughed.

Cindy blushed to the tips of her roots as she glared back at Maddie, once again glancing about the small cafe. At any one time, eighteen people could be sitting in here; but due to the cold and wet weather in early January it was relatively quiet with only seven people dotted about. Which in Cindy's eyes was worse as it meant that sound carried and their conversation could have been heard. She playfully smacked Maddie's leg that was closest to her as she took a sip of her tea before reaching for a piece of the browny.

"Why is it that everytime we meet, we end up talking about porn or some level of porn?" Gemma asked as she grinned; her hot chocolate leaving a smear of foam over her lips.

"Hey I'm not the one with c*m over my lips" Maddie giggled indicating to the white whipped cream on Gemma’s upper lip

"Maddieeee!" Cindy gasped, her eyes wide with shock and dismay. Her eyes lifted to a young guy who was sitting three tables away, working on his laptop, who then lifted his head to look over at them before grinning and looking away. Cindy threw a red cushion at Maddie's face before the girls dissolved into giggles while shushing each other to keep their volume down

"You are disgusting! Honestly!, you are just so horny. You need to find your mate....fast!" Cindy said as she rolled her eyes

"Well he should be here looking for me. I mean what's taking him so long. Sheesh I'm sixteen and coming up for seventeen, like how hasn't he found me yet?"

The girls went quiet for a while as they each contemplated her words. Maddie and Cindy were going to be turning seventeen this year and even though it was a few months away, the girls had been looking for their mates. Their parents had even had BBQ events after their sixteenth birthday party and had invited the neighbouring pack's in case their mates were there. Gemma thought about how lucky her friends were to have mates. She wasn't a wolf and so she knew she would go though much searching and heartache in finding the right partner and even then, there was no guarantee he would be the right one or he wouldn't cheat.

         He wouldn't have cheated Gemma thought as her mind drifted back to that day. To that man...To that kiss.  STOP She told herself as she closed her eyes, pain momentarily hitting her heart. She took a deep breath and smiled as she looked at her two friends who were now sad and both looking into their cups.

"Oh come on guys. You're going to find them you know. Sometimes it takes time" she said in an optimistic tone. She got up and placed more cake and cut up chocolate croissants on each of their small plates before sitting down and taking another sip of her hot chocolate, remembering to wipe her lips with a napkin after.

Cindy caught her actions and smiled softly as Maddie grinned like a loon. Suddenly the girls started laughing again and just like that, the atmosphere changed and they started catching up on their day. Before long Cindy looked at her mobile phone and groaned as at the same time a text from her mum had come through. Looking up at Gemma she showed her the text before asking

"Are you coming back home tonight?"

Gemma nodded as she lost her smile a little. A year ago Gemma had met Connor Grey while she was on work experience with a law firm in Edinburgh. He was almost two years older than her but his white blonde hair and deep blue eyes caught her attention. Every day on her three week placement, he would bring her hot chocolate in the mornings and eat with her at lunchtime before eventually asking her out. Gemma had been shocked and unsure as her heart was still trying to get over what had happened a year before that at Max's birthday party. She hadn't been able to look at any of the pack guys without thinking about Max and so she decided that maybe it was better to look outside of it...to try moving on. 

                                                                                                                                           Just as she was about to finish her work experience, her boss had asked if she wanted a weekend job; allowing her to help around the office and pick up law jargon while still studying. She would only be required to come in on the weekend to begin with and if all was still well during the course year, she would be taken on over the summer period. Gemma had been ecstatic and had accepted the offer easily, especially one she realised she would be getting paid. She still had a year of school left but she already knew what she wanted to do and knew that this offer would help her get to her dream of being a lawyer that much easier.

Gemma would take the 45 minute bus from Galashiels to Edinburgh and it was during one of those bus journeys that was delayed due to the bad weather that made her late for her first ever client meeting. While everyone had been understanding, Gemma had been embarrassed. Connor had been her boyfriend for almost six months and no one in her pack or group liked him. Even Maddie who was usually the supportive friend, had been wary of him; instead insisting that Gemma had a wolf mate and like her and Cindy, waiting for them to find them. It was then that Connor suggested that maybe Gemma could stay at his flat in the metropolitan city centre once or twice in the week or when bad weather hit.                                                                                                                                                                                                That offer didn't go down so well when the family found out. In fact both the Alpha and Beta family erupted with anger at her as they tried to convince her that she had a wolf mate and that they didn't trust Conner. Mammie almost had a breakdown, crying about how she wasn't protecting her as she promised and that she was going to now lose her too. It took a lot for Gemma to calm her down; not understanding where all this worry and angist was coming from. Eventually she had managed to convince her mammie that she wouldn't move out but wanted to compromise that at least in very bad weather where buses were going to be delayed significantly or cancelled, that she would stay that night before coming home the next day. 

This still caused issues but both mammie and auntie Luna had helped the men see it's worth, knowing that pushing too much could go wrong. Now everytime Gemma stayed over at Conner's place, the next day mammie always worried she wouldn't come home and a tense atmosphere would always follow until Gemma had been home for a few days. 

                                                                    Gemma hadn't been home in almost three days because the girls, along with three other pack members, had gone to Edinburgh for a night out where they had stayed in an AirB&B; for a belated New Year party for two days. While everyone else came home, Gemma had been guilt tripped into staying at Conner's flat; his anger justified at not being able to spend any time with his girlfriend. So she had stayed one extra night, which really didn't go well with mammie or pop's. They were meant to have come back yesterday morning, but due to bad snow, had arrived too late at night and had checked into a bed and breakfast.

"Aye" She replied in her Scottish accent. "And I'm not working until almost the third weekend so I'll be home"

"Mum's going to be so happy. Can't believe we have school on Monday! Like where has the holiday gone?"

 "Don't! Don't remind me!" Maddie said as she pulled a face "It's only Friday. Let just enjoy what we have"

She quickly downed the cup of coffee before popping the last small browny in her mouth as she stood up and started to wear her coat. Cindy looked at the warm fire sadly as she too started to put on the things to keep her warm. Gemma laughed as she looked at each layer Cindy put on before asking her

"You know that you're a wolf right? How are you not sweating?"

" I know right!. That's what I told her" Maddie gushed

" I don't know. I'm just a cold wolf I guess" Cindy said as the girls waved goodbye to the staff before walking out. 

Within seconds a uber taxi pulled up and the three girls got in. It was an older pack member who knew that the girls were wanting to go home and so he headed in that direction, his intention to drop off the two sisters before driving to the Alpha's home. The rain had picked up and had started to pour down as if a tap had been left on, causing the girls to groan about weather while Mr White chuckled. Finally reaching their house, Cindy hugged Maddie bye before running quickly to the front door, standing under the porch as she waited for Gemma. 

"Hey, so we on for tomorrow?" Maddie asked after Gemma hugged her back

"Yeah but here ok because I don't think mammie is going to be too happy if I go out again"

"Yeah what is up with that? Like seriously?" Maddie asked with a role of her eyes

"I don't know. I really think mammie...It's like this fear isn't just imaginative you know?!"

Mr White cleared his throat and gently nudged his head toward the window. Maddie looked over at Cindy who was gesturing for her to come to their door and she sighed as she smiled at her friend before thanking Mr White for the ride. She pulled the hood of her jacket over her head and squealed as she ran over to the front door; waving off to her friend before both the sister's entered the house.

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"Tea?" Carrie asked everyone as she finished picking up the dinner plate. 

"I'll have one love but I'm going to just have a word with Jon first" Liam said as he looked round the table, his eyes landing on Gemma before he got up and walked toward the living room.

Kyle rolled his eyes at the look his dad gave to Gemma before shaking his head and walking away to his room. Gemma and Cindy helped take the remaining dish's to the sink before Cindy started rinsing them and Gemma started to help wipe down the table. Walking back into the kitchen and seeing Carrie making tea and facing away from her; Gemma walked up and hugged her from behind. Carrie stiffened slightly before releasing a pent up breath and turned to face Gemma, her hands framing Gemma's face 

"I'm sorry" Gemma whispered

"I know pumpkin. I am too. I don't mean to be like this" Carrie said, her brown eyes sad as she looked at her daughter. She brushed her black unruly hair away from her cheeks and kissed her forehead before hugging her tight again. 

"Mammie he's honestly not as bad as you think"

"Oh Gemma" She sighed, her shoulders dropping. The kettle went off and she turned back around and started to pour. She looked over her shoulder as she silently asked Gemma. Carrie made four tea's, one being herbal for Cindy; before she took one through to her mate. 

Gemma sighed and sat down on the stool at the kitchen island as Cindy finished with cleaning up the kitchen. Then they both took their tea's through to the family room where a couple of soft couches and a big plasma tv was set up. They put on sky tv and tried to decide what to watch, each in their own world as they tried to manage the atmosphere at home.

There was only a few minutes left of the marvel movie they were watching before Kyle came in and walked down to sit on the couch, his long legs stretched out in front of the cozy fire that was on. His slippers pushing into Cindy's back as she sat beside the heat. 

"Heyyy! I was here first" 

"Your always here first" He said as he rolled his eyes  "There's other people in the house who wouldn't mind some heat too you know"

"I thought you didn't get cold" Cindy teased back as she shuffled to the side a little.

"Yea well i'm not in my fur so it be nice if you didn't hog the fire"

Cindy stuck out her tongue at her brother before the two started getting into a mini fight again as Gemma laughed with occasional input. They had just settled into watching another Marvel movie when Gemma started to get message on her phone

Hey bbz, was thinkin about booking us away for valentines day. 5 days?

Con you know I cnt. 

Come on. Im ur bf. I have a right to take my gf away

I know. Look let me spk to MM & P. WUU2?

Alone in my flat without my gf (crying emoji)

Awww. ur so cute. missing u too (heart emoji)

So....was thinkin maybe you could stay with me....when you go to uni xx

Gemma paused at his words, her eyes wide at his implication. This year would be her last at high school and anyone wanting to go to university would be applying to their chosen courses to five different universities before either selecting their preferred place or accepting their place if only one university accepted them. While most students did study outside of Galashiels, Gemma had assured mammie that if she got into either of Edinburgh's universities, she would travel from home. Her plan had been to pass her driving test and get a car.

                                           Conner's words had thrown her. She struggled to think of a response as she thought of what he was asking. While they had been dating and of course as a couple, they had been active; they actually hadn't had full penatrative s*x. Gemma hadn't been ready. The short time they had together was usually spent talking, going out, eating or enjoying each other's company. Of course they had done things but hadn't gone all the way. She knew why and there was no logic in it. She had to get over HIM. It wasn't fair on her boyfriend to be compared to...to...him. Gemma sighed and thought back to that day, to that.....kiss

She and Max had hidden in the tool shed as the pack carried out a dare to spin the bottle. She had been so shocked when he had taken her hand and pulled her with him into that secluded room and kissed her. Jax had opened the door to see if Tilly, another wolf was hiding there. His obvious sense of smell told him she wasn't and he had closed the door and walked away....but Max had pulled her body close to his, turned his back to the door so his black top hid them well before he had looked down on her and kissed her. Kissed her!!!                                                                                                                                                                                               She felt like she was floating....her body wasn't her own. He had such soft lips yet so different from her own. Her eyes had shut on their own accord and she couldn't help but grip onto him, fearing she would become a puddle on the floor. Feeling like she needed oxygen, Gemma had opened her mouth before suddenly he had thrust in his tongue. She felt her heart beat harder, almost like it was trying to pound it's way out of her chest; Her head started feeling dizzy, her palms getting a little sweaty but all her brain kept saying was more..more..more.

Then it all changed...Max rubbed against her. Rubbed against her breast's that suddenly pebbled and became sensitive. Rubbed his c**k against that intimate space between her legs which she opened a little bit more to get better friction. He gripped her harder and Gemma loved it. She loved being held tight by him, as if he was afraid to let her go; was afraid that she would disappear. When he rubbed against her again, his jeans managed to hit a spot that made her see stars; they had both moaned and Gemma was sure that she had started to feel a little wet.

 I never want to stop Gemma thought as she moved closer to him. Oh my god...are we going to have s*x? Was she even ready for that? Gemma had barely gathered that thought before they were interrupted and the lights came on. They had both moved away from each other before she had been dragged out into the fresh air by Maddie as her brother, Mark and Max had stayed beside the shed and started to discuss something which according to them; couldn't be done with the girls.                                                                                                                                                                                             Gemma had looked at Max once more before blushing furiously and urging her friends on to go back to the party as the dare had been completed and Gemma convincing her friend that her heels were killing her. 

"Well let's go to my room and just wear my flats or the house slipper you guys have left here. I changed into my flats before we ran out, see'' Maddie had laughingly said as she looked at her feet. 

Gemma couldn't believe she hadn't noticed this as she and Cindy walked towards Maddie's room. Gemma couldn't catch her breath as she slowly started processing what happened and suddenly she grinned. She had her first kiss....my god, not just a kiss. That felt like the stars had burst and fireworks had exploded. Even now she got a little tingle thinking about what happened and she felt herself get a little wet and her breast a little sensitive as she took off her heels and wore house slippers that Gemma often kept here.

Deciding that she would tell the girls about her experience, she planned that after another round of the game, she and Cindy would ask if they could stay over. She knew their parents were still sitting in the Pod with the Alpha and Luna and wouldn't be leaving for at least another hour; and no doubt, a lot of the guests would start leaving soon anyways. Already she could hear two or three of the friends saying goodbye before Maddie ran out the door to see them off.                                                                                                                                                                                              She came back into the room with some bottle of water and gave one to her friends before going to leave again.Gemma grabbed her arm in confusion as she and Cindy went to follow her.

"Why are you going back down?"

"Oh, the food that was in the room was finished a while back. Apparently some of the guys came back early from hiding and started eating. Now the rest are hungry again and mum's packed the food and I think she may have put it in the bigger fridge in the garage. Let me grab it and put it out real quick"

Gemma took a deep breath and sat on the bed, a goofy smile still playing on her lips. She had so much energy that she didn't know what to do. Her body was vibrating and she wanted to shout on the top of her lungs. The movies got it right, all the romance novels were true. If you kiss the one who you love, the one that's meant for you...it really is a disney movie with birds sings, fireworks going off and angels in the background! She chuckled to herself at her thoughts as she waited excitedly for Maddie's return.

"So, you wanna tell me what that smile is all about?" Cindy asked as she came to sit down on the bed

"Oh!" Gemma said softly, forgetting that Cindy was still there "I will, but we have to wait for Madz"

"Wait for me for what?" Maddie said as she walked into the room, her breathing wild " Ohemgee I gotta tell you guys something!!"

"I need to tell you guys something too!!" Gemma burst out, no longer able to keep it in "I....so you know how I was going with you to hide Madz but then went into the shed with Max? Well see he.....But I didn't know ...so"

"Oh my good b***h will you just say!" Maddie screamed at her

"Max kissed me!! We….Me and Max kissed" 

"WHAT?!?!" Both the girls asked, their eyes wide in shock.

"What do you mean kissed? Like a peck on your cheek or-"

"Like im a 50 shades of Grey movie KISS" Gemma answered back before flopping onto the bed

The other two started screaming in excitement while hugging each other. Maddie had long known that Max had a thing for Gemma. He would often look at her the way her father looked at their mum. Add in a healthy dose of teen lust then bam! The only difference was that Gemma wasn't a wolf, so she wasn't sure how that would work; but it had long been a dream of hers to have her best friend and brother be together.

"Did you guys go down on each other? oh my god, did you guys have s*x?" Maddie asked in excitement.

"Maaadddddiieeee!" Cindy exclamined, covering her ears

"What the hell Madz! No!" Gemma giggled as she sat up. "Geez, we were fully clothed but-" She dramatically paused. The girls put their faces forward, their hands clutching each others as they collectively held their breath in anticipation

"He rubbed against me and it felt so freaking good. If we hadn't been interrupted I...I think...we might have c*m with the way we were grinding against each other" Gemma said, whispering the last part.

The girls squealed in delight while Cindy was also partly disgusted. They ran to their friend and hugged her in delight as they started asking questions. Gemma laughed, her cheeks a light rosey ting at the intimate information requested yet her heart felt full. She couldn't stop smiling and already dreams of a future were weaving into her dreams.

“He wants to take you away for valentines?!?!”

Gemma came out of her thought’s abruptly as she looked up to see Mammie’s pale face staring at her above the sofa. She realised that her mobile phone was chirping away with messages while Carrie’s eyes were reading the, her pale face fluctuating better pale and deep red both in disbelief and anger

“Mammie-”

“How long? How long have you two been deciding this? That you were going to leave us...leave me?” She shouted

“Mum-” Cindy started

“Mum come on-” Kyle said as he too stood up 

“Don’t! Don’t you two dare interfere! Go to your rooms!! NOW!” Carrie shouted as her anger intensified. 

Seeing that they didn’t listen, Carrie pulled up Gemma’s hand; her touch firm but not abusive; as she turned around to take her away from the room. She bumped into a solid wall as her eyes travelled up to meet her mate’s eyes. Liam grabbed his mate’s shoulders in both hands before throwing a concerned look around the room and taking in everyone's pale face.

“What’s going on love?” He asked ina gentle but firm voice

“I’m taking her to another room to talk. You don’t know what's happening! It’s not on Liam!” Carrie exclaimed as her athletic body started to shake.

Liam looked at Gemma’s worried eyes, her pale trembling face and knew his mate was on the edge. That she had to be separated from the kids. He pulled her in for a hug while she kept a tight hold of Gemma’s wrist before easing into her mates embrace. Energy sapped, she let go of Gemma before quietly sobbing into Liam's chest. Liam looked up and nodded to his kids to leave before looking apologetically towards Gemma who pressed her fingers to her lips in a silent sob.

“I can’t...I can’t go through it again….we can’t lose her” Carrie sobbed harder, her voice muffled by Liams blue denim shirt

“Sshhhh love. We can speak to her. She need to understand -”

“No, no...she just needs to accept we know better” Carrie interrupted as she raised her head, her nose running from the crying.

“Carrie” Liam said, his voice stern for the first time “Stop ok! This is not helping. This is not working. You are pushing her away”

“No! She’s the one pulling away! I’m trying to keep her safe, but he’s taking her away and then what huh Liam?”

“Carrie-” Liam warned

“Do we be too late again to save her? Maybe this time we let them get to her just like Lily!” She shouted as she pushed at her mate “but instead of being able to hide, he will gut her there because she’s gone away with him who, for all we know could be related to that f*****g vampire!!” 

“Enough Carrie!” Liam shouted as she shook her slightly

“What?” Gemma whispered. Shock set in as this was the first time she was hearing any gruesome information about her parent’s death. Anytime she asked before, she would be told rouge wolfs attacked and that her family were killed but that Max...yes Max, had found her safe before Auntie Luna and Mammie found them both

“Vampire?” Gemma asked. Carrie stiffened and hung her head “What vampire mammie?” Gemma asked as she took Carrie’s hand in hers and made her look at her. Carrie reached up her left hand up to Gemma’s face and gently caressed her cheek lovingly

“I’m sorry. It was my fault. I killed your mother” 

With that being said, Carrie turned around and rushed out of the room, her sobs echoing behind her as Gemma’s mouth hung open, her wide eyes connecting with Liam. He sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose before looking back at Gemma.

“Pop’s?”

“Please pumpkin...just for now...tonight. Leave it”

“But-”

He touched her cheek before kissing her forehead and sighing “Please” He whispered.

Gemma nodded before she hugged herself. Liam walked out of the room in search of his mate, while all Gemma could hear was Carrie’s last words. Words Gemma couldn’t compute...That it was Mammie who killed her mother.