Alpha's Beloved

2

I sewed my slender fingers through my locks in an effort to smooth out my tangled and unruly hair. The tip of my nose is still red. My lips looked dry as candy. The protruding lower sacs were the result of another night of insomnia.

A deep sign heaved off me. I looked awful.

Switching the light off. I walked out of the bathroom not wanting to see myself anymore. Just looking at my reflection gave me a severe headache. My head felt like it was going to explode at any moment.

As soon as I entered my bedroom, Mom yelling at me from downstairs fell on my ear. I was too tired both emotionally and physically to care. Ignoring mom's call, I climbed the bed and pulled my legs up, hiding my face in the crook of my elbow.

My mind was preoccupied with the pyramid of thought. The same self-destructive thoughts that left me restless. Lost in my grief, I didn't realize someone had entered the room.

" What are you doing here? I've been calling you for the last ten minutes. Didn't you hear me?"

Raising my head, I found mom standing a few inches away from me with her arms crossed over my chest. Tears cloud my vision. Her presence was making me more vulnerable.

"Mom, I-I". I attempted to speak but the urge to cry overpowered me, and made me unable to form a sentence.

The unamused look of her face faded and was replaced by unspoken concern. In a matter of seconds, she was sitting on the edge of the bed right beside me.

"What happened?" she asked, cupping his face.

Next thing I knew, I threw myself at her, hugging her tightly. A sob erupted from me, filling the room, then was followed by several. I was crying like a baby in no time.

Mom stroked my back, soothing me, waiting patiently for me to cool down. I don’t know how long I cried but my crying finally subsided. It took some time but it eventually stopped. I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed once my consciousness came back. Breaking free from the hug, I straightened up. Mom gave me a sad smile.

"Mate?" She asked, cradling my cheeks in her hands once again and her thumb wiped the tears off my face.

I nodded my head in confirmation. Even after a whole month, there is no trace of my mate. There’s a sinking feeling constantly bugging me this past month. My anxiety is all over the place. It felt as if I had already reached my breaking point.

I tried to distract myself and focus more on my school and work but nothing seemed to work, making it very difficult for me to get through every second. The more I tried not to think about it. The more my heart continued to desire a certain person. It wouldn't be wrong to say he has been living rent free in my head 24/7.

"Mom, what if I don't meet him?" My heart burned as I uttered those heart-wrenching words.

The idea of never meeting my mate agonizes and distresses me the most. Just the thought of living my life without my mate, kills me from inside.

"From where did the nonsense come, Hazel?" She scolded.

"It's already been a month and I still haven't found him," I whispered in despair. My voice is barely audible.

"Hazel, it’s normal for wolves to find their mates after years from their eighteenth birthday," Is it? I cannot help but doubt she is just saying it to make me feel better. "Just look at your dad. He found me when he was twenty-four."

I was taken aback by the revelation. I had no idea dad only found mom when he was twenty- four. I can't even imagine how dad must have felt waiting so long for his mate. With my own experience, I can say it must have been painfully agonizing. One month and here I am at breaking point.

"Really?" I croaked out.

She squeezed my hand, assuringly. "Yes honey,"

Her comforting words soothed my aching heart. I felt a bit better than before and hopeful too.

"Now smile," She added after a short pause.

I forced smile,

"That's my girl," she praised.

I can’t help but rest my head on her chest. She circled her long arms around me. Mother’s embrace is one of the peaceful places one can find. We feel in comfortable silence, both lost in our own thoughts.

"Mom you were supposed to bring this spoiled brat, not disappear yourself," Came an irritating voice just a couple of minutes later, breaking through the peaceful atmosphere.

Breaking free, I look at the tall frame of a person that has the power to irritate the crap out of me. My elder brother Adam. He was looking straight at mom with his displeased brown eyes. Not getting any response from mom, he turned to me.

"Oh my god you scare me," Adam said dramatically as he jumped back with his hand on his chest.

"What are you doing here ?" I asked in annoyance. I know I was a mess but he is being too dramatic.

"Why is this cry baby, crying again?" he asked, looking back at mom, completely ignoring my question.

"Adam," Mom warned. As always, Adam ignored it and decided to open his big mouth.

"What? She is a cry baby. She cries for absolutely everything," Adam complained, defending himself.

As much as I hate to admit Adam was right there, I was a cry baby, but it was my nature, not something I do as a hobby. I glowered at him with the intention of burning him. He stuck his tongue out, childishly. My eyes rolled on their own at his immature action. He calls me baby. and look how he is acting now.

Before the verbal fight could go any further, dad saunted inside the room.

"What are you guys doing here? Breakfast is getting cold," Dad stated in his thick, prominent accent.

His eyes went from Adam to mom, then came to me. A worried line on his forehead seeing my disheveled form.

"Are you okay, princess?" he asked. His voice was so tender as if he feared he would hurt me with his voice.

"Now I’m” I said, gazing at mom.

A satisfied smile gripped her lips and I smiled back, but this time whole heartedly.

Dad's judgmental eyes looked back and forth between mom and me, trying to understand what happened. His lips parted. I thought he would demand an answer but what came out of his mouth was something I hadn’t anticipated.

"You know what... let's go on a picnic," he declared.

"Now?" Mom asked with her nose scrunched. I can understand her reaction, seeing it was already mid-afternoon and it was a strange hour to plan time for a picnic. If you are wondering about breakfast at mid-afternoon. On our weekends we mostly sleep till late and eat food late.

"Yes, just look at everyone. We desperately need some family time.”

Mom just stared at dad for a few moments. She abruptly got out of bed and stormed out of the room. My eyes darted to dad, who had a victorious smile plastered on his face.

Seems like we really are going to a picnic.

************

“Dad, what the f**k? You're such a cheater,” Adam growled, annoyed and pissed at dad's constant habit of cheating.

Before dad could say anything, mom roared in an authoritative voice. “Adam, watch your tongue,”

“f**k, sorry mom”

Giggle seized me. Typical Adam. His mouth needed proper soap washing and maybe then he would stop cursing.

Adam was shooting a dragger at dad, who was grinning like a fool.

"You can never defeat me, pup. Playing cards is my specialty," Dad proudly exclaimed.

"You sure? Cause your specialty is hiding cards, not playing," Adam shot. His lips pursed into a thin line.

"You have no proof," Dad's voice, confident with no sign of remorse.

Adam slid his head towards me. I c****d my brows upright, feigning to be oblivious even though I was the one passing dad those extra card right under Adam's nose.

"What? I didn't see anything," I lied through my teeth.

Muttering something under his breath which I couldn't quietly hear. Adam averted his attention back to his card. They continued playing and I sat there enjoying the back and forth between Adam and dad.

We were all having a wonderful time. My mood is a lot better now, almost stress free. I don’t even remember when was the last time I had so much fun. Dad was right. We needed some family time. At least I did.

"Adam, go get the water. We have none left," came mom's voice.

"Mom, just a few minutes."

"Adam," Her voice was hard, indicating she was running out of patience.

I took the last bit of my grilled cheese and hauled myself up.

"I'll bring the water," I offered, taking the work upon myself.

"Honey, let Adam go. You are too small to roam alone in the forest," Mom claimed, declining my offer.

"Mom, I'm eighteen and already not small anymore,"

As much as I appreciate mom’s concern, I am not a baby anymore .

"But-" I started off but halted my words as mom arched her left brow challengingly. I love my mom but she can be a control freak at times. I understand her concern was valid but she has to understand I am not ten.

“No” her answer was firm.

"Let her go babe," It was dad who spoke.

"Macro,"

"What Lisa, you can't keep babying her forever," Dad said as a matter of fact.

Shaking her head vigorously, mom mumbled something about how she came to love him. I smiled to myself. These two fight so much yet can't live a second without one another. It's something I want with my mate, but for that I have to find him first.

Where are you mate?

Shaking of the thought, I reminded myself not to think about him.

I looked towards mom's for approval.

Mom let out a loud sigh. "Fine,"

"Don't wander anywhere. As soon as you fill the water. Take a u turn and straight back here,"

"Okay,"

*******

I was on my way back after filling the bottles when all of a sudden I heard a rustling sound behind me, alerting my senses. Fear sparked up in my veins and I seemingly froze for a moment. My eyes slowly twirled around, wandering around assessing, trying to find the source of sound, but I saw no one or anything unusual.

I brush it off, assuming it must be a rabbit. I turned back but my leg twisted in the process, making me lose my balance. I slithered down the small cliff. My body rolled on the unpaved surface. The small pebbled and broken branch from the tree dug into my sensitive skin, breaking it.

My head slammed hard on the huge rock, making me yelp in pain. I could taste the metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

"H-Help," I managed to say. My voice is distant to my own ears. I just got silence as an answer.

I was on the verge of losing my senses, barely managing to keep my eyes open. The last bit of consciousness in my body faded away and darkness consumed my body.