Whichever Alpha I Choose Spells War

"Hello! Hello from Earth to Valerie!!!" Karla had no idea what was up with her friend today; they had just been served their meal, and she knew something was wrong when the usual food lover didn't dig in the moment the waiter placed the tAxel in front of them." She slapped her fingers in her face many times to get her attention, but Valerie wasn't listening, nor was she paying attention to anything Karla was saying; all her attention was concentrated on the young man who had just stepped into the restaurant: her mate; and yes, she was meeting him for the first time. Karla's gaze followed Valerie's gaze; she thought it odd that her friend's gaze had been locked in that area for several minutes, and she wondered what was going on. She realised what was going on when she noticed who Valerie was staring at. Of course, it's Valerie's 18th birthday, and she's experiencing the mate bond. This is a frequent location for she-wolves to meet their mate, which is why Valerie's eyes had been riveted to that man for so long, and his eyes had been glued to hers as well. Karla couldn't be happier for her friend; everyone was worried she wouldn't meet her mate on time, but now he was there; she'd have the chance to reject him before the joining ceremony, and then she wouldn't have to worry about him when she was introduced as the new Luna of the moonlight pack, with Alpha Axel, her betrothed, standing by her side. "What are you looking forward to?"" Karla posed the inquiry, but Valerie was still not paying attention; she would have been better off talking to a mannequin. ********** The mate bond, Valerie always knew she'd experience it one day, the day she'd find her mate, but she never expected it to be so close, she never expected it to be today, she'd always thought that when the day came, she'd be prepared for the rejection, but she clearly wasn't, not with the shock that burst right through her when she saw Drusus. He came to a halt as they both felt the most strong force; the only attraction in the universe that can never be felt for someone other than your fated, the only sensation greater than love itself; and he felt it too. She'd heard somewhere that no matter who you end up with as a wolf, the attraction that overflowing in your heart as a result of that intense mate bond lingers within you for the rest of your life. And when she saw him for the first time as he walked into that restaurant in Bandera, the small town she'd visited, their eyes collided and neither of them could look away for even a split second, even from the distance between them, she could see his face and observe his handsome features clearly as he stood across the room watching her too. It was as if everyone and everything around them had vanished, leaving only the two of them to imprint on each other for the first time. Meeting your true mate for the first time, the one the moon goddess had paired you with, was a good thing worth celebrating in the normal werewolf world, because from that moment on, your life would never be the same, as you would no longer live as one person, but as the other half of a romantic destined by the moon goddess herself. But for someone like Valerie Maynard, who had spent her entire life being groomed to be with someone else, meeting her mate was hardly something to celebrate. 'We have to do something,' her wolf Erida said from within her, as Karla's words began to sink in. "Hello!!!" Karla exclaimed. What should Valerie do now that she has been jerked up from her chair? She wondered why it seemed so tough to reject her mate. What was the source of her unexpected attraction to him? Was this something that was supposed to happen? 'Valerie, you must act immediately!'Erida repeated, knowing from her wavering voice that the mate link made her wolf uncomfortable as well. Then a thought came to her; it wasn't particularly creative, but it was worth a shot. Running away from your spouse was like a piece of metal trying to pull away from the magnet it was clinging to, or running away from the warmth that shielded and protected you from the deathly cold winter. It would be difficult, virtually impossible, and partly hopeless because she knew she'd run into him again at some point; the mate link ensured that. Oh well..., she'd cross that bridge when she came there, but for the time being, she needed to get away. To Karla's horror, she grabbed her hand. "Let's just get out of here," Valerie pleaded. Valerie didn't hesitate when she saw Drusus start walking towards them. Everyone in the restaurant stared at the crazy lady running and grabbing her friend's hand in hers, but she didn't care, she had a bigger problem walking towards her, and she needed to get away from him, from all of this; no, she wasn't supposed to be feeling this way, she couldn't reject him feeling this way, she had to leave. "What's the matter with you?" Karla was already losing her cool when she came to a halt and snatched her hand away from Valerie's. "You're not supposed to be going this way; have you forgotten what to do when you see him?"" Valerie knows exactly what she should do, but she never expected it to be today, she never expected to be this unprepared, and she certainly wasn't ready to reject her partner now. Valerie knows exactly what she should do, but she never expected it to be today, she never expected to be this unprepared, and she certainly wasn't ready to reject her partner now. She noticed Drusus was getting near to them; he had hesitated for a moment when he saw her fleeing. "Let's just go, please, and we'll talk about this outside," Valerie suggested. She didn't wait for Karla to react, instead turning around and finding for another way out of the enormous restaurant. "Where are you going to pass?" There's just one escape, and he's blocking it, so you'll still run into him." Just as Valerie's gaze was drawn to the waiter who had vanished behind the marbled counter, she grasped Karla's hand again and moved in that direction. As she entered the kitchen, she noticed the server handing the chef an order. "You're not supposed to be here ma'am, this area is restricted to staff only," the cook said, frowning. "We're really sorry," Valerie grumbled. "It's an emergency," she said, without even waiting for a response, and ran out via the kitchen door that went to the rear exit; she needed to get out of here as soon as possible. Both friends dashed out of the restaurant and into Karla's car, which was parked in front; she sat in the front passenger seat near Karla. "Drive!" "Does a Luna do that?" Running away from what she should be doing???Karla snagged. Those comments pierced Valerie's heart, pricking her shame. She knew what she should have done, but she chose to disregard it; she knew she was rejecting her obligation by fleeing, and worse, she was doing it in front of a witness. But she didn't have much of a choice; this was far too much for her, far too unexpected, and she needed some time and space to comprehend it all. Drusus had just left the restaurant and was looking around, and Valerie knew it wouldn't be long before he discovered them in this automobile. "I beg you in the name of the goddess," Valerie said, clasping her hands together in despair. "Please, just take me away from here." Karla then started the car and began to reverse, much to her relief, she looked out the car window at her mate whose eyes were still searching, he had spotted her in the car at that moment and their eyes met again, Karla never turned her eyes away from his, not until he completely faded out of sight. She'd fled from her friend before he could even speak to her. ********** "I owe you one!"" Karla yelled as she sped away. "Thank you so much," Valerie could breathe now; she didn't know what would have happened if she had to look that lovely devil in the eyes and watch his heart shatter. Why would the moon goddess have to marry someone so beautiful? Did the goddess not realise she had responsibilities? And one of those responsibilities was to reject her mate? Karla has just gotten a phone call. She was still deep in thinking when Karla jolted her awake. "Mason just called me; he wants me to pick up some things for the party on the way, and I'm sorry you can't make it." Karla's mate was Mason , and she considered her friend fortunate that she had been mated to someone from the pack; it would have been lot simpler for Valerie if the moon goddess had mated her with a moonlighter. Whoever he was, he'd respect her duty as the future Luna, accept her rejection, and look for another partner. But she's not so sure about the man she saw today. "Hello!" The sound of Karla clamping her fingers in her face startled her. "I'm sorry, but the party is only a few hours away."