Female Alpha's Choice

Time to charm

James

I examined Darcie’s ankle, rotating it slowly to check it wasn’t still clicking. It felt smooth and she didn’t flinch, so I was confident it was fully healed. I suspected it would be anyway, her wolf was strong and it had helped her heal almost everything since they first shifted a couple of months ago. I felt her gaze on me and looked up into her warm brown eyes. Goddess they were so beautiful. I had been furious when I realised she wasn’t my mate on my 16th birthday. I didn’t say anything to her about it, hoping that there was some glitch and I had to wait for her wolf to be present. Then her birthday rolled around and still nothing. At this point I didn’t even want my fated mate, I wanted Darcie. She was my best friend and she was stunning; inside and out. I could easily love her for a lifetime.

Laris growled mentally. “Our mate will be worth the wait and a better match for us. Don’t be a fool. We need to be a good Beta and not let your feelings ruin our bond with our future Alpha.” I sighed. It was no use arguing with him. He did make a good point, I knew that. Still, she was my best friend and my future alpha, that was enough to keep me near her; I would do whatever she wanted.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” I teased her. She scoffed and rolled her eyes, “I was just shocked again by how a were-man can be so unattractive. We’re meant to be good looking creatures.” She always got the upper hand with her quick, and sometimes fiery, words but I did notice her slight blush. Normally I would laugh it off, but I felt like teasing her some more. “Oh and that’s why you’re blushing is it? You’re embarrassed for me?” I stroked her cheek gently and saw the shock in her eyes. She flicked my hand away and got up grumbling to herself. “I’m going to shower.” She took a few steps away then turned to face me again and I noted her posture and tone of voice change into her future-Alpha mode. “I expect you in our office in 45 minutes, we have a meeting with my fath- I mean Alpha Dylan.” She turned and walked towards the showers without waiting for my response. I shook my head and watched her walk away, her hips swaying almost hypnotizing me, making me wish I could join her. Goddess, the things I could do to that body. Luckily, my father mind linked me then, stopping my lustful thoughts from going further. “Son, I wish to speak with you before our team meeting this morning. Meet me in my private office and bring me a coffee please.” “No worries old man.”  I grinned to myself. I loved my Dad, and he was a good man too. He had always encouraged my bond with Darcie and wanted me to rank highly in the pack.

Not even 15 minutes later I was knocking at his door, coffee in hand. “Come in son.” I saw him overlooking paperwork as I entered his office. He glanced up and smiled at me, eyeing off the coffee in my hand. “Ah thank you. With all this extra work and organising security I’m not getting enough rest and this caffeine is vital.” I passed him the coffee and sat across from him, leaning forward to pick up some of the papers. “Is this why you called me in early? You want me to help?” I had always helped my dad out with pack paperwork since I was a teenager but the training in this area had increased greatly since Darcie had made it clear that I was to be her Beta.

My father took a mouthful of coffee and sighed in appreciation before beginning to speak. “Yes son I do need your help with the papers but I also wanted to talk to you.” Something in his tone told me he was nervous about what he was about to bring up. I sat up straighter in the chair and c****d my head slightly, encouraging him to begin. “Well,” he started, not meeting my eyes, “obviously I know you’re close to Darcie and not just as a Beta. We all know you two are best friends and you have her best interests at heart. I have tried to bring up my concerns with Alpha Dylan but he won’t see reason.” “Your concerns?” I interrupted, not liking where this was going, “What exactly are your concerns with Darcie?” my tone turned accusatory. He couldn’t be questioning her right to the title surely- he was the Beta and Alpha Dylan’s best friend for Goddess’ sake! My loyalty for Darcie ran deep; deeper than my family bond even.

He finally made eye contact, hearing my warning tone and spoke quickly, regret in his voice, “Son please be calm, I feel you’ve misread me. All I want is the best for Darcie and the pack. Of course, she is to be Alpha and I support that fully. I am concerned, though, that the pack will struggle to accept her without a mate by her side.”  He leaned toward me and lowered his voice, “I have heard rumors of a small group of the pack that will not submit to her if she is to run the pack without a mate.” His eyes held mine and I saw no deception in them. My head started spinning slightly; I had too many questions. How did he know this? How many of our pack members were planning on betraying their Alpha? What would they try to do to her? Laris growled also; he may not want us to mate with Darcie but his need to protect his future Alpha was strong.

“What can we do? Does Alpha Dylan not know of this?” My father sat back and sighed, “As I said, son, Dylan doesn’t want to hear it. He doesn’t want to believe that his pack would have disloyal members. I can’t blame him, it’s in the Alpha nature. But we are the Betas; it’s now on us to try and help in any way we can.” I agreed wholeheartedly. “As you know,” he continued, “this weekend Darcie may have the opportunity to find her mate,” My heart constricted painfully but I kept my face blank, “so you need to keep an eye out and make sure that if she does, the male should be strong enough to help convince the pack of their combined strength.” “And if she doesn’t? Or if he’s untitled and weak?” I questioned. My father looked at me, considering me for a moment. “If she doesn’t find a mate, or her mate is unsuitable, I think you should offer to be her chosen mate James.”

I was stunned but his words also elated me. It was like he knew my deepest desires and was giving me permission to pursue them. I swallowed before replying quietly, “I don’t know if Darcie would accept that Dad. You know I would do anything for her, but she has to ultimately make that choice.” I looked down, forcing myself not to hope that our future together could be an option. His next words surprised me. “Son, I don’t think she even knows that you are an option. You are always so careful around each other not to push boundaries. Maybe if you are honest about your feelings then she will start to consider the idea. I have no doubt she knows why her father has thrown this festival. He may not admit it openly, but he wants her mated before she takes the Alpha title, and she’s smart enough to have worked that out.” I looked up and he winked at me. “Time to lay on some Beta charm my boy.”