MATED TO THE ALPHA
1196 Words
TESSA'S POV
Eli explained some other things about the supernatural world. How some wolves were born into it and some were bitten, their abilities, the mythology of the moongoddess. It was a lot to process, but anything was better than the constant lies I'd been told.
During my break, my phone buzzed. It was a message.
Janet: Hope you haven't forgotten about our reunion tonight!? I'll send address to you in an hour.
Oh my Gosh!
I totally forgot about my highschool reunion. Janet had call a month ago and I had agreed subconsciously just to get her off the phone. She even made me promise.
"Arggghhhhh!!!!" I slammed my fist on the counter.
Eli rushed out of the kitchen panicking. "What? Did you see a rat??"
"My highschool reunion is today and I have nothing to wear!!!" I shrieked.
"Girlll, you have a fashion god right in front of you, chillax!"
"I don't even remeber most of these people."
My memory was one thing I never understood. I had to get myself tested for Alzheimer's one time in college because of how much of my childhood was missing. It was like there was a hole in my brain somewhere.
"Just go there, look hot and have a good time sweetie."
"Incase you need a plus one I'd be happy to accompany you." Derek came crashing through the doors like he had been summoned.
"How did you even hear me?" I asked.
"Super hearing." Eli whispered, reminding me of our lessons.
"And why would you want to go with me to a reunion?"
I hadn't seen him after our night. We didn't talk about it either or acted like anything had happened either. I like it like that, it was basically a one night stand.
“And why would you want to go with me to a reunion?” I asked, crossing my arms.
Derek leaned casually against the counter studying me with a calm expression.
“Because reunions suck,” he said simply. “And you shouldn’t have to face that alone.”
Eli squinted at him. “Uh-huh. Right. Totally no ulterior motive.”
Derek shot him a glare.
I sighed. “Look, Derek, last night—”
“We don’t have to talk about it.”
He cut me off instantly. “You needed something. I was there. End of story.”
My chest loosened a little. Exactly how I needed it to be.
“Besides,” he added with a shrug, “you’re my friend.”
"So is that a yes?" he asked giving me a cute puppy dog eyes.
I swallowed, considering the appeal. The protection, the company. It won't be that bad.
“Fine. But if anyone asks, you’re an incredibly well-paid, emotionally unavailable bodyguard.”
Before he could answer, my phone buzzed again.
Janet: Remember, dress code is semi-formal! And no backing out.
I groaned. “Semi-formal? I don’t even own semi-formal.”
Eli clapped his hands dramatically. “Say less. I’ll build you an outfit from scratch if I have to.”
“You have three hours,” I said.
“Easy.”
He switched the diner's sign to closed and shooed us outside.
Derek paused outside the diner, watching me with that sharp omega awareness Eli had explained.
“You’re nervous,” he said quietly.
“Of course I’m nervous,” I scoffed. “I barely remember half my childhood.”
“Your scent is different today,” he murmured. “Brighter. Sharper. Like something in you is waking up.”
I blinked. “Yeah, right."
Eli and I went in his car aand to my cottage while Derek went to do whatever he usually does.
>>>>>>>>>>>
Eli worked his magic.
Within an hour, I was wearing a simple but flattering black jumpsuit, my hair loosely curled, and my nerves slightly calmer.
Derek showed up exactly on time, leaning against his car like he was posing for a magazine.
“You ready?” he asked.
“As I’ll ever be.”
He offered his arm dramatically. I laughed and took it. The drive took an hour abd a half. I kept showing Derek places I used to go to in the city and talking non-stop.
The hall was lit with gold string lights, the music loud enough to hide awkwardness, and the air full of fake laughter.
Janet spotted me instantly and shrieked loud enough to be heard across the hall.
“TESSA! Oh my God, you look so good! Who’s this?”
Derek slipped into the role effortlessly.
“I’m her boyfriend,” he said with a small smile, then looked at me like he’d memorized the script.
Boyfriend? This man!!
Janet’s jaw dropped.
“Well damn, Tessa! You upgraded!”
Lots of heads turned. Whispers traveled like wildfire. A few girls who had bullied me before suddenly became very friendly.
One even asked Derek where he “found someone like her.”
He didn’t even blink.
“I walked into her life and never left.”
And… surprisingly, I relaxed.
I danced.
I laughed.
For once, I wasn’t the outsider. I wasn’t the girl with missing memories or confusing instincts.
I was just… me. With a fake boyfriend who was way too good at acting.
The night wound down, and Derek draped his jacket over my shoulders as we walked outside into the cool air.
“You handled that well,” I said.
He smirked. “I’m talented.”
His posture suddenly changed. He stiffened.
His head snapped toward the shadows near the entrance.
“Derek?” I whispered.
He didn’t answer. Every sense in him sharpened.
“Tessa,” he said under his breath, “get behind me.”
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“Why? What’s—”
A figure stepped out of the darkness. My breath stopped.
Lucian.
His eyes landed on me first. Then on Derek’s jacket around my shoulders. Then on Derek standing in front of me. For someone who didn't want me, he sure didn't know how to leave me the f**k alone.
His jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth would crack.
“So this is where you went,” Lucian said quietly.
“Back off,” Derek snapped. "She's not some lost puppy."
Lucian’s eyes glowed faintly, not bright, not controlled.
“You brought her here,” Lucian said. “Into a crowded place. Without telling me."
"Excuse me? You're my boss, not my parent." I attacked
“She’s safe with me.” Derek added.
“No she’s not.”
Lucian took a step closer.
“You should probably ask your Alpha why he’s being overly protective everytime,” Derek said quietly.
“Especially when you’re his mate.”
Everything stopped. My heart stopped beating for a minute.
Lucian’s eyes snapped to Derek. He looked like he was about to kill him.
I felt the air leave my lungs. Mate?
The word wouldn’t even settle. It just echoed,.
“What—” I choked out, looking between them. “What did you just say?”
And the silence that followed felt like a weight.
"I'm sorry but someone had to say it." Derek muttered.
- Writer
