Waiting For Her (The Alphas Young Mate)

Nineteen | Flicker of Hope.

POV | Ace

The day of Aliah's fourteenth birthday was a day of change. I saw something in her eyes, something that let me know she was ready. Despite training one on one with Kane and Blaez, she continued to grow weaker while Amestris was getting stronger. Watching her pain increase started to make me worry, so when I saw the fire in her eyes that day I knew she wasn't giving up.

A week passed before I announced Aliah was to train with the pack. The men - who welcomed her with open arms - went easy on her at first. But as the year passed Aliah excelled beyond what even I expected of her. There wasn't a warrior she hadn't pinned to the ground or outrun. She learned strength, speed and control. Gaining the respect of many, and all by the time she was only fifteen.

On the days I stopped by to watch, there wasn't a person who could get in my Angel's way. When I was close, Amestris would come out. Though Aliah wasn't old enough to fully connect with her wolf, they already were learning how to fight as one. The weak and pain ridden Aliah from a year ago was gone. In her place, a strong and determined fighter.

The same pride that fills me everytime I watch her fight, fills me as I see her running home alongside a very tired looking Kane. The fact that she has enough energy to outlast him only shows me how much stronger she has gotten.

"Ace!" Aliah boasts.

Jumping up onto the decking where I stood she leans against me for a moment. I can feel any hint of pain that may have started to course through her body vanish, the familiar tingling warmth taking its place. A way we had learned to manage the pain was skin to skin contact. It was a small thing I could offer her, but I loved every second of it.

The fact that I could bring my mate peace from my presence alone meant everything to me. Though it was still the only thing I had kept from Aliah, the truth that she was my mate.

We had spoken about Her visit to the elders, her wolf, and the night that we became connected. I shared as many details as I could with her without giving away the one thing I promised I wouldn't. I still agreed that it was something Aliah was to find out on her own, but like any secret, the longer you keep it the more it will hurt.

Though I was keeping my word, my restraint was withering.

"I'm really despising your new found energy Pumpkin" Kane chims in as he dramatically drops to the wooden deck below.

Aliah rolled her eyes, nudging a groaning Kane with her feet as she held onto me for support. "You're just mad that you lost"

"Lost what?" I questioned.

"Our race" Aliah smiled up at me as she spoke from my side that she still clung to. I couldn't help but laugh as Kane mimicked her from the ground below, clearly sour about the outcome that I was sure had become a daily occurence.

"Maybe you should train more" I teased Kane to which he huffed.

Pushing himself up from the deck he lent back on the palms of his hands before squinting at me "Oh yeah, you race her then Alpha"

I raise my brows at the suggestion before laughing it off. Aliah however pulled away from my side, crossing her arms as she looked up at me in challenge. I know Kane only made the suggestion due to being butthurt, but the way Aliah was looking at me I knew the last thing she was going to do was back down.

I continued to stare down at my stubborn beauty to which she nodded with a smirk. A yes to the question I held in my eyes, a yes to a race against me. Before I could protest, Aliah jumped down the steps to the Granite flagstone pavement before it.

Stretching her arms above her head she spread her legs shoulder width apart. I stalked closer, watching as she twisted her abdomen left to right before reaching down towards her feet.

My eyes locked on frame as my chest began to rumble, a growl threatening to escape at the sight I had found myself caught in. Kane knowingly looked up at me with a wide grin, I could practically hear the jokes he wanted to but wouldn't make in front of Aliah. Ignoring him I continued down the steps, peeling my shirt over my head as I made my way to her side.

With my feet in view Aliah glanced up, her eyes however did not reach mine as they lingered on my bare skin. I tensed feeling her heart rate pick up as her breathing became ragged. Her scent soon followed, flooding my nose as she slowly stood. Finally her eyes locked with mine, a light rosy tint burning across her skin to which I chuckled.

I couldn't help but enjoy the small moment, they had been happening more often as of late. But it only reminded me that my Angel was growing up.

Pulling herself back to reality she quickly averted her gaze, holding up a single finger in demand "No wolf"

With a hum of agrement I raised my own arms above my head. Stretching out my body with a groan. Aliah's head turned ever so slightly, her eyes again dancing across my skin. I couldn't help but tense from the burn of her gaze.

'I guess if you're losing just stand in front of her and flex' Kane's voice chimed in my head. Dropping my arms I looked back, shooting him a glare to which he held up his hands in defeat and laughed.

"Ready slowpoke?" Aliah teased, bringing my attention back to the race at hand.

"You sure you don't want a head start?" Aliah opened her mouth to refuse to which I added "I'm an Alpha Angel"

With a roll of her eyes Aliah groans before pushing her feet against the granite, the power and strength in her legs sending her flying into her head start. Heat bloomed in my chest as I counted down in my head.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

I followed suit, pushing the air from my lungs as I darted in the same direction that she disappeared. Weaving through trees I followed her scent deeper into the forested packlands. Ducking under branches, jumping over logs, I felt my skin tingle as Xerxes howled inside me. Thrilled by the hunt of our mate.

Beyond the smell of leaves and dirt was the sweet scent of Aliah. The more I ran the stronger it got, only making me push harder to capture what was mine. Through the scattered light that filters through the trees, I see her long brown hair. Each strand whips around in the wind that cascades around her body.

A light giggle fills my ears before Aliah darts towards the right. My Scent reached her only adding to the power of her speed. Shifting my direction I follow her around each corner as she continues to serve in and out of the greenery. Gaining my scent may give her more power, but losing hers gave me more desire to get it back.

Taking her movements as a challenge Xerxes growls, I smile as the sound leaves my throat. Pushing harder I don't stop until long brown hair is back in my sights. Her scent this time overpowering me as a gust of wind blows it in my direction. My feet double in speed until Aliah is in arms reach.

"Gotcha" I whispered into the air between us, wrapping my arms around her waist as she squealed.

As my arms circled her waist I lost my footing, stumbling along with me Aliah fell back. Her small frame crashed against mine as we rolled out onto the open field of grass that hid between the tallest of trees. Her laughter mixed with mine and we rolled atop the green blades before coming to a stop.

My back to the ground while my hands stayed firm on Aliah's waist. Her chest vibrated against mine as she continued to giggle atop me. The long brown hair I was admiring from afar, sprawled out across my arms and shoulders while her small hands pressed flat against my bare skin. The connection only faded through the strands that tangled in her fingers.

Though the touch still set me alight.

With one last chuckle I stilled. My hand that caressed her side slipped between her locks, pushing them behind her ear just enough to see the smile that still consumed her lips.

With my lingering touch I got lost. Running my fingers along the underside of her jaw until my thumb reached her lips. Tracing a line around their raised edges, her warm breath fanning against my hand. Following my eyes I traced the right side of her button nose, following it's bridge with my thumb before my hand once again held her check.

Brushing the soft skin under her eye we finally looked at one another. Aliah's eyes were already watching me, a curious gaze holding something more. Her natural opal hue flickering with the brightest blue. I watch on as the blue in her eyes fights for control, her small hands gripping my chest as the tingling heat begins to surround us.

I find myself looking between her eyes, her body begins to pulse against mine. I feel her mind race with thoughts before one stands out to me. The thought that had completely clouded our minds.

Our Scent.

With fluttering lids her eyes roll. Watching as she sniffs the air between us, I hold my breath. The euphoric feeling that rushes through her, pulsing through me at a rapid pace as she releases the softest sigh.

The Blue in her eyes flickers again, this time it's more evident as she leans in. Pressing her check into my hand I groaned, the space between us filled with heat as her lips lightly brushed against mine.

Every cell in my body burns for her touch, for more. But I still beneath my Angel, waiting as she grazes the skin of her lips on mine. Her breath mixes with mine as our noses touch, my hand slipping to her neck. The other gripping her waist, stilling her body as I feel my d**k begin to swell.

The loss of friction caused her to whimper into my throat. Again I groan.

"Angel.." I growl in warning.

Trying to pull her back to reality, trying to stop her before this goes too far. Every morsel in my body is fighting the urge to mark her, make her mine. Xerxes and I fighting against one another to claim what is rightfully ours.

The blue sparks dimmed from her eyes for a moment before the rumble in my chest pulled it back. As if it were more in control than before Aliah smiles against my lips, satisfied by the vibrations that lingered in the air.

With our eyes locked and the taste of her mouth so close I lost clarity of the sudden shift in Aliah's energy. That was until I said the only other name that felt right on my tongue.

"Amestris"

As if her wolf was talking with mine Xerxes howled to the Goddess herself. A surge of pleasure that wasn't my own coursed through me before Aliah whispered into my mouth the only words needed to solidify any doubts I had ever had.

"Mine..."

The shiver that ran down my spine in that moment finally hearing the word fall from her lips made me growl in such a way the pack would have been sure to hear.

"Mine" I repeated as my gaze fell back to her lips.

Pressing my hand to the back of her neck I lent up, wanting nothing more than to connect to the lips that would be mine from now till the day I was no more. Before I could taste what I craved a small gasp hit my senses, the familiar sound breaking through my haze as I looked back up to Aliah.

Shocked, I released my hold on her as she hovered above with red tainted cheeks. Her hair cascading down over her shoulder as her blush spread up her neck, over her cheeks, and under her opal eyes.

"I-Im uh.. I, uh... Sorry..." She looked between us confused, stuttering her words as embarrassment took over.

Painfully I released her waist letting her push herself upright and off my chest. The warmth between us fading just like the flickers of blue in her eyes.

Wiggling in my lap Aliah continued to murmur unintelligible stutters. I sat upwards keeping her on my lap only to groan as she continued to move. With Wide eyes she covered her mouth, the very obvious strain in my pants being the reason she ran.

Giving myself a moment to calm the fire that had started to burn inside me I smiled.

Despite the fact she ran, she gave me hope. I knew what I felt before, what I had this whole time. But now, I wasn't going to hide it. Aliah was Mine.