Alpha on Campus

Chapter 2. Strawberry and vanilla

I just walked out of a very long meeting with Alphas from other packs. We did this once every year, to discuss difficult pack matters, threats and also more personal affairs. The first two were my favourite, as a younger Alpha I could learn and get advice from older Alphas. I had never encountered threats to my pack in my short time as Alpha, but did find it interesting to hear from other packs what they experienced and how they solved the issues. It also felt really good to know that we were here to aid eachother if necessary.

But then there were the personal affairs. Usually I was left alone, the other Alphas knew I was quite private, but today was specifically about me. I was the only Alpha without a mate, without a Luna. Even though they tried to stress that there was no hurry for me to find or choose one, the older Alphas did try to sell me the idea to marry one of their daughters to strengthen ties between packs and to make me a stronger pack leader. I did understand where they were coming from. It is common knowledge that an Alpha is stronger with his mate and Luna by his side, but this effect is way bigger with a given mate than a chosen mate. Also, I strongly believed that the Moon Goddess would pair me with a mate perfect for me and I wanted to wait for her. I could not possibly imagine having to reject my mate because I had a chosen one or the other way around wouldn't be fair either. The thought alone pained me. I thus politely refused and asked them to wait another year for me to find my mate.

I was happy when the meeting was closed. This year, it was held at a hotel at the shore. I had brought my Beta, Keith, as well as four warriors. Keith was one of my younger brothers. I had two younger brothers and one sister. My youngest brother Vince had stayed back at the pack together with my Gamma to take care of the pack members and to report to me immediately if there were issues. The pack was about 500 miles land inwards and being so far away was nerve-racking sometimes. Nonetheless, I had complete faith in my Gamma and Vince.

Keith and I decided that on a warm day like this, we might as well enjoy the beach before we would head back to the pack. As kids we came here all the time and we used to love it. As soon as we stepped outside of the hotel a delicious smell hit me, it was faint, but it was there. It smelled like strawberries and vanilla, very sweet, yet so complementing eachother. I was curious where it came from, this could not be some foodtruck around the corner, it smelled too real.

We crossed the road and that is when Thor woke up.

"MATE"

I felt Thor prancing. "We found our mate!" Without drawing to much attention to myself I started looking around and that is when I heard it: "Abs, why are you drooling at Cathy's match?" Our eyes locked, she noticed me before I saw her. I did not understand at first what the other girl meant, 'Cathy's match', but when I saw how uncomfortable my mate reacted upon my gaze and her friend's comment, I slowly started to realize... We have a human mate.

To make things worse, or possibly better, Keith decided that we arrived at the perfect spot to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening, only a couple meters away from the girls. I understood why, my brother was unmated and so were the warriors. They also did not mind some fun and I noticed how they started eyeing the girls. I saw my mate undressng, she took of her already way too sexy sheer dress, and her white bikini with small red details was showing. I growled lowly at my men, letting them know not to even think of her. I watched her secretly and she was gorgeous, a very pretty and natural face, beautiful curves accentuated by her bikini, a little toned and a beautiful golden tan. The way she almost skipped to the sea looked cute, I was falling for her and I fell hard. I also felt sorry for her, very likely feeling some aspects of the mate bond, but as a human she could not know what those feelings meant, and probably only confused her. If I could only talk to her. I wanted to get to know her and fast, so that I could explain everything and make her mine.

As casually as possible I told my brother I was going for a swim, I had a lame excuse and said I would rinse the sweat off. I don't know if he believed me, but he let me be. I took of my shoes and went to the sea, just after I heard my brother say "Let's invite them to the party tonight!" and as I got closer to the sea, her scent grew stronger. The strong scent of vanilla was intoxicating and yet so satisfying, while the strawberry fragrance was sweet yet refreshing. Only her scent already sent a chill down my spine, the good kind, and I felt my need for her grow. It indeed had to be her and I could feel and hear Thor almost singing excitedly "mate, mate mate, mate!"

There was only one issue that made me hesitate, she is human and I'm a werewolf. I would be the only Alpha with a human mate among the Alpha's of the council we meeted with earlier today. I need a strong Luna to lead the pack with together and could she really be the one the moon Goddess chose for me? I have always said that I believed in fated mates, but at this moment I wasn't sure. She wouldn't just be a small werewolf, she was a tiny human, too. I'm guessing she is just about 5', while I'm at 6'3".

Oh well, at this point it's not important, she cannot feel the mate bond like I can and if I would ever want to make her my Luna I'd probably have to work hard for her. The way she just left without even once looking at me already set her apart from most girls.