The Alpha's Unrecognised Mate

Overpromising

The week dragged on without Clint around to set my heart racing. Work kept me busy, and between it and my morning runs I managed to find sleep without too much issue. The dreams, though, continued to taunt me with sweet nothings that ended all too soon.

When Wednesday came around again I was uncharacteristically excited to be heading to the run-down chapel. Any opportunity to see Clint in person sent my heart aflutter, and Lyra felt the same. Fated mates weren’t meant to be apart once they found each other, and I could understand why. A dull ache, like muscles pushed too far the previous day, sat heavy on my body whenever Clint was away. It wasn’t right for us to be separated like this.

I pulled up to the dirt lot with seconds to spare. If I’d had my way, and surely if Lyra had hers, we’d have been there at least fifteen minutes early, scanning the crowd to see Clint the moment he arrived. Liz, however, had guilted me into staying a little later to fill in for another nurse who had left early. I’d been heavy-footed on the gas pedal and still was edging the line of ‘late’.

I was fortunate that my parents always sat towards the back, making it easy for me to slide in beside them without causing a ruckus. We hadn’t officially started yet so there was still chatter going on, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked to the podium and saw Clint was already in place.

Sh.it!

I’d been hoping he would show on the minute again and not notice my tardiness.

“I’d almost thought you weren’t coming, Victoria,” my mother whisper-hissed at me. She only used my full name when she was upset. We didn’t have a lot of prestige in the pack, but she was determined to make sure her family made a good impression. Coming in at the last minute didn’t meet her expectations.

“Work,” I whispered back, to which she rolled her eyes. She knew I needed work to put food on the table after the pack’s business was sold off, but she didn’t like the idea that I would ever let it come between werewolf responsibilities. Since Dad had taken on the working burden for our family, Mom had never had to experience what working for humans was like, so I tried not to be too hurt by her judgement. She seemed to think I could just up and leave whenever, work what hours suited me, and be paid enough to live comfortably for doing so. I wished I could live in her world.

My eyes inevitably found their way back to Clint, and I suppressed a smile. I didn’t want Mom figuring out anything was amiss, or worse, thinking I found her tormenting funny. I didn’t need a lecture in front of the other wolves. Before I could catch Clint’s eye, he cleared his throat, signalling he was about to begin. As the chatter died down, rather abruptly at our alpha’s order, he reached over and stuck a piece of paper to the front of podium. It contained ten numbers, and the first two indicated that this was a phone number.

“Good afternoon everyone,” Clint’s voice boomed, silencing any final whispers. All attention was locked on him. “We’ve had a good weekend of training, both for the juniors and seniors, but it will be ramping up this weekend. You’ll want to keep the entire day clear, and bring a wrap with you to training. We will be switching between forms throughout the day.”

I mentally started filing through my closet at home. I did still have a wrap, didn’t I? Did it still fit me? I couldn’t recall seeing it in my closet, but I may have moved it into deeper storage after it sat idly on its hanger for a few years…

Clint went on, ensuring we were all prepared for the following weekend. Unlike last week, I was able to keep track of what he was saying, even if my mind skipped back to dreams I’d had of this very chapel every now and again.

“Now, to the number at the front. I’ve realised that I may not be easy to get in contact with, since we don’t have a pack house. I’m hoping most of you are familiar with my home on Eastern drive, and you are welcome to come there to discuss any issues with me, but as I’m sure you will all understand my responsibilities mean I am not often home. This is my number to allow you to raise any urgent concerns or request a meeting with me. I ask that you all put this into your phones and send me a message letting me know who is who. I will use this number to contact you if anything important comes up between meetings, and I expect you to respond to my messages to let me know you have received them,” Clint explained. My hands were already flying to my phone, adding the number to my contacts, checking it several times before saving.

Alpha Clint

It took all of my self-control not to add ‘“We’ll text him,” I soothed her, unlocking my car door and jumping inside. Lyra let out a low, sad howl. Her grief was so powerful I was fighting back tears, but I refused to cry in my car with so many packmates around.

“We’ll ask him to dinner,” I suggested, clambering to calm her down. She perked up instantly, and I knew I had just dug myself into a hole. Ask him to dinner? Wouldn’t that come off as a bit desperate? I drove off, berating myself, as Lyra grumbled happily, almost like a purr. I’d rather go back on a deal with the devil than on one I made to Lyra. The punishment would be less intense.