Mates: Made or Fated

Mason Hayes was the Alpha of the Black Elm Pack, one of the largest in North America. He had become the Alpha when his father died during a rogue attack ten years ago, making him the youngest Alpha on the continent. It was well known that being an Alpha was a huge responsibility. The lives of nearly a 1000 wolves depended on him. There was an endless list of things to do, and people to see. There was always someone needing something done, or piles and piles of paperwork to finish. Mason pinched the bridge of his nose, and massaged his overworked and tired eyes. He had been reading files, signing documents, and going over financial reports for hours. Not for the first time during the day, he had imagined how much easier his life would be once Vanessa had finally taken up her official position as the pack's Luna. Mason's mother had been an excellent Luna, and was still fufilling some of the duties from her old position. She was the pack's mother in every maternal way, but the more technical responsibilities, like paperwork were now left to Alpha. The passing of her mate, Mason's father, had been hard on her. While she had retained her sweet and motherly nature, the loss had affected her cognitive abilities, as well as her memory. Thankfully, the pack was understanding and protective over Rosemary. She had always been a kind, compassionate, and attentive Luna Mother. They had all come to accept Rose for all her eccentric quirks, and her fragmented mind. No one corrected her when she referred to her deceased mate as if he was still with them. They all found that playing along to pacify her was the best way to handle it. If they tried to get Rose to accept the truth, that her mate was never coming back, she would fly into a fit of hysteria The doctors recommended that the pack appease her, but change the subject and distract her with another topic of conversation. The pack had not only rallied around Rose, their former Luna, but around all the young that lost their parents duringth attack, and anyone else that had been affected. Vanessa, for example, had lost her entire famiy during the attack. Before then, she had always been Mason's best friend, and future beta. After the attack, they had bonded in the grief of losing their loved ones, and the responsibilities that had been thrust upon them too early in life. Rose had insisted that Vanessa move in with the Alpha family. Vanessa had her own room of course, but every night she would sneak into Mason's room to sleep next to him. It was the only thing that kept the nightmares away. She always felt so safe next to Mason. It wasnt long before their hormones and closeness led to more between them. Lost in thought, he didn't notice Vanessa entering his office until he felt her squeezing the stress from his shoulders. While her touch lacked the calming effect and intense pleasurable sparks famously attributed to the mate bond, they still felt wonderful, especially after being hunched over his desk for so long. "Come to bed Mase. You've been at it all night," she whined. "Soon, love. You know I have more work to do since Eric is at home with Lana and the new baby." "Maybe I could help you finish up then?" Vanessa suggested. "I was born to be your Beta, you know." Mason growled quietly at the suggestion,. "You will never be my Beta, Ness." Quick as lightning, he spun around and had his girlfriend in his lap.His growl ws heavy with lust, as he spoke seductively into her ear. "You will be by my side though.." he paused. "MATE," he emphasized. He dragged his nose and canines up the length of her neck and jawline, sending shivers up Vanessa's spine. The little hairs covering her body stood on end with excitement. She grasped his heavy wrist with one hand, and lifted the edge of her skirt with the other. She placed his hand beneath it, and urged him to touch her, much for both of their pleasure. After finding her naked beneath Msaon groaned. "No panties, Ness?" She whimpered as he continued his ministrations of her body, edging her towards an intense orgasm. After he sent her over the edge, he placed her back on hr feet, and righted her clothes. "That's it? What about you?" "This wasnt about me. You came in here wearing no panties for a reason baby. I couldnt resist taking care of your needs, but my needs gotta wait. I've gotta finish approving these request to enter our pack lands before morning. Otherwise, there will be a line of pissed off wolves denied access at the border tomorrow." He sighed. He would much rather dump the pile of files in the trash and follow his barely dressed girlfriend upstairs to finish what they had started. Another sacrifice he'd have to make as Apha. "Ok, Alpha." she whispered in his ear in a seductive way. She knew that calling him by his title always worked him up. He groaned, and adjusted himsef, which caused her to giggle as she exited his office with an extra sway to her hips. "Tease!" he called after her. 'Oh she'll be payng for that later,' Mason promised himself. Vanessa was a shoe-in for the Luna position. The entire pack knew she'd be the next Luna. Some of the more familiar members had already taken to calling her by the title, which pleased her greatly. Whatever made her happy, also made Mason happy. Mason and Vanessa had been attached at the hip their entire lives. They were the same age, had been friends long before their relationship became romantic. They had seperated once when Mason went off to college, which gave Mason the chance to experience what the rest of the female populaton had to offer. Unimpressd, he begged Vanessa to take him back when he came home after college three years ago. If he were being honest, he would admit that there was one specific woman that he found himself beyond impressed with, and within the depths of his mind he could admit had greatly been the reason he got back together with his long time girldriend. He was so affected by the scorching hot moment, with the much too young she wolf. His d**k that had softened since Vanessa left his office stiffened, almost painfully, at the brief flash of that memory. After four years, he had done everything within his ability to block the moment from his thoughts. It was truly a nuisance to think of. Every single time his d**k would refuse to come down for hours, and even Vanessa was unable to satisfy his it. Groaning, he adjusted himself, and lifted another file to read through. If there was anything that could kill his lustful thoughts it would surely be paperwork.There was nothing in the world more monotonous, or more boring than paperwork. Unfortunately for Mason's intention to calm the raging b***r in his pants, the picture inside of the file he was holding fell directly into his lap, landing right on his d**k. His pants the only thing between his hard on and the picture of the very she-wolf who had caused it, Gabriella Layne. He groaned, and picked up the picture to examine it more closely. Grabriella Layne, better known as Ella by all of her friends, was every one of Mason's teenage fantasies come to life. He had never seen the picture in his hands before. After sending her away, he had avoided every reminder of the girl. She wore her wavy golden hair half up and half down n the picture. Her golden waves fell well past her shoulders, and flowed down out of picture, past the edges. Her carribean blue eyes held specks of gold and emerald within them. They were warm, so full of light, and shown with innocence and kindness. Her smile wss genuine, and stretched across her face. She was wearing her signature braces in the picture that made her look young. 'She IS young,' the Alpha chastised himself for his wayward thoughts of the young member of his community. He was the Alpha, and it was his job to protect the honor and well being of those within his pack. That was what it meant to be a leader. Hed string up any wolf preying upon the young women in his pack. He was raised to lead by example, which meant he must forget about Gabriella Layne. It's not like he hadnt tried! After kissing her on the stairs late one night during one of the pack's monthly bonfires, he sent her off to college in an attempt to forget about her. He hated how confused and sad she looked when he delivered that news to her the following Monday. He had no other choice. The girl was just that, a girl! He had to send her away before he did something he would regret. However, he did regret how callous he pretended to be, and the way he embarrassed her for the moment they shared. He was inexplicably drawn to her for some reason, and thought that the best way to repel their attraction to eachother would be to offend her, and send her away, but now it appears she is returning home, and the attraction and curiosity were riding him hard. Even his inner wolf seemed uncharacterially anxious and riled up. She'd graduated this month, and was requesting to come home to visit her family for the summer before moving to the other side of the country to work for a well known company. He was happy that she was making something positive and would be successful. He should of felt happy for her, which he was, but more than that he was already feeling anxious about the fact that she would be leaving again at the end of the summer. His wolf bristled at the thought of her leaving. He swore, and snapped her file shut, shoving it towards the pile on his desk. He was done for the night. He needed to sink himself into his girlfriend, and forget about the little girl driving him crazy. 'she wouldn't be so little anymore,' a small voice whispered inside of him. He chose to ignore it for now. She wasn't even back on pcak lands yet and already his thoughts felt wrecked. He needed to overcome whatever it this was between them. He was an Alpha after all, surely one small she wolf couldn't do too much damage, at least he hoped not. Instead of letting his mind wander too far, he quickly climbed the stairs and into the bed he shared with Vanessa.He then proceeded to wreck his girlfirend until the wee hours. Even still the sweet young face of Ella flashed behind his eyes before he drifted off to sleep. A ball of excitment had taken root inside of him at the thought of seeing her again. He had never crabed and feared something at the same time ever befrore.