by Belle Kayce
“At least we have a good battery life. Plus, we’re so much better than the basic Apple. Like, do better,” Meg says as she walks towards the oven and gets the pizza out.
Spinach Alfredo.
I don’t care that it was hot, I take a piece and place the entire slice in my mouth.
“So, we didn’t get your name,” Bo says, taking a bite of his own pizza.
I take a few moments to chew before thinking of a lie. There can be so many people that has the same name as me, but saying it would be really stupid. I have watched plenty of TV to come up with a name that no one will suspect.
“Meredith,” I blurt the first thing that came to mind. I’ve been watching too much Grey’s Anatomy.
“You don’t look like a Meredith,” Bo comments but shrugs.
Meg only stares at me.
Okay, seriously, what is up with her?
“Do you have a problem?” I ask Meg directly. Ever since she laid eyes on me, it’s like she wants to strangle my throat. All I did is accidentally show up in her pack and she already has something against me.
Confrontations aren’t my thing, but if need be, I will say something.
“I think you’re lying,” Meg says. “I think it’s really sketchy how you’re some rogue and needs an iPhone charger. Who are you going to call? Rogues don’t have family members or care about anything but themselves. I think you’re totally bull—”
“Meg!” Bo interrupts. “She’s our guest until Alpha—”
“He’s here,” Meg cuts him off, smirking at me.
I gulp down the last remnants of my pizza. I hear talking from a distance.
“Finally,” Bo grumbles, glancing at me. This is it. The moment of truth. Bo even looks a little triumphant. I think we could be friends. Will I be put into a dungeon? They said they do not have any prisons, but I don’t know if that’s a complete lie or not.
My hands are now clammy, and I have lost my appetite. Completely. Alphas are known to be hot-headed and just hateful towards rogues. I’m not ready for this.
Do I really have to? This can turn out worse than my fate from my own alpha. I should make up a really sad sob story. Gain sympathy, empathy, whatever emotion an alpha can possess.
I think I said that out loud because Bo just gives me a sympathetic look.
“I’ll be there in the room too,” Bo offers.
Then he enters.
I can feel him before I see him.
I look up and my hazel eyes meet his electrifying blue ones.
Mate.
I don’t even know how the word got into my head but it did. I’ve always wanted to find my one true love but not like this. Not when I’m in the messiest situation in my life and he’d be in trouble because of it. I don’t want him to be in the middle of it.
There’s a sudden invisible pull, like a thread between us out of nowhere, and my being feels vibrant and radiant . Despite having Bo and Meg around us, it feels as though he’s the only one in the room. As though time itself has stopped.
“Impossible.”
That is the first word I hear him speak in his deep baritone. My eyes widen at what just happened and what is happening. Shooting out of my seat, I don’t even think about it.
I ran outside of the pack house. No one is stopping me.
Straight in my line of sight, there’s a small garden area where I take a seat on the bench. Shakily.
Clutching my heart, I will it to stop beating a million miles per second drilling a hole in my chest.
Why did he say that? What does that mean? Why did I find my mate just now?
After only being alone for a few moments, I hear a shuffling sound.
Bo is walking towards me, holding up a hand in a wave. Not that I want to talk to anyone right now but he sits next to me.
Turning to me fully, he shrugs. “Well that was awkward.”
CHAPTER THREE
Alphas are the worst kind to have as your mate.
Here are things I know about alphas from reading on my guilty-pleasure website called Wattpad:
1) They had high tempers.
Like, who can deal with that? No thanks.
2) They are over possessive.
Sorry, I need my space. A lot of it. It’s a total turn off too.
3) They think they are higher than the luna.
No one is my boss but me.
4) Controlling
Again, no.
And not only that, my own ex-alpha is a wreck himself. The only thing the luna is expected to do is bear him pups. She also never really does anything. She just helps the women and children. Kind of a boring life if you ask me. I want to travel the world and experience life outside of my pack.
I really wish my best friend, Julia, was here, so she could laugh at my predicament. Her laugh alone would have cheered me up.
Bo leaves me alone to be by the garden because I had told him I needed time. Thankfully, he obeyed.
Technically speaking, I’m a luna. Technically speaking, I’m also so screwed.
I need to leave. A lightbulb flashes. Exactly. I need to leave. I can’t have my mate carry my baggage. Besides, he will not miss me for sure.
Impossible.
Those words really are ingrained in me now. I stand up and glance at the pack house that’s basically a huge mansion. I then look at the direction of where the driveway begins. They totally will not notice me. All I have to do is sneak out.
I start walking towards where the huge driveway starts and make my way out of the gates that are still open. I really can’t believe my luck, but then again, security here might just really suck. I see no one at the mansion except Meg, Bo, and my mate.
My luck is on full throttle until I see a man standing in front of me from a few feet.
This guy has brown hair in a buzz cut, and he is definitely over six feet tall. His arms are crossed as he faces my direction. Power is also just oozing off of him. If I didn’t know any better, I would thought he was the alpha.
“Where are you going?” he asks me, using his height to intimidate me. So is this how the pack works? Intimidation in the form of a scary burly guy? He looks as lethal as my . . . ehem . . . mate. His height though is not intimidating. Nope. Not one bit.
It is not working. Okay, it kind of works but that is only because I am jittery from having some wolves wanting to kill me.
“Oh, this isn’t the way to the house?” I ask sweetly. Hopefully, he will just go away somewhere.
“You’re supposed to be in the house.” His face is stern.
Ugh, it’s already starting. The controlling. “Well I’m not,” I state the obvious. “Who are you?”
“I’m Cole.” He nods. “It’s nice to meet you, Meredith.”
“Who?” I ask, confused. Then I remember the fake name I gave them. “I mean, who are you in the pack?”
Nice save, Ava.
“You can say I’m . . . the beta, in a way.” My eyes narrow at this. Odd. No one is a beta in a way. Packs always have structure. It is so hierarchical, it is no joke. It is always the alpha at the top of the pyramid with the beta being the second in command. Then those at the bottom, like me, do not care about the structure of a pack. It never affects us unless the alpha is a jerk. Clearly, mine is.
I turn around, hoping he will leave, but he doesn’t.
“I can show you the way to the house.” Fact of the matter is, I do not want to go. Cole is looking at me expectantly though. What will happen if I refuse to this almost-beta?
I don’t even care what he means about almost being a beta and the weird pause before that. Like he doesn’t what he is?
“Actually, I think I’ll just stick around here. I don’t feel like going in,” I say.
“I can wait with you,” Cole says. The almost-beta needs to chill out.
“I’d prefer to be alone,” I say. “It’s not every day you get to meet your mate and he hates your guts.”
“He doesn’t hate you.” Cole gives off a stran
ge expression.
“Oh yeah? Every time I see someone see their mates for the first time, they usually do something like hug or be happy and smile. You know, it’s a joyous occasion.” I frown, thinking about my mate who may want to reject me. Okay, I’m glad he didn’t yell out “Mine” and like grab me, but a smile or something would have been nice.
“He doesn’t hate y—” Cole stops suddenly. “He wants us to come to the house.”
“If I don’t?” I challenge. This is a test to see what kind of horrible person this Lance is. Will he take me by force? Will he force me to stay here or will he leave me in the dust?
Cole looks like he’s mind-linking. “Then he’ll come outside to talk to you.”
I grimace. “I don’t really want to see him right now.”
A flicker of confusion manifests on Cole’s face before it goes back to the serious expression. I study Cole’s face for a bit and see there’s a huge scar running along his chin. That must have hurt a lot. It really adds to his sharp features though. This dude looks like he was in the military.
“You can be here for as long as you want.”
Cole’s answer surprises me. Really? I get what I want?
“Can I—”
“You cannot leave within a mile from the pack house,” Cole automatically says.
This guy is like a glacier. An obnoxious glacier.
“Whatever. Take me inside.”
***
Following Cole into the house, my nerves start to pick up. Having been outside for those moments felt nice. Now, I have to face the reality of the situation. I have a mate that doesn’t seem too happy to see me. It’s especially happening under the worst circumstances too. Such is my life though. I just can’t have a normal mate encounter. Seems like my life's going downhill and will not stop from doing so.
The only thing I remember about Lance is his beautiful soul-capturing eyes.
When I get into the house, I try to avoid making eye contact with him. I want to ignore his existence since he is so keen on ignoring mine.
But I accidentally glance at him. He is already looking at me. Shoot.
I quickly look away, but, oh my gosh, he is attractive. His raven-black hair is down to his ears. He is tall but shorter than Cole. Plus, he is wearing just a simple white t-shirt. I get a glimpse of the bulge of his biceps.
Those biceps make Chris Evan’s biceps from Civil War shameful. That helicopter scene is still the best though.
“Meredith.” Here we go. My fake name is fully in use. He doesn’t even know me. Our relationship already started off with a lie. What will he say? What will he do? Am I going to be thrown to the wolves? Literally?
I notice Cole is gone. We are alone. I kind of regret giving the name Meredith because it’s so weird to be called that and to remember that I lied about it. Plus, I want to hear my real name from his lips. I can listen to his voice all day long. Feeling like this makes me think it is the mate bond talking. It has to be it. How can someone’s voice be that great anyways?
I need to stop.
I also want to laugh at them for saying the wrong name every time but I can’t. Only Meg is on to me right now.
“Are you going to reject me?” I blurt out, turning towards him. This is it. The uneventful day. Never would I have guessed I would find my mate so soon. Rejection is imminent.
Lance’s eyebrows furrow, and he looks hurt for a second.
“Never,” he says in an almost-whisper. For a moment, I can see his eyes turn from expressionless to something I cannot put my fingers on. Not a second later, it disappears just like that. I must have been imagining things.
I am taken by surprise, but I can’t get too attached. I have to leave this place. I have to keep him safe from two other alphas.
“So now what?” I ask. Fidgeting. Wondering. What would they do to me?
“I was going to talk to you about it. Obviously, you are welcome to my pack. Because you are a rogue . . .”
I wince. That’s what I am now. I have to get used to it.
He notices this and pauses. “You are a part of my pack . . . if you want.”
I just stare at him, smacking my lips together. I will be safe with him, but his pack will be in jeopardy because of me. I don’t want to be a luna. The responsibilities give me anxiety.
“I have a choice?” I ask.
“Of course you do.” His voice is a little strangled. Then his voice turns cold, “Unless you wish to reject me.”
I raise both my hands. “Hold up! I thought you were the one that didn’t want me.”
Lance’s blue eyes are such a stark contrast to his black hair. It makes his eyes seem to glow as he looks at me and says, “Why would—”
“Alpha, there’s someone that wants to speak with you.” Meg barges in the room, and Alpha Lance takes one look at her, nods, then leaves. Without even looking back at me. Meg then follows him.
It stings a little. The dismissal that happened just like that. Our conversation is also not over yet either. I take in a deep breath, steadying myself, determined to not die in a place like this.
***
Lance and Meg leaves me alone in the kitchen, but I know Cole is somewhere nearby. I make my way back to the nice garden that is only several feet away from the house. My mind wanders to what’s happening to my family right now. Is Julia okay too? I know she’s probably worried sick about me. It’s just in her nature. I wish I can let her know I’m fine. For now.
I’m outside again to get fresh air because being inside just isn’t working for me.
“Meredith!” someone shouts. My eyebrows furrow as the voice gets closer. “Meredith!”
I look around to see who they are talking to.
“Where?”
“You,” Bo says, looking at me weirdly.
“What?”
“I was calling your name.” Bo gives me another weird look, and I almost slap myself for forgetting the fake name I gave them.
I blink. “Oh sorry. I just didn’t hear you,” I lie. I’m lying a lot these days. Karma is going to definitely come and bite me in the butt. I’d deserve it too.
“I just want to talk to you about some things,” Bo says.
“By some things, I’m guessing you mean Alpha Lance?” I ask. I can search for a friend in Bo. Will he assure me about Lance or tell me something I did not want to hear?
Bo looks at me sheepishly. He motions for me to sit on the couch. I sit down with Bo facing me.
Bo sighs, running a hand through his curly hair. “Alphas tend to stay clear from Lance. The only relationship they have with him is just political, wolf business and the sort, as Lance isn’t like those stupid wolves from a while back. Just because they have power, they just kill packs and take them over. He isn’t like that. There’s no point in doing that. Lance likes to keep to himself. No one really knows anything about him. They just know he doesn’t like to get involved in the pack’s crappy dramas.”
“Where is this coming from?” I ask.
“The call he got earlier was from some other pack asking about someone,” Bo says. My heart speeds up. I’ve been found. “Some alphas are going to visit here, but I want you to know what kind of wolf Lance is.”
“Uh, thanks,” I say, my voice shaky. We are quiet for a few seconds. “Uh, do you know if you have any cookies or junk food? I could really use something.”
“Yes, we have a pack of Oreos in the snack cabinet.” Bo grins at me and gestures with his chin for me to follow him back to the kitchen.
When we get into the kitchen, Lance is there again, drinking water from a bottle. He lifts his eyes to look at me.
Must. Not. Look.
“Ah, here we go. Oreos.” Bo takes out the package, and I clap my hands.
“But, first, milk!" I say, going to the fridge to get milk. Inside the too-big fridge is a stock full of food. On the first shelf is just a bunch of Fiji water, and I locate the milk on the side.
“Already ahead of you.” Bo has t
wo glasses in his hands, and I pour the milk as I sit down on the stool.
Lance is directly across from me. I can feel his intense stare at me.
I glance at him.
Crap.
“So, who was the phone call for? Some lover?” Even though Bo already told me, it will be nice to get any information from Lance about what is going on the outside world.
Bo spat his milk and started coughing.
Lance’s serious face looks like it will be forever etched in there. “Something amuse you, Bo?”
“Lance having a lover is the funniest . . .” Bo stops. He looks towards Lance, but the smile on Bo’s face can’t be contained.
“It was Alpha Trent asking for permission to enter my lands in three days and speak with me about an occurrence in his pack,” Lance answers. Wow! Trent really is working so fast in looking for me. Of course, this would be the first place he would look at. This pack was nearby.
I swallow hard. Suddenly, I don’t feel good. I am not aware that they are coming so soon. I almost can’t breathe. I need to get out of here like yesterday.
“You okay?” Bo asks me.
“I’m really sleepy,” I lie.
Lance stands up. “I can show you—“
“Can Bo show me?” I ask, looking at Bo instead. I can’t face Lance.
“Yeah, sure.” Bo glances at Lance a little hesitantly, but I’m already getting out of the kitchen with both of my hands wrapped around myself. I feel alone and scared.
We go up this swirly staircase until we finally get to like the third floor. The thing about the place is that it makes me feel small. Bo walks me to a room, the guest room. This is standard. It has a queen-sized bed with navy blue silk sheets and a Persian carpet with a decked-out curtain.
“This is where you’ll be staying,” Bo announces. “There is a bathroom too, with everything you need. And if you feel hungry in the middle of the night, just go to the kitchen.”
“Thanks.” I yawn, realizing I really am tired. My entire body aches. I am physically and mentally drained.
I jump on the bed immediately because there is a headache starting to form. I know I need to go to a doctor because I usually have them at least once a week, and sometimes the headaches are excruciating. The pain is the worst, and sleep is the only thing that helps me get rid of them.
