Chapter 4

Vincent had scheduled Sunday for our date, and my mood was all over the place. I have been counting down the days to Sunday, marking each day that goes by on the mini table calendar that is on my desk.

Today being Thursday, I just have to endure another two long days before I get to see him again. I was still yet to inform my family that I had found my mate; otherwise, they would be pressuring us to complete the mating ceremony so he could start assisting me.

But I don't want that for Vincent; I wanted him to get used to the fact that he was going to be an Alpha's mate and slowly ease him into his responsibilities. I wouldn't want to force everything down his throat and risk him running away. Therefore, I will still keep my mouth shut.

Time seems to have dragged so slowly that even a snail could compete with it and win. It was as if the universe knew I was waiting for Sunday to come and was trying to punish me.

It was finally Saturday, and I couldn't be any happier. I had already left Jake a strict message that I didn't want to be disturbed tomorrow. Tomorrow was for me and my mate, and I will be damned if I let anything ruin it.

I stayed extra late on Saturday, trying to finish up most of the work on my desk, although it was useless because come Monday, the workload would have doubled. I clocked in for the night by 2 a.m. My joints were aching and my eyes were struggling to remain open, but that couldn't stop the little smile that was on my lips. I was so excited.

If this was the little price I had to pay for meeting up with my mate, then I don't mind doing that. 

I dozed off almost immediately as my head hit the mattress, and I slept dreaming of a certain gray-eyed warrior. I was up the next morning as early as possible. Even though the date was in the evening, I needed to wake up on time so I could start preparing. I detest being late.

I spent the earlier part of the day being caked with beauty treatments; I looked more like an alien than a werewolf, and I shook my head as I passed by the mirror. The thing we do for love. Thankfully, neither my brother nor Liam were here, or else they would have teased me to death. I soaked my feet in a bowl of sweet-smelling water that was also serving as a pedicure treatment to make my feet soft.

It was in times like this that I wished I had a female friend. They would have been beside me, helping me dress up and giving me moral support. I wouldn’t start asking the men in my life to do all that. I wouldn’t live down the embarrassment. 

That calls for one thing. My mum. She was the only one I could think of who could help me now, so off I went. 

After my dad handed the pack over to me, he and his beta decided to move places and take it far from home. According to them, we wouldn’t be able to disturb them if they were that far away. And honestly, I also liked that. I could rule without anyone breathing down my neck and monitoring everything I did.

After I had taken my bath, I packed a minibag that contained my essentials, and I was off to my parents' place. Right now, only my mother could help me, and I needed it urgently. I knocked on the perpetual brown door that was characteristic of the houses in the pack. I had forgotten to inform her that I was coming, and I secretly hoped that she was in.

From her scent that was drifting towards the door, there was no doubt that she was home. "Jasmine!" She exclaimed as she saw me before pulling me in for a hug. "My baby." I smiled as I heard her say that, no matter how much I have grown, I will always be a baby in her eyes.

"Mom, you are squeezing me." I complained as her hold tightened on me. She looked at me sheepishly and laughed.

"How are you doing, and most importantly, what brings you here? You barely have time to visit your old, lonely mother now that you have assumed power. Is parent neglect not one of the things you learned?"

I shook my head at her antics and said, "Unfortunately, mom, parent neglect never made it to one of my numerous lessons." I entered inside, dropped my bag on a sofa, and headed straight to the refrigerator to get something cold. I selected an orange juice and attempted to gulp it from the pack, but one stern look from my mother had me going to get a cup and pouring a sizeable portion, which I gulped down immediately. I poured another glass and took it to the sofa, where I had earlier dropped my bag.

I sighed as I sank into the soft sofa; I could just sleep right there. "So, what brings you here?" my mother asked as she also poured herself a glass of the juice and came to sit beside me. 

"Mom." I groaned as I heard her tone. "You are sounding like I don’t visit you at all." She gave me a knowing look, and I sighed. "I know, I know. I am guilty. I will try harder to make time for you." I said as I smothered her into a hug, kissing atop her head.

"Alright, that is enough, you giant. Now back to the reason you are actually here, what can I help you with?" I smiled, wondering how mothers always know that we need their help. 

"I need your help to get ready for a date." I was interrupted by a squeal, and warm hands grabbed me into a tight hug. 

"Oh, my god. My baby is going on her first date." She squealed, but my stern face was otherwise, and she became calm. "What can I help you with?" She asked in a much calmer voice.

"Everything." I whined. "My hair, my makeup, and literally everything. I want to appear at my best today, but I haven't made any headway."

"Aww," she cooed, wiping an imaginary tear from her eyes. "My baby is trying to impress her mate."

"What?" I asked in shock, blinking rapidly as I tried to process what I had just heard. "How did you know? Because no one else knew apart from Liam. I am so going to fray that boy alive."

"Calm you horses, girl. No one told me; I mean, it is kind of obvious. But how dare you not tell your mother first that you have found a mate?" I sighed; this was what I was trying to avoid.

"No, mom, it isn’t like that. I wanted to be sure that he was the real deal before I started tutting the horn."

"Alright." She said before she went inside her bedroom to go get her hair care kit. She came back with different bags and equipment, and I sighed when I saw them. What did I get myself into? She sat on the sofa behind me, and my leg was on her thighs. I smiled, as it reminded me so much of my childhood. "Now tell me all about this mysterious mate of yours and why you didn’t think of telling me first. And don’t you dare think of leaving out any details." She warned, and I nodded.

I sat there while she helped to loosen the braid, and I began to narrate how we met. The story took a much longer time because my mother felt the need to react to everything I said. I was a laughing mess as I told the story; her reactions were always funny.

"Do you think you like him?" my mom asked as she bent over to wash my hair. 

"I can feel the mate bond becoming stronger gradually between us, and I think I may begin to like him. But I believe that as time goes on, I will learn to completely love him."

"Don’t try to rush it, baby. Love doesn’t just come like that; it comes gradually. Your case is kind of similar to that of your father and mine, but we were able to work through our differences, and now I am madly in love with him. Just learn to have an open heart, and the love will come."

"Thanks mom." We continued the rest of the process in a comfortable silence, each with their own thoughts. I have heard some rumors about my parents’ relationship, and I knew it wasn't as rosy as it seemed, but thankfully they were able to sort out their differences.

We were at the last junction of the way, which is when I put on my makeup. We wasted a lot of time on my hair and talking, and it was almost an hour to the time. I didn’t even have time to check out the final product as she finished the last touches.

I trust my mom; she would always give me the best. I had to leave now if I didn’t want to be late, because he said he was going to pick me up at the pack house. I was getting the purse I stole from my mom when I had the door knob open, and I froze as the familiar scent got to my nose.

"Jasmine?"