4: My Stepfather, My Mate

Kristen's POV

I shouldn't have gone drinking with Maddy and Sapphire last night.

None of the things I did was productive except making me wake up late on the day of my mother's wedding.

Last night I slept until 8:35 AM this morning and Mom's wedding is starting by 11 AM. This is a result of a blooper on my part because the drive to the next town is two hours.

I missed seven calls from my mom and it's beginning to freak me out because I was dead-ass drunk and dozed off like I left the world or something. Now, Mom's actually thinking I wouldn't attend her wedding.

Right now, I can picture the expression on her face, how she bites her forefinger whenever she's nervous. And then the dullness in her brown eyes. It's something I can't afford to see.

I've tried to call back but she's not picking up. Probably away from the phone.

Now I'm running around, shoving all of my clothes into my box because I couldn't pack up last night.

Shifting into my wolf and running to the next town would have made things easier, I'd have arrived in less than thirty minutes but the world is more advanced now. We make use of cars and buses to travel. What would it even look like, with a wild daughter showing up for her mother's wedding in her wolf form? Let's not even talk about my traveling box.

I hurriedly put on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. Comb my bird nest of hair with my fingers and whilst brushing my teeth and staring in the mirror, Images of last night flash through my head and I can remember everything.

The way I was touched by that hot guy in the backseat of his car. Thinking about this makes my nipples ache beneath my shirt. The way he drilled himself into me without even knowing my name. That's like the hottest, second-best thing that has ever happened in a long while.

Shit! I shouldn't let such thoughts ravel me at this hour. I have a wedding to attend.

My mom and I do not have the mother-and-daughter kind of relationship. I've literally been an adult since I was nine because she's always away. And I know it's because I remind her of those painful memories.

One drunken night with a nameless man caused all her problems. She had me when she was sixteen and got kicked out of her pack because she had a mate, who was her Alpha's son. Someone who she was to marry at age eighteen.

And now she's found true love, after all these years. I kind of care for her in my own way, even though we aren't really close. Just the thought of her getting married to someone isn't something I am excited about. Still trying to process it all.

Pushing these thoughts aside, I throw my box in the backseat of my car before hopping for the two-hour drive.

I am almost out of breath when I get there. It's a mansion, with hundreds of guests trooping in and the wedding is about to start.

I can't even pay attention to the details around me as I am shouldering my way past people, with my box, trying to find my way around.

"Looking for someone?" A man in a black tailored suit approaches me, upon seeing how I am a little lost.

"I'm the bride's daughter," this comes out quickly because I'm almost out of breath.

"Christiana?" He blinks.

"Kristen," I correct.

"Oh my god, you're here at last," relief cascades through his face, "your mom has been freaking out that you won't show up."

"Where can I find her?" I inquire after blowing an exhausted breath.

"Come with me," with this, he carries my box and starts leading me into the mansion, passing tons of guests and servants. Everyone seems occupied one way or the other and it's just me who isn't dressed. Heck, I haven't even showered and it's 10:50 AM already.

Finally, we stop in front of a large iron door.

"You just have to calm down, I think it's a hold-up or something. Let's just get on with this and everything will fall right into place." I overhear this masculine voice through the screeching of the large doors. The butler just jerked them open.

And when we're inside, heads turn in our direction.

"I'm so sorry that I couldn't make it on time," I say without hesitation, upon seeing her looking so sullen in her beautiful wedding dress. She's ageless and like a descendant from the moon goddess. It's just too good to be true that I came out of this woman. When she looks like my elder sister.

"Kristen?" It seems as though she's going to cry and ruin her perfect make-up.

Sniffing, she runs toward me with open arms and then I just go to her and complete the hug, because she was perplexed that I wouldn't come to her wedding. And now I'm here and her body language just proves that she really wants me around.

"I thought you'd never show up," Mom is cradling my head as she says this.

"You have such little faith in me?" I try to smile but I cannot because there's this familiar scent wafting my nostrils, "just don't cry and ruin your make-up. You look absolutely stunning in that wedding dress, just as I expected," I pull away from the hug and step back to examine her.

Suddenly, I freeze in my tracks because my gaze captures something which I want to be a figment of my imagination.

I know I'd have a hard time forgetting him because of the way we hooked up, but why am I seeing him here?

Except I can still see him.

"I'm so glad you're here," Mom tells me but I can hardly hear her. My eyes are already raised in their sockets, with my throat working momentarily.

Because the person staring back at me is the last person I expected to see. In this room, with my mom and I.

Oh my frigging god, it's truly the guy from yesterday! The guy who I had a fling with in the backseat of his car.

"Kristen?" Mom's voice fades out in the background because this guy has an even more bemused expression than me.

How can I not remember him? I approached him last night even when I was drunk.

What in the seven hells is he doing here?

Dear me!

He's the only guy here except for the butler who brought me in. No doubt it was him giving Mom words of assurance before my presence was made known.

How in God's name does he know my mom? Several questions are running through my mind now, making me unsettled.

Blue eyes look incredibly handsome in his stylish navy-blue suit, with brown hair tousled on top of his hair because he's been forking his fingers through it since he saw me. His eyes are dark and stormy, giving out how horrified he is. And I cannot help but take a hard, hurtful gulp.

Mom and everyone else in the room are bouncing their heads from me to Blue-eyes and Blue-eyes to me, trying to figure out the whole situation going on.

My mouth parts and it seems as if my wolf wants to make me scream something, but I clamp it shut and ground my teeth until my jaw begins to hurt. Because it's an inner battle with my wolf at this point.

Goosebumps rise in my pores and I feel lightheaded for a moment, that I have to hold onto the wall beside me for support. Because this isn't happening. No.

I just…my mate is the guy who I slept with last night?

"Kristen?" Mom has fear on her face as she puts her hand on my back, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I try to give out a slight shoulder shrug, to ease the tension in the room, but it's all futile. I can't leave the wall because I'm afraid I'll lose my balance and fall off.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, Mom. It's your big day, you should be getting married by now. I don't want to be of any hindrance."

"Fine, let me introduce you to Calhoun since you two haven't met before," Mom smiles at me sweetly and pulls me away from the wall gently.

"She's your daughter?" My mate, Aka Blue-eyes slash the-guy-who-I slept-with, throws Mom this question. It's the first time he's spoken since I got into the room. His voice is so deep and distinct, authoritative like a leader. Unlike the gentle way, he spoke with me last night.

We both know something no one else is aware of and it's hair-raising.

"Yes, Calhoun. This is Kristen. She's to be your stepdaughter," Mom informs him, pushing me toward his side.

And my heart makes a leap so high, that I nearly faint.

Because the guy who I hooked up with last night isn't just my mate but also mother's groom-to-be and my stepfather?

Holy Chewbacca!