ONE

Derek

I got up before the sun rose, unable to rest well with my companion snoring by my side.

Without much thought I rolled my eyes at her. She was just as loud in her sleep as she was when I had kept her pinned under my body and pounded into her.

Entering my bathroom swiftly, I traipsed down the large path to my shower.

I really needed a hot shower, I thought with a groan.

Once I turned the water setting to hot and felt the nearly scalding water drip down my head and soak my head, I felt a measure of relief.

Several minutes after I got my shower out of the way and made my way out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around my waist.

My companion for the night - what was her name again, Beatrice or something? - must have begun to stir, and I didn’t want her leaving just yet.

I opened the door and stepped back into my room. On the table right next to my bathroom door was the the bowl I had ordered prepared the previous night.

True to my thoughts, I noticed she wasn’t on the bed anymore, and was instead shuffling into her clothes like a thief.

“Where are you going?” I barked out and the girl froze, before turning to look at me with the expression akin to a deer in headlights.

“Uh…” she trailed off, “I… I was just…”

“Just trying to leave then?” I raised the bowl of concoction I had specially made for my mornings after with any of the many women I had been with. “You have to drink this first.”

“What?” She seemed intent on playing dumb but as I drew closer to her she shrank back, looking left and right helplessly. Too late, I smirked.

I was very much aware that an unmated Alpha like myself held great importance and was high up on the list of attainable werewolves in the country. Therefore protecting myself from any fallout after I spent a night with a woman… was one of the things I had learnt early on.

“Drink,” I handed her the bowl to which she gazed into it like she could find the answers to her future there. But she was no scryer and I had no patience for women like her. “Would you rather I forced it into your throat?” I growled, and her eyes flew to meet mine, looking fearful.

“But… but alpha please…” she whimpered trying to give me doe eyes. Unfortunately for her, I had no sympathy to give for her.

“Drink it,” I intoned, with promise behind my words. “If you don’t, there are still ways to force you. So pick which you would prefer, and trust me… You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”

With wide eyes, the now-trembling girl picked up the bowl and sipped slowly from it. Upon taking in the bitter taste of the concoction she grimaced a bit but with my watchful eyes on her she could do nothing but finish it.

“Good,” I finally said when she had taken in the last sips. “Now get dressed and get out of my house.”

About an hour later I left my bedroom, feeling ready for the day’s activities. The work of Alpha was grueling at times but I lived for the easier times like this when I could relax and simply lounge around a lot.

As soon as i passed by the living room I heard the familiar voice of my mother.

“Alpha,” she called me, in that same find tone of hers. I stopped walking and turned back to the living room, a smile forming on my face without much thought when I caught her eyes.

“Mother,” I greeted. “Good morning, and how was your night?”

“It was well,” she said in response. “And I believe I don’t have to ask you how your night went too.”

What?

My brows furrowed.

What could she have meant by that?

“I saw a girl I didn’t recognize step out of the house not too long ago,” she added. “Tell me, something, Derek. What do you gain from all of that?”

I groaned aloud, realizing what she was talking about.

“Mother-“

“Don’t, you, mother me, mister,” she said and I felt duly chastised. “How many times have I told you time and time again to keep your misdeeds out of this house?”

“Misdeeds? What-“ I shook my head, not wanting to go into that.

She could be very perplexing with her behaviors sometimes.

“I think you and I both know that this behavior of yours won’t change the fact that you need someone constant by your side, try as you might to not admit it,” she continued, barreling over me figuratively with her words.

Inwardly I rolled my eyes.

I wasn’t going to have a mate anytime soon. I already didn’t want one in my life.

“Yeah, yeah, mother,” I said placatingly, “I have an errand to run so I’ll be right back.”

I didn’t pay much attention to anything else she said, and walked off. There was a burning in my heart as I did, her words ringing in my ears.

A mate?

I snorted to myself, smiling at the pack members who saw me and bowed in respect.

Give me a break.

I didn’t want a mate.

Having a mate was completely useless to me; the equivalent of tying a ball and chain to my leg and being unable to take it off.

As I walked in, trying to shake the thoughts within me that drew up unpleasant memories, I heard a familiar voice and turned.

“Hey, hey, Alpha,” Benjamin’s greeting was jovial as always and I smirked, all thoughts of mates gone from my head.

“Benny,” I greeted my friend and most distinguished warrior. He looked dressed casually,and my brows rose when I took it in. I whistled. “Going somewhere?” I asked him.

He usually didn’t get out of warrior mode often - not unless it was something special.

“Well, I was about to come meet you,” he stated. “There’s a great bar up north, and I got wind of a party being hosted there tonight.”

“So?” I asked. “It’s early in the morning. If it’s about a party then we can go later.”

But my friend shook his head. His expression turned serious.

“This isn’t about a party. It’s about who will be in it.” He paused dramatically. “Sebastian Trellis.”

I froze.

Him.

The Alpha of the Silver Moon pack.

Well, this was interesting.