CHAPTER 1 - MATE

*HERON'S POV*

“Alpha Carter, we would love for you to join the Batch for the fall semester,” Dean Vassell tells me, but I have no interest in being here.

 Balking, I was in his office under my father’s constant nagging to further my education. Impassively, I took the pamphlet out of his hand to look at the programs to decide what to pursue. “I’ll review these before making a decision.”

The Dean of Luckingham College stood from his desk and bowed, “Have a good day, Alpha.”

I wheeled out of his office, and down the corridor of the college halls. Dad wanted me to resume my studies and so I obliged. He was trying to help me get my life on track and take over the pack, but to be honest, I believe that my sister, Pandia, was very much capable of being their Alpha instead of me.

The were-kingdom was a patriarchal society and so the elders were skeptical of having a female running the pack. However, from my perspective, Pandia was a badass of alpha bloodline and more suitable than I could ever be to lead the pack.

In werewolf culture, Alphas held the highest positions. Some differs in strength which is determined by the size of their pack. Omegas are at the bottom of the hierarchy, which also includes levels for elites, warriors, second in command (Beta), third in command (Gamma), fourth in command (Delta), and fifth in command (Theta). In order to generate the best children, the moon goddess created Alphas with the best characteristics and traits. Being tall, attractive, robust, assertive, bold and protective makes them natural leaders. The downside of it being that they can be conceited and egoistical.

At my side were my Delta Forbes and Beta Sage, whom Dad assigned to always protect me because I have been paralyzed from my legs down since age sixteen. The Gamma role is currently dormant but will be filled by my cousin Axel when I am ready to take over. Friends aren’t something that I see as a necessity and usually, those positions are handed to individuals who are supposed to be close to me.

It was quite simple. Out of all the Alphas in the world, I was the only one who was maimed in a wheelchair. This made other packs see us as being weak when we were one of the strongest in the world and highly acknowledged by the High Alpha or Werewolf King, as he truly was.

“Luna Phoebe will be happy that you came here,” Beta Sage announced with a smile.

“It was good for you to get out today,” Delta Forbes adds, “How about we tour the grounds?”

I scoffed, glaring at them, “No.” I preferred to be home.

My commanding officers exchanged glances, daunted by my unwillingness to go anywhere else. It’s back to the cottage in the forest for me. 

It was Dad who coerced me to come to Luckingham, but it was Mom who really appealed to my heart. That soft spot that I had for her was a tool that she often used to her advantage. She was the main reason I left my seclusion. 

“Let’s head back,” I told them without caring about their feelings as we continued down the corridor.

My poor Beta and Delta. Being at my side doesn’t give them much of a life. Dad forbids them from leaving me alone. Being stuck in a wheelchair does not allow me to fight or defend myself, and an Alpha in my condition would be easily targeted. Therefore, my Beta and Delta are powerful enough to be my protectors and help me run the pack as soon as I decide to take the title.

Beedo is my theta, while Chris and Marlon are elites that work for me in the shadows. I give orders from my refuge, while my three elites do the work that I commanded them.

My cousin Axel, as the future Gamma, is supposed to be my third in command, but because I am not fulfilling the Alpha role, I have not officiated him with the title as yet. In the interim, Axel trains under the current Gamma, his father Chad, at the training grounds. I have yet to utilize his skills. I have never summoned him and we seldom ever spoke.

My phone rings as expected.

“Mom,” I answered, rolling my eyes.

“Honey, will you join us for dinner today?” She asked.

Knowing that what she actually wants to know is if I have decided to start a program, I chose to skip, “No, Mom.”

“Heron,” she drawls my name and sighs. “Your father will be upset.”

Quite frankly, I couldn’t care less. Nevertheless, I surrendered to share my thoughts about resuming my studies. “They offer a lot of options and I need time to choose my major.”

“Great. As long as you don’t postpone it.” She says as I imagine the broad smile on her face. “Your sister is home today,” Mom continues, “Come and stop by. Dinner once a week with the family won’t kill you. Besides, it’s time for you to start associating with your pack members.” Her voice takes a sterner tone, “I want you out of that cottage Heron.”

“Alright Mother, I will come by,” I succumbed, because she would find a way to get her way, eventually. She was Luna, after all.

Sage and Forbes smiled. Wherever I went, they had to be there and they were just as bad as my parents. Always forcing me out of my comfort zone. What was there to be happy about, anyway? Life was the same old daily routine. Perhaps my introverted personality hampered their extroverted nature.

“Stop right there!” A rowdy black-haired guy shouted after a girl who was running towards us from the far end of the hall as she came down the stairs.

A troop of men ran behind her. The presence of this red-haired girl engulfed me in a cloud of the most magnificent scent of rose and peppermint. I sniffed the air as its intoxication hypnotized me, pulling me under its spell. I halted to observe what the scene was.

I sniffed the air. Could this be real? Have I found her?

My wolf stirs within me, standing on all fours on alert as our exuberant eyes follow her trail.

Deviating, the girl runs to the first door on the right and turns the knob, looking behind her. The door does not open, so she runs along to the next, which also fails her.

“Alpha, what’s wrong?” Forbes inquired, noticing my odd behavior. He glanced at a clueless Sage, who shrugged. I was sitting there in the middle of the corridor with eyes glued on her.

Nothing in the universe could distract me from this monumental episode. At first, she paid me no mind. She was too busy trying to elude her pursuers. But then her eyes locked with mine for what seemed like an eternity, joining me in the hazy vortex of the mate bond.

In slow motion, her bouncing red hair cascaded over her face and down her shoulders. Similar to the introduction of Baywatch, her small breast jerked from the impact of her swift movements. My breath hitched, and my heartbeat galloped at the proximity of my beautiful other half.

A smile graced her face as she realized what we were to each other. Her hazelnut eyes glowed like a star, but she managed to avert them to my Beta and Delta, and then back to me.

Once in front of me, her running slows as she lowers herself towards me and remarks coquettishly. “Hi honey, I have been waiting for you.” Her tender white hands rest in my lap as she mauls me with her delicious lips.

Suddenly, I was enveloped in the passionate heat of her lips. My heart skips a few beats as I enjoy our first kiss. Sparks and fireworks set off like a carnival in my body. The minty taste of her tongue was heavenly and it explored every inch of my mouth. Though this was my first kiss, apparently, she had been practicing in the way that she took dominance.

My companions, who were acting as security details, stopped the five guys chasing her right in front of us. Then they all watched me and this stranger in our make-out session, inebriating me with her electric kiss. My eyes darkened and my wolf churned inside of me as the tip of her tongue ran over mine.

The little vixen took my breath away, leaving me panting as our foreheads rested on each other. Waves of current ran through us. With locked eyes, nothing else in this world existed but us two. 

“Mate.” 

“Mate.” Both our wolves uttered simultaneously.

At first, Sage and Forbes looked at us in astonishment, and immediately they knew to apprehend my mate’s offenders. They floored and immobilized the five men in swift attacks. They grunted in agony and crawled on the floor, unable to stand from the multiple blows they had received.

“Keep your ground, mutt,” Sage spat and used his foot to jab at the rowdy blonde-haired one who was attempting to get away.

My mate smirks as she witnesses their abilities. She gloats, “Not so brave now, are you?”

“What is your name?” I flashed my teeth and asked softly.

“Charlotte Timberwood,” she blurted out and stretched her right hand out for a shake.

“I am Heron,” I left off the title and accepted her handshake, “And these are my best buddies, Sage and Forbes.”

At the moment, we were both mesmerized, unable to help our gaze. A fleeting thought made me wonder how acceptable she would be of my impairment. Therefore, I mind-linked my guys not to reveal who we were.

“Charlotte,” I repeated her name, loving the way that it rolled off my tongue. Her grip on my hand was firm as though she wished to prolong the onslaughter of sparks that spiked from our contact.

“Nice to meet you, mate,” her eyes sparkle as she timidly whispers. “You are amazingly handsome.”

Assuming that we were going to have a pleasant conversation, I realized my mistake when she abruptly backed away. A contrite expression daubed her face. Taking a quick glance at the wounded men lying on the floor, she bit her lips and then looked back at me as she recoiled further.

“Thank you for your help but I have to go now.” She jetted the words and likewise in action, “I can’t explain right now.”

“Wait….” I called out, but she dashed in the opposite direction and hurriedly went out of sight. I frowned. Why would she leave so suddenly? Did she not want me? What is she running from?

“Did we scare her?” Forbes questioned her actions.

“Maybe we were too aggressive,” Sages sadly noted.

Looking down at the mess on the floor, my anger boiled at the five pathetically injured men who groaned in pain. My instincts were to protect her and retaliate for whatever wrong these men had done.

“Who the hell are you?” I cast them a cold glare. They shivered at the feel of our venomous aura.

When no one responded, Forbes grabbed the blondely curly-haired guy and pulled him upright, forcing him to find his grounding.

“She stole my money and I was trying to get it back,” he wheezed out as Forbes' fingers gripped his neck.

“Do you know her?” I interrogated. My wolf refused to accept that our mate was a thief. Even if she did commit the crime, we were certain that she must have had a logical reason.

“Everyone knows her,” he remarked with a laugh, “Don’t waste your time on her. She’s a whore and a thief, just like her father.”