Chapter Three

DONALD

“Shit!” I yelled as my alarm blared, jolting me away from my work. “Ray is going to kill me.” I mumbled as I stared at the wall clock displaying twelve thirty. I quickly arose from my swivel, pushing the files I was working with away on my desk. I stared at my window where the sun rays were gleaming a lot more than usual, it was enough to dampen my mood. I mean who chooses to go out on a sunny day like this? It was certainly not me. My door suddenly barged open, making way for Ray who furiously marched in.  

“Seriously?! Are you shitting me right now?!” He exclaimed whilst throwing his hands midair. “How are you not dressed at this time, I gave you an hour Donald, an hour yet…nothing!”  

I gave a nervous chuckle while I scratched the back of my head.  

“It’s not funny!” He mumbled through gritted teeth. I could almost laugh at the expression on his face right now. His gelled black hair was already falling into a gradual mess as his chest heaved up and down in a heavy manner. At the same time I couldn’t help but admire his clothes, he was donning a black tux complimented with a white shirt that had its top three buttons left unchecked. This furious young man here was my admirable Beta.  

“We’re going to be late for the wedding all because of you, you know that?” He lamented with a sharp frown.  

“Come on Ray, you don’t need to be so worked up about this.” I tried to soothe him but his frown went even deeper.  

“I don’t need to be worked up? Let me remind you that this wedding is Alpha Dominick’s, your friend, and we both know he won’t be happy if you arrive this late to his wedding. For goodness sake, I gave you an hour, what were you doing with it?” 

“I was—“ I stuttered, trying to find a lie that won’t further enrage him. 

“Don’t lie, I know that look.” He warned and he swiftly came to my desk. His eyes scanned the files on my desk in a jiffy and then they reverted back to me. Staring at me in disbelief. 

“Work again huh?” He queried.  

 “I was just trying to finish up on the files relating to the newcomers in our Pack.” I defended with an innocent look, hoping he wouldn’t spark more.  

“Jeez Donald!”  

“I’m getting dressed, see?” I replied, dashing to the coat rack where he had hung my dress in the first place.  

“Oh and I bet that’s going to take you ten minutes to do that.” He toned with a heavy dose of sarcasm.  

“Come on.” I smirked, I took the dress off the rack and with my werewolf speed, I was done in half a minute.  

“Happy now?” I smiled at him and he hissed.  

“You should get a look of yourself in the mirror.” He retorted. “You have five minutes, we’re waiting downstairs.” He added before sauntering out of my office.  

“At least he didn’t lash out more than expected.” I commented as I trailed to the full-length mirror at the corner of my office.  

“I heard that!” I heard him yell downstairs.

“How many times have I told you not to use your werewolf hearing on me!”  

“You have four minutes!”  

“Don’t pressurize me Ray!” I teased back before focusing on my mirror. A smile instantly birthed on my rosy red lips, I was donning a blazing black tux complimented with a white shirt, a red bow tie and my silver Rolex watch. My blonde hair was neatly packed in a pompadour fashion and I wondered how it had not fallen into a mess after all the work I’ve busied myself with.  

“Donald!!” Ray yelled downstairs, no doubt he was already by the car side.  

“Coming you fool!” I yelled back, I briskly looked around my office, nothing seemed to be out of order. I stared at the mirror one more time and I smiled before stepping out. I trotted down the stairs with my werewolf speed till I reached outside where three black limousines were already parked waiting for me.  

The last one honked and I rushed into that one. 

“One second late and I would have left you.” Ray growled by my side.  

“You know, we really need to talk about how you bully me in this Pack. I’m the Alpha here.” I squinted my eyes at him and he burst into laughter, making me smile inadvertently. 

“Without me only the moon goddess knows what kind of ship wreck you would have become.” We both laughed. “But seriously, what you did today was reckless.”  

“Please don’t start lecturing me, I know what I did was wrong.” I stared through the tinted window.  

“No you don’t. If I hadn’t come, perhaps you would still be stuck to your chair handling some files.” 

“I didn’t know the work was going to take that long. Besides, I was already planning to get dressed before you came.”  

He hummed in a sarcastic manner.  

“Seriously, this workaholic behavior of yours has to stop. There’s time for everything.”  

“And we go with the lecture…” I exhaled.  

He wriggled his head and I smiled.  

“So I’ve been thinking….” He mentioned it with a stern expression. “That maybe you should spend some time in Roseville Pack. Like a vacation maybe.”  

My brows arched upwards in a frown.  

“You need it.” He remarked. 

“You want me to leave my pack and go for a vacation in Roseville. How does that sound to your ears?”  

“Like a fantastic idea. Look, I’m doing this for your own good. You’ve been stressing yourself too much with work lately, you need a break. Villeyfield Pack is going to be safe without you. You have me remember.” He explained and even though I found reasoning in his words, I still didn’t want to agree. “Besides, it’s a good avenue for you to find your mate.”  

I cleared my throat, feeling a little uneasy hearing those words. He sighed as if he had noticed my status.   

“Donald, I’m your Beta, your best friend, it is my duty to tell you the truth.” He mumbled in a worried fashion. “You’re twenty five years old, you’re the only one in our circle that hasn’t gotten a mate yet. Look at Dominic, we’re going to Roseville for his wedding. I myself would be getting married to my mate soon too, you know.”  

I heaved a deep sigh, looking out through the window. I knew he was saying all these things for my own betterment but then again, his words bothered me deeply. I didn’t want to start this sunny day drowning in the thoughts of me being without a mate. 

“Can we do this another day?” I stared at him for a brief moment.  

“Donald…”

“Ray please.”  

“The Pack Elders are already complaining and you know how those old fools are. Very soon, they will use this as a reason to usurp you from your position. They don’t care about the prosperity and success you’ve brought to our Pack. Besides, people will start thinking you’re cursed to be mate-less.”  

“I am not cursed.” I rigidly asserted.  

“Then listen to my advice.” He quoted softly. “Take a break off work, go out and who knows, you might meet your mate on one lucky encounter. We both know you’re definitely not going to find your mate in our Pack.”  

I rubbed through my hair in a frantic manner, I could feel his gaze boring holes into me and it unnerved me all the more.  

“Fine, I’ll give it some thoughts.”  

“At least you didn’t argue about this one thank goodness.” He heaved a light sigh with a smile complimenting his face.  

The rest of our journey to Roseville was silent, each of us buried in our own thoughts. By the time we arrived, the evening had fairly dawned and the auditorium had already been filled to the brim. If not for Ray and I being VIP guests, we probably wouldn’t have found any seat.  

And there they were, the adorable couple. My friend, Dominic and his beautiful mate, Ria. Both of them standing before each other smiling like one who was love-struck. I doubt they noticed the elder who was by their side ordaining their marriage. As they exchanged their vows, I felt joy and at the same time, a faint pang of pain. Ray was right, time wasn’t on my side any longer. I wondered why the moon goddess has refused to bless me with a mate. All my friends already had theirs, my Pack didn’t lack numbers in beautiful women, yet nothing had changed. Perhaps it was about time, I went for a Vacation like Ray said.