Ch. 1 - Getting Ready Pt. 1

Aláine's Point of View

"Come on, Aláine," Zara fumed, "the Uber is here already."

"I can't wear this!" I gasped, "It is too revealing."

"Oh yes, you can," beamed Zara. "You look terrific. Let's celebrate the end of exams."

While dancing around the room, she started singing, "Another year bites the dust. And another year down, another year down. Another year bites the dust! Hey!"

Laughing, I picked up my purse, patted my dog Axel, and took one last look in the mirror. I couldn't help frowning as I took note of my cleavage and upper thighs showing. I felt like my dress was nothing more than a jacket.

Actually, it was Zara's dress that looked like a jacket; too high, showing far too much leg and too low in the neckline showing far too much of my chest.

My long strawberry blonde hair was in a plaited ponytail. I purposely placed it over my cleavage, hoping that it would hide some of it.

Zara was my best friend and flatmate. She was so beautiful, tall with long legs and a classic African figure, which filled her sexy partying/nightclub outfits in all the right places.

Like Zara, I was also attractive. I'd been told often enough. I was just not confident like Zara, who knew everyone, and everyone liked her.

I certainly didn't feel comfortable wearing clothes like this. Oh, why had I agreed to come along tonight wearing this?

It wasn't like I was a prude or anything. I just didn't like most of the attention I got from males. They seemed to have difficulty with the concept of no.

Sometimes, I thought it would be easier if I was attracted to females, like my cousin was. Why did I have to think of Tyra? Now, I was feeling overwhelmed with sadness.

My cousin had disappeared from my life over a year ago and wouldn't return any calls. I'd considered calling the police, but Zara had seen her around town, so I knew she was alive. That just made it hurt more.

"Oi," called Zara, "come on, we have to go."

I was annoyed; well, frustrated was more accurate. I felt like I'd been given the impossible task of finding my mate, the one woman who would complete me. The one woman who would be my Luna wolf, ruling by my side.

I was not the most patient of men at the best of times, and the time it took to find her was testing me. I'd been in the city for the past few weeks, and I wanted my mate now.

I was not fond of city life. Although I only live a couple of hours from the city centre, my home was surrounded by forest and the occasional farm.

I hoped that my future mate was someone I could deeply bond with and possibly even love. My parents were in love, and I wanted a relationship like theirs. I also wanted one who had similar tastes and lifestyle and, more importantly, would have my sense of values.

These thoughts were making me even more frustrated and annoyed. I couldn't help but growl in frustration.

I kept telling myself that it didn't matter if there was love or a bond. I just needed her to continue my line and ensure that my kingdom was resistant to silver.

Many hundreds of years ago, my family had made a contract with the witches and Selene, the Goddess of the Moon. Every member of the kingdom had to mate with the Goddess' choice, and they would be blessed.

This was why my father was the Alpha of the most prominent kingdom in the country, the Kingdom of the Grey Moon. That, and he was a direct descendent from the first werewolves, the royal line.

Deep down, I hoped that the Goddess would choose a mate I felt was worthy of me and, most importantly, worthy of my family.

"Kristof, my Alpha!" Noah began. "You will find your mate soon. The witches have foretold that your mate will be here and that you will find her soon."

Noah's comments did nothing to placate me at all. He was an excellent Beta, and as my second in command, he was everything I could hope for. Today, it didn't really help.

"This is a large city. How am I supposed to find my mate in such a big place?" I growled to my Beta.

I had been growling a lot lately.

Noah took a deep breath and quietly stated, "You won't find her staying at home. Let's go out. One of the local packs has a nightclub. It would do you good to be out and about and see your future subjects."