Chapter 1: Not Again

Alpha Austin POV

Damn it! That fucker Cullen is really pissing me off lately. This is the third time this month that greedy bastard has attacked my pack, trying to get our gem mines. I give him credit for trying, but I’m too mean a bastard to let anyone try to take what’s mine, and believe me, Blackstone Pack and everything in it, is mine. 

“Renz, have the patrols secured the borders?” I mind-link my Beta. Lorenzo is my beta but also my best friend since childhood. No one knows me better and no one understands my the way I think, like he does. When you grow up next to the same person and go through everything from adolescence to puberty to adulthood, you can’t help but know that person like the back of your hand. 

“Yeah Alpha. Borders are secured. The patrols said that bastard Cullen came in charging with 40 of his warriors. With only 3 guards are patrol, some of the territory's fences were damaged. I’m getting orders in for the materials to rebuild now, and it should be here in the morning.” 

With so many attacks by that bastard this month, a lot of repairs must be made. It’s a good thing that my pack is one of the wealthiest in the southwestern region. It’s also the reason why that prick wants my gem mines. 

“Keep me updated. Triple the patrols tonight and over the next week. We need to make sure everything is reinforced before we can drop down the patrols.” I told him.

“Already done Alpha. Patrols will be tighter than a she-wolf’s first time.” I could hear the smirk on his face, like he knew that was what I was going to want. “By the way, are you still going out with Ceraline tonight?” 

“What are you talking about?” I can’t stand Ceraline. That she-wolf has been vying for the Luna position for the last 5 years. I’m not in the least bit interested in her. She’s not my fated mate. Don’t get me wrong. At 30 years old, I’ve been searching for my mate since becoming Alpha 12 years ago, but even a man has needs. I’ve had women that were a form of release for me, but I never have been with the same woman twice. I enjoyed their company for an hour or so and then we both go our own separate ways, neither party wanting anything more than a good time without commitment. I always use protection too. I’ll be damned if a woman tries to force me into a mate bond or claim I’m the baby’s daddy. 

I try to be the southern gentleman my mama raised me to be, but seriously, I wouldn’t touch Ceraline with a stolen dick. She is just bad news all the way around. The only reason I keep her around is because I told my late father’s Beta, when he was on his deathbed, that I would look out for his daughter. Somehow, she morphed “looking out for his daughter” into “making his daughter my Luna”. That’s NEVER going to happen. The only woman that will be my Luna is my fated mate. 

“Well, she was saying that you and she were going on a date tonight to see a show. She is saying you arranged everything. Are you trying to give her a private show Alpha?” as my beta tries to keep a straight face. 

“Does my fist need to visit your face Renz? I haven’t, nor will I, plan anything with her crazy ass. I really need to figure out what I can do about her to keep her busy and away from me, before I kill her. She is annoying as all fuck.”

“Sounds like she wants to play ‘pin the she-wolf on the Alpha’.” Renz smirked as he walked up to me. “Should I ask one of the omegas to get your suit out?”

“Do you want to run patrols for the next week? I’m sure Lacy would love to have the floor to herself while I run you ragged.” I said giving him a menacing grin. 

“So no to the omega pressing your suit then. Got it. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a beautiful mate waiting and begging to be teased by her loving mate.” He laughed. While I smirked at him. "Get out of here Renz. Say hi to Lacy for me."

I turn to go to the pack house behind Renz who took off jogging ahead. I sigh and keep a steady pace. While I’m happy for Renz that he found his mate early on, I can’t help but feel a little envious. He has someone waiting for him at night and I go to my floor to an empty suite. My Gamma also found his mate early. They are both on their respective floors with their mates. I can’t help but feel a pang in my chest at the loneliness I feel each night. Sometimes I don’t even stay in my suite. I leave and go hunting just so I don’t feel alone in that big bed.

As I enter the pack house, I hear the equivalent of nails clawing down a chalkboard. I internally groan, not again. Ms. Pain In My Ass is approaching. She saunters over to me with her shapeless and bony figure. Seriously, does she ever eat? She thinks she is looking seductive, but in actuality, she looks like a scrawny teenage boy. “Hello Alpha”, she purrs. Trying and pathetically failing to get me to flirt with her. “I thought we could go out tonight. You and me, dinner?” She came close to me, trying to swing her non-existent hips. 

“Ceraline” I sighed. “I don’t know how many times I need to say this, but we won’t be doing anything together. I just finished fighting with that bastard Cullen. I need to clean up and I’m exhausted. I will be going to bed. If you want to go out, then have a good time by yourself.” I finish as I turn and walk away. 

“I could join you and help you clean up Alpha.” She calls behind me, with her voice husky. For fuck’s sake, she clearly isn’t getting the message. “Ceraline, whatever this is…it is NOT happening. I have said this enough times, I have zero interest in you. I am not playing hard to get. I don’t have a secret crush on you. I’m definitely not sending mixed signals. Have a good evening.” I said curtly and walked off. I could feel a little bad for being harsh, but there is only so many times I can say the same things and so much I will put up with tonight.

I finally get back to my suite and make my way to the on-suite bathroom. I strip and get in the shower. I turn on the water and let the cold water hit me while the hot water comes through. As I start cleaning my body with soap and water, I start thinking about where my fated mate could be and what she looks like. I certainly hope she is curvy. I love a lush woman. I’m a big man at 6’5” and 280lbs of muscle. I might snap a small woman in half. I’d much rather prefer a woman with meat on her bones. I might be a wolf, but the bone is for the wolf, while the meat is for the man. 

In terms of her personality. I really would love for her to have her own interests. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to share in all of her interests, but it would be nice if she isn’t dependent on me to make her days interesting. I would like to come home, and we both share our days with things that were exciting for both of us. I hope my mate is comfortable around me, enough to truly be herself. Plus, I wouldn’t mind if she had some sass. I think a Luna could be assertive and soft at the same time and still know when to lean into her attitude. I sigh and close my eyes, letting the water rinse away the dirt, grime and soap. I turn off the water, dry off and go to my walk-in closet. I’ve always kept one half open for my fated mate. I have the omegas make sure it stays clean and dust free. Waiting for the day that I bring her home. 

I climb into my large bed, by myself, again. I look over to the empty space beside me. A pang in my chest hits once again, as I wonder if I will ever meet my mate. Closing my eyes, while I go into another night with a restless sleep.