Evasive Mate

Theo rushed into Irene’s office and saw her sprawled on the carpeted floor, crying.

Theo bit his lip. He has never seen his friend act like this.

“Sunshine?” he called out tenderly.

“He is my mate,” she whispered.

“The Alpha from Everest Pack. He is my mate. But why…” she hiccuped and it dawned on Theo that Irene was talking about their patient’s mate. 

“Wait, does that mean that Yvette back there is not his real mate?” he gasped.

“In a sense. I think they chose each other as mates,” she exhaled. A tear escaped her eyes and Theo looked away. He can’t bear seeing her like this. She is the pack’s ‘little sun’. 

Irene can’t believe it. Out of all people, she’d be the one cursed with a mate who doesn’t want her. She glared at the ceiling as if glaring at her mother, Selene.

The wind picked up outside and Theo’s eyes widened in alarm.

“Irene? Is this you, Sunshine?” her aunt Alodia the Luna of their pack mindlinked her.

Irene snapped from her reverie and gazed at Theo who looked constipated. She then heard the storm outside.

“Shoot! I’m sorry. It was selfish of me,” she took deep breaths and tried to calm hearself.

“Sorry! Uhm, I had a bad wound but it’s fine now!” Irene closed her eyes as she lied to her aunt through the mindlink. Lying always brought an unpleasant feeling to her, the same as when she hears lies.

“Why you have to apologize for feeling that way is beyond me,” Theo muttered as he sat with her on the floor.

“It’s not selfish, you know. He is your mate,” he told her.

“But even if he is, if he treats you like that, he is not worth this,” Theo touched the gold specks on Irene’s clothes. Her tears turn into gold dusts when she cries but her tears also bring the worst of storms in just seconds. So beautiful and yet so deadly.

“Why didn’t he wait for me?” she asked quietly.

“Because he is an asshole.”

“A beautiful one at that,” Theo added.

“He didn’t reject you, though,” he consoled Irene.

“Does it make things better?” Irene asked him.

“Well, at least it means that Alpha Hunter isn’t that committed to Yvette. Right?” he pointed out.

“Sunshine, you have to come over right now. Officials from other packs are starting to arrive! Don’t you plan on giving me a headache or there will be no crabs for you tonight!” Alodia warned jokingly at her whilst still using the mindlink.

Irene shot up from the floor and hastily fixed herself in the mirror at the mention of crabs and other packs. Alpha Hunter might be there and she can’t miss a moment shared with him in the same room even if it’s only stealing glances from him. It may sound really stupid but, it’s her mate.

“Where are you going?” Theo asked in surprise. One moment his friend is sitting like a rag on the floor, the next thing she’s fixing her hair and glamming herself.

“Pack house. There’s dinner for the visiting packs. Erm… Alpha Hunter might be there,” Irene answered without looking at him.

“And so will be Yvette. Will you be fine?” Theo asked her.

Irene sighed.

“As you said, they haven’t marked each other yet. If I won’t fight for what should be mine, what would become of me, Theo? The moon goddess’ daughter who’s mateless?” she sounded frustrated.

Theo gave her a sad smile. 

“Just don’t do something stupid, okay?” he cringed at the possible scenarios Irene might get herself into.

Irene nodded halfheartedly and dashed off to the pack house.

She slowed down as she saw their house and pretended she took her time getting there. Her steps were small and steady as she entered the buzzing living room. She glanced around and greeted a few friends and acquaintances but didn’t find who she was looking for.

“Why do you look upset? I thought I mentioned crabs?” Alodia greeted her loudly which earned chuckles from her friends and strange looks from those who are from other packs.

Irene turned pink in embarrassment, slightly forgetting about her mate.

“Why do you have to be so loud, Aunt? I’m not a kid anymore, you know” she whispered and scratched the back of her head.

Her aunt flipped her hair, giving her a smug look.

“I’ll tell my mother about this,” she threatened the luna who looked unaffected.

“What, an aunt can’t have fun now?” Alodia rolled her eyes.

Irene’s mother and father are solemn and serious people. She had her fun and quirky personality from Alodia who raised her since birth.

“So… the Everest Pack isn’t here yet?” she asked her aunt when they arrived at the safety of her room.

“Oh, Alpha Hunter is with your Uncle Vincent. Why?” Alodia asked while throwing disapproving glances at the random litters in Irene’s room.

“Uhm, nothing,” Irene felt a dread coming over her as she saw her aunt’s eyes on the scattered books and tools on her floor and at her desks.

Alodia is about to give her a long litany of moral values and how a girl’s room reflects her personality but they were interrupted by Alpha Vincent who stopped by with Alpha Hunter upon seeing the open door of Irene’s room.

‘Oh em gee! Mate! Mate! Make him ours now, Irene. Do you want me to take over?’ Lunox nagged at Irene’s mind, making her wince.

“Sunshine! Ah, here are my girls,” he gave Alpha Hunter a huge smile, not minding the jungle that was Irene’s room.

“I was showing him my coin collection at our private study,” Alpha Vincent explained to no one in particular.

Irene shifted at her feet in discomfort. She hoped to see Alpha Hunter again but not in her messy room! This is the weirdest mate experience she has known all her life so far.

“We were just talking about you, sunshine.  Alpha Hunter was praising you for your impeccable medical expertise,” her uncle beamed at her.

Lunox is in a bliss after hearing the compliment.

‘Don’t mind it too much, girl. Let’s celebrate when he claims us,’ Irene rolled her eyes at her wolf. What a sucker for her jerk of a mate.

“Thank you. Shall we proceed to the living room now?” she asked, giving out a shaky fake smile.

Her aunt snorted and rolled her eyes at her.

“You must excuse her room for looking like this, Alpha Hunter. She is really matured and organized but her job as the pack’s head doctor takes most of her time these days,” her aunt explained as she led the way. Irene was glaring at her aunt and uncle and stomped her way towards her wardrobe.

Irene picked a burgundy flowy dress that highlighted her porcelain skin. Her hair is already perfect in waves, so she let it be. She looked at herself in her full length mirror. She glanced at the crescent moon pendant safely hanging on her neck. It was enchanted by her mother to suppress her overflowing powers. Her outfit is simple but she looks every inch a goddess. She only wishes her mate would appreciate her too, like everybody does.

"Lux Irene! My favorite cousin! I brought you feverfew flowers. Look!" Felix who just came in, shoved a bunch of white and yellow flowers at Irene's face. Her face reddened at Felix' booming voice. A few new faces glanced back at them. Felix is Alpha Vincent's son who won the Alpha Games when he was just 14 years old. He has a split personality. One moment he is playful, the next moment he is all serious and mysterious.

"Just why are you too loud, Felix? My erm…. possible mate could be here and you are ruining my image. I have to look cool, composed and independent," Irene ranted in irritation and suppressed the sick feeling crawling at her chest. A feeling she always gets for lying or being lied to. 

"But you're none of those— hey Everest!" he dragged the wide eyed Irene towards Alpha Hunter and Yvette who are currently seated at the long dining table.

Alpha Hunter tensed at the lovely scent of his mate who was being dragged towards him and his chosen mate. Luckily, Irene got away from her cousin and sat at her usual seat across them and beside the Luna of Mooncrest Pack.

Once every chair was filled and everyone was settled, the high ranking officials of selected packs began the feast. Irene glanced at the couples in front of her who were acting all matured and mated and found Alpha Hunter looking at her. If they hadn't evaded the mate bond, they would have looked like that too. She blushed and concentrated at the details of the crab in front of her. She bit her lip as the realization dawned on her. How do you gracefully eat crabs in front of your mate who watches your every move? 

She glanced up again and saw Yvette kissing Alpha Hunter’s neck, yet he is still looking at her with hooded eyes. When Yvette got no reaction from the Alpha, she glanced at him and saw him having a staring contest with the ethereal looking Irene and it did not please her.

“Where’s your mate, Doc Irene?” Yvette asked in a sickeningly sweet voice and Irene’s eyes snapped at her. Hurt flashed across her face and Yvette is getting into the conclusion that she’s clinging to the Doctor's mate. She slightly felt guilty but shook off the feeling.

“I.. haven’t found him yet,” she muttered, fighting the urge to gag at the lie that flew out of her lips and the sick feeling that accompanied it.

“Ah, well. You’ll find yours. You just have to explore the world more! Good thing I already have mine,” Yvette clung to Alpha Hunter’s arm. Irene’s urge to gag intensified and it annoyed her. Yvette is obviously lying. 

Irene suddenly lost her appetite and decided to leave  before she hears something else that would make her mad or sad. She is not used to these kinds of confrontations.

She suddenly misses the peace and quiet of her office.

“Excuse me, I left something at work,” she stood up without glancing at everyone and went to walk back to the pack hospital.

She took a shortcut in their backyard and slowed down as she passed by the weeping willow trees. She felt a delightful presence near her and the wind was knocked off her chest as she found her back was pressed against a tree, Alpha Hunter’s arms successfully trapping her there. Sparks flew all over their body and Irene gasped in shock. 

‘Ugh. Heaven,’ Lunox muttered incoherently.

“Why do you have to be so delightful?” he whispered and Irene shivered at the warm breath hitting her neck.

Alpha Hunter stared at her with conflicted thoughts. 

‘Too bad you came too late,’ he thought. He heard a whimper from her. He closed his eyes and willed himself to create a distance between them. 

“Alpha Hunter…” the way his name rolled off her little pink lips melted whatever self control that was holding him together.

Fireworks exploded at Irene’s mind as she felt Alpha Hunter’s plump lips softly moving against hers. 

“You… you have a chosen mate. Yvette will be mad,” she gasped. Alpha Hunter licked his lips and smirked.

“Yes, I have a mate and she won’t be  mad,” he kissed her forehead and walked back towards the pack house.

Irene stood rooted right where he left her. 

‘That’s just it? No rejection or assurance?’ she thought as tears started to cloud her vision again.