One Mate Was Never Enough

{Alexus}

I woke as soon as I felt the rays of the sun on my skin, and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.  I had a lot to be happy about.  I had a loving family and friends, graduated from high school, and I was days away from my 18th birthday. 

Hopefully, I'll discover who my mate is on my 18th birthday just like my mother.  But not exactly like her, I wouldn't want her love story for the world.  Don't get me wrong, but my father was a jerk to her at first, and I wouldn't have put up with his bullshit, but then again, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her forgiveness.

Anyone who knew my parents would've never guessed they had a rocky relationship at one point.  They were sickeningly romantic around each other all the time and rarely kept their hands to themselves.  I wondered how they went almost 18 years without having another child.  When I asked why they never gave me a sibling, they playfully teased that I was a handful and they didn't want to take the risk.

I wasn't that bad...

I mean, I had my mischievous moments, like when I would leave the pack land without permission with my friends, or when I stayed out way past my curfew, or the time when my mother explicitly told me I couldn't go to a party, but I snuck out anyways and she had to save me from being kidnapped and raped from a pack of wolves.  I never thought I'd see the light of day as my mother dragged me back to our pack lands.  If I thought my mother was pissed, she barely kept my father from skinning me alive once he found out when he returned from a business trip. 

I was about to become a wolfskin rug in front of the fireplace in his office.  I was grounded for three months; no TV, no friends, and worst of all... no phone.

A part of me hated being the daughter of Alpha and Luna Beaumont. There were so many expectations of me, and I always felt pressured to be perfect.  It kinda reminded me of the Preacher's Kids Syndrome.  The preacher's kid was always supposed to be the shining example and on their best behavior.  It sucked being labeled a goody-two-shoes.  As a result, the preacher's kid usually rebelled against that image. 

My parents sympathized with me, but said rules were put into place to help protect me because there were wolves out there that wouldn't think twice about kidnapping me and using me as leverage, possibly starting an entire war.  I didn't want that for my family or my pack and promised to do better.

I rolled out of bed with a deep stretch and a yawn, eventually trudging to my bathroom that was fitted for a princess.  For the most part, the bathroom was decorated in bright white with little pops of light pink here and there, not overwhelmingly so.  I had a singular sink, but there was plenty of counter space that was usually covered with makeup, hair products, and hair tools.  That reminded me.  I needed to clean my bathroom. 

My mother restricted the maids from cleaning my bathroom and bedroom because I would leave it a "disaster zone" as she would put it, and I needed to learn some personal responsibility.  Yes, we had maids, but that didn't mean we had to make their jobs more difficult.  I took a few moments to put everything in its rightful place and wiped down the countertop with disinfectant.

Cleanliness hit home for my mother because she was forced to be a maid for the Black Crescent Pack before I was born. 

We won't go into the nitty-gritty details on how that happened. 

I started a bath in my deep soaking porcelain white clawfoot bathtub, and whistled a cheerful tune as I dumped bubble bath into the hot water before relieving myself.  My feet tapped against the heated tiles while I thought about what I should wear for the day.  It was training day so I wouldn't wear anything that would make me uncomfortable.  I settled on a pair of workout leggings and a tank top with a built-in sports bra.  

Moments later, I was sinking into my tub.  I hadn't realized how much time had passed until my mother was knocking on my door.

"What?" I complained. 

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"You need to get a move on.  Your father and I are waiting for you to have breakfast, plus we need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"About your 18th birthday celebration, amongst other things."

"I'll be there...eventually."

"Eventually, huh?  Did I tell you that your godfather is visiting today?  Maybe I should tell him not to come."

I damn near drowned myself in the tub once my mother informed me that Alpha Harvey would be visiting today.

"I'll be right out!" I shouted back as I began to furiously scrub my body.

"That's what I thought," my mother triumphantly huffed as she walked away. 

Seeing my godfather was a double-edged sword.  At some point, right around the time I started puberty, I developed a huge crush on Alpha Harvey.  I've felt this deep shame because Alpha Harvey was a father figure to me, but there was something about him that evoked different feelings from me.  I knew 100% that he only viewed me as a bratty, and sometimes annoying daughter.  I'd never have a chance, but a girl could dream. 

This is another reason I was excited to find my mate.  I'll be able to get rid of my ill-fated crush on a man that helped nurture and raise me.

I hopped out of the tub, dried, and moisturize myself.  I wrapped the towel around my body and ripped off my satin hair bonnet, releasing my "lion mane" as Alpha Harvey calls it from its satin prison.  I did the best I could with the time I had left to make sure I looked my best without looking like I was trying too hard.  I was disgruntled as I slipped into my workout attire.  I wanted to wear something cuter, but what was the point when he didn't look at me like that?