1. Hate

Nivia's pov

“You…” He growled lowly.

I did not want to turn around, recognizing the voice of the person I had grown to hate over the past few months.

The whole evening I had searched for this delicious scent of burned wood and marshmallow. It’s a scent that isn’t just delicious, but there are memories tied to it. Memories of having smores with my great grandparents and my grandparents.

Memories of them sharing laughs and drinks around the fireplaces while I listened to their stories.

My favourites were the love stories, and second came the ones of war.

While war isn’t something to celebrate, they told their stories in such a way that made the fighting almost sound romantic. They weren’t just fighting to protect themselves, but those they loved.

I had the privilege of never having personally witnessed a war.

My parents had made alliances and deals to make sure our kind wasn’t destroying each other over different world views or territory disclaims.

It wasn’t always easy, and there were always packs around that would rather march to their own drum then join our alliance, but as long as they kept out of their way and didn’t cause any issues, we all would be fine.

One pack in particular was causing issues, and mom thought I would be the right person to handle things. She thought I possessed more tact than her or my dad. Or maybe it’s just that I’m the only member of our family that doesn’t use the word fuck multiple times per sentence.

I sometimes wonder if Grandpa Cy, Grandma Leia, dad, and mom have a secret competition among the four of them to see who can say the most curse words in one go.

But I think mom really picked me to prepare me for my future job as Alpha of the Iron River Pack. Unfortunately, being an alpha means you have to endure meeting with other alphas, some of whom might get on your nerves.

The meetings I have had were real tests of patience and composure. 

“Miss Omari.” His British accent would have sounded sexy coming from anyone but him. “Please, turn around.”

I had asked him repeatedly to call me by my first name, but he refused at every turn.

Alpha Dashwood is what I was forced to call him. I wasn’t even allowed to call him Alpha Rutherford. No, instead I had to call him by his last name.

Grandma Lily chuckled when I mentioned his name, as it reminded her of a novel she used to read.

I’ve come to call him Asswood in my head, which isn’t very mature, but at least I’m not saying it out loud like my parents probably would.

"Turn around," my wolf, Gwyn, urged me on. But I knew that if I did, everything would change.

Alpha Dashwood did not wait for me to decide to turn around or keep facing the opposite direction; instead, his hand landed on my bare arm, turning me around to face him.

Sparks travelled across my skin, but I ignored them.

I knew I should have skipped this party. I should have gone with my brother Forrest to see Grandpa Cy instead of dressing up and mingling with the alphas and betas Mom had invited.

I don’t belong amongst these people. Not yet. I’m only training to become an alpha. I don’t even know if I’ll be any good at it. What if I can’t live up to my mom?

“Will you bloody look at me?!” Alpha Asswood growled at me. It used to please me when I heard him curse; it meant I had gotten under his skin as much as he had gotten under mine. It meant I had broken through his wall of ice.

I could hear my wolf Gwyn saying something to me, but I didn’t want to hear it. It could not be real. I always pictured this moment. We’d see each other and have this instant connection. It would be love at first sight. A simple love story, without all the drama.

My eyes went up to his. The eyes I had seen countless times across the screen of our computers. His sharp nose and square jawline I had grown to despise. His short blond hair, with no hair out of place and his hazel eyes that always looked at me with hatred through the screen. He might be handsome to some, but his character made it impossible for me to see him as anything other than ugly.

His eyes were dark, like his soul probably is.

‘Mate.’ Gwyn said inside my head, but I refused to utter the words out loud.

It can’t be him. No.

He’s old. He has kids. A pack. He’s an asshole!

He can’t be mine.

It’s not right.

“You’re my mate.” He said it so matter-of-factly, with no emotion in his words, what so ever. Except maybe some disappointment.

I wish I would have acted like a grownup. Or that I would have had the guts to reject Asswood. But instead I ran.

My shoes slipped off my feet as I ran out of the party. As soon as I felt gras under my feet, I shifted through my fancy ballgown.

Grandma Leia had helped me pick it out; it was blue to match the color of my eyes with a deep neckline to show off some of my cleavage. I’m not as curvy as some in my family, but this dress showed off just the right places.

I had been agitated all day. I thought it was just annoyance that I would finally meet my arch nemesis. But no. I was meeting my mate.

My fucking mate!

Gwyn took over, running through the woods to the river. The sound of the river always calms me down, but I doubt it will have any effect on my nerves now.

‘You okay, Niv? You scared the shit out of mom and me, but mom said to let you be. But say the fucking word, and I’ll cancel the party and come get you.’ Dad said through the mindlink we shared.

‘I’ll be okay.’ I lied to dad. ‘I just need a minute.’

No amount of time would fix this. What am I going to do?

Then I smelled him. My mate. And before I could think of what to do, I was tackled to the ground by a large wolf. Pressing his black paws down on my white fur.

He probably believed that I was as weak as the women in his pack. He must think I am young and unexperienced, but I have beaten alphas bigger than him in combat.

I growled before getting out from under his hold.

We faced each other, both standing and taking a fighting stance. Was he going to try and kill me instead of rejecting me?!

Because I am not going to go down easy, and he will not get away with attacking one of us inside our own pack!

But to my surprise, Alpha Dashwood shifted back, standing in front of me very naked. The suits he wore did not do his body justice, and I hated how I felt when I saw his muscles flex.

The man’s body was perfect, and I hated him even more for it.

“Shift back now!” Alpha Dashwood commanded. I could ignore his command for a while, but I am not an alpha yet, so it will hurt. However, my wolf made a decision against my wishes and enforced the shift.

“Like a child, you run away. Why would the Moon Goddess curse me with a pup for a mate?”

I stood frozen, lost for words. The cold wind blew across my skin, giving me goosebumps.

When his eyes found my chest, which had been affected by the cold as well, I scoffed. He calls me a pup, yet stares at my boobs! “Why would the Moon Goddess curse me with a cold, thoughtless grandpa?”

He growled at my insult, “regardless of our status, I will not tolerate any disrespect, Miss Omari.”

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. Even now, he refuses to use my first name.

My laugher must have irritated him.

“The gall. Once you come back home with me, you will learn how to behave properly.”

Come back home?!

I shook my head, “There is no way I am coming back with you, Asswood.”

The name slipped out before I could stop myself.

Alpha Dashwood tried to grab my arm, probably wanting to drag me back to his pack, but I was too fast.

I dodged his attempt, stepping a few steps back, feeling the loose stones underneath my feet. I was too close to the river.

I could just study myself instead of ungraciously falling on my ass. But now I had nowhere else to run to.

This large, annoying man was blocking my front and the river my back.

“You either follow me back to the party and we discuss this like adults, preferably with your parents present, or I will carry you back myself.”

I contemplated my options. Walking beside him would mean that Alpha Asswood had won.

“I’m waiting,” Stupid mate of mine said, tapping an imaginary watch on his wrist. “The ball is in your court, Miss Omari.”

Yeah, no fucking way I was getting to let him win.

I smirked, “how about I race you?” And before he could say anything, I shifted and ran as fast as I could past the large British senior citizen in front of me.

‘He’s not that old,’ Gwyn said.

‘Just run, you traitor.’ I told my wolf. She seemed to enjoy being chased by our mate, while I felt the opposite reaction. I was feeling pure panic.

What the hell am I going to do now?