Dimitri

Alison

I was weeping bitterly as I stopped a cab, hopping in without even telling the driver my destination. The pain I was feeling at the moment was more like I was being pierced by a silver dagger. I know why, that's because I haven't felt this heartbroken before, I have never been this hurt by love from day one of my existence.

"Miss, I still don't know your destination." The driver said to me and I quickly realized myself. 

"15th Andrew by the left." I said, trying to hide my sobby voice.

I sniffed hard, letting the tears stain my cheeks as I thought of nothing but Selena's voice. "You're always handsome, Logan."

It should have been me, you know. I should be the one saying those words to him but she is. And it's not her fault, it's mine. I fucked up! I trusted her so much to think that she is the only one able to understand my feelings, little did I know she had taken advantage of me.

I hated myself two times more than I hated her. I'm a mess, a big one for that matter. 

Luckily I got home just in time before my mother was back from wherever she had told me she was going to. I hadn't paid much attention to her, my condition right now wasn't the type that needs to be talked to. I just wanna be on my own for now.

By the time I had gotten to my bedroom and was safely ensconced in it, I was only just realizing how much shit that I, in my stupidity last night, had gotten myself into. Why the hell had I even gone to the damn mating ceremony when I knew that I wouldn’t like it there?

Yes, I do hate to attend the mating ceremony, but all thanks to mom who forced me. She had been the one to pester me about why I wasn’t going to attend my favorite person’s mating ceremony. She knew how close Selene and I were before all this and due to the fact that I had kept myself from being moody all over the place, she had no idea how wrecked I really was. She had no idea that I spent days crying in my room before wiping my tears and washing my face to come down for dinner.

I winced as the headache increased in intensity. I had really become a drunken sailor last night hadn’t I?

At least you found your mate in all that, a voice in my head said but I wasn’t all too happy to remind myself of that disaster. Okay, that's Dimitri Tulsi, the least I expected to be my mate.

I could only pray to the moon goddess that he wouldn't notice the presence of that pesky mate bond, or that I had been the one to spend time with him last night. Although, judging by how I was the one drinking most of the time and not him.. that was a wish that was going to need a lot of divine intervention.

Still, I had to shower. I nearly threw up at the scent of alcohol on my clothes that clung to me like a koala clung to its tree. Trying to put all thoughts about the last night away, I made a beeline for my bathroom and began washing off all the evidence of my drinking and… of Dimitri.

About an hour later I was in my comfiest gray sweats and curled up in my bed with a book in hand. I had made the unconscious decision to wait it out in my room until the delegates from the other packs, and Dimitri, would be out of the Grey Crescent Pack. Until then, I only had to find ways to stay put in this house and not cause any trouble with my shenanigans.

I had just gotten halfway through the smutty novel I had gotten ages ago in a second hand bookshop, when I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

Three slow knocks, and I recognised immediately who would be at the other side of the door.

“Alie?” Selene’s high pitched voice which I always teased her as siren-like was heard, albeit a bit muffled.

I immediately stopped moving, checking to make sure I had turned the lock on the door when I entered. I had, and it brought me some relief amidst the panic that welled up inside me.

I didn't want to talk to her. Not now and not ever.

Having no one except my mother and my best friend for most of my life, I was, deep down, destroyed utterly by the betrayal of the only one thought I could truly confide in. 

I thought we would grow old together. I thought we would be each other’s maids of honor at our mating ceremonies and would even have our children play together.

All those dreams and ideals I had for my life had gone up in smoke. Because she had chosen to keep the fact that I was crushing on her mate from me. And to make matters worse, I had to find out right when the mating ceremony was just days away!

No, I couldn't see her. I didn't want to. For all I should care, she was nothing to me but someone who had wounded me when my back was turned.

I resolutely kept silent as I heard her call my nickname over and over again. That was, until I heard my mother’s voice. Unfortunately, her cadence was often loud so I could definitely hear what she said.

“Selene, how are you dear? You look gorgeous as usual,” My mother greeted the new soon-to-be-Luna of the pack. “How was the ceremony? I’m sorry I couldn't make it. Business called me away at just the worst timing.”

“Oh, it’s no problem,” I could practically hear Selene’s smile as she greeted my mother. “Is Alison around or…”

“Oh, Alison? I thought you knew. She came to the ceremony as well. I saw her leaving for it just as I was leaving for the business thing,” my mother sounded so confused, it was blissful. Maybe I could convince them that I was asleep or maybe, out of the house entirely.

“Is that so?” I heard a hint of something that sounded much like guilt from my former best friend’s voice.

“I… I don't think I saw her there. But maybe I was too distracted to do so.”

Of course you were distracted, I thought, burrowing under the covers and turning away from the door. You were much too busy with your mate to notice your best friend crying in the corner.

But your mate had noticed you, my conscience crooned. my stomach felt so warm and the pulling of the mate bond made me shut my eyes. It felt warm, and safe.

But I couldn't give in to it.

I would have to find a way to deal with this mate bond as soon as possible. Would ignoring it until he goes away help? Maybe putting some distance between us would eventually break it?

I wasn't sure because I haven't read anything like that in books before. I could only hope that it had to be real… or I was well and truly damned.

My teeth worried my bottom lip unconsciously. Why was the mate bond so strong? Was it because we have already had sex?

I didn’t notice when Selene had left but when I heard another knock and my mother called me, I lay there pretending to be asleep, and trying to ease the sense of unease that filled me.