The Alpha's Burden

Alpha Zack POVI had waited years to find my fated mate. At thirty-two I was considered the age that I should have selected a chosen mate. The Elders in my Pack – the Red Moon Pack - knew better than to push me to take a chosen mate. Many females had been paraded in front of me over the years, but something always held me back. I knew she was out there. I just needed patience.So here I was, once again getting ready for another Mates Gala. This year it was being hosted at the Oak Pack. It would take a few hours for us to arrive, but I had a group of wolves to travel with. Their excitement at the potential in finding their mates were contagious. It was the same feeling I had experienced when I first starting to go to Galas.And then over time I wondered if my fated mate had died before I had found her. But would the Moon Goddess be that cruel not to provide a second chance mate? I had to believe and trust that there was someone for me. Someone who would love me and I would love them, j

Alpha Zack POVWe arrive at the venue, and you could feel the tension in the air. Everyone was excited but nervous at the same time. All were wondering what tonight would bring to them. The reality was that the Moon Goddess only brought us fated mates when the time was right. I had trusted the Moon Goddess and now I was about to be rewarded for that trust.We stood around our vehicles while everyone chatted. I could see other Packs had arrived ahead of us. As was tradition, each Pack was introduced before they entered the celebration hall. The hosting Pack was already present, leaving me incredibly tense knowing on the other side of that door held my mate.As we were the biggest Pack, we were introduced last. As the Packs filed in, I could feel Ken, my wolf, getting more excited. “It is almost time,” he says as if he cannot contain his excitement either. We reach the entrance to the hall, and I start sniffing. I cannot smell that sweet scent yet. But I would soon enough, I trust.As I

Kristine POVI did not care what anybody said. I was meant for Dan, and he was meant for me. As soon as I got this rejection over with, I would find Dan and let him make me his. It was all I had thought about for months but wanting it to be special I had kept putting him off. And now I had nothing but regret for not accepting him sooner. Maybe I would have been pregnant by now and my parents would have been able to do nothing about it.I feel my hand tugged as I am dragged back to reality. My fated mate is leading the way to the meeting room. I did not want to be in a small space with him alone. I could see my friends watching me follow behind Alpha Zack. Some were smiling encouragingly, some were smirking. I could tell the jealous bitches were smirking that I was not getting what I wanted.I could feel the sparks between Zack and me. Would I ever feel those sparks with Dan as my chosen mate? I hoped so. They were enticing and I had to admit I loved the feeling. Giving my head a shake

Zack POVIt did not take long for Kristine to fall into a troubled sleep. She was murmuring in her sleep, but I could not make out the words. I could imagine what they were, I thought, with a chuckle. It was going to take a lot to win her over. I was sorry she was in love with another, but I also trusted the Moon Goddess. And I trusted the fated mate bond even more.We drove through the night. At some point, my eyes got heavy, and I slipped off to sleep. “We are almost there,” my head warrior mind-links me. Before I open my eyes, I feel something soft. I feel sparks bouncing off my hand. I slowly open my eyes and find my mate curled up with her head resting in my lap, my hand resting on her soft, gorgeous hair.I simply take a moment to embrace the feeling that all is right with the world. That my mate is in my arms. I take the opportunity to study her. When she is asleep, she is a sleeping beauty. Her face is line free, a clear complexion with lips begging to be kissed. As I tilt my h

Kristine POVI had raced into the spare room and locked it, sitting down in front of it as I waited. I heard my mate and his warning, but he moved off, and I breathed a sigh of relief. After a few minutes of tears filling my eyes, I hastily wiped them off my cheeks and stood up. I was exhausted. The sleep I had gotten on the ride here was not enough to give me the strength to deal with everything.I dragged my bag over to the bed and tossed it on top. Unzipping it, I sighed in frustration. It has random clothes someone haphazardly tossed into the bag. No rhyme nor reason to the collection of items in the suitcase. I needed my other ones to see what was salvageable. But for now, I can feel my eyes getting heavier.Pushing the bag over towards the middle of the bed, I moved up towards the pillows. Pulling the blankets back, I crawled inside the comfortable bed and simply thought for a moment about the unexpected turn my life had taken. I had my chosen mate, Dan, who I wanted to be with.