The Alpha's Fated Mate

LAURA

The next morning, I wake as the light beams through my curtains. I was awake most of the night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those glowing green eyes and that pitch-black wolf.

Athena is unsure about him, and she’s on guard. I don’t blame her though. It’s unusual to have unfamiliar wolves on our pack grounds. But I’m confident Sebastian and Ewan will investigate.

I shift in the bed, and my muscles are sore, like I’ve been training with the warrior wolves. I run my hands over my body. The feel of my new curves brings a smile to my face. Finally, I’m a woman of the pack.

Suddenly, there’s a knock on my bedroom door, and Carly pokes her head in. “Lulu? It’s me. Can I come in?” She smiles at me before joining me in bed.

“Ugh. Did you hurt this much the day after your first shift?” I ask her.

“Yeah. It’s not the best feeling, but it’ll go away soon,” she says gently.

She sits there, staring at me, a large grin on her face.

“What? Why are you staring at me?” I ask.

“We need to go shopping.” She wiggles, and the bed bounces.

I pull the covers over my head to hide my blush. Everyone was too polite to say anything last night, but I couldn’t stop looking at myself in the mirror before I went to bed. I was completely taken aback.

My baby face and chubby cheeks disappeared, replaced by detailed cheekbones. My lips were plumper, and even my hair seemed thicker with a heavier curl.

And then there was the rest of my body. I now have actual curves—proper full breasts and rounded hips. My body has gone from an ironing board to a curvy soda bottle.

It’s a pretty good glow-up, if I do say so myself.

Carly peeks under the covers, a huge smile on her face. “So, coffee and shopping?”

I laugh. “Coffee and shopping.”

***

As we sit and sip our coffees, Carly looks at me concerningly.

“What is it?” I ask.

She sighs heavily. “Your brother’s really upset about that black wolf from last night. Nobody should have been in those woods during your first shift, Lulu. There were guards on standby, but at a distance. You were supposed to have that moment for yourself. Ewan feels like he didn’t put enough protection in place.”

I smile at my best friend. I know she cares and only wants to protect me. I shake my head. “I can’t get those eyes out of my head. Athena feels something, which is making her restless. I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s like she knows him.

Carly has a worried look in her eyes. “Lulu, your brother thinks that wolf was watching you from the moment you entered the woods. He thinks it might have been—”

Carly is interrupted by the tinkling of bells as the door of the café opens.

I’m distracted, unable to take my eyes off the man who just entered. For fuck’s sake. Why did he have to walk in here now and ruin my day? Prick.

JETT

The enticing smell of coffee hits me as I walk through the doors of the café. I make my way to the counter, but all of a sudden, I’m hit with a different smell. It’s intoxicating, and Tyson perks up at the scent. Cinnamon and honey. Where is that coming from?

As I look around, trying to locate the smell, my eyes land on the one person I was warned to stay away from. Little one.

It’s her scent that Tyson can’t get enough of. It’s alluring, enticing. Like nothing I’ve smelled before.

She knows I’m here. Her and her friend are shooting me dagger-like looks, like their stares could kill me.

I smirk and make my way to their table. “Greetings, ladies. What brings you here?”

Little one glares at me. “We live here, unlike you,” she spits out.

I like this about her. She’s small, but she has bite.

“I just wanted to give you my congratulations on your transition to womanhood. Life’s all downhill from here, especially for she-wolves.”

She stands up, obviously unafraid of confrontation, and picks up her phone and purse. “The toxic masculinity you carry isn’t attractive. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to leave.”

“That wasn’t a very nice thing to say, little one,” I say with a smirk.

She pushes past me, just barely managing to budge my shoulder as she goes around me. She turns to me with a glare and opens her mouth to speak, but she stops for a moment, staring at me, before snapping out of it.

“My name is not little one. It’s Laura, you prick.” She marches out of the shop, her friend not far behind her.

I watch as she walks away. The transition has done her wonders. I could tell she had changed last night, but it’s even more apparent in the daylight. Her body is perfect—the way her hips swing as she walks, and that ass. I feel like I need to rearrange myself in my jeans to hide my solid hard-on.

Laura, I think to myself. Tyson whimpers as we watch her through the coffee shop window.

“Oh, stop it, Tyson. What has gotten into you lately? Am I not giving you enough she-wolves to enjoy? Get a grip,” I snap at him as I approach the barista.

“I think I’ll try something different today.” I smirk and take a big sigh. “How about a latte with a spoonful of honey, whipped cream, and cinnamon dusting.”

LAURA

After my encounter at the coffee shop, I decide to take a long walk through the woodlands. The trees are bare, and the frost-covered ground sparkles in the late-afternoon sunlight.

I love this place. It’s so peaceful, and with my new, heightened senses, I can hear every sound ringing through the forest. The birds tweeting in the trees above. The trickling stream in the distance. The low growls of wolf nearby.

Wait.

I spin on my heels and am struck numb. In front of me is the wolf from last night. I can see him more clearly in the daylight.

His build is larger than any wolf I’ve ever seen; his fur as black as night. But it’s his eyes that captivate me. He’s staring at me like I’m a tasty meal, like he wants to devour me whole.

Athena howls as my body begins to heat up.

Oh, no. No, no. Let’s not shift right now!

But it’s too late. She’s taken over.

I stand proud as I stare back at the black wolf. The earth under my paws grounds me in the moment. Athena lowers her head, her hackles raised, and she growls at the strange wolf. Her growl is powerful, anchoring me in the moment.

The black wolf walks toward us, his gait slow and measured. He towers over us greatly, but Athena is not afraid.

He stops just out of reach. We stare at each other, neither of us making a move. But then he bows his head to us. It’s not a sign of submission, but a gesture of respect.

Athena tilts her head slightly, watching him closely.

“Who are you?” I attempt to mind-link him, but to no avail.

So, he is not a part of our pack, and Athena can’t seem to make head or tail of who he is. What does he want? I think to myself.

He moves suddenly, jumping onto the rocks and back down, his tail wagging.

He wants to play? Before I can decide what to do, Athena takes over. She pounces toward him in a playful way and starts running circles around him.

“Athena! What are you doing? Stop it!”

But she doesn’t listen to me.

He circles us, howling loud. Athena returns his howl before running into the distance.

The other wolf follows, playfully biting at our flank as he passes us.

“Okay, so we’re doing this,” I say to Athena, shaking my head as she howls cheerfully, chasing the dark wolf through the forest. It feels like she might even be flirting a little.