The Alphas Series Book 4
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C. Qualls
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43
Chapter 1
COLE
Book 4: Alpha Resolved
Another disappointing ball. This is ridiculous. Even my beta has his mate.
I’ve got to be the laughingstock of the Were world. Here I am, a prince and still mateless after twenty-five years. I’ve been everywhere, seriously everywhere, every damned pack on the face of this Goddess-forsaken earth, but still nothing.
I think the Goddess is trying to make a fool of me. Honestly, I shouldn’t even exist.
My mother is the Oracle and my father is the alpha king. The Oracle and the alpha king are predestined to be mates and there’s something about the first two generations all being female. Yada, yada.
So where does that leave me?
My mother’s twin sister has all females, five of them in fact. My eighteen-year-old cousin Rhianna stands beside me, looking over the throng of bodies in their formal wear. This is only her second ball.
The mates ball is open to any Were eighteen and older. The ball has been going on for decades; every three months on the full moon.
My sisters didn’t even have to attend the damned ball. They were both dating their mates prior to even knowing they were mates. They both found out on our eighteenth birthday.
My sister Angie is mates with Alpha Derrick Ramirez, and my sister Ellie is mates with Alpha Conall Redd. It only makes sense that princesses would be mated to alphas.
I’m a fucking alpha, where’s my mate? I down my shot then grab Rhianna’s hand.
“Let’s at least dance while we’re here.”
“I’m sorry, Cole. You’ll find her someday,” Rhianna tells me with her innocent eyes full of hope.
“Thanks, Rhi.” I swing her around and she laughs as she comes back to me.
“Did you see Emily Ramirez? She found her mate tonight.”
“Yeah, I saw. She’s going to the Castleton Pack in South Carolina. Her mate is the beta. I wonder why it took her until now to find him?”
“Probably because he never came to these before. She was helping another pack the last mates ball so she missed it.”
“It’s so cool, her water thing. Can you imagine being the granddaughter of a Starlight Sister?”
“You’re the daughter of the Oracle twin. I’m the son of the Oracle and the alpha heir. The Starlight Sister is our aunt.”
“You know what I mean, Cole. To have powers. To be able to heal and control water.”
I shrug my shoulders. It is cool and very helpful, but they do a lot for other packs.
“My Uncle Dave is always helping other packs with their vegetation. It’s cool, but he gets so tired. He almost missed the birth of his last pup because he, Lacy, and Emily went to clean up after a flood in Oklahoma.”
“I remember hearing about that. I guess it’s not so bad to be normal.”
“Rhi, you and I are not normal. Not only are we werewolves, but we’re both incredibly good-looking,” I joke with her, and she laughs.
She really is pretty with her waist-length blonde hair and stunning hazel eyes. Plus, she’s incredibly intelligent and interesting. Of all my cousins, she’s my favorite.
My sisters are great, but they’re not around much anymore.
“Let’s get the hell out of here and go for a run. I need to let my wolf out. I won’t be coming back to the ball.”
“You’re going to make me come by myself?” she jokes, but I have a feeling she won’t need to come back either.
I’m not an Oracle like my mom, but I do have a very good sixth sense, I guess you could say. I’m also a damned good fighter; I even beat former Alpha Redd when I was a teenager. He was still the alpha.
It wasn’t a challenge, so I didn’t take his pack from him. I wouldn’t want to anyway. Deep down, I don’t actually want to be an alpha.
The music ends, and Rhi and I head out to the main hallway. She stops in her tracks and looks around.
Fuck! Even Rhi has found her mate. I let her go as she follows her nose around the corridor. A dark-haired, dark-skinned guy is laughing with his buddies when he turns around and locks eyes with Rhi. He gives her a sincere smile and offers her his hand.
“I’m Tevin Walker.”
Rhi smiles softly and accepts his hand. “Rhianna.”
Tevin kisses the back of her hand. “Rhianna, can I get you a drink?”
“She’s eighteen. No alcohol,” I warn him.
She smirks and rolls her eyes at me. She knows damned well I’m feeling him out. I’ve taken her out drinking with me a few times.
“Alpha James.” Tevin nods to me. It’s hard not to know who I am. I’m one of the oldest males here, but I also put out alpha vibes strong enough to make other alphas sweat.
“Your mate is my cousin, my favorite one in fact,” I warn him.
Tevin looks Rhi over from head to toe. “She’s absolutely amazing, of course no alcohol.”
“Are you driving her home tonight?” I ask as I take a step closer.
Tevin looks to Rhi. “If the lovely lady wishes, I would be more than happy to.”
I stare Tevin down and he slightly cowers. “No more alcohol for you either. Now, which pack are you from?”
“The Blackburn Pack,” he answers, and I smile.
“Good. My aunt is your luna. I’ll know if anything happens to her.” I pull Rhi to me and give her a hug.
“Congrats, Rhi. You be careful tonight and don’t do anything until you’re ready. You have my express permission to kick his ass if he crosses the line.”
She chuckles as she hugs me back. I eye Tevin and he swallows. “I’m sure my mom has already informed Aunt Anna that you’ll be joining their pack.”
Mom. Did you inform Aunt Anna of her new pack member yet? I link her just to be sure.
Of course I have. Don’t worry, he’s a good one. He could be a better fighter, but he has a good heart.
I nod and give Tevin a little bit more hell just for the fun of it. “Learn to fight better so you can protect my cousin.”
She growls and I smirk. “Not that she needs it. She trains with me all the time.” Which is true.
Rhi is a damned good fighter. She even beat Luna Freya, the toughest, most badass bitch there is. I kiss her forehead.
“Love you. I hope to see you soon.”
“Bye, Cole. Thank you for coming with me. I know you really didn’t want to be here. I hope you find your mate soon. I’ll keep in touch as much as possible.”
I nod then leave my cousin with her mate.
I take one last shot in the lounge before heading to my GMC Sierra Denali.
I start toward home but change my mind and pull off the main road just outside of no-man’s land. I park my truck under the cover of some trees.
The woods are quite beautiful here, so I strip out of my suit and let my wolf out.
I howl in frustration and disappointment to the Moon Goddess, then sprint in a random direction for about an hour until I smell the Redd territory.
I follow the border until I get the attention of their guards.
I’m not in the mood for any sparring tonight, but I might as well chat with my sister.
The guards recognize me and just keep watch as I continue to run.
Cole? Are you all right? Ellie links me.
We’ve always had a link.
I guess it’s a triplet, shared womb thing because usually only parents are linked to their pups, but Mom is linked to Aunt Glory and they’re twins.
I just needed to run. I wasn’t planning on stopping by. The mate’s ball was a bust again, but Rhi found her mate. I’m sorry for waking you.
You didn’t wake me. I was nursing anyway. Cole, I’m worried about you.
Don’t be. You’ve got enough on your plate with that little girl of yours. I’ll figure it out someday.
Do you want to stay here tonight?
Nah, I’m good. I just want to run. Tell Cannoli I said hey. Love ya, sis.
All right. Be careful.
I don’t respond, but I run between the guards at full speed. They don’t even bother to chase me.
It’s not the first time I’ve shown up randomly at their border.
As the alpha prince, I pretty much have a free pass into any territory, but I only mess around with my family’s territories.
I run for about three miles then dive into the river.
The water is cold and so refreshing.
I pad only a short distance then hop out onto the bank.
I shake out my fur then lap up a few swallows before heading back to my truck.
I still don’t feel like heading home, so I shift then lay naked in the bed of my truck staring up at the sky through the trees.
She doesn’t exist.
I would’ve found her by now.
I’m destined to be alone, forsaken by the Goddess herself.
My mate doesn’t exist because I shouldn’t exist.
I was a mistake.
The Oracle is not supposed to have a son. The next alpha king is destined to mate the next Oracle.
That clearly cuts me out.
My sisters both found their mates on our eighteenth birthday.
They both got to ride off into the sunset with the other half of their souls, while I just got a slice of cake.
Talk about disappointment.
That’s not the worst of it though.
I’ve been to every single pack on the face of this earth.
Most of them twice, if not more.
How can I still not have found her, unless she doesn’t exist because I shouldn’t exist.
I was never meant to be.
How can I share part of my soul…
Do I even have a soul?
Thirty-two mates balls.
I’ve gone to thirty-two fucking balls.
I’ll be twenty-six before the next mates ball.
This is hopeless.
I’m meant to be alone forever.
I might as well go rogue. There’s no point in living if you don’t have someone to live for.
The moon stares back at me without a care.
I huff then look to the Starlight Sisters.
Dara is shining bright and beautiful tonight.
The Starlight Sisters wink at me as I fall asleep under their watchful care.
The weight of my truck dips down and I open my eyes.
It’s still dark but I can see the beauty of the Starlight Sister sitting cross-legged beside me in a white summer dress.
“Dara. What can I do for you, my lady?”
She leans down and kisses my lips.
My fingers grip her thick flaming hair as I kiss her deeper.
Her soft lips part and my tongue caresses her lips and tongue.
She hums then pulls away.
“Thank you for that, Colton. I was curious what that would feel like. I’ve been wanting to try it for some time now. I will not assault you again. I know you are looking for your mate.”
“It’s fine, Dara. I probably don’t even have a mate.”
She tilts her head as she looks at my face.
“Of course you do. All of Mother Earth’s children have a mate.”
“Then why can’t I find her? I’ve looked everywhere.”
“You have looked everywhere among the wolves.”
She looks over my body and her appreciation is enough to get me hard.
“May I touch you?” she asks as she looks at my extended cock.
“Sorry, that I’m saving for my mate. You’re sure that I have one?”
“I am sure. She is of age so you do not have to worry about her still being young.”
“Dara, I was getting discouraged. Where can I find her?”
“I am not allowed to say more. Trust your instincts, she will not be obvious, but you will find her.”
“Why was I your first kiss?” I ask offhandedly.
“Because I trusted that you would be a good choice. I know you have kissed others, but you are also an honest male. If it were not for your mate, I would offer myself to you.”
Starlight Sisters are generally honest and straightforward. They really have nothing to hide.
“I’m honored. Is there no one that would satisfy your needs?”
“Not at this time, but I have not been looking.”
I turn toward her and sit up on my elbow.
“Are you my mate?”
Her eyes soften as she looks at me.
“I am not.”
“That’s too bad. Thank you for helping me.”
I pull her face to mine for another, more steamy kiss.
She’s breathless as she pulls away with a smirk plastered to her soft lips.
“Goodbye, Colton.”
“Goodbye, my lady.”
I close my eyes as her white light flares for a short moment then leaves me alone, naked and hard in the bed of my truck.
