A Faked Mate

Chapter 8 - Zaine

Who knew how fast time could go when there was a date looming you were dreading? Too fast… Our leaving date was fast approaching. Graduation. A major cause of celebration for most. A day I was dreading. But, I was doing what I do best and putting on my mask. A mask of calm. A mask of happiness. Courage. Nobody could know what was happening underneath. That was a sign of weakness. An Alpha should never show weakness.And, while many of my friends here had no clue that I was a werewolf, let alone an Alpha, I would still not allow myself to show weakness. The principal was so deeply set within me.

But the people surrounding me here have no clue the pressures that sat upon my shoulders. At most, I had told them I was under pressure of being held accountable for taking the reins of the family business. As a pack we had multiple large businesses, and most were successful. As Alpha, I would be expected to involved with those too.

This is why becoming Alpha at such a young age was such a large responsibility. Something I was not sure I was ready for. Yet, my father was not willing to listen to that. He had taken over as Alpha in his mid-twenties and expected me to do the same. Only he had not been under the same pressure to do so that I have been. His father was younger when my father took the Alpha title from him.

He, and my Mum had not had me until a little later in life, unlike many Alphas who prefer to have their heir young. So, now he was approaching his later fifties and he was ready for retirement. He wanted to be allowed the privilage of relaxing... enjoying his retirement, or so he said. Yet, a part of me was still under the belief he would be much more involved in my running of our pack… but time should tell. For that time was fast approaching whether I wished it wasn’t or not…

I walked out of the lecture hall, and along the hallway. My mind completely pre-occupied, as it has been every day this week. Message after message were appearing on my phone from my parents about potential brides. Linked to nearby packs. Some, even from abroad. They were certainly searching far and wide for this match. A match they were heavily committed to find. But not one sounded like a she-wolf I had a thing in common with.

With every arriving message, or every call my heart twisted further. Why would my own family push me into this situation? I was seriously considering running…

“Hey you!” Presley’s hands bounced onto my shoulders, making me jump slightly, showing me just how lost in my own thoughts I had been. “Were you about to walk past me, Mr Ignorant?” She teased.

Her big brown eyes were full of mischief. Teasing. “As if I would do such a thing?” I said with a half smile. It was the best I could muster, and even that was a struggle.

Her brows raised. “Hmm. I was about to suggest going for a coffee, we have a little while to kill before our next class. But going off that expression, I am wondering if you are wanting to be on your own again?”

This girl knew me too well. While I loved her company, and I did not doubt for a moment she would be able to pick up my mood in an instant, I had avoided her multipe times since our drunken day in the sports bar. Since the day she had all but offered to give up her future for me. I knew it was a shitty move upon my part, but it was because I did not know what to do.

The more calls I received from my father, or the more messages that arrived from my mother, and that offer from Presley began to look tempting. Whether it was a spur of the moment offer... or a joke... or not… And, the moment the offer began to be tempting. Running through my mind more than it should, that was when I knew it was better to stay away.

I could not take away her future from her. I could not force her into a future she did not need.

“Hmm, maybe.” I sighed heavily. Knowing that if we spent more time together she would be doing all she could to pick up my mood. Something that right now there was no doing.

I watched as my friend’s shoulders sagged a little. Deflated. Disappointed. I know she missed me. Hell, I missed her. Soon we would not have one another to hang around with. Soon our lives would return to normal. We would be back to living on the opposite sides of the country. Back to pack life. The freedom of college would be gone. That freedom we had both loved for the past few years eradicated from our llives. And the strict rules of pack would be back. “Okay.” She offered a small smile, seemingly willingly agreeing to my choice.

We walk alongside one another in an awkward silence, and guilt took over me. Maybe a coffee would not be so bad… But, just as I was about to suggest it, my phone rang from my pocket, so I slipped it out, only to see my mother calling.

“Hello?”

“Hi Zaine, sweetie. Mum here.” She greeted me, cheerfully. Considering her name popped up on my screen every time she called, along with my favourite picture of the two of us at her most recent birthday celebrations it always made me laugh the needless declaring it was her, like she always did. “I have some exciting news!” She declared, and with those words my heart dropped. I could only imagine what that news would be, and I knew it was not going to be good.

“Oh, right?” I queried, my eyes glancing over to Presley, because I can feel her gaze lingering upon me. Likely monitoring me for a reaction. Wanting to know that I am okay, and as our eyes met, her brows raised and a sad smile appeared upon her face. I don’t doubt that she could hear everything my Mum was saying, and Presley knew me well enough to know how I felt about it all. My body language likely giving it all away. This was maybe not a conversation I wanted with her nearby. But as I went to edge myself away, she took me by surrise and hooked her arm through my own. She planned to stay with me and listen?

“I think I have found you the perfect girl. You know Alpha Patrick from…” My Mum began, but I needed no further information. I knew who she was talking of. Mountain Ash Pack were within a short distance of our pack, but the Alpha there played golf with my father in the regular tournaments. I had a feeling I knew where this was going. A direction I was not happy with. One I could not, nor would not tolerate.

“Yes.” I interrupted. “Mountain Ash. This perfect girl you have in mind would not be Lucy, would it?” I added for good measure. Lucy was the Alpha’s eldest daughter. Her father being a good friend of my own meant I knew her relatively well. Well enough to know that while she may look a perfect example of an Alpha's daughter, I also knew that she was truly obnoxious and spoiled. Two-faced and quite honestly, a b***h. Far from the type of she-wolf I would want to call my wife.

“Exactly, Zaine!” Mum said with excitement. “She is such a sweetheart! So beautiful too. A perfect Alpha's daughter, so imagine her as a Luna! And the fact you grew up alongside one another would make for a beautiful story.”

Of course it would. I could only imagine the act Lucy would have been portraying for the benefit of my parents. I sighed, as I felt Presley’s big brown eyes looking up at me. ‘Are you okay?’ She mouthed toward me, and I shrugged. Was I okay? The she-wolf my parents were now offering… or by all accounts seemingly had their hearts set upon was so far from being the type of mate I had in mind for my chosen one…

What am I to do? My Mum is beginning to blurt out so much information about Lucy that my mind starts to block her out. I am unable to take much more. So, instead, I did something horrendous. Disrespectful. I hung up on my Mum, leaving Presley looking at me in sheer shock.

“Zee!” She exclaimed, but I do not wait for her to say anything else as I quickly walked away. I do not need her judging me for my decision too.