Sweets

Chapter 1

Cooper

"There's this place we can go to eat and drink at that's not too far from here," Henry says.

I check my phone. It's 6pm, the perfect time for dinner and drinks.

"I got the goods," Ruby says, putting the werewine in her purse. I am not sure if her having alcohol is a good idea. I kind of wish she could stay behind. I have noticed that she gets weird as the days go by, but my cousin says it's because she doesn't have a family and doesn't know how to act around others. To me, that is weird, because we have been here for years now. One would have learned how to behave by now, right? I mean, she should have learned as a child in her pack, but my cousin just says that we should be there for her. I think that sounds like a cop out. She should be taught how to behave around others, but I will support my cousin and I won't shame his pack members.

It is probably just me wanting to get home already that I just don't want to deal with anything or anyone. Lately, I have no patience for anyone and I have been told that I am becoming snappy. I just say it's the Alpha settling inside of me.

I grab my wallet, and head for the door.

I made a real great friend group here. Some friendships that I know will be for life. I am going to miss them all now that we are graduating. Well, almost all of them. I got used to these people, but I am also ready to go back to my people and, hopefully, we can all meet up and visit each other's packs in the future and be friends or at least allies.

Not all of us are Alpha's here. Some have Alpha blood, but aren't actually the firstborn.

I am technically not firstborn, but my parents are both Alpha's who had their own pack, and they only had two children, so my sister is taking over Black River and I will be taking over Dark Moon. I am so freaking excited. I have worked my whole life for this.

Werewolves of all ranks and places around the world are welcome to study here. They offer different programs, so what is meant for one wolf won't be for another. There are tests we have to take and pass, then you receive placement.

I scared high, and was placed in the toughest rank from the beginning.

I am an Alpha, Henry is an Alpha, Bash is his Beta, Zane is an Alpha, Ryder is a regular werewolf. His older brother is going to be Alpha to their pack, but he was sent here to also study and train to become an Alpha, because their pack is a pack that is being hunted down. They have had issues with rogues and are having to move quite often. His dad wants all of his sons prepared to defend the pack and possibly become Alpha in case something happens to the firstborn.

There is also Ruby, who is a pack member of my aunt Valentina's pack. I know her from the times I have visited there. She came here to study, because she wants to move up in her pack, and she wants to prove that she is not weak, and my cousin, who is also soon to be Alpha to his pack, is here. His twin sister did not want to attend. She does not like fighting, and she just wants to wait and find her mate.

"It's your turn to be DD Bash," Henry tells him.

I hop in, and my cousin is right behind me. We get all in the way in the back of the truck.

"Let's talk business cousin. What do you have set up for Dark Moon? Let me in. You are the best student and fighter here. You are a beast. The professors and the council members working here approve of everything you do, and they take all of your thoughts and ideas into consideration. They don't do that for anyone else. Dark Moon will thrive, and I also want my pack right there next to yours. I would like to keep the pack relations as our moms and dads have kept them all of these years," He tells me.

"Well, I have a lot of things already lined up" I say, before I am rudely interrupted.

"Cooper. I am sitting next to you. Scoot over," Ruby climbs in and sits in the middle of us. My cousin tries to talk about business, but Ruby keeps interrupting and asking me about her looks and asking us if she smells good. She tells me how she changed into a green dress because of my green shirt. I tune her out like I learned to do since we were young. This girl has a mouth on her, and she can yap your ear off. Once she gets going, she does not stop. This is so frustrating. Throughout the years, I have tried to be polite. It was easier when I would only see her if I was visiting family, but here I see her daily, and she is always trying to be near me. To be honest, I wouldn't have picked her to be added to our small group, but my cousin allowed it because she is his pack member, and no matter what, he will look out for his pack members as any Alpha would. I completely understand it, it doesn't make her less annoying.

I hate how she wants to know everything about me. She is pushy. She is always asking me certain questions, very personal questions that I do not want to answer. She once said that she and I connected on a different level. She doesn't understand boundaries. My cousin thinks it's hilarious, and he thinks I should have s3x with her, but I am just not interested.

I am not interested in anyone else, but especially not her. She is annoying, especially when she is rude to others who try to talk to me. I hate how needy she is. I am nice to her, but she does too much.

Years ago, I made a promise to myself when I left my pack that I wouldn't be with anyone else that wasn't my mate. I am still going strong.

I once had someone. Someone that I now regret giving up. I convinced her and myself that breaking things off was the best, not only because I was leaving, but because I have a mate out there somewhere. I explained it to her and she understood. I kept my promise this whole time. I try not to think about her anymore, but when Ruby and other she wolves throw themselves at me, I wonder what would have happened if I didn't come here and stayed with her. Or what if I still came here, would she have waited for me? What could have happened? I only gave HER up because I knew I would meet my mate, and it wasn't fair to her. I feel stupid even thinking about her today. I broke both of our hearts.

And today I just want to clear my mind. I want to have a good night. I want to drink until I pass out and wake up and finish the process so I can get the f*ck up out of here. Something is telling me to go home already. Thank goddess I didn't decide to stay for another year.

I take a deep breath, knowing that I need to be polite.

"You look fine Ruby," I say, and I lean back and close my eyes to take a little power nap. If I can't talk about business, then I can rest my mind.

I wasn't able to sleep much last night. I was so nervous about my final scored, so I will rest while they all talk about what they want to get into tonight.

"I just want to be balls deep in a pretty girl. I hope we find easy ones that will be okay with a quick e in the restroom," Bash says.

"You are a pig," Ruby tells him and the guys begin making pig noises.

A deep feeling of emptiness takes over me. I hate the feeling. I am returning home and becoming the Alpha of the pack. I scored the highest in my class, so why do I feel like this?

"I am taking over and having my Alpha ceremony as soon as I return. I expect you and all of your families to be there," Henry tells us. "Oh, Cooper, be my date. I don't want guys hitting on me at the ceremony. Men are pigs, as you can see," Ruby says. "We will all be there. You will be fine," I say. I do not open my eyes to interact any further. I will not be her date.

"I think we can all stop at Cooper's pack, then go over to mine to begin the celebrations. I have to meet the famous Alpha Valen and get a tour of this amazing pack I hear so much about," Henry says.

"We're here," Bash says.

He parks and we quickly unload and get inside.

We get straight to drinking.

We ordered food, but it took too long to come and we began drinking. We ordered drinks and skied for them to be heavily made, then we added werewine to those drinks.

Eventually, we snack on the food here and there. Women come up to us, asking to dance, or buying us shots. Some chick even came up and personally handed me a shot. I thanked her and took it, and I instantly regretted it. She stayed in our section, and is trying to dance all up on me. I am trying to relax and have a chill night, not have women all over me. Any other man would be thrilled right now, but my wolf keeps growling.

This has to be my punishment.

I left the only girl I ever loved behind when I came here to better myself for my pack. I try not to think of her, but it's hard when I left her and have nothing to show for it. Yes, the moon goddess must be punishing me for not picking Rae. I can still picture her sad little face when she asked why I wasn't choosing her when I had the option to do so. I am the biggest 1d10t. I remember telling my parents I was leaving early. Dad knew why. I think he told mom, because she begged me to stay and wait for my 18th birthday, but I just didn't want to be disappointed. Mom kept telling me that I might be shocked and find my mate here to just wait, but I was not hearing it. Mom is always the lover girl. She hoped for my mate to be at Dark Moon or Black River. I know she wanted Rae to be my mate too, but the moon goddess doesn't mate werewolves and humans often.

Yes, there are humans turned into werewolves at Black River. My mom's family weren't all-natural-born werewolves, but it doesn't happen repeatedly. Trust me, I researched before I left.

I take another shot to drown out the thoughts, but it doesn't work. Maybe it is because I am returning soon. I mean, I try not to think of her often, but some days I can't help but wonder what happened to her. Lately, I allow myself to think of her more and more.

It was so hard not to contact her once I left. I still remember how depressed I felt the first few days I came here. I couldn't eat or sleep. It was a rough time for me, but my mentor taught me how to turn those feelings into strength to become the best.

Many times I almost called or messaged her, but we came to an agreement.

I still remember her telling me she felt selfish wanting me to choose her, because that meant that my mate wouldn't get to be with me. That was after her asking me to choose her. She then said she couldn't hurt someone else by taking away half of their heart, and that night under the night sky, we made love one last time before I left the next day.

We knew what was between us. She knew what I was, and eventually she understood and came to her senses. She accepted it, even though she was so sad that I would have a mate and belong to someone else. In the end, she said she understood.

I still remember the day I left. Everyone came to see me off.

Everyone except her.

She didn't show up though, and that is what wrecked me and made me the ruthless man I am today.

I gave her up, so it was only fair to meet and surpass all of my goals. I felt like it all had to be for something.

About a month or so later, I lost my phone. I actually think someone stole it during training, but Ruby and some other people that were there even helped me look, and we didn't find it, so I just got a new one. I contemplated keeping the same number, but then thought that the only way I wouldn't contact her was if I didn't have her number saved on my phone. So I changed my phone number and moved on with my life. I always felt like half of me was missing, and I thought the feeling would eventually go away. It did a little, but it has been the hardest thing I have ever done.

This whole program is, but I am so proud of myself. Not even my dad attended this Academy.

"Another one," Henry says as he passes me another shot.

The rest of the guys are dancing with girls they just met. Ruby is dancing with two girls on a table. I am in my own world, just looking around, making sure we are safe.

Henry and I talk about life while we take shots. The drinks are flowing. I am finally feeling relaxed. The drinks are getting to me. I feel great.

All of a sudden, there's a shift.

I look around trying to find it.

I watch as a bunch of girls walk in through the door.

"Damn, I have never seen hotter humans," Henry tells me.

"Hey Coop, aren't those the girls from the farm by your pack?" he asks me. I look over and sure enough I see familiar faces that belong to people I have not seen in a long time. I run my hand down my face. It can't be them. We must have drunk too much and are seeing things. It can't be. I squint my eyes, but I still see them. What are they doing here?

My wolf is up and looking through my eyes. He begins moving around. He must be feeling the effects of the werewine, but he keeps shaking his head. He keeps sniffing the air. "Not our mate," I tell him. He keeps peaking out of my eyes though.

"They know you, come on, be my wing man. I always wanted one of the twins, or both," my cousin winks. "They are fine a$$ f*ck. Let's all go over there," Henry says.

"Nah, let's leave them alone. Look, they have security with them," I say. My cousin gives me a weird look.

"F*ck their human security guards. We are werewolves. We can handle them. Plus, I just want a fun time. They are richy rich girls. I remember how conceited some of them used to be, but they're human, so they are easy, and that's the point of tonight. Let's all get laid. The twins have always had a hot mouth. I want it on me," my cousin says.

I shake my head and turn back to take a shot. I hope I am not spotted by them.

"Come on bro. Are you really afraid of hot women?" Henry asks me.

I shake my head.

The werewine is hitting and they're right. I am here to have fun. I won't hook up with anyone, but I can be polite and go say hi.

"Alright, 1 more shot all the guys, and we go over there," I say as my cousin cheers and pours us all a shot.

The door opens, and I am hit with a delicious scent. My wolf is salivating. I sniff the air, needing more.

My eyes widen

Even with my back turned, I feel my mate before she even steps inside.

"mate" my wolf says excitedly. He jumps up and down.

I slowly turn around, and I can't f*cking believe my eyes.

Rae Rae.