The search for the first mate was always a challenge and that’s where Stefan was now: wondering who would be the one selected by Moon Goddess to become his mate until the end. His cousins, close friends and sister were already mated, leaving him in a cruel position. Without a mate, he couldn’t candidate himself to be the next Alpha Leader and replace his father. Thus, he was hurrying to find “the one” as soon as possible.
For good or for worse, he had already dated a large portion of the unmated females in the pack and none of them seemed to be who he was looking for. Besides, none managed to resist his charming stereotype: golden eyes, black short hair, 1,90 meters tall, caramel skin and muscles well distributed. Not forgetting his most wanted proof of being an Alpha: a well-sized phallus.
Regardless, his research had given no fruit and again, he found himself at the training barracks, looking for someone new to chase and hopefully get what he needed. Needless to say, everyone knew why he became such a regular of the place, but yet everyone made it seem like something new every time he arrived.
Julienne became his go-to person for this special affair and she helped to map the girls he could approach without being disrespectful to other males. “Hello, Juls. Did you get any news for me?”, he used his charming smile to get her entire attention. As soon as she heard his sexy voice, the engaging discussion ongoing with another girl ceased and her eyes moved to his gorgeous face instantly. “Hi there! I was wondering if you would show up today.”.
The girl still standing in front of Julienne didn’t seem happy with the interruption and almost killed Stefan with her cold look. “We need to finish discussing this matter before you disappear with him, Juls. You know that-”, Juls mouffled the girls’ mouth and kept talking to Stefan instead. “So, how may I help you today, Alpha Stefan?”. He could notice the girl rolling her eyes and finally leaving the place, disappearing among the crowd. “Who is she?”. A scratch on her head and a sigh soon made Stefan understand that the girl was a problem or a hard shell to crack. “She is one of the candidates to replace my father. And she is unavailable, in case you wonder.”
A moment passed and Julienne sighed again, heavily, as he didn’t move his eyes away from the girl. “She doesn’t have a mate, but she will not do a “test” with you. Sarah is… conservative.”. He spotted her talking to a few other Deltas in one corner, in what seemed a fun mode. “I see… well, do you have anyone else then?”, his voice controlled and low, expecting a positive reply from his new friend. “I’m afraid I introduced everyone I could to you by now. You may look into the Omega quarters though. Have you been there?”. Again staring at the corner where the girl was, he turned on his heels and left, without another word, while putting his brain to work.
That afternoon, Stefan spent his time understanding the Delta families, and hierarchies within, until he finally found the name of the girl he intended to talk to. Sarah Nightingale, the fourth strongest family among the Deltas, with a strong tradition of having one of the males as leader or coordinator of the scouts, and she had an older brother, Adam, who got ranked up after being matched with his soulmate. “I think I understand now why Julienne said she is out of limits.”, he spoke to no one.
Sarah was on her way home after spending the day between training and teaching the novices when what seemed like a wall blocked her way forward. Her eyes widened as she recognised the man standing in front of her. “I apologise for startling you.”, she took two steps back, making sure there was enough distance between them so she could run in case of need. “Do you need something?”. Her emotionless voice tone said clearly that she was not happy to meet him. “I am trying to get acquainted with all the candidates for leadership positions and I thought to invite you to chat for a bit. I heard you are one of the candidates to replace Delta Klaus, so…”. Sarah took another step backwards and held her hands on each other, tightly, elaborating the best answer. “Not officially, but I intend to, yes. Will you book a meeting to discuss the matter?”. Her face didn’t betray her in showing how that dialogue affected her nerves. Calmly, Stefan grinned and took a step forward. “I just thought of inviting you to share a beer at the pub, as it is an informal chat. Do you have time now?”. As an automatic behaviour, Sarah checked her watch and paused for a moment, mentally going through her agenda. “I have some time now, yes.”. As a reward, his smile grew and gestured for her to proceed. “Lead on.”.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
They found a small table by a window with chairs opposite each other. Each one holding a mug of draft beer, they sat and took a sip. “So, I guess we could start with some basic things, as I don’t know you so well. Would you mind introducing yourself to me?”, his soft and gentle voice lifted a bit of nervousness from Sarah’s shoulders, though she still had trouble getting started. “Where to begin… I am Sarah Nightingale, ranked as the third strongest Delta among the youngsters, twenty years old. I have an older brother who was supposed to be a candidate for replacing Delta Klaus but… he became a Gamma warrior after mating, as he got lucky in finding his soulmate as the first mating option. In my family in the past generations, it got common to have at least one raking up. So now I am working hard to be up to all expectations and be worthy of the position since my brother is no longer an option.” Stefan listened carefully, slowly drinking from his mug and thinking about the next question. “I have seen how serious you take it, as I’ve been in the training barracks quite often lately.” Sarah concentrated her gaze on the beer in front of her, wondering what else there was to say about her that could be of interest to a to-be Alpha Leader.
“I am not yet chosen as the next Alpha, but I do not intend to let anyone else take the position. And I guess you’ve been wondering why I've made myself so approachable and public in the past months.”, she lifted her gaze to him immediately, still holding her mug with both hands. “Julienne already informed me about your chore, Alpha.”, another gulp between phrases, Stefan swallowed the bitter beer before opening his mouth again. “Well, then.”, his face turned into a mischievous grin. “Shall I ask you how is your progress in looking for your mate?”
Butterflies in the stomach. No better description of what Sarah felt as he addressed her in such a sexy voice, causing a shiver down her spine and a desperate desire to run for her life. “I am not looking for my mate.”, that’s all she could blurt out in the middle of the strange feelings that that man was causing her. “Really? What a pity. But why is that, if I may ask?”. She fixed herself in the chair, turning her eyes to the window, watching the people passing by on the outside. “I’m not in a hurry. Besides… I believe what is mine will find my way eventually.”. The sadness in her voice and gaze shook something inside Stefan. He could feel something towards her, it was not a mating bond, but he was neither nonchalant to her melancholy. His wolf was quiet, yet anxious and seemed waiting for something to trigger whatever was required to create a bond with the woman in front of him.
“I wish I could do the same.” Her attention returned to her companion, surprised by noticing the same melancholy in his voice. “I guess not everyone can afford such a thing?”. A bitter smile was her offer before drinking again from her mug.
They chit-chatted a bit more about less important matters and parted ways before the sun was completely out of the sky, without a conclusion of what happened.
