Broken Mate by Norisha May

"Why? Your part of this pack and should sit here as everyone else does." He says pulling the chair out for me.

I look at Levi and Layla who are also surprised. I sit and he pushes my chair in and does the same for Layla. He goes and sits next to Grand further from us but the whole time he keeps staring at me. I look over at Layla and she looks at me. She smiles and wiggles her eyebrows.

(I had forgotten that she knows that he's my mate. It sounds so strange saying 'my mate'. I really thought that once I found him, he would reject me on the spot.... but he didn't.)

Even though we feel weird, we finish our breakfast and then we head to the kitchen to clean.

"Hey, Layla?"I call her over to me in a whisper. "Don't tell anyone about me and the Alpha." I say and she smiles.

"I know, Alpha Kayden already talked to me. I won't say a thing......I really like him, he's nice and you are lucky." She says.

(Am I? Lucky would be not having a mate, this is just complicated.)

A few days pass and I only see kayden in the mornings, he is now busy with the ceremony that will be held tomorrow. He will finally be Alpha and I really hope that he does change things, but we'll see. To be honest, we don't really talk at all. The most we've talked was when I was in the hospital and he was being pushy. I really don't know him but he has been...nice, but I'm afraid it's just an act so that I don't say anything to anyone about him being my mate, although I would never. The last thing I want is for people to know and take that out on me as well.

I'm at the lake looking at the water lost away in my thoughts when I hear someone behind me. I turn around to see Kayden.

"I wanted to talk to you about tomorrow." Kayden says walking towards me.

I look at him confused. "Once I take my Alpha position, I'm claiming you in front of everyone." He says. "What?!" I say not being able to hide my surprise. I get off of the boulder and start to shake my head. "You can't do that. I'll get in trouble." "With who? I'll be the highest authority." He says putting his hands in his front pant pockets.

I look at him not having an excuse.

"But... I... I don't want to be your mate." I say and his face morphs into anger.

(I really don't want to be his mate. He's an Alpha, they are entitled and too dominant and he can hurt me if I ever refuse him.)

"I really don't care if you want me as your mate. You are mine and you will always be mine. I will not allow you to refuse." He says.

(And there it is. That's exactly why I don't want an Alpha as a mate.) "Tomorrow, you will come to me on the stage when I call you. Do you understand?" He says sternly. I lower my head and nod. "Yes, Alpha."

He sighs and walks closer to me. I really want to step back but I'm afraid of what he'll do if I do so! just continue to look at the ground,

He lifts a hand to my chin and lifts my head up, making me look straight at him. "You are mine Rain, do you understand?"

At that moment, we hear some of the younger kids walking close to us so he stops and steps back.

He takes a deep breath and fixes his clothes. "Be ready tomorrow." He says and walks back to the packhouse.

I close my eyes and lean on the boulder.

(Why? Why is he my mate?) I look up at the sky. (Haven't I've had enough?) I close my eyes again and sigh. (What will happen tomorrow?)

After a few minutes, Layla walks over to me and tells me that Celeste is looking for me. She has been very quiet lately and hasn't hurt us once since there's always someone else now cooking with us. I get to the kitchen and she looks at me.

"The Alpha will have a little celebration in the music room with a couple of people in a few minutes, you will be serving the drinks." She says.

(Oh great.) "Do I have to change?" I ask.

"No, it's nothing formal, just opening a wine bottle and serve. They are drinking to his last day as Alpha of our pack."

Inod and head to the music room where I see the Alpha, the Luna, Kayden, Grant, Preston, beta Abraham, and delta Richard.

I start to open the bottle while they all talk. "This is basically celebrating for all our retirements." The Alpha says.

"Yes, it won't be just a new Alpha. We will also have a new beta and delta." The Luna says smiling at the guys.

"Uh I feel so old right now, I remember our ceremony like it was yesterday." Delta Richard says as I hand them all a glass of wine.

Thand one to Kayden and he purposely grazes my fingers and looks at me intently. I shiver at just that small contact. My body betrays me, I can't hide that he makes me feel things. But those are things that I never want to feel for anyone.

I go next to beta Abraham and I hear him give a small growl looking at me with disgust. I'm sure he's planning some kind of punishment for me for what happened with Evan and Asher. Even though he's not going to be beta anymore, he has a way of getting what he wants. And if he wants to see me suffer, he'll find a way.

They all lift their glasses and make a toast to the new alpha, beta, and delta.

Kayden lifts his glass to his lips looking at me, he licks his lips still looking at me and my body heats up. Something that has never happened to me before. He then gives a small smile and takes a sip.

(The way he looks at me makes me nervous yet I can't deny that it excites me.)