A Kiss For The Alpha

My Very First Mate

"What exactly are mates and witches?" I asked Lilian. The mate assessment had just ended, and I finally understood why everyone's mates in class earlier were half-n***d—it was to ensure the mark of the 'retainer,' a magical tattoo of wings with a sword, was imprinted on their chests as proof that they were tamed by their master.

Just like the mark of the heart and star on my chest, the number of shaded stars indicates how many mates a witch owns. Mine has an unshaded star, which basically means I'm mateless.

Supposedly, the hours following until five in the afternoon are called 'gathering,' a perfect time for a witch to socialize and find a mate. When, what, where, and how—these are things I have no idea about.

"Oh... We're starting with that?" Lilian rubbed her forehead, looking stressed, as if I were an airhead who didn't know the basics of basics, which was partially true. "You must be from the sanctuary's orphanage then? That's why I haven't heard your family name."

"Y-Yeah, kinda," I stammered, agreeing with Lilian's assumption that I came from the orphanage. It worked in my favor, allowing me to keep my secret without any issues. As for the reason why they think I'm from the orphanage, I have no idea about it.

"Well, first of all, only female students can attend the Akashic Academy, after all, only women possess magic. You should know that by now. We're called witches, and we are the masters of our mates." Lilian snapped her fingers, and out of nowhere, piles of books appeared on her desk.

"Woah! Is that magic?!" I couldn't believe it, but here I was, witnessing witchcraft right in front of me.

"Yeah. Let me get my notes here..."

As Lilian took out her notebook, I adjusted my eyeglasses, my eyes intently drawn to a hardbound book left on top of the pile. Its intricate design of roses and gold, with the title 'Her Love Bites,' signaled it was unmistakably a romance novel. I know when a novel is within my reach—I can't be mistaken.

"Continuing the subject, mates can either be vampires or lycans. They're officially called retainers, and they serve witches they deem worthy. Most live in male dormitories; some live as packs outside the academy. But more importantly, potential mates gather at the heart of the Akashic Academy—the Nest."

I listened to Lilian's explanation, but I couldn't help myself—I had to grab that book. It was my first book in this new world, and its scent, along with the fragrance of it being well-loved, was simply alluring. As soon as I started reading, Lilian flicked my forehead and snatched the book away.

"N-No! Please let me read it! I want it!" I pleaded, as if the book and I had a relationship that couldn't be broken. I mean, we shared a few seconds of an ephemeral touch, and I fell in love.

"Stop!" Lilian sighed, snapping her fingers again, making the piles of books disappear into thin air. "Are you even serious about becoming a witch? The 'Her Love Bites' series is a good book—I personally love it—but no reading until you've mastered the basics today." Suddenly, Lilian was acting like my tutor.

"O-Okay, Lilian... but will you let me borrow it if I listen?" I bargained, even though what she was doing was for my benefit.

"Sure, Fey! I can tell you have good taste in romance books for liking 'Her Love Bites,' so I'll allow it." Lilian agreed, and we both laughed.

It was already time for the gathering, yet we were still in the classroom, just the two of us chatting. To be honest, Lilian was too kind. She taught me everything considered normal here at the Akashic Academy.

The Nest is basically a part of the Akashic Academy, a hall of rooms where lycans and vampires meet witches to get to know each other. It's like simulating a date, a mixer of sorts, but here, masters and retainers quickly determine whether they are compatible.

The reason why the ranking system is based on family background is that the wealthier a witch is, the more likely they are to get mates. But Lilian assured me not to worry, that even someone from the orphanage could get a decent mate.

The wealth of the family is just one aspect. In truth, lycans and vampires choose their masters mostly based on the amount of mana a witch possesses. Lilian told me that most wealthy families have heiresses with abundant mana, so others associate assets with the probability of getting a mate.

The last way to get a mate is simple: beauty. Raw, untainted beauty transcends mana and money. In the end, masters are women, and mates are men, and the highest chance for a witch to get a retainer is, of course, to bewitch one—which is exactly what Lilian did.

"As you can see, I have a mate despite my rank being the same as yours, an Omega. My magic isn't that great, and my family isn't that rich, but I managed to get a retainer! He's a lycan—you must have seen him earlier during the mate assessment. His name is Gregor. I'll introduce him later, so I'm sure you'll get yours!"

Lilian was so easygoing and thoughtful. I was a bit jealous of how considerate she was in explaining everything to me, even though she barely knew me.

She's like an angel, my salvation! I'll eventually repay her kindness. I'm grateful for the basic knowledge she imparted to someone like me. Now that I know how to get a mate, I began pondering something critical.

"Hold up... beautiful looks, money, magic—these are..." I lowered my head, staring blankly at the floor. The realization hit me hard: I'm never getting a mate, let alone any man in this academy.

Not only have I been gaining weight lately, even though I haven't eaten anything since arriving here, but I also remembered my appearance isn't that great. I was a boring, ordinary college student with no redeeming qualities. I'm basically a bookworm—a nerd without intellect who doesn't know anything besides romance books.

Lilian is kind, cute, and beautiful—she knows the value of her assets as a woman. I'm nothing compared to her. Knowing that beauty wouldn't get me a single retainer, I leaned toward wealth and magic, as those were my only choices.

But then again, I came from another world. I don't have a single dime, let alone whatever currency this world uses. I would be basically homeless if not for the academy's treatment of witch students. As for witchcraft, I didn't even know magic existed until Lilian showed me an actual demonstration.

I'm doomed. I hid my glasses in my pocket, covered my face, and crouched in the corner of the lockers. I always cried like this alone whenever limited edition hardbound books signed by my favorite authors were sold out.

"I'm never getting a mate! I don't want to become a witch anymore!"

I sniffled, feeling hopeless. I threw a fit, but Lilian tapped my back again. I turned around, only to be blinded by Lilian's brightness as she offered her hand, her smile genuine; I was captivated.

"Didn't I tell you? We're getting you a mate! Gatherings are held every afternoon except Sunday, so what are you waiting for? To the Nest, we go!"

Without a care in the world, Lilian pulled me out of my miserable state, reigniting my hope. She dragged me out of the classroom, practically tugging me along until we arrived at an open area in the heart of the academy.

What greeted me was something familiar yet oddly different from the social gatherings I had imagined.

"Woah... This must be the gathering," I murmured, swallowing hard.

"Yeah! Getting a mate shouldn't be hard. My assistance ends here. Use the techniques you learned from me. I know you can do it, Fey. See you later!"

"W-Wait, Lilian!" I tried to stop her, but she had already run off down the corridor, leaving my unsocial self to fend for myself.

The place known as the 'Nest' was like a park. Ladies dressed in fancy, revealing outfits were paired with decently handsome men. Some witches entertained two lycans under the trees, while others flirted on stone benches. The whole scene was a display of lovebirds in their mating season, and I couldn't help but feel out of place.

As I observed the interactions between masters and their retainers, I began to distinguish between lycans and vampires.

"Interesting..." The men dressed like mercenaries or warriors were clearly lycans—hunky, muscle-bound, and towering six-footers. A lycan's striking charm wasn't just his height or brawny physique but the fluffiness of his fur. Their wolf-like ears were also quite prominent, and honestly, they were incredibly attractive.

Vampires, on the other hand, resembled noblemen. They were dressed in professional attire, more formal than the lycans' rugged outfits. Their behavior was gentlemanly, and the way they flirted with witches exuded an air of royal blood—smooth and refined. Most had pale, almost snow-white complexions, and they treated their masters with care and composure that set them apart from the vampires I had read about in books.

"I almost forgot how to talk to men... No wonder my ex cheated; I completely forgot how to hold a social conversation!"

I calmed myself down, reminding myself that I could do this. I remembered Lilian's lessons and knew I could find a mate. Wasting no time, I approached a man sitting alone on a stone bench, hoping he was available.

"H-Hello..." I stuttered, jinxing the first impression.

"H-Hi? And you are?"

"I am—" Before I could introduce myself, a woman appeared out of nowhere, grabbed the man's arm, and blocked my approach.

"Sorry, he's taken. Go find your date somewhere else," she snapped, dragging her man away and leaving me speechless, with my social anxiety likely increased.

I continued my attempts, approaching potential mates regardless of whether they were lycans or vampires. But every time, I faced rejection—either they already had a master or weren't looking for one. Some even ran away when they heard my name, unfamiliar with it. Other times, I stuttered and ended the conversation prematurely, hiding somewhere to regroup before trying again, all to no avail.

Eventually, I sat down on one of the stone benches under the shade of a tree, completely alone. Hope was fading fast.

"Why does a witch even need a mate? Ugh! I should've paid more attention to Lilian! What'll happen if I don't manage to get one...?"

Feeling dejected, knowing Lilian would only lend me her book if I had a mate, I slouched and leaned over the side of the bench. But instead of hitting the cold stone, I accidentally leaned against someone sitting beside me.

"Wah! I'm sorry!" I quickly stood up and apologized. I was about to leave when the person suddenly grabbed my wrist, making me flinch.

"It's fine. Are you looking for a mate?" he asked, his voice deep and catching me off guard.

"Y-You are...!" I adjusted my glasses and glanced up. My gaze traveled from his muscular chest to his face, and I realized just how tall he was. He was a giant, towering over six-foot-five. I had to step back to take him all in. Clearly a lycan, his shredded physique and battle scars spoke of a seasoned warrior. A medallion on his chest read 'Alpha,' indicating his rank far exceeded those I had approached earlier.

"I'm Siegrid, a lycan," he introduced himself succinctly.

"You may call me Fey Fontaine. And what can I do for you?"

"Are you perhaps looking for a mate? I can become your retainer if you wish," he offered. The witches around us glanced our way, muttering and giving me hateful looks before scattering away.

But I didn't care about them. I had no idea how I had charmed Siegrid, but maybe I was more attractive than I thought. I couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

"Really?!" I exclaimed, seizing his hands. I wasn't about to let him go. With Siegrid as my mate, Lilian would lend me her book, and I could binge-read it! Sorry, Siegrid, but I'm using you for my own satisfaction to read books.

"So, how do I make you my retainer?" I asked, having found myself a mate but forgetting how to actually forge the bond.

"Are you sure...? Alright, hold out your hand." There was a sadness in his voice that I strangely felt, but I was too fixated on Lilian's book to heed it.

"Okay," I agreed with a smile. Siegrid bit the tip of his index finger, letting a few drops of blood fall into my palm.

"Now, say my name."

"Siegrid." I breathed his name, and suddenly, a surge of mixed cold and heat coursed through me. I could feel the magic! The wind around us howled, and the ground began to tremble—was this supposed to happen when a witch formed a bond with a mate? I didn't care, assuming it was normal.

"What in the world..." Siegrid was left speechless.

To confirm that Siegrid had indeed become my mate, I quickly pulled down my b*a to peek at my chest. I internally squealed with delight as I saw the star below my mark was now shaded, and another unshaded star had appeared beside it.

"Thanks, Siegrid! Let's meet here again at the same time tomorrow. I'm going to surprise Lilian!"

"......"

I left Siegrid and fled the scene. Now that I had secured a mate, it was time to reward myself with some romance novels for all the socializing I had done that day. Lilian was a good friend, and I should properly thank her next time.

Back in my room, I collapsed onto the bed. I suddenly realized I hadn't eaten anything yet. "Where do I even get food here?" I mumbled as I slowly drifted off to sleep.