FINALLY, MY DESTINED TRUE MATE

IN THE ALPHA'S OFFICE

ISABELLE

Why would the Alpha want to see me? I ask myself when I am alone in my room. I have declined Robert's invitation to go out so as to think about this. It's not usual to get an invitation to that very important office, the office of the Alpha. It's been almost a whole year since I joined this pack and I only met him once when the Luna was introducing me. He is ever confined in his office where he goes before daybreak and leaves very late at night when everyone else is asleep. I hear that he is always handling pack matters or meeting members of other packs who come calling every now and then. Since he seems to be a very busy man, I wonder why he even thinks of seeing me and of what importance I am to him.

I have an image of him imprinted in my subconscious. He is tall with broad shoulders, long hands that are so strong such that shaking hands with him makes you feel like you are a powerless insect. He looks very serious, with a stone face but when he smiles, which he did only once when we met, he looks good and caring. His hair is black but gray strands can be seen sprinkled evenly over his head.

At school they talk about him in low tones and what I have gathered so far is that he is a ruthless leader whose word is law and no one dares to question him. Those who have done it, the word goes, have ended up in trouble. Others just disappeared without a trace. His attributes are in sharp contrast with his mate, the Luna of the pack. She is so polite and dedicates a lot of her time to talk to me. She is always my shoulder to lean on and she reminds me about my mother.

I was so devastated when I joined the Riverine pack, not sure what had happened to my mother but she took me in as if I was her daughter. I loved the way she broke the sad news about my mother's death. She explained to me in a manner that ensured that I didn't break down in grief. Mother, she told me, died in the hands of senior pack members who went ahead and took power. The Beta, my uncle Richard, my father's brother, the man my father trusted with his life, was now the Alpha.

I later learnt that my mother and this Luna were distant cousins and she keeps on telling me how great my mother was. She also keeps on inquiring whether I know anything about mother's healing powers and my answer is always in the negative. The conversation always reminds me of my ring, my very potent ring that is all that I inherited from my mother. I remember how I first tested it's powers.

On the very first day that I joined school some females tried to attack me. The leader of that notorious gang was one girl known as Maria. They waited until I went to the washrooms to ambush me. I later learnt that it was their norm to attack every new student.

On that day they obviously chose the wrong target. Once I was through with my business in the washrooms I walked out and found around six of them waiting for me outside. I knew immediately that I was in trouble because of the way they were looking menacingly at me.

"Hey newbie, who do you think you are? You never introduce yourself to the elders? Well, we want money from you, and if you cooperate we will get on just fine." The tallest of them all said without preamble. The washrooms were far away from the classrooms such that even if I screamed nobody would hear me. I chose to reply calmly, but then something or someone, most probably Sheri, hijacked my polite reply and I found myself saying, "I don't want to harm you. Please go back to your classes and just let me be."

They all laughed at that, almost hysterically, then the big girl pounced on me, kicking me in the stomach with such force that I fell on the ground. I felt a bout of pain, then anger grasped me. I wondered why the ladies were harassing me yet I had not provoked them. I had resolved to live a silent life then graduate silently and go back to my pack. But since now I was on the ground and surrounded by adversaries, I had no option but to fight. Now this was my opportunity to put my ring to test.

Placing one palm over the ring, I rubbed my hand around it as if I was polishing it. Immediately I felt some sensation in both of my hands, as if my flesh was expanding, then my whole body became hot and I started sweating profusely. I could feel my heart pounding and my lungs expanding. I was bursting with energy.

Just then the same girl who had kicked me approached me laughing mockingly. I could see her towering over me while I was still on the ground.

"Hurt us? Did you say? You didn't want to hurt us? Is this a joke? This is a comedy or something? You a comedian huh?" She asked me as she extended her hand to touch me. I raised my hand and grasped the extended hand then I sprang up with a lot of energy that amazed even myself. Once I held her she screamed in agony as she looked at me with eyes full of fright. I applied a little force on her hand and she collapsed on the ground. I could feel my body vibrating with excess energy . The other girls were now looking at the scene in confusion, wondering what to do since their leader was now subdued and begging for mercy.

I let go of her hand once I realized that any more pressure could easily result in death. She remained on the ground, holding on to a hand that was visibly in a lot of pain. She was groaning, overwhelmed by pain. The other girls started retreating, typical of all mobsters to abandon their member when in trouble.

Everyone for themselves.

Extending my other hand I touched the hand that she was holding, the one in pain. She stopped screaming and restored calm. I knew that I had healed her from whatever agony I had caused her.

"Get up now, and stay away from me if you don't want to die. I warned you but you never listen. Up, go and don't turn back." I told her and she nodded in agreement. She gathered her friends and they ran away from me. Since then Maria has been trying to sweet talk me into telling her what powers I have but I have always avoided her, knowing only too well that she isn't a good person.

Since Robert and I became an item I have started getting preferential treatment. Everyone in the pack now talks about us. I have heard conversations praising me and suggesting that Robert is very lucky to have me. Even at school I have noticed that the men who used to admire me have taken a backseat, not wanting to be seen talking to Robert's girlfriend. He is very jealous, never allowing any other male to talk come near me and I always smile in admiration when I see him. Also, he has stopped talking to other girls.

Some girls who were hopeful that he would like them look at me with disdain, but I always avoid them. Since Robert is famous in school, even the lecturers accord me a certain level of respect and I am close to being a celebrity.

We have gone out severally but we have avoided held firmly to what we said about intimacy, though I am so much tempted sometimes. When that happens, I always remember the lecture from Robert's mother and back off.

Robert surely loves me and he always talks about his father's retirement. Just a few months after graduation, his father will retire and Robert will become the Alpha of the Riverine pack. I am looking forward to that day too because every girl would like to date an Alpha.

But right now I need to find out how to talk to the all powerful Alpha, Robert's father who has indicated his desire to see me. I keep on wondering what the reason could be, and I dismiss many possibilities before I fall asleep.

Saturday morning I wake up late. This is because I didn't sleep well last night thinking about the upcoming meeting. Still I have not found out the agenda. As we take breakfast Robert's mother notices that I am a little bit nervous.

“Relax my daughter. I know you are nervous because the Alpha wants to see you. But it's nothing. He always summons members of the pack so don't worry." She tells me. That doesn't work and I just wish for the time to fly so that I may be over with this.

“What we need to do is to spruce you up so that when you appear before him you are in your best look." She adds, adding into my anxiety. We spend a lot of time as she goes through my hair, fingernails and toes. It's as if I am in a beauty parlor. When she is through with me I don't even recognize myself in the mirror.

At around three o'clock in the afternoon I walk into the Alpha's office. His mate leads in front of me and I follow closely behind. The office is a display of opulence. No expense was spared when they were decorating it. A visitor gets the impression that he is going to see a great person. There is marble on the floor and granite in the walls. Expensive paintings adorn the hallway, and one in particular is a big black wolf with eyes that resemble Robert's. I wonder whether it was a painting of Robert when he shifted.

The Alpha is seated on a high swivel chair and conspicuously present in the office is Robert who stands up when we walk in.

“Get seated Isabelle. I am quite busy so I will be brief. I want this meeting to end quickly." The Alpha says when we are all seated.

“Isabelle, Robert tells me that you are a good girl, that you have accepted to be his girlfriend and that you could be good for him since he hasn't found his mate. Also, he tells me that the two of you are in love. I have heard everything about you and I agree that you are what my son needs as he prepares to become the Alpha of this pack upon my retirement." He goes on. I can't speak because he isn't over yet.

“It is on this note that we are holding a party on Tuesday to announce to the pack and everyone else about the engagement of the two of you. I called you here so that you can prepare for that." He concludes. I look around for some reaction but the Luna is silent while Robert smiles from ear to ear. My heart thumps inside my ribcage, and I can't find an apt reply to this.