Chapter 5: First Dinner Together
1561 Words
ALEX:
I had just come back from the pack clinic when the omegas signaled for the upcoming dinner. I had to change from my simple dress into a formal dinner attire. The dusk was humid and hot. The walk made me sweaty, and I couldn't wait to take a bath to rinse off the sweat and clinic smell.
"Niña! Dios mio, por pabor. Could you change already? It's almost dinner time. We have visitors. So please, dress a bit better than usual, " Ma said this while she was still in her robe, fresh from the shower.
That's my cue. "Ma, porque? Are they that important that I should fix myself more than I should? " I asked with protest. It was hard for me to change since I have a broken ankle.
"Niña, you know your papa. He always wants us to look presentable to visitors, may it be high-ranking or Indios." She was more than a wife; she knew how to explain these things in a polite manner, so that we could understand how Papa felt.
"Alright, Ma. But please, have someone help me. I could barely finish changing into these clothes with these feet of mine. " I pouted my lips and gave her puppy-eyes to make a point.
"Sure, I will ask one of the omegas to help you." She then walked past me, into the omegas’ room.
I am glad she agreed to give me some help. Now, what should I wear? Typically, I would go with a Filipiñana as most of the women would in this country. But seeing that it's humid, maybe I should just choose a dress or a gown with lighter fabric.
I rummage through my cabinet and see my options. There were three Filipiñanas and two dresses. I thought about it for a while, and it dawned on me that I should go with the Filipiñana made from hablon. Hablon is a soft and airy fabric. Plus, wearing a camisole underneath it wouldn't be too much. I could even wear a dress and a corset under it.
A knock on the door signaled me that an omega was already outside, waiting for me to let her in. As with any household, omegas serve as our helpers, but they have more than the usual helper could have. They have shelters, food, and all their necessities taken care of for them. They also have two days off every week. They are also entitled to a paid vacation anywhere they like with the alpha's permission. They may be helpers, but we see them as equals in every way possible.
A small, shy girl approached me with a smile. "Buenas noches, Señorita," she said, while checking out what she may be able to help me with.
"Buenas noches. May I know your name, Niña? You are not a familiar face around here. Are you new?" I asked her while she brought me the Filipiñana I chose from the cabinet.
"Si, Señorita, I am from the nearby island. One of your pack members is my mate, so we decided to stay in this pack."
"I see. You may call me Alex. No need for the pleasantries as we are family." Just as she was about to help me into my clothes, I felt a searing pain in my ankle. Suddenly, I sat on the edge of my bed.
"Are you alright?" she asked with a bit of panic in her voice.
"Si. This is just a little injury." We finished everything in a few minutes, and I scrambled towards the dining area as gracious as I should be.
A few minutes more and we were already seated at the dinner table while waiting for our guests. It was then that Papa asked me about my day. It was just small talk. The chatter in the room eventually subsided when our visitors entered.
I suddenly heard voices saying, "Mine," in unison. All of us were shocked to see a couple of teenagers standing on the other side of the table looking at me and Jaime. What now?
The boy suddenly walked towards me, while the girl just stood there, still mesmerized by Jaime. Papa made the first greeting to welcome them. Then, he introduced each of them to us and vice versa.
We had not yet started our dinner, but the scene had become very interesting already. I am looking forward to the rest of the evening. This is going to be fun!
To give us time to get to know each other, Miguel sat next to me, while Isabelle sat next to Jaime. Being mates for wolves is like finding your soulmate, the half of you that will make you feel complete. As I haven't shifted yet, I do not know if this Miguel is truly my mate.
"Señorita, buenas noches, would you give me the pleasure of being your companion for tonight?" Miguel asked me, as if trying to gauge if I was in anyway feeling the pull of the mate bond.
"Si, Señor. It is my pleasure." I smiled, knowing that the boy next to me was so handsome and well mannered. Oh goddess, thank you for this wonderful gift you have given me.
"So, Señor, I heard your family came from España. How was the trip going here?" I started with a few pleasantries to get the conversation flowing.
"There's no need for pleasantries. You can call me Miguel. You're my mate, after all. Oh, how much I have waited to finally find you. This is so much better than crossing the Pacific Ocean. But in all honesty, if I had known I would find you here, I would have talked to Papa to come here much sooner." His eyes were looking at me, studying every inch of my face as if committing it to memory is his priority.
"Miguel, if I may, I am sure you are feeling ecstatic right now, but I don't feel the mate bond yet. I still have a few months before my sixteenth birthday. Would you be able to wait for me?" I nervously asked as I know some people would rather reject their mate and choose another female, but I just hope he isn't one of those.
"You are worth the wait, Alex. I have been looking for you for months now. What is another couple of months when surely, I know I have found my mate. I will wait for you and will try to get to know you better," he said with a full smile, which was enticing at the very least, while he was saying those words to me. My knees went weak as I saw that smile and heard his words.
His words have a different effect on me. It's as if every fiber of my being is being pulled towards him. All I could do was smile at his words, and continue eating. The rest of the dinner went smoothly with a little bit of talking from Papa, Hector, and Roberto, Miguel's father.
They were overjoyed to learn that their children were mated to each other, and they were discussing how this brief visit could turn into a permanent arrangement.
I looked at Claudia just to see if she was okay with the whole mate thing. I can see that she has been thinking and wasn't in the moment. I gave her a smile and she just nodded, as if saying she had something to tell me.
Meredith was happily talking to one of Miguel's sisters. They are of the same age, and I was glad she found someone to talk to other than her classmates in the pack school. Honestly, I am a bit worried about her. She doesn't usually talk to me or Bea. I thought that being sisters would give her an excuse to talk to us, but no, she just went silent or ignored us when we asked her to join.
Hector and Roberto went straight to Papa's office after everyone had finished eating. They were to discuss pack matters. While Miguel, he asked me to give him a tour around the pack house. I didn't want to turn him down, but I was in no position to move too much.
As we were standing up, I slowly got the crutches beside my chair. "What happened to you?" Miguel said, with a worried look and a bit of curiosity as well.
"Oh, this? It is just a minor injury, and it will be gone by morning. Trust me. I'll tell you all about it while you help me walk up the stairs. Deal?" Whew! That solves the tour fiasco.
"Hi, chico, May I borrow Alex for a few moments?" Claudia asked while we were leaving the dining room.
"Chica! It's you from the plaza. Sure, cutie. No problem," Miguel said as he left me with Claudia.
"So sorry to interrupt, but he was the cute guy I was telling you about earlier." My eyes widened at this new information. Hmm... I guess a little prank would be a good welcome party for him. Even though he was my mate, as he claims, I also wanted to side with Claudia. I love her like a sister and I don't want her to get hurt.
We talked about my plan on the way upstairs, leaving everyone in the sala.
- Writer
