The Untamed Female Alpha And Her Beta Mate

CHAPTER 7 – The proposal to Alan

Alan

It's been a year, and I have not heard any news about Ariana or the rest of my pack members. I was in great pain because I did not communicate with my parents letting them know about my health and achievements. I had managed to be the first student in my class and win a scholarship for next year. My professors were all happy with me and encouraged me to simultaneously find a job in the same field, architecture, to experience before finishing my studies. Doing so would help me with my future career. 

My classmates encouraged me to follow the advice of our teachers. So, when I left the Institute that night, I mentioned the fact to my landlords. 

Sarah and Cooper were like a small family to me. Ever since I left the blue silver moon pack and moved into the motel, they treated me as their son. They didn't have any kids of their own. The money I was paying them for staying there was peanuts compared to their hospitality. 

 When I told Cooper about my professors' advice, he immediately picked up his phone and called our work supervisor.  He asked him where they could find a job for me, not as a worker anymore but in the architecture department. Cooper told me that the supervisor promised to look into it and get back to us as soon as possible. He finished his call smiling. 

The following day when Cooper and I went to work at the construction site, the supervisor came to us smiling. "I guess it's your lucky day, kid," he told me. "There seems to be a vacancy for an assistant in the architectural department these days. They need you to report there tomorrow morning at eight o clock.  Would that be okay with you?"

"That would be great, thank you!"  I replied with a smile, and Cooper patted me friendly on the shoulder. "Nice going, son," he told me, and my eyes filled with tears as this was the phrase my dad used to say when praising me about something. 

So, the following morning, instead of going to the construction site with Cooper, I drove my truck to the company's head office. The first day went by with introductions and instructions about my new duties as an assistant. I reported to reception, where a lovely lady led me to meet with my new supervisor.

From that moment on, the hours of the day were not enough for me to do everything I had planned. The new job proved to be very demanding. But it helped me a lot in understanding the designs and the way I had to implement them. I ran from one office to another and supported the whole architect's group with the plans that had to be delivered immediately. The result showed during my lessons. I was much more flexible and practical than before. 

The days went by, and I knew that Aiden and Ariana's birthday was coming up soon. I was frustrated and didn't know how to handle things with my mate. I should contact Aiden and see how things were with Ariana's attitude to help me decide how to proceed. My wolf Damien was pressing me again to go back and claim Ariana. I wasn't sure If I could handle seeing her having her reject me.

Aiden

I was in my father's office reading some documents he left me to manage by myself. He was slowly trying to put Ariana and me in the process of taking on our new duties as Alphas in both packs. In the beginning, he would, of course, be by our side with our mother to guide and advise us. 

I heard my phone ringing. An unknown number appeared on my cell phone screen, and I picked it up, curious about who the caller was. At first, no one spoke. I asked who it was. When no one answered, I told the caller that I would hang up and not respond again. Surprised, I heard Alan's voice from the other line. "Aiden, it's me! Don't hang up on me, man."

I froze. For a moment, I stood motionless like a statue and looked at the screen of my cell phone to make sure I was getting a call from Alan after a year of nothing.

"Alan, is that you? Where the hell have you been, man?  We were worried sick about you, you know. Why the hell did you disappear like that?  Your parents are going through hell, do you know that?"

"Hey man, give me a break, will you? You know there was nothing else I could do at that time.  Ariana did not accept our bond, remember? What was I supposed to do, huh? Seat around and wait for her to reject me? No f****** way, man." 

"Okay, okay, I get your point. But it would help if you hadn't left like that, Alan. Your poor Mum and Dad go through hell every day wondering if you're okay. Don't you think that you should have at least contacted them and let them know you're well?

"Aiden, I know you're right about this, but I needed my space, and I didn't want to let anyone know where I am.  I'm not even telling you where I am right now. I just thought I should give you a call and see how things are and how everybody is doing." 

"Well, if you're asking me about your Mum and Dad, then I should tell you that they are not doing that well.  You are their only child Alan, and they miss you a lot. I firmly believe that you should give them a call and let them know how you are doing. Poor Aunt Ria has cried her heart out every single day ever since you left. If you ask me about Ariana, let me inform you that she misses you a lot.  She has been depressed all this time. She truly misses her best friend."

"Is that what I still am for her, Aiden? Her best friend? Hasn't she realised yet that I'm her mate?"

There was a long pause on the phone. I had a hard time answering Alan's question. What was I supposed to say to him? That although my sister missed him like hell, she never admitted having deeper feelings for him? I took a long deep breath and prepared myself to answer him. Before I even managed to say anything, Alan responded to his question.

"There is no need to answer that. Your pause gave me the answer I needed. Take care, my friend and watch over your sister for me. Please do me a favour and don't say anything to anyone about me calling you today. Just tell my Mum and Dad that you heard from someone that I am doing just fine and I miss them a lot.  I will be in touch with them as soon as possible."

Alan hung up, and I just stood there, unable to comprehend Alan's last words. What did he mean by that? Was that the last time I would hear from him?  I sat in my dad's office chair and put my head in my hands. I could feel a terrible migraine was on its way. 

Alan

The minute I closed the phone on Aiden, I felt my heart breaking into pieces. A whole year had passed, and Ariana still didn't realise who I indeed was to her. I closed my eyes in frustration and contacted my wolf, Damien.

"Hey there, Damien. How would you like it if we went on a run tonight? I could use some fresh air to clear my mind from the thoughts. It has been a while since we last shifted." 

Damien growled in my mind, not answering me. He knew what I had been thinking about, and he didn't like it one bit.

So, when the night came, I drove my truck to the Los Angeles National Forest. I got out of the car and took a pile of sports clothes with me. It was late hours, so no one would see me shift.  I entered the forest and let my ginger-fur wolf; Damien come forward. His golden sparkling eyes checked our surroundings. When he made sure that we were safe, he took a run. I could feel his paws pressing the ground, making noise when stepping on the dry leaves.

We ran for quite a long time until Damien got tired and sat on his paws to rest a little. I let him free, trying to give him time to accept my way of thinking. It wasn't easy for him either. If I finally rejected Ariana as I thought I should do, Damien would be left mateless as well. It wasn't easy for a wolf to be with no mate. 

"I only want to save us from the heartache, pal!" I whispered in his mind. It was my turn to be in the back of my wolf's mind, and I respected that. He was in complete control now. 

Damien did not reply. He touched his paws with his nuzzle and closed his eyes. I could feel his pain, but I firmly believed that the decision I made was the best one for both of us.

After a long time of consideration, Damien and I took the way back to the truck.  I hid behind a huge tree and shifted back to my human form. I wore the clothes I brought with me and walked towards my car. I had already decided for the both of us. Damien was upset with me.  He hid in the back of my mind and blocked me, giving me no chance to contact him. I thought it was best not to disturb him.  He needed time to understand why I should reject Ariana.

The following days were crazy as hell. The work pressure was too much. In the evening, classes were much more intensive since we needed to deliver our final projects that would count for our last semester degree. On top of that, something unexpected happened that turned my life upside down. Since my performance was more than satisfactory for the Institute, the headmaster of the Institute offered an exchange of students' programs to me. I could attend my last year in Europe and, more specifically, in France if I wished. To make things more appealing to me, he informed me that he had already contacted an architecture company there and asked them to hire me for as long as I would stay there.

While having dinner with Sarah and Cooper, I mentioned what the Institute's headmaster told me the same night. They were both excited for me.  They suggested I should accept the offer. It was one of the best opportunities of my life.  I would get to live in Europe and, more precisely, France. The country that would help me improve as an architect.

The minute I was left alone in my room, I sat on my bed and took one of my old books in my hands.  I opened the pages in the middle and found the photo of Ariana and me that I saved there a year ago.  I stared for a while, touching Ariana's face with my finger. I closed the book and put it back in its place.

"Hey, Damien! What would you think if we moved to Europe for a while?  I know you're still upset with me, but please enlighten me a little. I genuinely need your help on this one. Accepting the proposal is a lifetime opportunity for me. Have you ever thought that we may not even get the chance to reject Ariana first? Who says she will not do it the minute she turns eighteen?"

The minute Damien heard my last words, he spoke to me after a very long time. "Although I disagree with you on rejecting our mate, I truly believe that this change would be an excellent opportunity for you to develop and succeed in your field. So, yes, I think you should take the offer and move to France for a year. It will do us both good."

Listening to Damien approving my proposal made me feel a lot better. "We can do this, Damien!" I told my wolf and lay on my bed, closing my eyes. Before I even realised it, I was sleeping. The exhaustion beat up on me.

That night I dreamt of my mother. She had been crying. Nothing my father did could make her stop. Dad was sitting next to her, holding her in his arms, sobbing quietly. I woke up very distressed and decided I should call them and ask them to keep our contact a secret.

I picked up my phone and dialled our house's number.  I knew that my mum would be up doing chores. The phone rang a couple of times and then came the reply: "Hello?"

After so long, my first reaction to listening to my mother's soft voice was to close my eyes and take a long deep breath. My heart was pounding in my chest like crazy.

"Hello? May I help you?" Came my mother's voice again.

"Hello, mum!" I replied hesitantly.

"Alan, honey, is that you?"