My Little Mate *Austyn and Zeus*

four

Austyn

My heart shatters into a million tiny pieces as soon as I saw that Zeus brought a woman to my graduation party. I feel so stup!d. I actually started believing that he was coming to see me, not out of the obligation of being here. That he gifted me flowers and this necklace because I am who he wants. I am an !d!0t. To him, I am just a child he has to babysit.

He walks over here, with that blonde trailing behind him. "Hello Zeus, who is this lovely lady?" Mom asks. She is not lovely. Okay, maybe she is. She is a blonde goddess, and looks perfect, and who am I kidding? They look perfect together. "Hello, my name is Emilee, and my dad is doing business with this rude man's Alpha. Don't mind him. He isn't a people person. He doesn't like talking, and got stuck babysitting me while they work," she says, and I look at Zeus and he smirks.

"Hello ladies."He greets mom and my aunties, then turns his full attention to me. "Austyn, congratulations once again. You changed your hair," Oh my goodness, he noticed my big change. "So, it looks like he doesn't like speaking to me, only. Got it, I will go look around. He said this was a party, but it looks more like a funeral. I will change that," Emilee says and walks away. She's funny. I like her sense of humour.

"I am still processing this hair cut, Zeus? Can you all believe her? She graduates and goes and gets a complete makeover," mom hasn't shut up about my appearance since I arrived. She is the only one who didn't like it. "Mom, can you stop? You are so embarrassing," I tell her as my face heats up. Luckily, I am saved. Not by the person I expected, but a save is a save and I can stop hearing mom complaining about my hair. It's just hair. It will grow back.

"Austyn, I came early so we could talk," Julio runs over to me, and gives me a hug and a kiss on the forehead. That is so weird. No-one besides dad has ever done that. I don't get a chance to respond, because I am shocked at the gesture, and Zeus is standing in front of me in a second. He is face to face with Julio. "She doesn't want to talk to you, and don't ever touch her again or I will break your hands," he tells him. Oh my god. Did he just threaten Julio?

Mom begins laughing. "Oh, stop it Zeus, Tyler isn't here. Although he would be proud of you for punk!ng the kid, but Austyn is almost 18, we can let her talk to boys now. Go on you two, take him to your room honey," mom tells me. She has never allowed me to take a boy to my room. When she and dad have parties, people aren't allowed in the bedrooms.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Dallas," Zeus says. "Yeah D, chill. The kids can hang out outside. It's a party," auntie Ali tells mom, but mom gets defensive. I am annoyed that I am still considered a kid. I am almost 18.

"Austyn is my child and I will say what she can and can't do. Now, go," she yells. What the h3ll is going on here? This behavior is nothing like mom's normal self. I take one last look at Zeus, who looks pissed, but I am too afraid of mom to argue, or say anything, so I tell Julio to follow me. "She's intense, huh. Probably all that pressure of being a rock star," he says. "Yeah" is all I say, because that was all just so weird.

Zeus

Well, I guess there's a first thing for everything. "I am sorry for yelling at you both like that," Dallas apologizes once Austyn and that little sh!t are out of earshot. "It's just that, I am losing my little girl. If she finds a boyfriend who lives here, then she won't go away. Julio is going to the same college as her, and he has family here too, so I won't lose her if they become a couple. She is guaranteed to return, but if she finds some boy at college who is from somewhere else, and he takes her to live there, with him and his family, then I will lose her forever," she bursts into tears. I heard her, but the one thing I specifically heard is that this punk is going to school with my mate.

"Dallas, you act like you don't have a jet at your disposal," Cali tells her, and Dallas starts laughing, then starts crying again. "You guys don't understand. Her birthday is in a couple of days. I already have her whole 18th birthday party planned out. I just needed her birthday candles, and you know what I realized?" she asks, but everyone shakes their head. With Dallas, you never know how a conversation is going to go. "One minute you are planning your daughter's first birthday party, and the next you are standing at a party supply store buying an 18 candle for her last birthday at home. Life is flying by, and all I achieved was my daughter hating me," she looks sad and defeated, and I am trying to figure out why she thinks she is losing Austyn, or why she keeps repeating that she won't be home and that she is going away forever. Did I miss something? She is going to school 15 minutes away. She can come home every day. I don't see a problem.

"I am being crazy, aren't I? Gosh, Tyler is going to be pissed that I basically forced her into her room with a boy. It's not like I expect them to f*ck. Trust me, I do not need her to repeat my life," she says and walks away. "I think she's going crazy. Just ignore her," Alabama tells me. I smile awkwardly, trying to hide how pissed off I am. I can feel the irritation my mate is feeling.

When I see Austyn walking out of the house with that punk kid behind her and their partying ways, I breathe easier, and my wolf is finally able to settle the h3ll down, but then I see Emilee eyeing her with a smile on her face, and I hope she doesn't annoy my mate like she annoyed me.

"Hey, come here," I tell her "Wow, he speaks," she jokes. "Don't bother her, or say anything stup!d to her, okay." I tell her and her eyes widen. "Oh, dearest moon goddess. She is your mate. That's why we are here, at a human party. Austyn is your mate." she says so excitedly. "She is, but keep it to yourself," I tell her. "Oh, that's so sad. You can't be with her. You will have to reject her and give her up. Is that why you came today? To say goodbye? You can't even keep her your little secret mate?" she asks me and I frown. "What the h3ll are you talking about? I will never give my mate up or keep her a secret." I say. "Well, you will have to. She's not a wolf, and won't your Alpha only want to align his pack members with other strong pack members?" She asks and I chuckle. "I don't mean to offend, but our pack isn't like yours," I tell her. She smiles. "I'm happy for you then. I hope you get the girl. Everyone deserves love and happiness. It just sucks that we can't all get it," she says and walks away. I feel bad for her and other members of her pack. The Alpha got his fated mate, but not everyone there is that lucky. He is known for wanting to mate strong people or people with money with his pack members. People are too scared or too lazy to go against him, so they end up rejecting their mates or give up ever meeting them and they just mate with someone of a higher status or higher rank. It's disgusting. I would understand a non- mated person wanting to find someone so they aren't lonely, but I would never willingly give up my fated mate. I try not to judge, but no amount of money would make me give her up. I already kick myself for thinking I could give her up, but I was young and dumb, but the age gap really had me doubting everything. Glad I worked through it and got my head out of my a$$.

"Zeus, come take a look at this," Tyler calls me over to where the dads are hanging out. They are hanging out by the coolers and they all except for James are drinking. "Zeus, Tyler thinks if we drain the lake, we will find dead bodies, what do you think?" Beckham asks me. Is he for real? "Absolutely," I say. "Told ya, we are just more realistic men, you still see sunshine and rainbows." he tells Beckham, and all the men laugh at him. He is the youngest and newest of the bunch, and although they help him, take care of him, guide him with a lot of love, they still troll and bully him once in a while. "I'm just saying why would anyone drop a dead body in a lake?" he asks. "Why wouldn't they? Look, I'm just thankful you haven't experienced anything harsh enough that has you understand having to throw a body into a body of water. Your mother protected you and gave you a good life. Let's just leave it at that," James says, and I can tell he wants to argue, but he doesn't. This must be a drunk conversation, and James being the sober one, is over it. "Let's do it, let's drain the lake," Beckham says, and oh boy. I was so not ready for the way this conversation was going to go. I swear these guys do the most. If you thought werewolves were bad, these men take the cake.

Austyn

Julio is being annoying, and right about now, I am feeling thankful that I stayed away from him during high school. We barely stepped foot in the door, when he grabbed me and tried to kiss me. He said he thought I wanted it. He thought mom was being cool by allowing us to hang out in my bedroom. Well, we didn't even make it in there. I lied and said that dad texted me asking to come check out the band setup before they begin with the music. Technically, I am not lying though. He did want me to check it, but not for a little while more, but Julio doesn't have to know that. I just hope he stays away from me and doesn't bother me anymore. I might have to tell Zeus, or dad, but I won't lie. I really liked Zeus's reaction earlier.

"Hi, so I found out through hearing Zeus, and some other people that you just graduated from high school. How was that? I always wanted to go to school, but dad didn't think it was necessary. He told us women just have to learn to clean, cook and lie on our backs and give their mate pups, and well, mom just said I can marry a rich Alpha, Beta or Gamma, and he will take care of me," she tells me and I have no idea what she is talking about. Alpha, Beta, Gamma. What is that? Who the h3ll are these girls' parents? They sound awful.