My Alpha Mate (Wolf Series #1)

Chapter 2

Candice

It was not until my alarm clock rang that I woke up. I groaned in annoyance and tried to reach it on my bedside table to stop it from ringing again. I opened my eyes and looked at the clock that was hanging on my wall; it’s already 7:30 a.m.

“Good morning, Candice,” my wolf, Claire, said. I greeted her back and did my morning rituals. I went downstairs and headed to our kitchen, where I saw Mom cooking our breakfast while Dad was sitting and reading his newspaper.

“Morning Dad!” I greeted him and kissed him on the cheek. “Morning Mom! Smells delicious!” I said that to her and sat on the chair.

“Good morning, princess. How’s your sleep?” Dad inquired and sipped his coffee. I grabbed the apple on the table and started eating it.

“All good, just got a little headache from partying last night,” I answered with a chuckle, "Dad, can I ask you something?” He put down his newspaper on the table and looked at me.

“What is it?” I chewed my apple before saying.

“Is it true that there’s a new pack in the vicinity? I heard rumors at the party last night,” I asked, and curiosity really got the best of me. I mean, I have to know, right? There’s nothing really wrong with asking something like this; after all, I’m his daughter.

"No, it isn't true; they are here for pack business. I’m meeting their Alpha today, so you should present yourself," He said. I nodded my head.

“Breakfast is ready!” Mom said it cheerily. The children residing in our home unexpectedly darted through the kitchen, resembling a pack of hungry wolves—yes, they are indeed wolves. These are the kids who've been orphaned because of the war, and my dad decided to take them in and raise them as their own.

“Woah! Calm down, kids!” My dad said, using his alpha tone, that I laughed when they all bowed down their heads like scared little pups.

“Enrico! Don’t scare the kids!” Mom angrily yelled and smacked Dad in the head, but he simply smiled, stood up, and kissed her on the lips.

“Ewwww!” The kids and I said it in unison. Well, that was gross. Imagine seeing two grown adults in their fifties kissing—a very no-no for me, but I still love them. The two just laughed at us and handed us the plates with our food on them.

“Slow down, kids. We have plenty of foods,” Mom firmly stated: The hungry werewolf kids started eating slowly because, now, you can’t afford to piss Mom off. Better take her words seriously.

After eating our breakfast, I went back to my room and checked my phone. I have three missed calls coming from Alice. “What does she want?” My wolf asked me, and I shrugged my shoulders and immediately dialed back her number. After a few rings, she answered my call.

“Candice! I called you earlier, but you didn’t answer. Are you busy? Can you come here right now?” Alice said, I heard someone hysterically crying in the background; it must be Natalie.

“What happened?” I asked her, and I heard her sigh and answer. “Come over here to my house, please. It’s about Natalie and Angelo. They got into a fight because Natalie saw him with a girl," Alice explained. I knew it. I really knew it. God damn it, mate, this thing is really annoying. "Not all, but ours is going to be perfect." My wolf said this, earning a glare from me. She takes great pleasure in teasing me and observing my irritation in response to her comments. I picked up my jeans and my white t-shirt that has a ‘wolf’ printed on it and put it on.

“I’m coming; wait for me,” I said that and left my room. “Mom! I have to go to Alice's house!” I shouted.

“Okay! But please be back before lunch! Remember, we have to meet the Blue Moon Pack!” She shouted back. “Got it,” I muttered. I went out of the house and started walking again. Alice’s house is not that far, so I’m not going to use my car or run there. I want to take my time walking because, with that, I’ll have a lot of time to myself and to enjoy the surroundings. After what seemed like an endless walk—I'm kidding—I finally arrived at her house. After walking for almost 10 minutes, I finally arrived at her house.

I rang the doorbell and waited. The door opened, and Tita Elisse greeted me; she’s Alice's mother. I greeted her and returned to their house. “Go to Alice's room; they’re there,” she said that and smiled.

“He doesn’t love me anymore!” I heard Natalie bawl. I opened the door and saw her sitting on the floor with a box of tissues by her side. Seeing her bawling her eyes out makes my head hurt. This situation is extremely stressful, and I don't enjoy drama. “See that? We’re going to be in that situation if you still insist on getting a mate.” I spoke to Claire, but she simply glanced at me before returning to her paws. "We will handle our partner just fine." Quit overthinking and find our mate!” She shot back. I rolled my eyes at her. N-E-V-E-R.

“A little help?” Alice said. I sat down on the floor and patted Natalie’s back.

“Do you think he doesn’t love me anymore?” Natalie asked me. I gave her a new tissue, and she gladly took it from me.

“I don’t know; I’m not your mate,” I told her that honestly.

“Candice! You can’t say that to her!” Alice shouted at me. Natalie looked at me, and she began crying again. Now, what did I do wrong?

“You need to stop crying, Natalie. It really won’t help you solve your problems,” I said. She shook her head and continued crying her eyes out. "The best way to get the answer to your question is to ask that person directly. I'm not him, so I can't say I don't love you anymore, but seeing Angelo make an effort for you makes me believe that he loves you. For Pete’s sake, you are his mate. At least cling to that.”

“But what if he rejects me because he—” I cut her off.

“Shush now. You better talk to him and let him explain his side,” I replied and hugged her. “That’s some nice speech you got there.” Claire teased. “Oh please! Shut up!” I jokingly glared and giggled.

“Thank you, Candice. I will talk to him,” she said, hugging me back. Alice joined us and hugged us. We talked about some stuff, and we were laughing like idiots. I looked at my wrist watch, and my eyes widened when I saw the time.

“Shoot! I’m going to be late for our lunch!” I exclaimed. Natalie and Alice looked at me, and they both laughed. What a friend! I bid my good-byes, kissed them on the cheeks, and hurriedly left the room.

“Tita, I gotta go!” I shouted, and Tita Elisse emerged from the kitchen carrying a freshly baked bread pudding.

“But you didn’t get to eat the food yet!” She said.

“I really want to eat the food you prepared, but we have visitors today. I’m sorry! I’ll drop by next time to eat the food, Tita!” I said that and smiled. I got out of the house and started running back to the packhouse. “Mom will really scold us!” Claire said. “I know that’s why I’m running faster, ain’t I?” I retorted. I saw a car parked in front of our house; it must be the visitor’s car. I entered the house and bumped into someone.

“That hurts!” I said while touching my head, “I’m really sorry I didn’t see you!” said the person who bumped me.

“You must be the Alpha’s daughter, Candice. I’m Travis, beta of the Blue Moon Pack.” He introduced himself. I looked at him, and I must say he’s a good-looking man. "Not as good-looking as our mate, if we finally find him." My wolf said. There we go again.

“Yes, I’m Candice. I apologize for my rudeness in not greeting your Alpha; I became stranded at a friend's house, which is why I'm late. Where is he, by the way?” I gently asked him. He scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly.

“Alpha Blake has some matters to attend to, so he’s not here today, but we will be back again tomorrow. This is from him,” he said this while presenting me with a bouquet of my favorite flower, lilacs. “He heard from your father that it’s your 18th birthday yesterday and you like this flower, so he got it for you,” he added. I took the bouquet from him and muttered my thanks.

“I have to go now; see you tomorrow!” He said so, and I nodded and escorted him out of the house. “What do you think of Alpha Blake?” Claire asked me. "I don't know; maybe he's croony." I said, or maybe he’s like Dad.

“We’ll see about that, but what matters now is the food! Here I come!” I muttered and ran towards the kitchen with a big grin plastered on my face.