Toying with the Alpha

4. Doomed

The small meeting resumed after Athena’s return, and she was more than happy when it came to a finish. She didn’t think she could handle being judged and put under the microscope for much longer. Indeed, her colleagues were intrigued by her behavior… as they should be, seeing as she had never let her emotions get the better of her and prevent her from performing her duties.

She was the head of the marketing department. And that meeting had been with the chief executive manager and fellow managers, such as that of the IT department.

The chief executive manager, being one of her human friends, had for only comment on her state of distraction, “Are you sure you’re okay, Athena? I’ve never seen you so…” she paused, seemingly at a loss for words before adding, “out of it.”

“It’s complicated, Jenny,” Athena sighed, relieved that her good friend wasn’t reprimanding her in front of her colleagues, but rather took her apart to inquire about what could be troubling her.  

“I am a good listener,” Jennifer offered with a kind smile.  

“As you already know, I am a vampire,” Athena said, unable to keep her mouth shut. Jennifer nodded in response. “Remember how I used to dream about the day I would find my mate?” Her friend nodded anew. “Well, I did.” Jennifer squealed and went to hug her, only to be stopped by Athena’s dejected face, “and he’s not happy to have me as his mate.”

“What?” Jennifer exclaimed rather loudly. “Is he crazy, blind, or both?”  

Athena heaved a sigh, and then told her, “I’m not sure. I do know he is a werewolf though. And he doesn’t seem fond of vampires.”

“But you’re his mate!”

“I am,” she sighed for the third time. “But he doesn’t want me, and I’m afraid he’ll reject me, but I don’t want to give up on my chance of a happy ending.”  

“Oh damn,” Jennifer’s eyes had misted with tears, and she was waving her hand in front of her face so as to keep said tears at bay.    

“I know right,” Athena scoffed, in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.

“It’ll work out fine, sweetie,” her friend tried to cheer her up. “I mean, look at you! You’re absurdly beautiful. You’re smart. You’re funny. And from what I know, you’re also vampire nobility. What more could he ask for?”

Athena shook her head negatively. “I don’t know,” she told her friend. “Heavens know I would like to know what he wants, just so I could adapt.”

Jennifer shook her head negatively at that, in obvious disapproval, “You should never want to change for someone. You should only change for yourself.”

“Agreed,” Athena said after a while, and smiled at her friend before engulfing her in a hug. “Thank you. I needed that.”

“Anytime,” was Jennifer’s sweet response as she hugged her back.

As Athena exited the chief executive manager’s officer, namely Jennifer’s office, she felt a bit lighter, as if her burden wasn’t as heavy anymore.

She wondered how the very thought of changing for a man occurred to her. She wasn’t weak enough to want to please a man – any man, mate or not – at all and any cost… and yet, for one fleeting moment, she had pictured it. All for a guy whose name she didn’t even know.

She realized she was whipped.

She was doomed, hook, line, and sinker.