His Chosen Mate

Chapter 2

The next morning, I went for a quick run around the neighborhood as it is how I always start my day in London. It still baffles me how well this town was upgraded. So well that I made a mental note to mention it to the Alpha later when I meet him.

If he is nice, that is. My mother did say he is a kind person, but every Alpha I knew in the past had one thing in common.

They are all very authoritative. Which can be easily interpreted as being rude.

After my run, I took a shower first before coming down to have breakfast with my mother. The sight of freshly made pancakes instantly made me drool, "Mom, those pancakes look amazing." I gushed, taking in a whiff.

They even smell delicious.

"Come on, have some." She smiled at me, stacking up a generous amount of pancakes on a plate before handing it to me. She gave me a bottle of maple syrup, "I remember you would have the syrup more than the pancakes back then"

I laughed at her, "Yeah, but these days, I can't do that," I said, grabbing the bottle and squeezing it all over those fluffy pancakes.

My mother sat down next to me, "That is still considered as a lot, Cora" She shook her head as she watched me dump the contents of the bottle on my plate and I gave her a sheepish smile in return, "How was your run?"

I took a big bite and took my sweet time chewing them down before answering her, "Interesting" I said, nodding my head, "I saw a few familiar faces but none of them acknowledged me. Not that I am complaining. " I shrugged, remembering how a group of young men and women talked in a hushed manner when they saw me running around.

I knew them from school but I had forgotten all their names.

My mother scowled at that, "They are missing out then." She shrugged.

I grinned at her, "So much," I agreed with a wink, "A lot has changed around here," I told her, "The facilities around here are insane. I mean, I didn't expect Orchard Square to be this advanced"

There was a tram service in the town and it was completely free. When I was here last time, the public buses here were so old and unclean.

I haven't seen the rest of the town yet, but I am already impressed.

My mother smiled, "Thanks to Alpha Noah," She said, "He really is a good leader. He made sure everything was accessible within the town"

Then it was a good thing The Orchard pack has a new Alpha then."That is really impressive of him, " I said, munching my food, "It is good to know that the leader actually cares about their people once, " I sighed. It is hard to see that these days.

"Yeah. He treats me equally as if I am one of the she-wolves as well. " My mother added another pancake onto my plate, "No one respected me as much until he took over as Alpha. I mean, I am human. They didn't receive me well at first, but then they accepted me, but still, it felt like something was missing"

I listened to my mother quietly. It wasn't always that she talked about herself or how the pack was treating her. She was always the person who suffers in silence, "But now, I actually mingle around quite well" She looked up at me with a proud smile, "I even attend some clubs with some she-wolves"

"Good for you, mom." I was happy for her, but to think what she went through all these years was disturbing."You said you were sad for me when I am not interacting well with everyone here, but you have faced the same situation as well, " I pointed out, "Why have you never told me about this before?"

How could I miss something that affected my mother like that? Have I been so selfish that I didn't pay attention to my mother when I was younger?

All these years, I thought I was the only person who was having a hard time in this pack, but then there was my mother as well. She never felt she belonged with the pack either.

My mother sighed, "You were already having a bad childhood" She said with a sad smile, "I didn't want to make it worse" She shook her head, "Don't worry, everything is better now. Thanks to the young Alpha. " She leaned forward and patted my back.

I don't know even what the Alpha looks like but I already have immense respect for that man, "You are actually making me interested to meet this man now," I grinned, finishing my food.

Her eyes lit up, "Believe me, he is someone worth knowing." She nodded her head, "Alright, do you want two more?" She asked, ready to add another piece of pancake onto my plate, but I shook my head.

"I am full." I smiled at her.

We prattled about random things for some time until my father came down to have his breakfast, "Where is Mera?" He asked when he realized his other daughter was missing from the table.

I looked at my mother, waiting for her to answer, "She went out with her friends. Said she was going for a hike this morning. " My mother shrugged.

"Hiking?" My father asked in disbelief, and then, my parents exchanged a meaningful gaze. I knew that they were communicating via their mind link. I pretended like I didn't notice it, but I can say that Mera didn't join us for breakfast because of me. I expected her to be a little bothered by my return, so this doesn't surprise me.

It is awkward, but that's okay. It is only for a month or so. Then, my family can go back to how it used to be all this while.

My father ate up his breakfast quietly after that and looked up at me, "Are you ready, Cora?" He asked me, "You were supposed to meet the Alpha today?" He reminded me even though I hadn't forgotten about it.

I nodded, "Yes, dad," I said, standing on my feet, "I am ready"

My father drove me to the Alpha's residence, all the while reminding me to treat the Alpha with respect. He told me not to look into the Alpha's eyes unless I was told to do so and to always address the Alpha by his title.

Just because I was living in the human world for a long time doesn't mean I forgot how all the Alphas around the world liked to be treated. They want their people to look at them with respect, loyalty, and admiration.

The Alpha house is another thing that blew my mind. Who knew the Alpha had really good taste when it comes to interior design? The inside of the huge mansion was lavishly furnished. Everything looked so expensive that I was afraid to touch anything.

After fifteen minutes of waiting, the young Beta of the pack finally came out from the Alpha's room, "The Alpha will meet you now" He said, his tone void of any emotion, "He requested to meet her alone" He added when my father stood up to accompany me.

I looked at my father in alarm, but my father's calm eyes implied only one thing. That I have nothing to be worried about. My father gave me an encouraging nod when I hesitated.

Knowing I had no other choice, I gave my father a tight smile and then knocked on the door. I waited until I heard a deep masculine voice grant me to walk into the room before pushing the door and stepping in.

I kept my eyes trained on the floor and sucked in a deep breath before greeting the Alpha in a polite tone, "Hello Alpha," I said clearly, "It is a pleasure to meet you"

I was so nervous that I could literally hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears as I waited for the Alpha to say something.

I could feel a pair of intense eyes on me as they assessed me, "Look me in the eye while you're talking" I heard a powerful voice command me and just like that, every cell in my body became submissive, ready to follow his orders.

I lifted my eyes from the floor to look at the most intense pair of silver eyes gazing at me, "Understood, Alpha." I nodded my head, a small smile on my face.

The Alpha continued to watch me with a calculating expression on his face. He was sitting behind a desk, and his body was leaning forward in interest.

I must admit one thing. This man was the most attractive person that I have ever met in my whole life. I knew werewolves were supposed to be gorgeous and all, but this man is another level. It looked like the god took his sweet time to sculpt the Alpha's face when he was created.

Those silver eyes were framed by a set of perfect eyebrows. His nose was straight, and his lips were full. His dark hair was styled messily, but still, it looked good on him.

Overall, he didn't look like he was a day over thirty. I assumed he might be older, but this man should be in his late twenties now.

We continued to stare at each other. He judges me, me judging him. I don't know if it's just me imagining or if he really looked at me as if he found me intriguing. Nevertheless, I found my cheeks starting to heat up under his intense gaze.

"What is your name?" He asked me, breaking the silence after a good minute or so.

"Cora," I responded to him, "Cora Williams," I said, "Daughter of Mason Williams and Ashley Williams"

He nodded his head, gesturing me to take a seat in front of him. I gave him a polite smile before walking further into the room and eventually sitting right in front of him. Suddenly, it felt like I was attending a job interview or something.

"Why are you here?" He asked me, his eyes never leaving mine.

"It has been years since I went to London to further my studies, and I have not returned since then. I wanted to spend a month with my family before going back to London again"

I made sure that every piece of information that he needed was in my statement so we could be done quickly.

The corners of his lips tugged into a cryptic smile at my answer, "The way you answer suggests to me that you are a very straightforward person" He said, closing the file in front of him and giving me his undivided attention.

"Usually, I am," I said, "Alpha," I added quickly when it felt like I sounded rude.

But the Alpha didn't seem to mind. He nodded his head, "That is good to know" He said conversationally, "I hope you won't cause any trouble while you're here" He went on and I could help but stifle a smile at that, "What? What's so funny?" He asked me, his eyebrows pulling together in question.

Ah, how can I be so reckless? I was talking to the Alpha, for God's sake."No, it is nothing. " I shook my head, hiding my smile with my hand.

"Tell me," He said, smiling, but the command was there.

There. I have no other choice but to admit that he actually sounded funny, "It is just that-" I took a deep breath, hoping my choice of words wouldn't offend him, "It amuses me that you think I am a threat. I mean, what can I possibly do to a pack full of werewolves? I am just a weak human"

He listened to me while I ranted, and the smile never left his lips, "Well if you put it like that" He said, "It is actually funny, yes" He agreed, chuckling lightly.

If this is how he is all the time, then he must be one of the kindest Alpha out there. It is rare to see an Alpha admit his fault or laugh with the person who actually thinks that he is funny.

Another minute passed while we stared at each other. He was really studying my face as if he was trying to figure out what type of person I am, "You haven't gone through the ritual to fully become a pack member when I took over yet" He stated, "When are you planning to do that?" He asked me.

My smile faltered just a little, "Um, do I have to do it, Alpha?" I asked him uncertainly, "I mean, I am a human. I don't feel any bond with the pack or anything like that. Is it necessary for me to do that?" I questioned him, "Besides, my stay here is short"

I didn't really want to go through any kind of ritual. It sounded scary to me.

He was quiet for a while before speaking up again, "I will have to think about it as I have never encountered a human pack member in my life" He said, "But if it is needed, then you would have to go through the rituals, Cora. It doesn't matter how long you're here"

I nodded my head again, "Very well, Alpha," I said. At least he is considering my request.

"That is all for now, Cora. I guess I will see you around then, " He said, and I quickly stood up and bowed at him in respect.

"Thank you, Alpha," I said before turning around to walk out of the room. I felt his eyes burning holes at the back of my head until I exited the room, but I didn't dare to glance behind to confirm it.

"What did he say?" My father asked as soon as I stepped out of the room.

"Not to cause any trouble while I am here," I shrugged.

My father looked like he was about to say something but the Alpha's door opened and then, Alpha Noah walked out of his room, "Ah, I see you're still here" The Alpha said when his eyes fell on me, "Mason, you never told me you had such an interesting daughter" He added, acknowledging my father as well.

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just smiled at him while my father answered, "She was in London when you took over Alpha," my father said.

Silver eyes were on me again, "I see," the Alpha said.

Then only I remembered that I wanted to praise him for his hard work, especially in developing this town, "I have been meaning to tell you this" I said after clearing my throat, "When I came back here it was stepping into another world. You had done an impressive job at developing this town. It's truly remarkable, Alpha, " I said sincerely.

The Alpha smiled again, "Thank you, Cora. I just did what I had to do to make everyone here comfortable" He said and then, looked at my father, "Mason, I need to have a word with you," He said before vanishing into the room again.

"I'll be back," my father said, stepping behind the Alpha and leaving me alone.

Well, that was an interesting meet-up with the Alpha.