One Night Mate

Chapter One

Alpha Ivan’s POV

“Alpha, you are wanted in the main hall.” a voice says from behind as I throw back another drink.

“f*****g hell… what now?” I ask moodily, placing the empty glass down on the bar.

“Sorry Alpha, I think it’s time for your speech.”

I groan internally and ask the bartender for another drink, which he pours quickly.

I take the glass in my hand and turn to see a terrified looking waiter staring back at me with wide eyes.

“Anything else?” I ask him, raising my eyebrow.

“No Alpha, sorry sir.” he mumbles nervously before he scuttles away.

I let out a deep breath and head back into the main hall which is crowded with people sitting around large circular tables.

I walk between them carefully to get back to my own seat.

I vaguely hear Leon’s voice in the background as he delivers his own speech. The gentle laughter of everyone around me fills my ears and I look up ahead to see him bending down to kiss his new bride’s forehead.

I finally reach my table, which is situated near the front, and drop down into my seat.

I know there are eyes on me, as always. As the Alpha, it’s the only thing I hate about my job. I just want to be left in f*****g peace.

“So, I’d like to ask you all to raise your glasses to my beautiful wife. The most amazing woman to ever have graced this earth.” Leon says loudly.

What the f**k? Man, he’s gone soft.

Ever since he met Lydia, his chosen mate, it’s all f*****g sunshine and rainbows and I have to admit that it irritates me.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, on his own time, my Beta is f*****g free to do whatever the hell he wants, but when he comes to work and starts talking about love and s**t… It’s a pain in my ass.

When he sits down, the crowd begins to chat amongst themselves and I see more than a few curious wedding guests peering in my direction.

“Speech time Ivan. I have to say… I’m looking forward to this.” Sebastian Pierce grins, slapping my back in amusement.

I look over to where he is sitting beside his mate Maddy and roll my eyes.

Fucking Best Man speech.

Since when did werewolves decide to go in for all this human s**t?

It’s f*****g embarrassing.

Maddy looks at me sympathetically, clearly sensing my uncomfortableness with the situation.

“I’m sure it will be great.” she smiles warmly as she rubs her large pregnant belly absentmindedly.

I hear Leon rattling his knife off of a wine glass and the room around us falls into silence.

I don’t move from the spot, taking a second to toss back the remainder of my drink.

“I’d say that’s your cue.” Pierce says, stifling a laugh, making me wonder why I invited the prick along in the first place.

Ever since we took Nicholas and his laboratory of creeps down a few months ago, I’ve been unable to shake the fucker.

I guess you could say that my alliance with Sebastian Pierce, the Alpha of Shadow Warriors, is the first true alliance that Coldridge has ever had.

Our pack has always been built on the values of strength and leadership.

It was instilled in me from a young age never to rely on anyone. To always make sure you are the strongest in the room. To always exude confidence and strength.

I think I have achieved that so far at Coldridge. However, somewhere along the way it became clear to me that rejecting allies just for the heck of it was a stupid move.

Surely it’s got to be a good thing to have at least a couple of trustworthy people on your side.

To my surprise, Sebastian Pierce is now one of them.

Damn, how I used to loath him. His ‘Mr Perfect’ act was nauseating and the fact that he always said the right thing in every situation led me to believe that he must be some sort of know it all, snooty asshole. Not to mention, he got with my steady f**k buddy Camilla a matter of hours after we called it quits. Her feeble attempts to make me jealous with him almost worked before I decided I didn’t actually give a rat’s ass what or who she did. Anyway, he found out the hard way what a nutcase she was.

Over the past few months, I’ve decided he’s alright. Still a know it all prick but a loyal one. His pack is of good quality and his mate is a good person.

Nice ass, little too skinny for my taste, but hey, whatever.

I stand up and gesture to the nervous-looking waiter to fetch me another drink.

He nods frantically before disappearing from the room.

The room is in silence as everyone stares at me, waiting for me to… I don’t know? Entertain them?

Am I performing monkey?

Besides, Lydia and Leon have warned me that I’m not allowed to mention his past… no funny stories about the s**t he got up to. It’s like they both want to forget he was once the man w***e of Coldridge who once f****d a daughter and her cougar mother in the same week.

I’ve been ordered to talk about their love for one another only.

What the f**k do I know about love?

I’ve never been in love and neither do I have the desire to be.

All I know is it makes people do some stupid s**t.

It makes them accept situations that they never would normally.

It messes with their brain and gives them a distorted view of reality.

The waiter runs back into the room and holds a drink towards me which I take from his hand swiftly.

I can see people looking at each other but I don’t give a s**t.

“Okay, so Leon and Lydia… you are now officially married… Good for you. I hope your lives are very happy together and that you have all that s**t that couples want… like babies and a nice house and a good car... I hope you love each other forever and don’t get sick of one another, but you know, if you do, that’s fine as well. Whatever.”

I hear Pierce snort and I shoot him a look as Maddy slaps his arm angrily.

“I guess I’m just trying to say congratulations and all the best for the future.” I say, raising my glass.

“To the happy couple.”

Everyone follows my lead with an air of confusion and takes a drink whilst I down mine in one.

I nod my head and sit down whilst the room comes back to life around me.

“What the f**k was that?” Sebastian laughs, shaking his head in amusement.

“What? Am I supposed to be good at this s**t? I haven’t done it before.” I shrug, scowling at him.

“No but you have spoken words before… right?” he chuckles as Maddy shakes her head gently.

“Don’t listen to him Ivan, it was from the heart and that means it was perfect.” she smiles, before narrowing her eyes at Sebastian.

“What?? It was funny!” he protests, leaning forward to kiss her.

“Uhh thanks Alpha for that heartwarming speech.” Leon says loudly, standing back up and smiling over at me from the top table.

“I just had something else to add… some of you might have noticed that my new wife here has been avoiding the champagne all day. The truth is that she is pregnant. There will be a new baby here at Coldridge in six months!” he declares proudly.

The room erupts into calls of congratulations and eager applause.

I join them, clapping my hands together.

“Alpha, we have a favour to ask of you.” Leon says, suddenly looking towards me.

Oh f*****g hell, what now?

“We would like you to be the Goddess given parent to our child? To take care of him if anything happens to us. We would be overjoyed if you would accept this honour.”

In an instant, all eyes are on me.

I clear my throat and stand up to look back at Leon.

“Thanks, but no. Congratulations though, great news.” I say clearly, nodding my head before taking my seat again.

For a few moments there is a stunned silence, before Sebastian begins to clap to break the awkwardness.

Everyone joins in as Leon takes his seat again and begins to talk quietly to his wife.

“Waiter, another drink.” I call out to no one in particular but I see a couple of eager workers running off to fetch me one anyway.

“Ivan man… that was brutal.” Sebastian says, furrowing his brows at me.

I shake my head and let out a puff of air.

“Pierce… you are due twins in a few weeks' time. Would you want me to be their parent if anything happened to you?”

He takes a moment and looks to Maddy.

“Fair enough, point taken.”

I look back at Leon and Lydia, who are still deep in conversation.

“Trust me, I just did them both a favour.”

The truth is, I don’t want kids.

Whether they are mine or otherwise.

Whenever I say it out loud, I’m always met with some sort of strange or disapproving look.

Since when does everyone have to want that kind of responsibility? When did it become a prerequisite of life to want a family?

I certainly don’t.

Fuck that. I’m quite happy as I am.