Chapter 3 Mate

Safira's POV

"Don't you think you should be more hygienic in the kitchen?" Alpha Maverick's voice echoed in my ear and I felt goosebumps spread all over my body as I turned quickly in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Alpha. I was just getting to that. I will..."

" Can you just leave already? You dirty worm!" Luna Mandy snapped, interrupting my explanations.

"I'm sorry, Luna." I immediately apologized, bowed and in confusing embarrassment ran out of the kitchen with flushed red cheeks.

"It's okay, Luna. You can't correct them with a lot of screams. Sometimes you need love to do that." I overheard Alpha Maverick say to Luna Mandy as I ran out, but the quiet giggles and whispers from the others made it hard for me to appreciate the support he gave.

But, hold on. Did he call me mate?

After many years, someone finally gets to call me mate and he will be Alpha of Toronto Pack.

Excitement immediately replaced the embarrassment I felt. The only thing I regretted now was that it happened right in front of him. And, he defended me. Was that hope?

No one has heard him whisper, "Mate" into my ears and I didn't even get to look at his face to know if he meant it or not. I knew I would've read the signs and his body language, something I had learnt for survival given that I didn't have a wolf.

For the first time in a long while, I felt like a fool. Why would he even take me as his mate. I had watched a whole lot of rejections just because one was an Omega and right now I feared I would be a product of one too.

Rumour had it that Alpha Maverick was engaged to the daughter of an Alpha. What right did I have to make him change his mind and choose me rather than the throne.

In a few minutes, the general bathroom was in view and thanked my stars I had always kept a pair of neat clothing in the store basket for days like this. My step mom had a thing for poring water on me. It was either in bed or first thing when she sees me, on lucky days it would be a cup of water later in the afternoon, but all the same, I always end up wet somehow.

I dashed into the bathroom, and had a quick bath with my mind still on Alpha Maverick. He was good looking, handsome, and even without my wolf to sense him, I had still been physically attracted to him. His dark and long curly hair, his Adam's apple that moved when he spoke, the way he blinked, his eyes, the way he looked at me. It all took my breath away.

I was out by now, putting on a new set of clothes and trying to fold the former into the basket for washing.

But, what the hell was I thinking?

I could hardly believe I had been faced with another misfortune such as my mate being betrothed to another. The same mate I had been waiting for all my life. My knight in shining armor who was to save me from all these troubles and pain was engaged to another.

There was no way I would let him go without a fight. The Moon Goddess has destined this one for me and I would fight till he rejected me by himself.

"If everyone took this long for a change, we would not have a meal by the time the visitors arrive."

A voice spoke from a distance, and the hairs on my neck stood as I immediately looked around but didn't see anyone. I didn't need to see someone to know who the voice belonged too.

But why couldn't I see him?

Hold on! Was he in my head? Was I hearing things now?

"I would be in your head if I wanted to, but not yet." Alpha Maverick spoke from behind me and I spun in his direction, tripping on my feet and he didn't hesitate to catch me and put me back on my feet.

"I'm sorry, Alpha. I was just finishing... "

" You don't have to apologize every minute of your life, young lady. You do that too much for a beautiful lady. "

Very slowly, I lifted my eyes up to meet his in surprise.

"It doesn't matter if you are a weak Omega or not, your status as a wolf, a pretty one at that, should be your pride."

Was he trying to motivate me? Or encourage me?

For a few minutes, I just stood there, really looking at him, my mate, as I wondered what message he was trying to pass to me.

"I... I don't understand. "

"You don't need to understand now, but you will in time. Just know your worth. What's your name?"

" My name? " I asked as I tried to beat down the tingle excitement that was starting to build deep in my throat and he nodded.

"Safira." I said smiling.

"Safira." He whispered and my heart did that crazy flutter again.

I didn't want to lie, but I loved it. I loved the way he called my name. It rolled off his tongue without any difficulty and I loved it. Then he smiled, a very casual smile that showed his amusement as his eyes scanned my body and I became very conscious.

"Can I ask a question, Safira?" He suddenly spoke and I caught myself gaping at him and brought my eyes down again.

"Yes, Alpha." I muttered and watched in pure terror as his legs began walking towards me.

"Hey, look at me." He whispered and with his finger lifted my head up to meet his eyes. That one finger on my chin sent chills down to my toes and they curled up.

"You don't have a wolf, do you?" My heart sank at his question and I could feel the bile rise to my throat as I swallowed bitterly.

"You don't. Your reaction says it all. That's why you didn't know I was your mate." He said and very quickly his eyes dropped and I saw the disappointment in them but he blinked and was quick to look back at me, just like that, the emotion was gone and replaced with something I couldn't place, determination maybe.

"It's okay. You are still beautiful nevertheless and in no time, your wolf will be out." He consoled.

" Does that mean you won't reject me? I hear you are already engaged." That was my voice, but trust me when I say I don't know where that boldness came from.

"Baby! Maverick! Are you here?" A very tiny voice like that of a pampered child called from the other side of the laundry arena and I didn't need a prophet to tell me who that was.

Alpha Maverick sighed exhaustingly and dropped his hands from my face. I did not just lose the warmth his palm gave me but my heart sank as I stared at the young and innocent face of my mate that had been snatched away from me.

"I'm here, Nadia. I'll be with you soon." He responded in a loud voice and turned back to take a final look at me before turning to walk away.

"Alpha Maverick." That wasn't me, but it was my voice, and my hand as I held onto his, stopping him from walking away.

"You haven't answered my question."

He stopped, turned to look at me and smiled as I suddenly let go of his hand and took a step back.

"Now I love that daring part of you. You should be like that when need be." He commended with a wide smile on his face, then took two steps towards me and leaned into my ear as I stood there like a lifeless soul with melted insides.

"Baby! Come out. I can't come into this dirty place." His betrothed's voice called out again as his lips were against my ear.

"I just want you to know that I didn't come to the kitchen to check anything out. I came in there to see you, Safira."