The Alpha is My Mate

Chapter 1

Eighteen is a very important age for any teenager to turn.

It's when you're finally old enough to vote, go to war, or get into bars.

It's when you're finally at the legal age to be your own independent individual.

It's the first year when you're not considered a teen anymore but an adult.

But to my kind, it's a lot more than that.

It's everything.

Because at 18, I can find my mate and be marked.

To werewolves, turning 18 is the most important year of our lives. It's when we are officially recognized as adults that can find our mate and be claimed by them. 

A werewolf's mate is their true soulmate—someone destined for them from the day they're born. But recognizing them requires two things. First, you have to catch their unique scent, a fragrance meant only for the two of you to smell. Second, you have to make physical contact to ignite the "sparks"—that unmistakable, electrifying tingle that only your mate can trigger. But there's a catch: none of this can happen until after you've shifted into your wolf for the first time.

Most wolves shift for the first time shortly after their 16th birthday. I was a bit of a late bloomer and only shifted for the first time after I turned 17 almost a year ago.

I am positive that my mate will be the man of my dreams.

Or at least I hope so.

"Paisley! Can you come down here please?" A boisterous, deep voice calls from downstairs.

I grin at the sound of his voice. "Coming daddy!"

When I walk down the stairs and into my father's office, I'm immediately met with the smell of old spice cigars and mint. It's my father's scent that sends me straight back to my earliest days as a child when mom was still alive. It's a scent that comforts me and sends me back to a time when life was simple.

"Hey angel. How was your day?" My dad asks while walking around from behind the desk in his office. He greets me a warm hug and kiss on the forehead.

My father is Alarik Darkwood. One of the most feared Alphas in America. He's fierce, protective, and there's nothing he wouldn't do to protect his family and pack.

But to me, he is just a giant teddy bear and my best friend.

"It's been good. I went to Lina's house and we finalized the details for my birthday party." I answer while taking a seat on the comfy couch in his office.

"Well I'm happy you're happy." He says with a smile. "But there's something we need to discuss." He adds while leaning on his desk and crossing his arms across his chest. The smile on my face fades.

I know my dad well enough to know when he says there is something we need to discuss that I'm either in serious trouble or he's about to drop some huge bombshell.

"Hey dad that sounds good but I completely forgot I'm supposed to meet Kiyla to go shopping for a dress for my party. Can we pick this up later? I'm already running behind." I cut him off and stand up from the couch. "I love you. See you later." I say and give him a kiss on the cheek before dashing out of the room.

"Paisley this really can't wait!" I hear my dad call from behind me but I'm already headed out the front door of our home.

I don't really have to meet my friend Kiyla anywhere. And sure I feel bad for lying to him, but I have a gut feeling that whatever bombshell my dad was about to drop, I wasn't going to like. And as selfish as it sounds, with my birthday right around the corner I don't want to have to deal with anything that might stress me out.

I have had enough on my plate since mom died and for once I just want to focus on myself and my birthday.

I decide to head to the woods in our territory and let my wolf out for a run. It's been a while since we got to just run for the fun of it and not because we had patrols or training.

Running in my wolf form has always been a stress reliever for me. It's the only time when I'm not needed by anyone or for anything. It helps clear my mind and gives me time to reflect and think.

I walk behind a tree before removing my clothes and laying them in a neat pile on the ground. I'll come back for them after my run.

I feel the familiar feeling of my bones breaking and reshaping themselves. A few seconds later my vision is clearer, my senses are shaper, and I can hear everything around me from the bees buzzing in the air to the squirrels jumping from tree limb to tree.

Running through the woods in wolf form was my mom's favorite way to relieve her own stress. I guess I'm like her in that way.

She was always coming out to the woods when her duties as Luna got to be too much. My dad always asked her why she chose the woods as a place to think and she would always answer by saying, "It's quiet out there. Instead of hearing the voices of hundreds of people, I only hear the sound of the wind blowing through the trees." I loved that answer and I couldn't agree more.

Dad not so much. He would always sneak off after her and make sure she got back home safely. It annoyed my mother to no end, but she put up with it because she knew my dad needed to know she was safe or else he would lose his mind.

Losing her was hard on all of us but my dad had it the worst. He lost his soul mate, one true love, and best friend the day she died. And that's something he'll never be able to get over. It's why he's so overprotective when it comes to me and my little brother Jamie.

It's why I'm extremely careful when I come out here by myself.

Because you never know who or what you might stumble across out here.

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Author's Note:

Hey everybody!!!

I hoped you liked the first chapter of TAIMM. This is my first book and I'm scared as heck to write it so bear with me.

It was really short but they will get better, I promise!

What do you think of Paisley so far? She is super nice but that can all change very soon. (Hint, hint) lol

What do you think will happen when she goes into the woods?

Comment and let me know what you guys think and thanks so much for reading!!!

Love ya!!!!