I'm the Alpha's Mate

Chapter 1

Yeji's Point Of View

"I promise I won't be out long" I beg my grandmother as she knits yet another blanket that we do not need. She rolls her eyes at me and continues to rock back and forth in her old, wooden rocking chair, one that my grandfather built before he passed. He had a knack for woodwork and was often found working outside, though I was too young to see him in the act.

"Oh, grandma please" I beg even harder if that is possible. I am practically on my knees with my hands glued together, willing to give her my all. After plastering on my award-winning puppy dog eyes, my pouted lips make an appearance. "Please" I mumble in a childish voice, hoping to bring her back to the times when I was a little girl.

She sighs and sets down her knitting needles, the only ones she has ever used. "Fine, but be back before dark."

I immediately get up to my feet and pull her fragile body into a hug. She chuckles before playfully smacking me on my arm, nothing too rough, something of a joke. "You better hurry, or you'll run out of time."

"Yeah, yeah." I wave her off and slip on my coat, a coat I usually use when the weather is on the cooler side. "I'll be back" I called to her before fleeing out the door and into the crisp autumn breeze. I suck in a deep breath of the relaxing aroma, it smells like fallen leaves, damp dirt, and my freedom. If freedom had a scent it would surely smell like this.

I wander through the trees, glazing up their mile-long trunks, watching their burnt orange and burgundy leaves sway like waves on the ocean. I absolutely adore the fall time, it is my favorite season, mostly because of the colorful leaves and cooler temperature. There is no better place for me than the forest.

I hop over a fallen tree and come up to a small stream. Tiny tadpoles swim about in the clear, cold water, dancing like they do not have a care in the world. My fingertips dip into the stream and the water chills them to the bone.

I have never passed the stream, I always save it for later, but then I forget. Everything roaming and singing in the forest steals my attention, pulling me away as if I have transformed into a simple-minded child.

Grandma tells me not to cross the stream, so I do not. But I want to, I really do. Curiosity burns my soul, and you may think I am being dramatic, which I am, but I walk here every day and wonder what is on the other side. What could be on the other side? Maybe a castle with a prince like in my old fairytale books, but that would be unlikely, so I will continue to pretend that there is a prince.

"You wish" my wolf lucy mutters to me.

"Oh don't even lie to me, I know that you want to find out what's over there too! " I grumble inwardly, giving into the conversation that no one else can hear. The act brings a new concept to talk with yourself.

"No, I don't, all I want to do is go home. It's as cold as an icebox out here."

"Okay, we're going back," I mumble to her and spin on my heels, facing the direction of the house. One day I will cross over and I will find out what is on the other side.

I trudge back to the house just before dark. I would still be exploring if it were not for my stupid, sassy, judgmental wolf. It is as if she is the opposite of me, which explains why she is terribly witty.

"Hey, I can hear you!"

"Oh, be quiet." I hush.

I stomp up the porch steps and gently open the front door. The lights are off, so grandma must have gone to bed, as she tends to fall asleep early which is expected. I slowly shut the door behind me, making sure I do not wake her up like times before. Creeping up the wooden stairs, I slip into my bedroom.

The walls are painted a light shade of blue, and the floors are a medium wood, something natural and native-looking. My bed sits in the middle of the room in between two windows with bedside tables under them. Moonlight drips through the glass and creates an eerie glow on the floor, almost lighting a path for me.

I shrug off my coat and lay it on the back of my desk chair, another past work of my grandfather.

Too tired to change, I climbed under the white duvet and shut my eyes. The only thing running through my mind is the stream, its frigid, soft current flows through me like something is telling me to go past it. As if someone is leaning down and whispering in my ear, go past, go past.

"I'm confused, what's pushing me to cross over the stream?" I mumble into the air of my empty bedroom.

"You must discover for yourself." The angelic voice fills my cold, red-tipped ears. Right away I know it is the Moon goddess. I do not see her now, and I do, but at least I can speak to her. I imagine her long flowing white dress and silly, long hair that seems to float around her, not touching her porcelain, unearthly skin. To me, she looks more magical than a goddess.

"I knew you would say something like that." I sigh and curl further in the covers.

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hbd, rj <3