Her Heart To Take

Genesis

"Come on, Lara, be the fun one for once in your life," My best friend, Tessa, teases me as we lay on my comfortable bed.

"It's just a party, we won't die if we don't go," I reply to her, and she rolls her eyes playfully.

"I heard Ashton Martins is going to be there," She informs me, and my heart skips a beat at the mention of his name.

Ashton Martins is an alpha, one without a mate. I have had a massive crush on him for as long as I can remember. Though I have not met him in person, I have heard that he is powerful and mysterious.

He is perfect, and he is one that I would love to spend the rest of my life with. I know it's a little dramatic, but I don't care.

"I swear I will kill you if you are lying, Tessa," I threaten her as I sit up on the soft bed. She chuckles at my threat and also sits up.

"When have I ever lied to you?" She asks me confidently.

"Um, let me see. One, two, three..." I begin to count, but she stops me from going further.

"I know, I know. Okay, let's forget about those times, I am definitely not lying this time. Plus you know I never lie when it comes to Ashton Martins, I know you have wanted to do nasty things with that man in a bed for years now," Tessa says as she wiggles her eyebrows, and my face gets instantly red from embarrassment.

"Tessa!" I playfully slap her, causing her to laugh.

She stares at me for a few seconds and then her face gets serious.

"I didn't want to tell you this before, but tonight is the night he's finding his mate," She says the words carefully.

"And you are choosing to tell me this now?!" I hurriedly get off my bed.

"I just don't want you to get hurt..." She strokes her hair and avoids looking at me when she says this.

I scoff in response as I head to my closet. I need to find something nice to wear to that party.

"And what makes you think that I would?" I ask her as I open the door of my closet so I can begin my search for the perfect clothes that might make Ashton notice me tonight.

"You may have a crush on Ashton, but so does almost all the other girls in this town," She replies.

"Except you," I remind her, and she nods proudly.

"He's not my type," She says carelessly as she stands to her feet and walks toward me.

"All guys are not your type, Tessa, you like girls," I tell her, and she shrugs.

"My point is, you are not the only one in line to be Ashton's mate. You have not said a single word to him before, whenever you see him, you run and hide," Tessa explains as she picks a beautiful dress out of my closet for me.

I run and hide because he is intimidatingly attractive, I just can't help it!

"I'm going to that party and you are not changing my mind," I argue with her, and a smile creeps onto her face.

"Why are you smiling?" I ask her and she raises her hands in surrender.

"It's just funny because you were so adamant about not going to the party until I told you that Mr. Handsome was going to be there," She replies to me smoothly.

The dress she is holding in her hands was a gift from my mom last year, I have not worn it since I got it.

"Should I wear that?" I refer to the dress, and Tessa looks at it for a few seconds and then nods. She hands it to me, and the first thing that captures my attention when I hold it is the material. It is premium.