Dieter's Prize

Four

Dieter's POV

'Mate.'

I couldn't ignore this man if I tried. 

As he walked in he demanded attention. I could smell him the moment he walked through the front doors. He smelled of roses and oak wood. Something I never thought would bring me to my knees. I also never thought I'd be brought to the knees.

He walked in and commanded attention, all the Alphas smiled as they approached him. A smile covered his face, and his perfect teeth were on display. In each conversation that was held, he made the alpha laugh. 

Even as he spoke to Finnick, Finnick held a smile I had never seen before. My mate held strong eye contact and never faltered once in the conversation. He made small talk look...big. Important. I also had never seen a man look so put together. 

Not a wrinkle, scratch, or scar in sight and I'm sure he was void of any tattoos as well. Which made me overly conscious of the scar that danced on my face. And the tattoos that littered my body. He was tall, not taller than me but still taller than most of the alphas that surrounded us. 

My eyes were glued to the boy in his arms that was clinging to his neck. That boy's eyes were glued to mine as he watched me from across the room. His green eyes burned into mine, but his face was still hidden in my mate's neck.

A sense of protection filled me and Carlisle and I wanted to run and hold the kid in my arms. 

Then I noticed the girl hanging onto his arm, and she was staring our way. Well, Danielle's way. She was standing next to me. And a lot more dressed than I was in her dark green pantsuit. Danielle was staring right back.

It was a look of admiration, desire, and longing. And there could only be one reason for such desperation.

Both of us found our mates at the same time, and not only that, they were here together. 

He worked the room like he was made for it. He talked to all the alphas as if he knew them for years. His voice struck my core. It wasn't deep like mine, it was light and airy, filled with joy. It brought a comfort I didn't know I needed or wanted. It was music to my ears. And I hated music. 

Not so much anymore.

I had still yet to fully process that my mate was here in front of me. That I even had a mate in the first place. I was so determined that I was plagued by the curse of sacrifice and it was my mate. But here he was in front of me. 

Living, breathing, smiling. 

Laughing. 

Which makes me think...if my being mateless is not the sacrifice, then what is?

As he got closer, I felt myself get stiffer. Though he looked completely unaffected by my presence. He did not once look my way, other than the initial look when he walked in. Carlisle and I didn't know what to make of it. 

He seemed to look closer to my age, which I was grateful for. But that must mean he lost all hope for a mate as well, or at least I think. Which means I surprised him, just as much as he surprised me. And by the looks of the woman on his arm, he was not expecting a man like me.

James walked beside him as he walked and talked to each alpha. Though he lingered on Finnick a little too long for my liking. I knew Finnick liked men, though he was mateless as well. But the way he was looking at my mate made my stomach churn in jealousy. 

Finnick was the most presentable one out of all of us, he looked closer to being my mates 'type' if he had one. 

Though my heart began to race with anticipation as he got closer to me. For him to look at me with those green eyes that are now engrained into my brain. But as he neared, James stopped him and introduced me.