I wanted to tell her that even if she asked me to cut my heart out, I would not hesitate. As alpha, I bow to no one, but for her, I would gladly grovel. I didn't know how these feelings for her had developed—maybe it was just our mate bond—but last night felt different. I had the urge to mate and mark her, but Kai and I didn't push for that. We simply craved her presence, her wolf close to us. With her next to me, everything felt calm. We hadn't lost control once, even when I held her in my arms on her bed. Kai was protective—slightly possessive, but mostly just protective. For the first time in my life, I wanted to submit to another person.
The next few days flew by. We had breakfast in her office and lunch in mine, chatting about pack business and the latest news from the capital. Adi seemed thrilled about finally meeting this Ashley, who just happened to be the beta of betas. I suspected she had a little crush on her online friend. She made me promise not to tell Camilla, fearing she might get jealous. I couldn't help but laugh it off, enjoying our playful banter. Each day, we grew closer; conversations flowed effortlessly between us. I had stopped seeing the "floozies," as my dad called them. I couldn't stand the thought of anyone else's hands on me. The only touch I craved was from my mate.
My mate was brilliant, funny, and beautiful. I had to admit the goddess knew what she was doing when she sent her my way. Her laughter was intoxicating, and I loved that my office was starting to smell like her. We hadn't kissed again since that night, and I decided to wait for her to make the next move, ensuring she felt comfortable around me.
The weekend came and went, and we settled on having the alpha ceremony when Ashley arrived. It would be nice to have a representative from the king's court here, especially since this would be the first time a beta of betas visited our pack. I suspected Ashley wanted to meet Adi—her excitement was palpable. According to Adi, their friendship was blossoming, and she often received fancy snacks and clothing in the mail from Ashley. I felt no jealousy, but I knew someone else did. It was finally our turn to get some attention from the capital.
By Monday, we began planning the ceremony and decorating the hall. From my office, I looked down the grand staircase and watched my mate giving orders to our pack members. Black and red tablecloths and drapes hung elegantly from the tall windows, the red carpet leading from the entrance to the stage. The main chair was set on the stage—if she had accepted me as her mate, there would have been another beside it. Four other chairs were arranged down from the stage, likely for my dad, her dad, her, and Ashley. Behind them, three long tables with chairs awaited the guests, and the open floor was ready for dancing.
Someone was clearly taking her beta job seriously, and I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. Adi was rising to the occasion, and I was here for it.
