The Alpha's Mate

4

I turned on the shower, stripped and then stepped under the hot spray of water. The tension in my muslces left almost immediately. I scrubbed at my face and body, getting off all the grime and tears, before washing my hair. As I turned off the water, I heard the knocking of the door. Rolling my eyes, I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me just before the door crashed open and Jace ran in, his eyes scanning the room. He relaxed once he caught sight of me, despite my fisted hands and angry gaze.

"Why didn't you answer the door?"

"I was taking a shower. Now get out."

"You could've yelled to let me know that you're okay."

"Get out."

He stepped towards me, but I grabbed one of my many shampoo bottles from inside the shower and chucked it at him. His hand shot up and caught it mere inches from his face. I scowled and crossed my arms.

"You're not welcome here. I don't want you anywhere near me. There's the door, now go!"

His face fell and the hatred came back. Slamming the bottle down on the counter, he turned and stormed out the bathroom just as my friends rushed in. My head spun and a sharp pain echoed in my chest, causing me to cry out and my knees to collapse. Esbeth caught me and then scooped my limp body into her arms and carried me over to my bed, shoving past Jace who stood frozen in the door way.

Jace's POV

I was raging mad. How could she just kick me out like that? Why did I kiss that bitch, ruining Laylee's growing trust in me? Slamming her shampoo bottle down on the counter, I stormed towards the door, freezing when I heard a pained cry. Turning, I saw my little mate clutching her chest while her legs gave out.

Before I could react, Esbeth had picked her up and pushed past me. She rushed my little mate into her closet, dressed her and then set Laylee down on the bed and tried calming her as tears streamed down her face. Misabelle sent me a look that should've sent me six feet under. I ignored her and moved to Laylee's side.

"Don't you think you've done enough?" Sasha got in my face while pushing me away, or trying to. "Look at her! You did this!"

"I didn't mean-"

"That's it though, you never mean to do these things. Unfortunately for you, a simple sorry can't fix this one."

I looked down at Laylee. Sasha was right. Looking at my mate, I got mad at myself all over again. My Laylee was suffering through the pain of being rejected and rejecting her mate, but she didn't know what was happening to her. That's not fair. Pushing aside her friends, I scooped her up against my chest and stroked her hair soothingly.

"Go away, Jace." Her voice was hoarse, but she contradicted her words by clinging onto my shirt.

"No. I'm not leaving. Not until you know."

She looked up at me warily. "Know what?"

"The big secret."

"You'll tell me?"

I nodded and sat against her headboard, cradling her to my chest. "You won't believe me, but thankfully, I have your friend Esbeth here to prove it. I'll start with the kiss earlier, because that directly involves you."

"What?"

"You see, Laylee, I'm a werewolf. My brother is also, and it just so happens that he's your friend Misabelle's mate. Esbeth is a half- werewolf, but Sasha is human. Since my father died, I took over as Alpha, meaning that I'm the leader of the werewolf pack-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You expect me to believe this?"

Esbeth smiled weakly and started stripping. Laylee covered her eyes, then slapped a hand over mine as well. I laughed and felt a wet nose nudge my leg seconds later. Taking Laylee's hand off my face and hers, I watched as she took in the huge red-brown wolf before us. I watched many emotions flit across her face such as fear, suprise, anger, relief and finally acceptance.