Mate

CHAPTER 2

"Rise and shine, Baby," a gentle voice whispered.

"Oh, let me bask in the warmth of my cozy haven. It's far too early," I murmured, tugging the blankets tighter around me.

"Well, if you hadn't been out gallivanting all night, indulging in nocturnal adventures, you wouldn't be feeling so drained, now would you? So, rise and shine." she declared.

Abruptly rousing me from my slumber. I reluctantly uncovered my head, only to be met with the piercing gaze of my beloved, her eyes a striking shade of baby blue, brimming with frustration.

"Cher, darling. What has led you to believe such a notion?" I inquired, bewildered.

As I ran my fingers through my dark hair, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

"Camron, don't take me for a fool. I've been trying to reach you, but you never answer. And last night, I saw you leaving the rally with Vicky right behind you. I can even smell her perfume on you." she stated firmly, crossing her arms over her chest.

Damn, her scent still lingered on me from last night. I hadn't showered when I got home because I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. However, it puzzled me why Cher was here so early in the morning.

"Cameron," she began, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and understanding. "I know you, and I don't expect you to change overnight. But please, at least try not to flaunt it in front of me."

Before I could respond, an interruption came in the form of a knock on the door.

"What now?" I snapped, my irritation evident.

"Alpha, you have a call." My beta informed me from the doorway.

"Can't you handle it? I'm in the middle of something," I responded to my beta, slightly annoyed.

"I tried, but they insisted on speaking with you." He replied. Letting out a sigh, I reluctantly said.

"Give me ten minutes."

Making my way out of bed, I headed towards the shower. As I walked past Cherry, I could feel her eyes scanning my body. A small purr escaped her lips, and I couldn't help but smile to myself. It seemed like someone wasn't angry anymore.

At the entrance of the bathroom, I dropped my boxers and turned around, basking in all my glory, to catch Cher's attention.

"Care to join me, babe?" I said to her, a mischievous smirk playing on my lips. Her eyes swiftly moved from my body to meet mine, and I could see the desire flickering in her gaze. However, she quickly regained her composure.

"I don't want to touch you now that I know for sure where you've been last night. When you're finished, I'll be in your office." She said, feigning anger before marching out of the room.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her playful act, shaking my head in amusement. Oh well, it seemed like I had some explaining to do once I was done with my shower.

I chuckled to myself, confident that by the end of the day, our playful banter would lead to something more intimate. I hopped into the shower, allowing the warm water to cascade over my body. While lathering up with soap, I couldn't ignore the strange sensations stirring within me. Lately, my inner animal and instincts had been behaving unusually, making it difficult to connect with that primal part of myself. Whenever I tried to tap into that side, everything became hazy and silent. Shaking off the feeling, I rinsed off and stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel to dry myself off.

I made my way into my room, glancing through my closet to select a comfortable outfit. Sweatpants and a white t-shirt seemed like the perfect choice, so I quickly got dressed. As I exited the room, making my way down the hall, I unexpectedly ran into my mother.

With her eyebrows raised, my mother asked me.

"What time did you get in last night?" Here we go again, I thought to myself.

Ever since my father passed away and I took over as alpha, my mom has been on my case about every little thing I do. I understand that she worries and only wants the best for me, but sometimes it feels overwhelming. Trying to diffuse the tension, I leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

In a hurry, I said to my mother. "Mom, I have pack business ,urgent." I quickly walked away from her, ignoring her calling my name.

As I reached my office, I opened the door and was surprised to see my beta James sitting in my chair, going through paperwork. On the other side of the room, Cherry was laid out on the couch, engrossed in her phone.

I walked over to Cherry and kissed her on her forehead, saying, "Hey baby."

She retorted, ignoring me and focused on her phone, saying. "Took you long enough to get the stench off."

I chuckled and made my way to my desk. Turning to James, I asked. "So, what's up?"

"Well, apparently there's this big star coming here," he replied.

"A big star?" I asked, curious.

"Yeah, Kyle, something..." James said, looking at the paper in front of him.

"Yes!"

Cherry shouted, causing both James and me to jump at her sudden outburst.

"Jesus, Cherry, why are you shouting?" I asked, slightly startled.

"What do you mean why?" she retorted. "Kyle is coming, Kyle and his band! Do you know what this means, Cam? I've wanted to see him live in concert for so long, but he's never done shows in Texas before. And now he's finally coming! Do you know what this means?" she ranted, overflowing with excitement.

"I'm sorry." I responded firmly. "But I have a feeling you're about to enlighten me."

She looked at me curiously and asked. "So, what it means is that they'll be utilizing the dome for the concert. And, may I ask, who happens to be the proud owner of this magnificent dome?"

"I do." I uttered, to which she responded.

"Exactly."

As she continued, her excitement overflowed, urging me to let her meet him. She gushed about how adorable and sweet he was, with his tiny frame and enchanting voice. Her enthusiasm was palpable as she eagerly anticipated their in-person meeting, wondering what she should say. Observing her animated demeanor, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy towards this mysterious Kyle. I yearned to uncover his identity, so I swiftly grabbed my phone and conducted a rapid search. When his face appeared on the screen, my instincts stirred, creating an inexplicable surge of emotions once again.