The Alphas got a Human Mate

Chapter 18: Meet and Greet

*Unedited*

"Elena I need you to understand. I need you to come with me and stop behaving childish." I sat on my bed as Nate tried reasoning with me. We had all finished dinner and had a few drinks together when Ethan and Emma along with Nick announced that they had to leave.

So here I was, stuck in my room upstairs alone with Nate getting lectured about my reckless behavior while my parents watched a movie in the theater room downstairs. I was trying to be mature and have a real conversation with Nate but I honestly could not understand where he was coming from.

"Nate you can't possibly expect me to drop my whole life and come live with you because you claim that we are 'mates' or whatever the hell it is you call it. I'm only eighteen. I have a life here." I glared at him for his unreasonable argument.

Nate had explained everything about mates to me before when he first told me about him being a werewolf, but for some reason I was still having trouble comprehending the whole concept of being 'made for each other'. Growing up in the society I currently live in, most couples only marry for business deals or the money, there's not much of a ride or die concept in these rich bastards. It's everyone for themselves. So when Nate keeps coming at me telling me we're made for each other and won't be able to live without each other, it's a little hard for me to believe him that such a concept actually exists. My parents love each other but if it weren't for the politics of business, they would've separated years ago.

Nate gave me a frustrated but tired look at my stubbornness. We were both tired of arguing and neither of us were able to understand the others true concerns. Nate wanted me to live with him because apparently being his mate puts my life in constant danger, and I wanted to stay in my city and near my friends so I could enjoy my years in college and graduate.

"Fine. I have a deal. Tomorrow morning come with me. I want you to see something. If it still doesn't put your mind at ease, then we have it your way." He was demanding more than asking which really made me want to fight him about it more.

"No. What if you kidnap me again? This time I for sure won't be able to escape and I can't risk that" I answered confidently. He looked a little taken aback but then realized I was right. "I won't kidnap you Elena. You have my word." He smirked. "Your word means nothing to me" I almost laughed at how much importance he was giving himself. "Fine" He rolled his eyes "We'll take your car" he hesitated for a second before continuing "and you can drive..". I smirked at that "deal" I responded without a second thought.

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I stood in the center of my closet debating on what outfit to wear. It was 8 in the morning and the last thing I wanted to do was get dressed, but thanks to Nate I didn't have much of a choice. He said we were going to have breakfast with a few people he wanted me to meet. I decided not to question it much as long as I knew where we were going and that I'd be safe.

I picked my two outfit choices, a knee-length white Armani dress and a knee-length lilac Alexander McQueen dress, and took them downstairs to ask my mom for her opinion. She on the dining table sipping her coffee and reading the news on her tablet. "Mom! I'm going for breakfast with Nate. Which dress should I wear I can't decide" I pouted giving her my puppy eyes. I knew she'd be upset that I wasn't having breakfast with her and my dad after being gone for so long, so sucking up a little was necessary. She glanced up at me before looking back to her tablet. "I don't know, why don't you go ask your boyfriend". Okay so she was salty. "Mom he's not my boyfriend. And this is important please help me" she sighed as she put her coffee down and looked up at the two dresses I was holding up. She gave a thoughtful look before responding, "The white one. It has a classier look. And wear some heels. It'll look good and you can impress your 'boyfriend'" she smirked and looked away from me and back to her tablet. Why does she have to be so difficult?

After changing into the Armani dress, slipping on a pair of white heels, and grabbing a matching clutch, I was ready to go. I was walking downstairs where I could hear Nate and my mom talking about something quietly. "Ready to go?" I asked Nate giving him and my mom a weird look. I felt Nate stare me down as his eyes turned a shade darker. "Let's go" he said darkly, looking away suddenly. I grabbed my car keys and kissed my mom goodbye before we were on our way. It was about a twenty minute drive before we reached our destination. Nate had given me the address of an upscale area near uptown. After leaving my car at the valet, we headed inside to be seated. The people we were here to have breakfast with were already here so the waitress led us straight to our table without having to wait. An older looking couple sat on a table for four smiling and talking to each other. They looked so happy to be in each others presence it was almost beautiful. Almost. If I was into the whole concept of romance.

They looked up at us as we were seated and the girl, who was just beautiful, smiled up at us when she noticed Nate and I sit down. She has light brown hair with green dark green eyes while the man sitting next to her had jet black hair and blue colored eyes. "Ah finally! You must be Elena. I have been dying to meet you. My name is Claire Adler. It's so nice to finally meet you dear" the woman, who I assumed was a lot older than she looked, said. Adler? Was she related to Nate? She did kind of look like him...

I was just about to respond to her when Nate beat me to it "Elena this is my mom, Claire, and my dad, Edward. Mom, dad, this is Elena, my mate". My eyes grew at Nate's words. Mom? Dad? These are Nate's parents? How the hell are they so young? I didn't have time to ask anything when Nate's dad looked at me and gave me a small smile and a nod of his head "It's nice to meet you Elena". I was still a little surprised at what Nate had said so it took me a moment to realize I was supposed to respond. I gave the best smile I could muster up in my current mental state before responding "pleasures all mine".  Now that I look at them more closely, they do look a lot like Nate.

The second I got the chance, I narrowed my eyes at Nate giving him the meanest glare I could without being seen by either of his parents. Why would he make me meet his parents without even warning me?? What if they think I'm ugly? Great, and I didn't even do my hair or makeup. Shit. His mom probably thinks I'm too ugly for his son. Wait why do I care I don't even like Nate like that! Ugh my mind was going crazy.

"Nate told me a lot about you but he never told me you had such great style" Claire, Nate's mom said smiling at me. She was so beautiful and young looking it was hard to believe this was actually his mom. "Oh, um, thank you" I said unsure of how to respond. Is she kidding me right now! I look like crap. I was suddenly feeling shy which was very unlike me. Gathering up some courage, I responded to her compliment with one of my own "I'm not surprised considering Nate never told me his mom was this gorgeous" I gave her a sweet smile. Oh shit now I sound like I'm flirting. Claire actually laughed at that and Nate's dad, Edward, looked up at me giving me a smirk of his own. Well this is awkward. I could feel blood rush to my cheeks when the waiter came with our food. Nate's parents had ordered for us as well as themselves before we even got here and I have to say, I am impressed.

It didn't take long for us to finish breakfast once we all got a little more comfortable with each other. I learned a lot about Nate's parents and they learned a lot about me. Claire explained how she and Edward first met. It was at Edwards little sister's wedding. They had invited packs (her words not mine) from around the world to come join for the festivities and it was then that Claire and Edward first met. She explained how they had many misunderstandings at first since Edward was so overprotective and Claire, while quiet and shy, was still not okay with being controlled. Their story in general just sounded so perfect that I almost wanted it for myself. Nate kept glancing at me trying to read my expressions as his mom told me her story. Edward was generally very quiet, only talking when needed or when he wanted to remind his wife to finish her food. It was kind of cute how much they cared for each other.

I was lost in thought when the realization hit me. This was why Nate wanted me to meet his parents. He wanted me to see them together, to see that mates really do exist. Well shit. I was screwed because the truth is, meeting them really did change my view on things.

Now what do I do?