The Alpha's Mate

Chapter One

She kept to herself, as always, her arms locked around her textbooks, her hair like curtains on either side of her face. She just wanted to get to her dorm and watch some TV. The air was cold, her breaths coming out in white puffs as a result. Every few feet her foot would slip in the slush. Damn winter, she mentally cursed. 

"Hey, Alissa!" She heard from behind her and sighed, her shoulders drooping a bit as she turned to see who was calling her name. She saw her... friend, Katy, rushing over with a wide grin. 

"Hey." Alissa said with a small smile in greeting. "What's up?" Why are you bothering me? 

"I just wondering if you got my email about going bowling tonight! You never replied." Katy frowned but then smiled again, her blue eyes bright, her blonde hair somehow still looking good in the wind. 

"Oh, sorry. I completely blanked about it." That was the truth.

"It's no problem! So, are you going to come?" Katy pushed and Alissa had to squeeze her books tighter to refrain from making any other response than a well-rehearsed smile. 

"I don't know... I mean, I have homework, and --" 

"C'mon, please? It'll just be for a few hours, promise." Katy said, putting a hand on Alissa's shoulder. "I'll even give you a ride."

"....fine." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was an hour later that Alissa was battling a headache. Normally she'd just throw on a t-shirt, yoga pants, and a sweater and be good. But for this, she knew she needed to put in more of an effort. She opened her bottom drawer that was rarely opened and pulled out a pair of jeans she'd only wore once or twice. She yanked off her yoga pants and pulled on the jeans, sighing as she realized she needed to put on a belt as well. 

"Where are you going?" Alex, her roommate, asked from her perch on her bed. 

"Out to the bowling alley." Alissa rolled her eyes. 

"Why are you going if you don't want to?" Alex asked with a frown. 

"Why are you even talking to me?" Alissa snapped and Alex gasped as if she were actually offended and put in her ear phones, sending nasty looks to her roommate as she wasted time on Facebook. 

Alissa sighed and pulled on a teal V-neck t-shirt that actually looked nice with her naturally tanned skin. She put on some foundation and mascara, forgoing eyeliner and eye shadow. It wasn't like she was trying to impress any guy. Not that any guy would be all to impressed with her, anyway. It wasn't that she thought herself completely ugly, she just was a little overweight, her hair was a little too frizzy, her skin not perfectly clear. And then there were the glasses. She had tried contacts, she really did, but they just didn't work for her so she was stuck with wearing glasses all the time. Black framed ones that you couldn't miss. 

She left her hair in its messy waves down her back, figuring she'd be pulling it up sometime during the night anyway. She was pulling on her tennis shoes when her phone started vibrating, Katy's name flashing. 

"Hey, I'll be down in a minute." Alissa said before hanging up. She pulled on her winter jacket and grabbed her purse, making sure she had her school lanyard in it. She doubted Alex would let her in after the comment she made. 

"See you later," Alissa called over her shoulder and ignored the eye roll she got in return from her roommate. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Isn't this fun?" Katy chirped as she bounced up next Alissa who was standing in the back of the group, watching the other girls giggle and tease each other as they attempted to bowl.