My Possessive Alpha Mate

Chapter 5

How? How in the world was it even possible? People were people. They weren't supposed to turn into wolves. They were supposed to stay human, with 2 legs and no tail. I didn't understand. If Derek was right about being a werewolf, then... that meant he was probably right about me being his mate, I thought. The shock of that hit me harder than his being a werewolf ever could. I knew what mates were. It was just a shortened form of soulmate sort of right? Someone to be with you forever. Was that why... why I had all of these feelings for Derek without even really knowing him? How he'd known about them?

On the inside, my head was spinning, but on the outside, my gaze wouldn't leave the bright emerald eyes of the gigantic black wolf slowly edging it's way toward me. It was obvious he was being careful not to frighten me which I deeply appreciated. I was so confused and I wanted my questions answered but I knew kicking ass, my usual MO, wouldn't get the results I wanted. Especially if I was kicking my mate's ass, I thought. Even the idea of hurting him, hurt me.

And it was in that moment that everything changed forever. It was then that I realized what I should've known before I left my hometown. I couldn't be alone forever. Why should I oppose him? Sure he was a little furry sometimes, but he was also tall and muscular and tan and tall and those eyes-oh my god!- and tall and super sexy. Oh, and did I mention he was tall?

I leaned forward to pet his head so fast, it caused him to jump, obviously startled. Surprising both of us, I let out a loud laugh and leaned forward to scratch the top of his huge head. Derek's wolf was nearly as tall as me. Now, I wasn't a wolf fanatic or anything but I assumed most wolves were like hip-height, if that.

So why was he so big? Were other werewolves as big as him? Were there even other werewolves? How come I'd never seen them before? Why hadn't-- my mental ranting was quickly cut off as a wailing sound brought me back to reality. Alexa! I'd completely forgotten about my baby!

"I'm going to go get her and if you're not changed back and answering my questions by the time I come back out, so help me God I will be having fried wolf legs for dinner." I said, trying to sound stern but I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I made my way to the bedroom. Behind me, I heard wolf Derek make some sort of choking noise that I assumed was laughter. I smiled to myself even more.

As I opened the bedroom door, I saw Alexa sitting up in her little nest of pillows and laughed. I was in the best mood I'd been in, in a very long time. Almost as if she realized this, Alexa smiled up at me with her tiny teeth that were still coming in.

"Mamamamamamamamamama!" She screeched, holding her arms out for me to pick her up. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think she was beautiful. It didn't matter that she hadn't come from me, I was her mother. She was my baby girl and it was hard to see how I could've lived before her as strange as it sounded. What would happen to her--to us-- now that Derek and I were mates? Images of a future flashed through my mind, Derek and I in bed, Derek on one knee, myself walking down the aisle with Alexa at my side, Derek standing at an altar smiling at me, myself with a protruding stomach, Derek surrounded by children. Was it possible? I didn't dare allow myself to hope for a future that was even remotely as happy as that.

Instead, I hoped for the small things that I could get by on. That maybe we could get to know each other, that I could finish school, that I could watch Alexa grow up. In the background I heard a faint thump. Silently cracking the door open, I peeked out to find Derek's tan body stark naked. Blushing deeply, I immediately slammed the door shut.

I heard a loud booming laugh come from the other room. Trying to ignore it, I went to pick Charlotte up. I tickled her, trying to get her to laugh. Mornings with Alexa were some of the best. We generally had a routine, I'd wake her up and make her laugh a bit before changing her diaper and clothes, then it was breakfast time. After that, she'd go with her sitter when I had school or go with me wherever I was going depending on what I was planning on doing.