The Alpha Can Wait

Chapter 3

Why did my wolf lead me here?

I stare at the menacing lodge house, home of our Alpha. It's made of the finest Redwood trees, and has a huge wrap around porch with four rocking chairs decorating the front. A tin black roof makes the place seem eerie, and oddly strong too.

I look down at myself and notice I'm naked. They must've ripped off me in my haste here. Changing into my wolf would do that. This is why I have to sow my own clothes. I cover my naked body as best as possible. My wolf is probably more vocal because of my Heat.

I should just turn around and head back to the hospital. My mother's probably found out that I felt, ditching Riley. He seems really desperate to have a mate, and I'd gladly be his.

I turn around and start walking away, when I hear wailing coming from the Alpha's place. The wails lure me to the front door, but I have no courage to open it.

Why would I go in? This is none of my business anyways. Could be a private meeting between Clans and uniting, it would be bad if I just came in for no apparent reason. I take one step down the stairs, when the groaning increases.

'Mine' My wolf beckons me.

I wince as the whistling comes back on full blast, again. I crouch down, holding the railing for support.

"Make it stop." I whispers out, deciding to bang on my head in an attempt to stop the pain.

It doesn't do much, so I make a run home, the wailing and groaning continuing behind me.

What's happening to me?

Eli's P.O.V

"What do we do Mr. Bates? He's been like this since after the Inauguration ended. Is he sick?" Ari questions my father, who sits in a chair at the end of my bed, smoking, watching me in disgust.

"Ari, please with the questions." His voice shakes the room, even when calm. "The boy's fine. It's part of life what's going on."

What does he mean part of life? I'm in fucking pain over here, while he fucking smokes. Ever since turning 18, my body's been aching and there's this constant whistling sound, ringing in my head. It's been inconsistent over the year, but now it's more constant. The only time it subsided was at my Inauguration, where the torment was relieved.

However, today, it hurts even more. I feel like there's something I need and want to control, let no one touch. A wave of needle-like pangs erupts in my stomach, poking every which way. I groan with my wolf, wailing in agony.

'Mate'

He calls out, scratching to get out. I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping it helps, tossing underneath my comforter.

"Oh Master Bates!" A maid comes to my aid, attempting to wipe the sweat from my brow.

"No!" I growl in her face, sending her flying across the room. She bumps into a painting, causing it to fall on her limp body. That was a little much. I shut my eyes to open them agian.

My wolf is half in control of me right now.

I feel my teeth contracting,pushing forth my canines. I growl lowly as my bones in my hands crack.I lay back against the headboard, sweating, panting in pain.

"Eli, stop! Come on, change back!" Ari races to the maid's side, pulling her from under the broken piece. "Please Mr. Bates, do something!" He grunts as he holds the maid up, carrying her bridal-style.

"There's nothing you can do." Elder Johns enters my room, passing my father , staring at me while I do the same.

I feel like hurting someone.

"Elder, there has to be something." Ari struggles to get my father's and Elder John's attention. Rage radiates from him. He is my beta, he's supposed to protect the pack, that includes me.

"Sorry Ari, what Bates said is true. Eli's reaction is natural."

"What is this?" I dare ask from the bed, struggling to keep my wolf at bay.

Fuck, this is hard.

"It's your mate. You found it." My father finally speaks up from his chair, a puff of smoke following his breath.

My mate? Now, now I have one?

"Your wolf's been telling you this, but your thick head doesn't process it. You think it's nothing, only hormones, since it's now The Heat for women, and every man is on high alert." My father continues.

"What?" Ari and I say in unison to my father, who is apparently willing to fucking talk.

"You will learn the full content in time. I can't tell you much, every mating is different."

Asshole.

"For now you should just continue as you normally do, without knowing your mate. The pain will stop in time, same goes for the screaming, once your wolf has calmed down. Your have a pull to your mate, so don't worry if your wolf surfaces to tell you." Elder Johns explains the circumstances more in depth.

So that was what the whistling is, screaming?

"What happens when he finds her?" Ari speaks out, speaking my exact thoughts.

"Ari, that's for Eli to find out. All I can say is that you will want to mark her, a mark instantly warns off the other contenders." Elder looks me dead in the eyes, as he tells me this. " That's why it's best not to meet her. She may no be fully prepared for that."

This is a lot to process. I'm getting my mate. Weird, I thought it would happen later for me, but fate doesn't wait for anyone. Becoming Alpha was my priority, my fate, after beating out all my opponents in The Match. If determines who will become leader of the pack. It's annual, and is when many people from the alpha and beta group fight for leadership roles.

My father was able to maintain his rank as Alpha for over twenty years, beating all obstacles, until he was released this year for some reason. I had to prove to him that all my rigorous training wasn't for nothing, so I promised to uphold our family name as Alpha's of the pack. I tried my best, and look where it got me.

Having a mate was never on my check list.

"Eli?" I didn't realize that I was daydreaming until Elder Johns called me.

"Yes Elder." I finally suppressed my wolf, enough to be respectable and to seem less sluggish to Elder.

"Get rest, go to school tomorrow. Everything should die down tonight."

"Thank you Elder Johns." Elder Johns turns around, heading for the door.

I groan, about to turn around to sleep.

"Oh and Eli?" Elder turns around, perking me up.

"Yes Elder?"

"Don't be angry with who's your mate. Rejecting her comes with consequences. It's fate." He leaves the room, with a million questions swarming my head, one in particularly bothering.

Who's my mate?

A/N

Picture of Zara.