My Possessive Alpha Mate

Chapter 9

My first day of school went by with little incident. It was not even close to my expectations. Everyone was too scared to talk to me and when they did, they never met my eye. That included the teachers, who always seemed very uncomfortable and unsure of themselves when addressing me. I felt really discouraged when I was walking out, following my bodyguards who were joking together when I came to a complete stop. I had glanced, by chance, through double doors that were propped open. I could hear the laughter of teenage girls and I realized I had forgotten all about cheer.

I walked in, quickly narrowing in on the coach. She was gorgeous as all the werewolves were but she seemed younger, maybe only a handful of years older than the girls she was coaching. This was the first time I had walked into a room all day where it didn't fall silent. I thanked god. I only hoped they let me do a try out and earn my position on the squad instead of just letting me walk on because I was their Alpha's mate.

"Tryouts for the fall squad were a month ago. You can try out for basketball cheer in a few months if you wish." While her words seemed to be reasonable on the outside, I could see distaste in her eyes as she looked at me.

"I did hear that but I was wondering if I could try out anyway. I'm a quick learner and--," I would've gone on to explain my background if she had not cut me off.

"If you are expecting us to bend the rules because you are the Alpha's mate then you are mistaken." This threw me for a loop, and kind of irritated me but I welcomed it. Open dislike was much better than dealing with all of the nervous fumbling and outright fear I'd experienced all day.

"I don't expect any rules to be broken for me at all. I was the captain of my squad and I am a quick learner, I thought I could at least be given the chance to try out late." I looked her straight in the eyes, "Who I am mated to, has nothing to do with my ability to cheer."

Her eyes flashed when I said mate, that's when I knew. She was being difficult on me because she disapproved of me as her Luna. I knew I should pull rank and Derek would be upset if he heard I didn't but I wanted to prove to her and the others that I was deserving.

"Okay, human. Show us what you've got." She rolled her eyes. All conversations died out as everyone in the gymnasium looked over at me. I should've felt nervous but game day adrenaline kicked in I guess because I got right down to business.

She said, "Let's start with tumbling." I immediately did a standing backflip and winked at her. Everyone looked a little stunned but the coach seemed unphased.

I proceeded to do a running back handspring followed by another before ending with a layout. I looked at her, no impression. I took a moment for a breath before I seamlessly pulled a Biles. It's a sequence of moves named after a prominent gymnast, involving a double layout with half of another layout at the end. I was gearing up for another, harder sequence when everyone began clapping suddenly.

A girl, presumably the head cheerleader, stepped up. She had long dark hair and deep kind brown eyes. "You're on. Be my co-captain."

The coach looked beyond angry, "She hasn't passed the try out yet. We haven't seen her jumps, if she knows any stunts or how well she retains a sequence."

"I don't need to see any of those things. She's on. If you have a problem, you should raise it with the Alpha yourself, Rose." She levelled some kind of knowing look at the coach. Suspicions rose within me. Is this why she disliked me,

"You're a lucky little girl, human." Rose, the coach, said as she brushed past me. I grabbed her upper arm so she would stop and make eye contact with me.

"That's Luna to you." The fire in her eyes could level mountains but I stood my ground. She finally submitted and looked to the ground like she was supposed to do. As soon as I released her and took a step away, she was gone.

"You didn't have to--," I began, turning to face the rest of the squad. I found them all prostrate on the ground. "No really you must get up. It's alright."

"You are not just our Alpha's mate, you are our Luna. You deserve the utmost respect and kindness from us. Her welcoming was unacceptable, I'm sorry for that." My new co-captain said immediately upon standing up.

I smiled at her, "What's your name?"

She laughed a little upon realizing she hadn't given it before, "Annalise, Luna."

"That's a beautiful name," I replied and she blushed. She signaled for everyone to continue practicing where they had left off before stepping aside with me. "I understand that there are others who aren't happy that I'm a human in my position. I know Derek's used to forcing people into submission, that's not my way of doing things. I like to prove myself and I like to keep a semi-low profile."

"Luna, usually I would advise you to follow Alpha Derek's lead, but watching you put Rose in her place was pretty entertaining I have to say." She laughed again and I wondered if she had a mate.

"What do you think Alpha Derek would've done?" She looked a little uncomfortable. I shot her a reassuring smile.

"Well, as you said, Alpha Derek might have taken a different approach than you would." She looked nervous.

"Different how? It's okay to tell me. I promise I will never repeat what you say to me and I keep my promises."

"No one is sure but there are rumors that Rose and Derek dated in high school. We usually don't pay any attention to rumors, especially in my family, but it is interesting to note that Rose becomes more and more entitled each year. We... Well I guess we assumed she thought she would be Luna one day. Once she said as much to my mother privately I think." To hear that Derek had been involved with anyone other than me was like knives to my heart but I tried to be rational.

"So you think she was being difficult because she thinks she'd make a better Luna?" She nodded uncomfortably. "I find it odd that she's in her mid twenties like Derek and still hasn't met her mate. I was under the impression that doesn't happen often."

"You're right, it is rare. Only a handful of people in our pack met their mate after 24. Those who don't, we... we usually have rumors about them. I don't know whether they are true or not, but they say that Rose didn't meet her mate because she didn't want to and she willed it not to happen." I was a little shocked to hear that, as I didn't know that was possible. I wanted to ask more about it, but a more pressing question troubled me.

"What did they say about Derek then?"

"Well... oh I don't know why I'm scared Luna, I suppose it is very common knowledge. Anyone could likely tell you. The rumors were that Derek was so heartless and his soul so black that the moon goddess made a deal with him, more power in return for giving up the other half of his soul, his mate." When she noticed my expression, she carried on quickly, "Of course, it's not true and most people didn't believe it. We are just a gossipy lot, us werewolves. Imagine how hard it is to mind your business in a small tight knit town like this, Luna." She smiled sheepishly and it was infectious.

"Annalise, I want us to be good friends. In friendships, both people are equal. Please stop calling me Luna and don't be scared of me. You're clearly a really great girl." She blushed again.

"We can't be equals, Arabella, but I would love to be your friend. You should probably be introduced to your squad too. A few of us were planning to go to the Diner after practice, would you like to join us?"

"I think Derek would shit his pants, if I were out socializing without him hovering close by." Her eyes widened, I knew no one probably talked about her Alpha like that and I grinned. "But I would love to so let's."