Alpha's Dream - Full Length Novella

Rosalind

The mate bond, sacred, or so they say.

Every wolf finds their mate once the wolf awakens at eighteen, except me. I’m nineteen and mateless—an old maid by werewolf standards.

It’s not like I’ve been idle. I’ve studied every old book on werewolf mating dynamics I can get my hands on.

My law exam books? Still in a neat pile on my dorm desk. But when it comes to mates, I know every tell: the spark when you touch, the fireworks in your heart. And the scent—oh, the scent.

They say your mate smells like your favourite things. My mom said my dad smelled like wild grass and honey. My dad said my mom smelled like roses and peppermint.

I wonder what my mate will smell like. If I even have one.

I’d much rather read Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, or Emma than worry myself sick.

I can’t help but feel like Elizabeth Bennet, putting all the pressure on myself to get a mate.

I miss my mom. She always had the answers. Now I’m alone, chasing a scholarship in a foreign town.

I shouldn’t have been at this school, but I got lucky. Lucky me.

I can’t help but scrutinise my appearance every time I go out, even as I rush off to class. But what’s the point? I’ll never be like them.

I sigh, pulling a headband over my wild, dark brown hair. It’s thinner than ideal and darker than I wanted, but a headband does the trick in getting out of my face. And with it, my appearance is out of my mind.

I snatch the door open and run through the warmly lit grounds. The sun is peaking through, touching the top of the old school building.

I collide with a body, and I look up, hoping it’s not one of the pricks who go here.

“Are you lost?” a tall, lanky guy with wild red hair and a face of freckles, faces me.

It’s just Peppy, one of the least obnoxious of my classmates. A boy genius who got accepted into the university at seventeen.

“You know most people here have actual bags. Not two straps of leather,” he laughs, looking down at the bag slung over my shoulder.

Peppy is a strange mix of prick and little brother who gets on my nerves and makes me laugh at the same time.

I laugh along with him, looking at the bag that saw me through middle school, high school, and now university.

“I think it’s the one that wants me,” I joke as we rush through the halls.

“When we get in there, you walk behind me,” he mutters under his breath, and I punch his shoulder.

“Ouch,” his high voice rings out as I punch his shoulder. “You know I can’t be seen with the school loser.”

“Can I even call you a friend, Peppy?” I frown, wondering why I bother with him.

“Look, when I get my wolf and my mate once I turn eighteen, I’ll still talk to you, Ro,” he says as though that’s a great gift.

“Don’t call me Ro, it’s Rosalind.” I raise an eyebrow at him. “In fact, you should be calling me Daniels. We’re not on a first-name basis, Peppy,” I smirk back at him.

“Peppy is way worse than Ro,” he groans as I use the childish nickname.

“Okay, okay, a truce. You call me Rosalind, and I call you Pepper.” I hold out my hand to shake.

“Deal,” he says, shaking my hand.

“See you later, Peppy,” I smirk and push the doors of the classroom open as he curses behind me.

He’s so easy to tease, that is when he isn’t around the other pricks in this school.

I can’t help the groan that leaves my mouth as I see Sofia and her posè sitting at their desks and gossiping with each other.

I take my seat at the far corner and prop up a big book, hoping they don’t see me.

“Rosalind.”

Sh*t

I peek over my book and see them glaring at me.

What does she want now?

Sofia and her two friends look like Victoria’s Secret models. They even catwalk over to me. All the women at this school are rich, classy, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

They all make me look like a twelve-year-old boy with their perfect curves. I’d swear they’d done surgery, but I know those with money have a way of looking far better than a headband in your hair could.

Sofia clears her throat, and my eyes snap to hers. “Wow, you must be the only she-wolf here who hasn’t found a mate. What’s that like?”

“Sofia, can you not?” I huff.

Sofia smirks, tilting her head like she’s observing a rare, tragic creature, “Oh, don’t be mad. I’m just curious. I mean, aren’t you? You’re practically ancient for a mateless wolf. Makes me wonder if your wolf forgot you exist.”

Her two annoying copycat friends giggle on cue.

I grit my teeth, gripping the edge of my desk, “What’s your point, Sofia?”

“Oh, no point,” she purrs, examining her manicured nails as if I’m barely worth her attention.

“But let’s be real. If a mate hasn’t claimed you by now, they’re probably never going to. Or...”

“Or what?” I snap, feeling my irritation rise.

Her eyes light up as if she’s just had a brilliant idea, “Maybe your mate took one look at you and ran.”

That shouldn’t hurt me. Rosalind doesn’t pay attention to her. Don’t give her the satisfaction.

“Pepper’s eighteenth birthday party is this weekend. The theme is Love Letters,” she baits for my attention.

“Love Letters?” I frown; she’s making this up.

“Pepper is turning eighteen. Know what that means?”

“He’ll be an official asshole?” I frown.

“It means another person finds their mate while you stay mateless, or even better. Maybe the skinny twerp is your long-lost mate. Your wolf’s been waiting for his awakening,” she and her two friends laugh.

“Sofia, would you just leave it?” I say, hoping to sound stronger than I did, but I almost begged.

“You’re right. You’ll never have a mate. But you should still come; he’s hosting at his mansion,” she smirks.

“You mean his parents’ mansion,” I roll my eyes.

“At least his parents have a classy home. Unlike yours, what did you say it was? A barn?” she snickers.

“A farmhouse, and it’s plenty big enough to host a party,” I bite back.

The lecturer walks in, and students scramble to their desks. Sofia gives me a wicked grin, “Try coming to the party without a mate.”

She sashays to her desk, and even though she’s late, the lecturer dares not say anything about it. She’s the daughter of the previous Bata of our pack or something. I don’t keep up with our pack leaders, but all of their heirs go here.

Even the Alpha’s brother, the current Bata, goes here. He’s in the new science wing on the other side of the university. I hear he’s trying to become a doctor while he leaves his brother, the Alpha, to do all the pack work.

I can’t help being drawn to the Alpha’s sad story. His father got killed by our enemy pack five years ago. On top of the grief, he must have felt he had to become Alpha. I can hardly handle this scholarship being thrust onto me, and now the fate of an entire pack.

I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy, even Sofia.

As the school day progresses, I can’t seem to focus, even though the less social parts of school usually interest me. My heart feels heavier today.

Sofia doesn’t bother to show up for the rest of the classes. Though it would usually set me at ease, my heart continues to ache.

The school day finally ends. I feel so drained and ready to lock myself up in my dorm room, where I’m not the loser everyone says I am.

I walk down the steps. The campus littered with young adults sitting on benches. Wolves are running through the grounds. The key is… they all have their mates.

I round the corner, eager to escape to my dorm. But Sofia’s nasally voice stops me cold.

“I’m telling you, she’s going to make a fool of herself,” one of her friends says, her tone gleeful.

“I know,” Sofia replies, “but I’ve got something special planned for her.”

“Ooh, when?”

“At Pepper’s party. Let’s just say it’ll be a night to remember.”

Their laughter echoes down the hall as I press myself against the wall. My heart pounds. I don’t know what Sofia’s planning, but I need to watch my back.