Fated to be Mates

"What do you mean a ball?" Alester nearly choked.

"Well sweety.. it's tradition." His mom wrung her hands, clearly not telling him the whole truth.

"You just want me to find my mate and stay here don't you?!" He shouted. "Well, that will not happen! Most wolves don't find their mate until 28, if at all! And if I find her, I'm still going to college!"

He shouted, hands clenched into fists. "And I'm not going to a ball!" He was seeing red. He knew it did not thrill his parents for him to go off to college, but he thought they had accepted it. This was a new low for them.

He was so angry he didn't see the anger build in his dad or the tears about to fall from his mother's eyes. "You will not speak to your Mother this way!" His dad ground his teeth in anger, using his alpha voice to command.

Alester instantly stilled. He didn't have a wolf yet, but he could feel the authority his father had. Not just as his father, but as the Alpha of their pack.

"It's alright sweety." His mother patted his father's arm and buried her head into his chest.

"His wolf is just getting ready to appear. He doesn't mean it." A tear rolled down her cheek.

Alester could feel guilt replace his anger. "I'm sorry, mom."

"It's alright sweety." She sighed sadly.

"It's not alright." His dad was still mad. "Don't take that tone with your mother if you want to attend school. And you will go to the ball celebration for your 18th birthday!" Alester's dad commanded.

Alester knew he had to listen to his father's alpha voice. He had no choice. He would have to attend the ball and chance meeting his mate. A mate he wasn't ready for and didn't want to meet.

Alester wanted to go to college. He wanted to see something outside of his pack. He wanted to be a better business owner and Alpha than his father. A mate could wait for later.

Fate seemed to have a different idea.

"You invited Phiona?!" Alester whined. He had slicked back his shaggy black hair into something more smooth and presentable, when the Colt's arrived early.

"Of course I did. They are family friends." His dad scolded him.

"Not to me, they aren't. You know Phiona has a crush on me." Alester was angry enough having to attend the ball. He didn't need another reason to want to avoid it.

"To you they are. And maybe that's a good thing. Like you said, many don't find their mate. Phiona is a good option. She is an outstanding leader." His father loved the Colts and saw nothing better than if their children would fall in love. Of course, any mate for his son would be fine.

Alester hadn't thought of that. What if she was his mate? A shiver ran down his spine thinking about the calculated, fake, and pampered girl who had clung to him sense they were children. He refused for her to be his mate. There was no way.

"What if I find my mate tonight then, dad? Wouldn't she be angry? Wouldn't it cause a rift?" Alester spat pointedly.

"Now. Now, son. That won't happen. They are good sports." He patted his son's shoulder and helped him put his suit jacket on.

"Come down soon. It would be nice if you greeted them before the party...." He looked at his son and saw the displeased look on his son's face.

"Alright, just come down before your introduction at 5." Alester looked at the clock 3:58 and nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry, son. Your wolf will come soon." His dad comforted him before leaving him to finish getting ready.

Alester sat on his bed and wondered what his wolf would be like and would he shift when his dad thought he would? His dad had planned to present him thirty minutes before his birth time. There was a theory that the day and time you were born are the same time your wolf would show. And when it did, you changed almost instantly. You would want family and friend around you when you did because it would hurt the first time. But you also wanted them a little way away, just in case. The plan was to present him and then go to the covered lawn, where he would have a bubble of safety and wait for the change. But it didn't always happen like that. Sometimes the wolf would come sooner or even later in the day. And Alester worried he would be in one of the later categories.

He shook his head to get rid of the thoughts in his mind. He would make today as stress free as possible.

Alester unfolded his College acceptance letter from off his desk and smiled. "For this." He said aloud. Putting the very first page of the acceptance letter into his inner suit pocket and finished getting ready.

Alester ran down the stairs. Five minutes until he was supposed to be announced, and he wanted to grab a snack from the kitchen on his way. He was less than a foot from the kitchen when he smelled something delicious. He sniffed again and his plans for the kitchen changed.

It smelt much better than the cheese and crackers he planned on grabbing. He changed course to follow the smell. He tried to describe it in his head. It was earthy, almost vegetal. But also Savory and salty with hints of sweetness. Cranberry? Wildflowers? He couldn't tell, but it smelled delicious.

He neared the party and realized they have already brought the food out for the guests. It angered him. He didn't want to share this meal. Alester wanted it for himself. He had a weird feeling inside him, pulling him. Needing to find the food. He almost reached the side door to the ballroom when a hand grabbed his arm.

He could feel a sensation building in his chest. Anger, but also something else. He could only describe it as a growl, wanting to escape. It almost did as a hand clasped his arm and turned him around.

"What are you doing?! Why aren't you at the ceremony entrance?" His father shouted.

Alester blinked as his father dragged him towards the ceremony entrance. His anger died down and he was unsure why he had become so obsessed.

"Alright son, just stand here until I announce you." His dad roughly let go of his arm.

Seconds later, he stepped through the draping red curtains, a fake smile decorating his face.

In front of a few hundred people, he gave a half wave, walking down the first stair towards the party. It hit him. That smell was back, the food was here. It was stronger, more delicious smelling. It was here. He looked around frantically, sniffing the air before spotting a server in the back holding a silver tray. She stood rigid in her place. The food was that way. Alester stalked forward, practically sliding down the stairs. He had to get to it. He needed it.

He could feel himself tremble, his body shaking. But his mind was so focused on the smell, he didn't understand what was happening.

"Alester?" He heard a familiar shrill voice call his name. He ignored it, stalking forward toward the server. She had thick, curly brown hair and seemed to know he wanted something on her tray. She walked forward. "Alester!" Phiona shouted. His eyes matched with her vibrant dark crystal blue eyes as he heard a single word fill his head "Mate."

His body convulsed, and his bones cracked. His clothing ripped apart around him, fur replacing what he once wore. The screams of agony inside his head were louder than the ones from the people frantically trying to get out of the way.

His wolf was out sooner than expected. His paws padded him forward, and Phiona met him in his path. Her sparkling, light pink dress hugged her curves and wrinkled gracefully as she knelt down. She patted Alester's head. Her crescent moon, sapphire necklace swung gently as she did.

"It's alright Alester. I'm here." She cooed.

Alester's senses became overwhelmed with an almost sickeningly sweet smell. A beautifully sweet smell. A mix of wildflowers and roses. But also cake and sprinkles. Delicious in its own right. He looked into Phiona's eyes, the same color as her necklace. His vision hazed.

"Mate?" His wolf whined in confusion. He could feel Alester's anger in the background. But his heart pounded in his wolf's chest. Wanting nothing more than to lean into the hand that was caressing him.

"Mate." she announced before kissing his head.

No one noticed the server who left out the back door shaking violently, just like Alester had moments before.