Encountering my mate

Maddison P.O.V.  

I get out from the back room, coming face to face with my mate. I don’t even know what to do or say right now? Everything feels amazing when he is this near me, but at the same time I know he is here with another woman and that makes me want to gag. 

“Can I help you?” I ask, trying really hard to stay polite, although all I really want is to smack the shit out of him for dragging his girlfriend with him to my work. Granted he didn’t know I worked here, and he didn’t know we would be mates. 

‘Maybe he’ll dump her for us.’ Ember pipes up, and I have to sigh internally.

‘I really doubt that, Ember. Did you see the look in his eyes when he looked at her? No, better we don’t have a mate. We’ll survive. Or I can plead with the goddess to let you go to someone else who can give you what you want and deserve?’ She growls. 

‘We’re perfect for each other, and I am not going anyway, girl.’ I smile, raising an eyebrow at my mate. “Well?” I ask, this time a little more impatiently. 

“Oh, sorry. I need some book recommendations, and maybe some help for my friends.” He answers. Mrs. Peterson hands over the cups with hot chocolate and he pays before looking at me expectedly. I roll my eyes. 

“Lead the way, sir.” I say, but he doesn’t move. 

“My name is Liam, Miss?” 

“Nox. Miss Nox is fine.” He furrowed his eyebrows at my dismissal tone, but didn't say anything. 

I follow him back to where his friends and girlfriend are sitting, sitting down the tray with hot chocolate. 

“Clara, this is Miss. Nox. She can help you pick out some of the books you really want. Happy birthday, ladybug.” He says, his eyes lingering on mine. I turn my gaze to the young woman. She is beautiful. Her eyes look like his, but that’s properly just a coincidence. The young woman smiles at me, asking a million questions a minute about all sorts of genres and books. I take her to the ones she is most excited about, telling her they are the last we have for sale - the others are to be read in the cafe only. She brings them back to the table, before joining me again. I feel eyes on me the whole time I walk with her, and when I look back, his eyes are on me. I try to ignore him, but it gets harder by the minute. Especially with Ember whining in my mind all the time. 

“Have you worked here for long?” The woman, Clara, asks. 

“About a year, maybe a little more. I do not know what today is.” I answer, pulling another set of books down for her. 

“So, did your boyfriend take you here as a surprise?” She gives me a puzzled look. 

“My boyfriend?” I just nod, to which she starts laughing. “Uhm, well he is not exactly my boyfriend.” My eyes snap to her. What in the world does that mean, exactly? 

“Okay. Then what is he?” I just have to know now. I shouldn’t really care, but the way she said that has been all kinds of nosey. 

“Well, he is my Alpha. But more - he is my big brother.” I feel all the colors leave my face. So much so she asks me if I’m okay. 

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. I just didn’t know he was an Alpha.” She stares at me. 

“You didn’t? He is the Alpha of the Blackmoon pack. You do know of that, right?” I do, and I stay away from their and everyone else's pak border if I can. On my daily runs in wolf form I sometimes get too close, but over the years I have learned to navigate where to go and where not to go. 

“Yeah, I’ve heard of that.” I reply, not knowing what to do with myself. Everything inside is in panic and screaming for me to get out of there. I need to get away from these people as fast as possible, but I also need to get the rejection between that Alpha Liam guy and myself over with as well. The two sides collide and I’m stuck. Rooted to the floor looking like a deer caught in headlights. 

“Is everything okay over here, ladies?” A deep rumble of a voice asks behind me. I almost jumped to the ceiling in surprise.

“Yeah, she’s.. Eh, what’s your name again?” 

“Maddie Nox.” 

“Oh, right. Well, Maddie was just showing me the stuff I want, and she thought you were my boyfriend which is just absolutely disgusting. Sorry not sorry bro.” Liam looks at her in confusion before turning his gaze to me. I feel how his eyes suck me in, and I just keep falling down the depths of them. Fucking matebond. Ember runs in circles in my mind. She’s been squealing and growling in happiness ever since Clara declared him free on the market. Me? I still don’t really see myself with a mate, especially an Alpha. Way to many compilations, responsibilities and eyes on me. I don’t do well with other people unless we’re doing a topic I know about - like books. 

“You thought my little sister was my girlfriend?” He asks, his voice sounding like he still does not comprehend how I got to that conclusion. I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms. 

“She hung off of your arm when you came in, she kissed your cheek and the look you gave her. Everyone would have come to the same conclusion as me. Don’t judge me asshole, I’m not the one who is on the wrong here.” A small smile tucked on his lips at my sassy attitude. Well, don’t push my buttons if you don’t want the brat to come out. 

“Did you just call me an asshole?” 

“Excuse me, Alpha asshole.” I correct myself. I shake my head, getting the attention back on Clara. She is looking between us with a knowing glint in her eyes, and I do not like that one bit. “Was there anything else I could help you with, Miss?” I ask politely, and she laughs. 

“No, thank you though.” I give her a smile, ignoring my mate and walk to the counter. Mrs. Peterson is helping another customer, so I wait until she’s done.

“Would it be okay if I get off a little earlier today? I don’t feel so well.” She feels my forehead, probably trying to determine if I have a fever or not. 

“You’re a little clammy, dear. Runoff, I’ll call Calvin to come in early.” I thank her and go into the back not even looking back to see if Liam saw me go. Ember is not agreeing with me, but she has to understand my feelings about this and I’ll handle her when I get out of here. As long as I am here I can concentrate properly on my emotions and make a rational decision. 

Outside I run off to the treelines. I hear the cafe front door open as I run over the road not waiting for the green light. Someone calls my name, but I’m too far into my own head to care. I just need to get out of here. 

At the treeline I teleport out of there and to my usual spot. 

‘Why did we run? He was free, Maddie. We need to claim him before someone else does.’ 

‘No! We need to stay away from him, Ember. We can be really dangerous and we don’t want to be a liability to him and his pack. They would never understand. Most packs are afraid of magic and we are filled with it.’ She sighs. She knows I am right, but she doesn’t like it. Neither do I, but this is for the best. The bond will break when he takes another female and mate and marks her. It’ll be excruciating and I’ll feel my heart literally break, but he’ll be better off with someone whole and untainted.

This is my last though going back to my home. A stray tear escaped my eye. Everything feels wrong. Like I am missing my other half, but I just can’t risk it. I already accidentally killed someone. Even though I was set up for failure it doesn’t change the fact that she died. I take the dark thoughts and feelings with me for the rest of the day. Ember is quiet in my mind. She misses her mate and longs for him, but she understands why we can’t.