MY MATE?

Chapter One

Alessia's pov

"Do you imagine I'm happy tagging this hog along every time?" Thompson cocked his chin in my direction like I was some stomp in the pasture.

"That doesn't change the fact that Alessia gets to attend these functions as your wife while I stay home all night waiting for you to come back."

A sly smile twitched on my lips, Annalise and my husband had their row about the grand marriage anniversary of the southern territories Alpha and his Luna. Annalise was Thompson's mate while I was his wife.

"What the hell is funny?" Thompson took giant strides to where I stood by the refrigerator.

The smiles on my face instantly faded. I knew how this always went.

Thompson came awkwardly closer to me, towering before me, trapping me against the refrigerator and his rigid chest. His large palm cupped my chin tilting my head up so our gazes could fuse.

"Let me make this clear to you, just because I have to stick to the goddamn law and have you attend these functions with me doesn't mean I give a fuck about you!"

It wasn't what he said that hurt every time but how he said them.

"Remind her I'm the one you love. Let her know I'm your fated mate and she's just one hell of a mistake you're trying to make right!" Annalise croaked like a drunken crazed hyena.

Thompson's beautiful crystal hazel eyes softly regarding mine. A minute of silence gave him the chance to suck in a quick breath, and run his fingers through his silky strands.

"She knows. How can she ever think otherwise?"

"I'll go confirm the laundry," I spoke quietly, in a hurry to find an exit from Thompson's blazing gaze.

Avoiding making any contact as possible, I slipped from the refrigerator, almost darting towards the door, but he steely grabbed my arm, grappling me back to the refrigerator. Hurling me hard against it. A yelp left my lips.

"Don't you ever dare try to walk out on me!" He slammed his hand hard on the refrigerator, probably leaving a dent in it.

He was a pretty strong wolf, and he was pretty mad. The fierceness in his eyes always made him appear even more appealing to me. But everything had changed on his twenty-fourth birthday when he returned with his mate. How could I ever forget that?

"I didn't mean to, I'm sorry." I mumbled out.

He must've caught the fear that momentarily seized my features, he sucked in a breath and moved away from me. Silence descended on the vast kitchen of the mansion and remained that way until I got ready to leave with Thompson for the big night.

"You look pretty, mommy." Adrian, my super cute four year old complimented from where he curled up on the beanbag at the corner of the room.

He was the only one I talked to around here. I offered him a weary smile and returned to the mirror.

"Do you think I look fat in this yellow dress, or should I just change into the black?"

When no reply came, I looked over my shoulder only to meet his confused gaze. Too young to understand.

I grabbed the black dress and disappeared into the closet returning to the bedroom to catch the expression on his face.

"This or the previous dress?"

"You, mommy." He smiled cutely.

"I know, baby, but which outfit looks better, I need to look good tonight." So your dad can appreciate me, for once. I fought the urge to add.

He sprang to me from the cashmere beanbag for a hug, I lowered myself to his height and planted a kiss on his forehead.

"I think this black. It conceals my stomach and makes my arms appear thinner."

"What's wrong with your stomach?"

How I wish he understood these things. Annalise didn't know how lucky she was to have a body like that even after having her daughter, while I looked so bloated as the day went by.

I caught the negativity and instantly replaced them with a more positive thought. "I'm beautiful."

But who was I kidding?

"Yes mommy. You're very pretty."

Now, that was the only validation I needed.

"Thank you." I beamed with glistening eyes.

I tucked him in his bed, kissed him before I headed out of his room to wait for Thompson in the living area. About thirty minutes later, he descended the stairs with Annalise clinging to his side in a silk and sexy nightdress, one I'd be terribly embarrassed to wear. She was a very beautiful lady.

The smiles faded from her face the second her blue eyes dropped on me. Thompson's hard jaws sagged, his eyes wandering every part of me, lips intrigued.

"What are you wearing?" Annalise began, as usual, "Did you not see how much of a pig you look in that dress? Who did your makeup because you look like an Oompa Loompa right now."

"Okay. Five minutes, I'll go change and wipe off..."

"You fuckin' kidding me," Thompson glanced at his wristwatch, "You don't expect me to wait that long?"

Exactly how I ended up leaving the mansion like a pig version of Oompa Loompa. Thompson was on the phone with Annalise all through the ride but his gaze crept my way whenever he thought I wasn't looking.

The car halted in front of the enormous building. My nerves quickened and my fingers began to tremble. At first, I thought it was about my social anxiety acting up. But when the sweet sandalwood wafted up my nostrils stirring up a profound excitement in the hollow pit of my soul, it snagged at me.

My mate?

Thompson blew a million kisses into his phone before the call ended, glanced at my way and mistook my hesitations for awkwardness.

"It's another evening to embarrass yourself." He got down when the stoic security guard held the car door open for us.

I stuck to his side as close as possible, ignoring the growing excitement in my soul to every step I took towards the main entrance door. I had a husband and a son, a family that I love and I'd never trade them for anyone else.