Refusing my Alpha mate

Arthur

My eyes went straight to her, it was almost instinctive, she was a magnet for me, and damn, Clair was beautiful, but today it was like it was impossible to stop looking at her. The light makeup only highlighted her beauty even more, and I was mentally grateful that Monica hadn't put those huge eyelashes on her, Clair's dress hugged her body and was the same exact shade as my suit, the air escaped my lungs and I smiled at the coincidence. When she saw me, she directed her steps to find me and I had to concentrate to not let my wolf emerge. She approached smiling, and I extended my hand to her.

Clair handed me her hand, but instead of shaking it, I turned lightly and kissed the back of her hand, which brought a slight surprise, and she sighed at the touch of my lips on her skin.

"If I hadn't stopped you from seeing the color of my dress, I'd say you did it on purpose," Clair said smiling, as soon as I let go of her hand and her eyes met mine.

"I think we both have good taste," I said walking as she followed me side by side.

"I agree." She said tilting her head to a drink station next to us. "Whiskey?" She asked and I just smiled giving a short nod.

"Did you have fun with the girls?" I asked as she poured me a shot.

"Thank you so much for insisting I go." She said smiling and helping herself too.

"I knew you would like it," I responded, bringing the glass of whiskey to my lips.

"And here is my favorite war strategist," The voice came from behind me and it was Ethan's, I turned around and he welcomed me with a strong hug. "Is it today that you discover your partner, son?" He asked me and then helped himself to a shot of whiskey too.

"I hope," I responded by putting my hand on my neck.

As much as I hoped and wanted this, I feared, feared with every bone in my body, that could be her, something inside me screamed Clair's name, and the fact that I knew it was her would reject her mate, whoever If it were, it gave me chills.

As much as a part of me practically begged the Moon for the redhead to be my mate, another part feared our fate if that happened.

I shook my head to get the thought out of me, and Clair soon placed a hand on my arm.

"I'll be right back, I'll greet Clark who has arrived now." She told me smiling, and went out to welcome another Alpha.

Tommy had already arrived and I saw him approaching with a drink in his hands too.

"So Archie, are you ready to meet your mate today?" Tommy said, approaching and leaning his hips on a table next to him.

"I don't know." The words came out of my mouth faster than I thought to respond. I was comfortable running away from everything, I hurriedly returned to take over the Pack after my father's disease, and I parachuted out of the Moon Ball which was this week, I hadn't really thought about it until this morning, that maybe today I would find my lifelong mate, my Luna, the mother of my children. "I want to, but I don't know if I'm ready."

"I don't think anyone is, friend, it just happens," Tommy said with a shrug.

"What about you? Anxious? Is this the Ball?" I asked Tommy, he was my age and hadn't found his partner yet, but I spent 10 years away, and he spent 10 dances without finding his better half.

"I haven't been anxious in a long time, whatever the Moon wants." He said raising his glass to toast.

"Whatever the Moon wants." I raised my glass of whiskey and toasted my friend in the air.

The other Alphas arrived, and little by little the Pack families also filled the room, it was a beautiful and incredible party. Clair spared no effort or money for a wonderful party, the ballroom with stone walls and antique chandeliers, was adorned with large flower arrangements, candles, and golden decorations, there were waiters, food, and drinks everywhere. We drank and ate until midnight approached, the Full Moon would give its show and it was finally time for the mates to reveal themselves, as the time approached it was as if the atmosphere of the place became denser, it was almost as if a fine mist was forming at the Ball, which made everything more intimate and more intense, the alcohol in the bloodstreams made everything looser, happier and more fun. My thoughts were a mix of anxiety, worry, and Clair, it was as if my eyes were constantly roaming the room looking for her red hair, it was almost an addiction.

Suddenly two wolves from the South, a little in front of me, walked slowly to the center of the dance floor, their wolves came just to the point where their eyes exchanged with theirs, and there, with bright eyes and a rarefied gaze around them, his lips spoke almost without control.

"Mates." The screams from the hall were loud and mixed with howls of joy.

We all raised our glasses and toasted and prayed for them, there were two more couples formed until I saw someone I knew walk to the dance floor, it was Monica, and the one who went to meet her was the newly appointed leader of Clair's pack guard, his name was David, he was a young and tall man with fair skin, honey eyes and dark hair, he approached Monica with a smile on his face, his eyes shone, and the word mates also appeared on their lips, we all toasted and I watched them walk away already hugging each other, I couldn't believe she finally met her match.

And then, something I didn't expect to happen, a strong feeling making me want to go to the middle of the dance floor, even when I wanted to fight it, it was like my feet were walking alone, it was like I had no control, my Wolf moved inside me, he wanted control, and even though I didn't believe it, it was happening, I was finding my mate. My eyes quickly scanned all the possibilities around me, while my legs continued towards the center, but it was when my eyes fixed exactly in front of me, that I completely lost my breath. The fog became thick, and it was as if everything else from the dance had disappeared, it was as if nothing else mattered, the air became thin and difficult to breathe, and my heart was beating so hard that it was the rhythmic sound of the beats that I heard inside my head, my breathing was almost small gasps, and my eyes were now fixed on the body that was positioned right in front of me, and what was already obvious, and completely feared happened.

It was Claire.

She was standing about three steps in front of me, her face a mixture of confusion and astonishment, and my wolf took control just as her eyes also brightened, and our mouths spoke together.

"Mates." At that moment, my body was flooded with an intense and strong feeling of love, passion, desire, protection, and peace. I wanted to hug her and not let go, I wanted to hold her in my arms and make her the happiest woman in the world. The sensation was so strong that I felt as if I were floating as if my body were as light as air.

Clair looked at me with wide eyes, scared, and unlike the other couples who were leaving the room. We stood still, facing each other.

I was so afraid of what would come next that I didn't dare move.

And then she opened her lips, she was going to say something, and as if bile rose in her throat, she swallowed and closed it again, took a deep breath, opened her lips, and this time she said.

"I ask for your rejection,"

Part 2/3, hold your hearts...

You're all waiting for it, right? Or was anyone got surprised? tell me what you think it's coming next? Ansioux?