Page 16 of Rise of the Alpha

Zeke

Fuck,shesmelledgood.All I wanted was to pull her into my arms and kiss her. But I can’t. She’s Blaine’s fucking mate, a wolf herself, and I’m a fucking ferret. Any chance I had with her is shot, especially when she finds out it was me in the woods. When she went on about how I felt familiar to her, I thought I was going to shit my pants.Could she tell?

I knew the guys were in the cafeteria waiting on me, so that’s where I took off like a mouse running from the alley cat. Walking in, I go through the line and grab some food before taking my seat at the table across from Blaine. He still has a pissed-off look on his face as he scowls at both Jude and me. Jude, the fucking goof he is, simply laughs and keeps eating like it’s not phasing him a bit.

“Umm… I just ran into your… mate… when I left the dorm.” God, it still pains me to say that word. He quickly shoots his head up at me with a panicked, worried look on his face.

“Is she okay? How the fuck did she look? Is she still there?” he barks out in rapid succession.

“She looked okay, tired. She, umm, didn’t have any shoes on. Said something about running out and forgetting them.”

“What?” He drops his head into his hands, then runs his fingers through his hair. I can tell this shit is tearing him up. Hell, it is me too.

“Look man, what happened in the woods that day never would’ve if I knew she was your mate. We’ve been friends, fuck, best friends for so long, there’s no way I would ever do anything to fuck up our friendship. Hell, you guys have been there with me when others wouldn’t after finding out what I am.” He lifts his head and stares at me; hell, even Jude is paying attention now.

“I know,” comes from him softly.

“I just want you to know I understand the mate bond, that’s why I’m keeping my distance, even though I feel like there’s this force pulling me towards her. Each time I’ve left her, it feels like there's a dagger stabbing right through my heart, slicing it in half. So, I’m promising you I’m doing my best to stay away from her, even at my expense.”

“You’re a fucking idiot, Z, and you too, Blaine. I’m telling both of you right fucking now, I will not stop. I’m attracted to her too, a draw to her just as intense as both of you dicks claim to have. But it’s not only her, it's her rainbow bright roommate too. Hell, if it wasn’t for you coming in like a macho fucking prick. ‘You mate, mine’,”Jude rants, his voice growing louder and ending with a Tarzan impersonation before continuing, “I would've gotten lucky. So I’m telling you right now, I’m following through and figuring out this pull I have to them.”

Blaine reaches his arm out, sending his plate flying across the table onto the floor, before standing and storming out of the cafeteria. His pissed-off antics catch the attention of everyone seated around us.

“What the fuck is your problem, Jude? That’s his fucking mate. You need to get over it and step back just like I am,” I say through gritted teeth.

“No, you can be a fucking pansy but I’m not. I’m fed up with this shit. I have to back away because she’s his mate when I have a connection too? Fuck that, man. You can be a sorry ass, whiny bitch if you want, but I’m fighting for what I want, and I want both of them,” he stands from the table, taking his plate in his hands.

Reaching out, I take hold of his arm, “Jude…”

“No, fuck you, man. Hell, I was even going to talk to the two of you about sharing. We’re fucking supes, man. The two of you are so caught up on her being his mate, that y’all have forgotten that it’s common to have more than one mate. The two of you need to take your heads out of your asses long enough to think about each of us having a pull to her. She could be mated to more than just Blaine. So screw him and screw you, Z.” He storms off in the same direction as Blaine.

Could it be? Could I be drawn to her as well because she’s my mate?

What would she see in me? I’m a fucking prey animal, and she is a predator. She would only want to surround herself with strong mates who could protect her, like a demon and an Alpha wolf, not a ferret.

I don’t have a chance in hell.

No longer wanting to be a show for those seated around us who’ve heard bits and pieces of our conversation, I get up, leaving my plate on the table, and walk out of the cafeteria. Needing to blow off some steam and knowing the cages aren’t open at this time of the day, I head to the gym. I need to punch something, and I don’t want to run into my roommates while I have this rage burning through my body. I love them like brothers, and I’ve never been jealous of them, but right now, I am. I wish like hell my shifter was one worthy to be with the goddess I’m drawn to.

Walking into the gym, I look at the boxing ring, and my spirits lift a little.Fucking Jesse Davis is in the ring.The asshole went to the same school as the three of us and took any shot he had at reminding me how weak of a shifter I was after he caught me mid-shift when I was fifteen. Since that day, he took joy in belittling me, reminding me of how weak I was. Little did he know, I may be a prey shifter, but no one can fight like me. I hold back all my strength for the cages, but he’s caught me at the right time, and he’s the perfect person to take my frustrations out on.

He turns his head to the left, just as I’m stepping into the ring.

“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Itty Bitty. What the fuck you doing here?” he mocks.

“Same as you, Jesse. Looking to spar. Want to take the little prey shifter on?” I bait him, knowing he wouldn’t turn it down.

“Your fucking funeral. Let’s go.”

Well, this will lift my spirits some. Time to show this fucker what a prey animal can do.

He doesn’t see my fist coming until it hits him square in the face. Fuck yeah! There’s no one to stop me from beating the ever-loving shit out of him.

Blaine

What the fuck is wrong with my friends?

What part of ‘she is my mate’ are they not understanding? What am I going to do? It’s normal for wolves and other supes to have more than one mate. I know that, but I’m not ready to share her. Not yet anyway. I just found her. I haven’t even had a chance to apologize for how strong I came on, kiss her properly, or introduce her to my wolf.

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