1

Charlie

There is a moment right when you wake up that there is peace. Pure peace. It's my favorite part of the day. The small moment when you open your eyes and your mind is blank, and you forget all of your worries...just for a second, everything is good. Then comes the crash. Where your brain catches up and all of your worries come crashing back. The pain comes in feeling ten times worse than the day before. I woke up with an agonizing headache, like usual. But this time was worse. I slowly got up from my bed, trying not to fall over from being dizzy.

My room was still dark, but the light of the lightning outside provided some light. The rain hitting my window soothed my head. Today was a day like no other. We had a special guest visiting our pack today, but I have no idea who it is. All I know was that Alpha called for all the unmated wolves to the main castle today. This means an alpha from a neighboring pack is looking for a mate. But which one?

I don't plan on finding my mate; I have spent the last few years coming to terms that I won't ever find him, which is okay. Omegas don't get mates unless the moon goddess herself blesses them. Which most aren't. My mother, for example, as beautiful as she is, never found her mate. She settled for my father when they met here at our pack.

Neither of them believed they would find their mates, and they didn't want to be alone their whole lives. So they gave in to each other and mated. Fortunately, over-tie love did grow for them. I grew up watching them be in love and believing that they were mated.

It broke my mother's heart when my father passed. I don't think she's been the same since. She doesn't smile as much; she's not as happy. I know she tries for me, but all I want is for her to be filled with joy again. Truly.

I looked in the mirror and sighed but quickly looked away. I didn't like looking for too long. It just made my insecurities worse than they already were. I had a giant nose; it took up most of my face. But it came from my ethnic background. I had huge curly hair that grew out then down. I had brown skin and brown eyes.

Every day I was reminded just how different I was compared to the other girls and their gentle and more Eurocentric features. I got my features from my father. He was born in the middle east as an omega and sold here. My mother, on the other hand, was considered beautiful. She had the bright blonde hair and the blue eyes I dreamt of having. Maybe then my life would be easier. I finished getting ready and put on the best clothes that I owned to try and fit in with the other wolves when I left.

I walked down to the kitchen, and my mom was standing over the stove cooking our usual breakfast.

"Morning, Mama," I said as I sat down at the dining table, waiting for her to be done.

" I heard some news about who the special guest is." She turned and looked at me.

"Which alpha?"

"The King. Alpha Tyler." My face dropped in disbelief.

The King Alpha Tyle was coming to our pack... for what? There's no way he was coming to find his mate here.

"He is looking for his mate. He's been looking for months and going to different packs and has yet to find them. Blue Lake is his last stop."

Of course, it is.

"Why are they having me go if I am going to be humiliated and made fun of? I experience that daily already; why does it have to be in front of him too?"

I could feel the tears start to rise in my eyes. But I stopped them from falling.

"I know, love, but the faster you go, the faster you can come back. You can eat breakfast later."

She walked to me and kissed me on the forehead, and signaled me to leave. I huffed in annoyance and got up—cheers to my humiliation.

•••••

I walked into the castle, trying to keep my head down and mind my business. I didn't need anyone bothering me, especially today. But of course, no matter how hard I try, it never works. I accidentally bumped into someone, and of course, that someone is Katy. She is the stereotypical white girl and blonde, always trying to get with every guy she can.

"Watch it, Pinocchio, before I feed you to a whale." She sneered at me and rolled her eyes, and continued her conversation.

"Alpha Tyler is the definition of alpha. His body, his face, and his money. I want it. I want it all. And I'm gonna get it. Truly, I wouldn't be surprised if he was my mate; we are perfect for each other."

That was the last thing I heard as I walked to find my seat...which was in the back of the room.

After a few moments, the girls start filing in and taking their seats. Each of them is just as excited as the next. All hoping that they were his mate. News flash, you all can't be his mate. The chatter started to die down as Alpha Black comes out onto the stage with Luna Kerry.

"Today, one of you will be chosen as Alpha Kings Tyler's mate. And I am very honored to say that I am proud of all of my high-class young ladies in here." Alpha spoke. His voice was bold and demanding.

"I have grown very fond of almost all of you, and you all have done a great job helping our pack. Just don't forget about us when one of you high-class ladies becomes queen."

The whole room was filled with chuckles and blushing cheeks. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I just wanted this to be over already...

But at that moment I changed my mind...right on cue the door opened and revealed the most handsome man I have ever seen. He had dark blue eyes that remind you of the ocean and deep brown curly hair. He was wearing a dress shirt with his sleeves rolled up, showing his elbows, but it squeezed everything else in the right places. Showing off all of his muscles and the slightest arm movements, you could see just how his muscles flexed. Right behind him came two other model-type men; I could tell the blonde was his beta, and the other brown-haired boy was his third in command.

I couldn't help but stare at Alpha Tyler as he walked so gracefully to the stage with Alpha Black and the Luna.

"King Tyler, what a pleasure to finally have you on our campgrounds!" Said Luna and reached her hand to shake his.

"It is a great honor, King." Alpha Black butted in and grabbed his hand to shake too.

"No, the pleasure is all mine." King Tyler spoke, and I almost melted; I almost fell to the floor...I had to hold onto my chair.

That was one of the smoothest, sexiest, deepest voices I have ever heard in my life. But I had to shake this feeling; he wasn't mine, so I couldn't desire him the way I am.

"I will let you get started." Alpha Black said with a huge grin on his face and backed away to let King Tyler do what he needed.

"Hello, ladies. I am Alpha King Tyler. And this is Ryan, my third, and Kenny, my beta. I am honored to be here and meet the Blue Lake pack for the first time. I have been on the lookout for my mate for a while now, and I can only hope that they might be here."

Then suddenly, he took a deep breath, and his whole attitude changed, his eyes were flickering from blue to gold, and he starts growling. Uh oh, he caught her scent.

"Mate." He growled and jumps off the stage and starts going through every single row, trying to find his mate's scent.

I knew he would never make it to me, which hurt a lot, but I just sat down in my chair while the rest of the girls were standing in anticipation.

Row after row and thousands of disappointed girls realizing that's not their mate, I feel bad for them...no, not really. A couple of them started screaming and crying and tried to climb on top of King Tyler, yelling,

"It's me! I'm the one," which caused Kenny to run over and snatch them off. He suddenly stopped moving down the row and looked right at Katy Ryan and looks her right in the eyes. They were mates. They had to be. He smelled her, and he squinted his eyes.

"Why do you have my mate's scent on you?" He said lowly, and his eyes started to go black slowly.

"Because I'm your mate. She lifted her hand to touch him, but as soon as her skin touched his, his face turned up in disgust. I decided to find the courage and look up at him, but he was already looking at me, to my surprise. Looking right into my soul.

I looked him right back in the eyes, and the word that I thought would never come out of my mouth was..." mine."

It was so weak and so small that barely anyone heard... except for him. He moved out of the row and slowly started walking towards me, and after what seemed like only seconds, he stood in front of me. The height difference was evident when he was this close.

"What's your name, mate?" He asks loud enough for all the girls to hear, and everyone gasps. I could feel their surprise. I was surprised. I heard the whispers, which didn't help me in believing this was real at all.

"He is going to reject them once he finds out she's an omega" and "What the hell, how could he pass up Katy for Pinocchio?"

He stood there, and he sniffed the air around me.

"Charlie," I thought I sounded confident, but it came out merely a whisper.

"Charlie," he said, trying my name out.

Then all of a sudden Luna starts yelling.

"No! It can't be here!! Why not Katy?! Katy is such a great girl. And that thing you're looking at right now is not worthy enough to be your mate."

I could tell he was getting upset with Luna.

"Why not?" He asked turning to look at her.

"I mean, look at her and look at you. Pinocchio is not fit for anyone! She is an omega."

And at that moment he turned back around and locked eyes with me and then he said something I wasn't expecting.

"Perfect."

I was in shock; he is accepting me as his mate...I never thought that this would happen to me. He turned back around and yelled to his beta, the brown-haired boy.

"Kenny, we are leaving. I have found my mate."

"Yes, Alpha."

He grabbed my hand, and we started walking away towards the door, and just as I thought I was finally able to get out.

"Tyler, I will not let you take that stupid piece of nothing. She is an omega I could give you better." My Alpha yelled, his voice stern, and that put King Tyler over the edge.

He let go of my hand and ran over to Alpha Black, and grabbed him by the throat.

"How dare you disrespect my mate like that! And you have no authority not to call me King; I could take away your little kingdom in a heartbeat!" He started to squeeze tighter "Bow down before my queen and me and say your apologies."

He let go, and Alpha Black slammed into the ground, gasping for air, trying to regain his breath.

"I just might. Kenny." Kenny runs to his side while Ryan is still standing by me, the Delta.

"Kenny has all of these members in this pack get their things. They will be coming with us" Kenny nodded and walked down to the crowd and motioned the other wolves apart of King Tyler's leadership.

"I hope you have learned your lesson, Black. You do not disrespect my mate or me by calling me out of my title. You and your Luna will be treated as an omega in my pack. Go all of you girls go and tell your families and your elders to pack their things. We will be leaving tonight."

All the girls were speechless. No one said anything; they just stood in silence. No one defies the King.

"There is plenty enough room in my pack for all of you. Understood?" And all in unison, they said, "Yes, King."

"Alright, then you are dismissed."

All the girls left quickly the banquet hall to tell their families about this sudden change. Alpha Tyler comes back and takes my hand in his, feeling those sparks run up and down my arm. I have only really heard about stories of other people finding their mates. But now it's real. It's so real. I can't believe it.

"Come with me, my queen; let's get you packed up and ready to go."