You Are Mine

REX

I was on my way to pick up some coffee from Starbucks when my cell phone buzzed in my pocket. I looked at the screen and saw that my mother was calling.

Great.

I had been avoiding her the last few days, so I didn’t have a choice but to answer the phone.

“Mom, hi,” I greeted.

“Darling! Finally! I’ve been trying to reach you for days! Where were you? Never mind, I suppose you had some all-important alpha business to attend to.”

I rolled my eyes at my mother’s sarcasm.

“I have fabulous news, dear,” she gushed. “You remember Damian from school? Well, he’s alpha of his mate’s pack now, as you’ve probably heard.

“Being mated to an alpha she-wolf! He completely lucked out!”

I started zoning out as my mom kept on rambling when the sweet smell of vanilla and rose drifted through the air. Walking straight toward me was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

She caught me staring and I decided to walk in her direction. As I approached her, she quickly looked at the doors of the mall and slipped inside.

“Anyway,” my mom continued. “What I wanted to tell you was that his sister-in-law has yet to find her mate. I hear she’s beautiful and she’s visiting her cousin, who’s a pack member here.

“Being from an alpha family, she’ll be a perfect Luna. So, I want you─” my mom kept babbling before I cut her off.

“Mom, I’m really not interested in meeting Damian’s sister-in-law. I have to go. Something important has come up.”

I heard my mother mumbling something about being ungrateful before ending the call.

I kept my eyes on the mystery woman and followed her from a distance. When she went into Starbucks, I decided to see if I could subtly get her attention.

It wasn’t difficult to spot her. I just had to follow her incredible scent. She was meeting Faelan, one of my pack members and the sister of my beta Robert.

Since he was my second-in-command, I knew his family quite well.

At one point she looked straight at me, and I knew it. I had found my mate. And I wasn’t leaving this mall before I met her.

KAT

The next morning, I was relieved to see that Roman wasn’t back from work yet. I got out of bed, took a shower, and threw on jeans and a blouse with some pumps.

Faelan and I were meeting each other at the mall for coffee. And afterward, I was going to pack the last of my things.

The mall was a short ten-minute drive, and I was there in no time. I looked around for a parking spot and found one near the entrance.

Leaving my car, I briefly surveyed my surroundings before crossing the road.

Nearing the entrance, I saw a tall (extremely so), handsome guy talking on his cell phone. He was clearly staring in my direction, and I felt my face heat up.

He was the epitome of gorgeous. His dark hair fell just above his light eyes and a fit body was showcased by his tight-fitting jeans and white T-shirt.

I stared back at him, almost bumping into the person in front of me. When I saw him coming my way, I hurriedly made my way to the Starbucks and slipped inside.

Faelan was already there and waiting at a table near the window, sipping on her coffee.

“Thanks for waiting, Fae,” I joked after greeting her.

“Oh, Kat, you know how badly I need my latte in the morning! And you would not believe the morning I have had!” she whined.

She went on to rant about some idiot driver who cut her off and nearly made her crash into him. Then she continued by complaining about the blind date she had the previous evening.

“I wish my parents would just butt out of my love life, you know?” she frowned.

“I’m more than capable of finding my own dates! Besides, their idea of the ideal man is not mine at all!

“I’ll meet my special someone, even if it means I need to go on a date with each and every man in town. I really don’t need their interference.

“You should have seen the guy last night, Kat,” she grumbled in annoyance.

“Turns out he wasn’t my original date. My original date met his m─, uh, girlfriend only a few hours prior and didn’t want to cancel our date so he sent his friend instead!

“He barely talked to me and was on his phone the whole time, which meant another wasted night for me. I could’ve caught up on some Netflix!”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, Fae, but are you sure it wasn’t just an excuse? Who does that?”

“Excuse me? What are you trying to say, Kat? That I’m not good enough? Not pretty enough?” Faelan suddenly gasped.

She put her hand over her heart and feigned a hurt voice. “Or are you telling me that I’m not interesting enough?”

“Oh, stop it! You know I don’t mean it like that! It’s just a bit odd, that’s all,” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“Kat, you know I believe in soulmates, and luckily he wasn’t mine.” She smiled. “Speaking of, when you come and live with me, we’ll be hunting for yours and mine together!”

“I don’t believe in that, Fae, but I can’t wait to move in together. I just hope I’ll be able to see you every day without strangling you,” I stated, pretending to be concerned.

“Yes, well, I suppose your patience will be tested daily,” she quipped.

“You know, Roman might lock me in my room tomorrow and throw away the key.”

“What now?” Faelan arched an eyebrow.

“He’s not happy about us moving in together,” I sighed.

“That doesn’t surprise me in the least!” Faelan groaned, sipping the last of her latte.

“Yeah, he’s trying to convince me to stay.”

“Well, he can’t make you stay forever. Does he expect you to stay there until he dies? Or does he expect your husband to move into your childhood home with you?” she mocked.

“Besides, the apartment is going to blow your mind!” Faelan gushed. “It’s been painted a light gray with accent walls in each room.

“Mom has already stocked the kitchen, and I made sure there are a few bottles of tequila for margaritas.”

Ugh, I remember the last time we had margaritas. Faelan had made them way too strong, and we’d had killer hangovers the next day.

Of course, Roman got home precisely after I’d had left the bathroom looking like death.

I’d thought that he was going to kill me, but he’d just grumbled something about Faelan being a bad influence.

“Hmm, I think I should make them from now on. I almost had alcohol poisoning the last time,” I said, pulling a face.

“Kat, you’re such a party pooper! I’m going to turn you into a party animal within a few weeks. Mark my words.”

Having a hangover each weekend…I can’t wait.

“I know what you need,” Faelan said, starting to look around the café. “A date! Hmm, great specimen at 9 o’clock,” she whispered.

I slowly turned my head in the direction she indicated and spotted the guy in question.

The same Greek god from the parking lot was at the counter paying for his order. He suddenly turned our way and flashed me a brilliant smile.

I was mortified to be caught staring at him. I looked away as fast as I could.

“Do you two know each other?” Faelan gave me a wicked smile. “My, my, Kat. How I have underestimated you!”

“No!” I hissed. “Keep your voice down! I saw him earlier in the parking lot, that’s all.”

“Well, then go introduce yourself! He’s obviously checking you out.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“Don’t be silly!” I chastised her. “Besides, we’re not here to pick up guys.”

“Like I said, party pooper,” Faelan sighed.

There was something about that guy that made me crave him. I wanted him close to me, wanted to get to know him. I looked back in his direction, only to find that he was gone.

Disappointed, I turned back to my friend and resumed listening to her plan of turning me into her, a self-proclaimed party animal.