Annalise POV

Alpha's Hated Mate

Annalise's POV

Do You know that feeling when you want to be anywhere else but you're stuck in one place?

If you don't, lucky you but if you do, same twin. I know that feeling a little too well, that's my situation right now. I'd rather be anywhere in the world than here, I'd rather die than be my parents' little puppet.

As soon as I was done with college, they were ready to pick me up. My parents could barely wait for graduation, they waited for me during my last paper, foreign to my knowledge. I came home the next day, drunk and thoroughly fucked, only to be met by my parents sitting in my apartment. I told them I'd come home right after I was done with Graduation, and they left but didn't trust me. So they came and picked me up on graduation day, with Beta, who convinced them to let me stay the night celebrating with their friends.

It's like they're ready to just give me away to Santiago on a silver platter, my mother has even asked me to throw myself at him. According to her, Beta is the most eligible bachelor in the world. Today, I would have been at home playing some music, and video chatting with my boyfriend but no, Anastasia dragged me to Golden Hunters. I don't know why Beta Santiago won't just tell my parents I'm not good enough to be with him because I lost my wolf in a rebellious act when I was little.

Alpha Adrian's birthday celebration is underway, I'm also invited to the club party tonight and I will be in attendance, for Alpha Adrian, he and I are good friends. Anastasia sits beside me, watching the pool party unfold, there's various age groups in attendance today.

I sigh, my gaze resting on Bets. “Look at him, Anastasia.”

Anastasia sighs, following my gaze. She takes her shades off and grins. “Yes, all those girls throwing themselves at him, and he still wants your dumb ass.”

“Ugh,” I groan. “I can't even look at him.”

“Oh honey, Beta isn't hard to look at.” Someone snorts.

Anastasia and I both veer behind, we didn't notice the chairs were occupied by three girls, one I recognize as Liliana.

“Liliana right?” I ask, simply to confirm, and she nods, putting her drink down.

“You don't know what you're missing,” the other girl laughs.

“Trust me, I'd rather keep missing it.”

“This one actually is sweet,” she pouts, turning to her left where one girl I've seen with Alpha Adrian a few times. “Angel, you should have fallen for Beta instead, he'd have given you the world but you chose Alpha.”

“Cia, don't try me today.” Angel warns.

“You and alpha Adrian used to be a thing?” Anastasia gasps.

Ciara nods, “Of course, she's the reason his mate left. He actually sent her away for Angelica here,”

“She was annoying,” Angel shrugs, sitting up straight. “But, she had the qualities of a true luna, we just didn't see beyond her weakness. She was kind, patient, and a loyal friend. But it doesn't change the fact that Camilla lacked the courage to rule. I was so obsessed with the way Adrian needed me that I couldn't see he loved her more than anything. If I could turn back time, I would do some things differently but the dick is good so, I'm not saying I regret it all.”

“Oh, and where is she?” I ask.

“I heard she started her own pack,” Liliana breathes.

Angel jerks off her seat, her eyes widening as she veers to Liliana, then Ciara and back. Liliana nods at her with a smug on her face. Rachael, Santiago's little sister runs past us, her gorgeous new hair catching my attention.

“Rae!” I call out, making her halt instantly.

“Annalise,” she grins, slowly walking back.

Cia snarls, glaring at Rachael who glares back at her.

“What's up, you hate me today?” I ask her, seeing as she hasn't come to say to me since my arrival, and neither have I been able to find her.

Rachael and I started off on the wrong foot, but it's okay, I understand she cares for her brother, I respect that and now, our differences are in the past.

“No, I actually miss you but I'm just going inside to see Belle, I miss her more.”

“Alpha's Sister?”

“The one that looks like the moon goddess?” Anastasia adds.

Angel snorts, “Oh, please.”

“Hold on, I'll be back in a minute, I just have to give her something.” Rachael tells me, looking over her shoulder.

“Wait, I have to pee.” I pout, putting out my hand for her to help me up.

Rachael is quick to help me up, and together, we go inside. She heads her way and I head mine, hastily running upstairs to use the bathroom in her bedroom. On my way back outside, I catch a glimpse of Beta, who looks at me, a smile playing on his lips. My initial reaction is to make a run for it before he ruins my day with his smartass remarks but in my attempt to run for it, I end up crashing into Alpha, causing the drink in his hand to spill.

“I'm so sorry Alpha Adrian,” I blurt out, trying to swipe away the wet stains on him.

“Don't worry about it" He assured me, stepping back.

I relax, nodding to the smile he gives me.Beta calls out to Alpha Adrian, and nods into the kitchen. Alpha Adrian sighs, “Come on, let me introduce you to Santiago's biggest fan.”

Fan? I don't ask, instead, I follow him into the kitchen. Sounds of laughter that grace the kitchen, can be heard from the very threshold.

Once in, I notice two women with Beta. Both girls stand tall, looking like runaway models next to each other. I instantly know who they are, but I wait for confirmation, just in case I misplaced the information somewhere in my head.

“Would you look at who I ran into on my way to get the good whiskey.” Beta grins, his grin oddly wider than usual.

“I'm glad you decided to come,” Alpha Adrian lets out.

One of them smiles and the other tenses, her gaze zeroing on me beside Alpha Adrian. “You seem to be in great company,” she grins.

“Why, yes.” Alpha Adrian grins, his arm draping over my shoulder. “This is Annalise,” he drops it. “Annalise, this is Belle, and Mia.” he gestures with his hand, feigning a groan. “Sorry, I mean Beta Mirabelle, and Alpha Camilla, of Silverline.” he murmurs softly.

“Hi,” I wave. “I have heard so much about you,” I truthfully say.

“Good things I hope?” Camilla smiles, this time a little more genuine than previously.

“Of course, as if anything bad would be uttered against you.” Santiago interjects.

“Nice to meet you Annalise,” Camilla, or is it Alpha Camilla? Retorts.

“You age very pretty, so much prettier in person.” Mirabelle grins, and I'm unsure if she truly means it, because this is the first time she has spoken since we walked in.

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I giggle awkwardly. “Thank You,” I managed to say.

These two are simply so gorgeous, immaculate if I'm being precise, and standing here, in my expensive bathing suit and sundress, I feel uncomfortable. On bad days, I'm on a 10/10 confidence level but currently, I feel intimidated.

“Relax, we won't bite.” Mirabelle tells me, her gaze shifting to Camilla. “Well, Alpha Camilla might, but I won't.” she winks.

“Don't start Beta,” Camilla laughs, her eyes shifting towards alpha Adrian. “No one has offered me something to drink, I'm thinking I'll die thirsty here.”

Adrian nods, his gaze not shifting. “Tiago, didn't you offer our guests something?”

“I honestly forgot, thought they weren't guests, you know, they look so much like two girls I used to babysit a few years ago” Santiago jokes.

“Understandable, but God forbid Silverline's Alpha and Beta die of thirst at my pack, I'll fix you some drinks.” Alpha Adrian smiles.

“Hmm, how kind of you Alpha Adrian.” Mirabelle retorts.

“Please,” Alpha Adrian begins, a hand glued on his chest. “Call me Adrian.”

The sarcasm is killing me, I want to laugh but I don't, I don't know them well enough to judge their reaction to me laughing at how unnatural they're being with each other.

Alpha Adrian goes to the pantry, emerging with a bottle of wine that Camilla frowns out. Beta Santiago is assisting him with the glasses when we all go silent, heeding to the yelling outside the kitchen. Camilla and Mirabelle are asking me about what my major was, and which class was my favorite when suddenly, a piercing scream fills the room. Camilla's smile drops, and she walks away, with Mirabelle mumbling a "fuck," underneath her breath.

When she follows her friend, I too follow her, along with Alpha and Beta. Camilla is paused by the staircase, a little girl tightly wrapped in her arms while she holds another close to her, her gaze settled on Angel, Veronica and another girl with them.

“Shh baby, what's wrong?” Camilla whispers, stroking the back of the child hugging her waist.

“I was just playing with Arieya, and tried to make her drink juice because daddy asked me to when he went on call but I accidentally spilt it on her,” the girl quivers, pointing to Angel. “And–and she started yelling, I'm sorry mommy, I even said sorry to her.” she sobs.

“Oh, I see. Stop crying, go to Tia Belle.” Camilla tells her, wiping her tears. Once dry, the little girl moves to Mirabelle, who hugs her tightly, caressing her hair.

“Oh shit,” Mirabelle murmurs.

Both Beta and Alpha are resting against a wall, watching from a distance as Camilla approaches Angel, the little girl's tears still wet on her palm that she holds supine. “It's too early to make children cry, don't you think so?” she asks

Angel rolls her eyes, “That little girl ruined my bikini, look at it,” she gestures to the purple stain on her shite bikini. “It is stained now, I didn't even yell at her, I warned her nicely and she is crying dramatically.”

Camilla looks at the hand she wiped the girl 's tears on, and at Angel, slapping her in one swift motion that makes everyone flinch as the slap echoes the room. The baby in her arms begins to cry, mumbling something, Camilla shifts her into her other hand, holding her against her body.

Angel caresses her cheek, “Listen here, you–”

“No,” Camilla smacks Angel. “You listen,” she growls, attempting to soothe the girl in her arms by shaking her. “The next time you can yell at kids, they better not be mine because I swear to you right now, right here, that I will massacre your ass on the spot and dance on your grave with a smile.” she softly asserts, “Is that fucking clear?

No, it's not?” she pouts.

“It better be, let it sink in because if you think for a second that I will sit silently, watching my daughters cry, you've got another thing coming sweetheart, I will rain fire on you.”

“Beautiful,” a deep voice says. Mirabelle exhales, relief evident as she stares at the doorway. Kingston, a former crush of mine stands at the threshold, startled at the sight.

Both Angel and Camilla are looking at him with questioning eyes. Me? Not so much, I'm just thinking he got hotter, Andrew was a catch in school, literally the only reason I ever visited his sister in pre-school.

Camilla steps away from Angel, the little girl in her arms now sobbing a different word. She meets him at the door, the first thing he does he leans in to kiss her cheek, and takes the crying child from her, and she instantly quiets down, resting on his chest.