Secret Plans

Leon’s POV


“The day just drags on and on, when will this torture *end!?*” Beck whines like a pup, throwing his head back and huffing loudly. He flops backwards into his office chair, sliding as far down as he could without falling to the floor. I almost couldn’t even see his eyes behind his beta desk.

“All this paperwork is absolute BULLSHIT.” Candela howls, scratching her neck as she tosses a small pile of papers onto an even larger pile of papers. She raises an eyebrow, “I mean I know we are doing this the day *before*…. But Is all this even *necessary* for an Alpha ceremony?”

The office door opens suddenly, and my Father steps in with a hand tucked into his pocket. “Yes- it is.” He replies firmly, simply. The room goes silent, Beck immediately sits up and straightens his posture like a pup that just got caught doing something sneaky. As always. He is terrified of my Dad.

“When I had my Alpha ceremony we did *twice* the paperwork. *Although-* that was because I had already found my mate by then.” He crosses his arms over his chest, before poker facing in my direction. “Speaking of, son- when are you going to take Alessia as your chosen mate?”

“With all due respect Alpha Kai, may I be excused?” Candela interrupts, with an irritated expression. She eyes me with a ‘don’t incriminate yourself’ look. “I need a break and it seems that this… is a private discussion.” She gestures back and forth between my Father, and then me. I *really* don’t want to be interrogated right now.

“You are **both** excused.” He waves his hand towards the door, and steps to the side so they are able to exit the office.

“Thank you, Alpha.” She stands and bows quickly, before yanking Beck’s arm for him to follow her. “Come on, little brother.” Beck shakes his head over his shoulder at me sympathetically as he trails out the door right behind Candela.

“Thank you. Alpha Kai.” Beck waves and smiles nervously, before closing the door once more. Leaving my Father and I alone, in my temporarily quiet office.

*’Great- this conversation **again.**‘* I think to myself, feeling irked. Jasper scoffs internally before commenting with a bitchy tone, *’Fifth time this week, not sticking around to hear this one.’* before retreating into the blank space of my consciousness.

It had been three weeks since that night by the pond with Octavia. We exchanged numbers after she woke up from her little snooze and we ended up meeting up for coffee and dinner a few times. In-between my hours at the bar of course, and just before her summer classes began.

We haven’t completed the mating process yet, and agreed to keep us a secret from *everyone.* Even our friends, but most of all our crazy parents.

I have a romantic surprise planned for later tonight. We were both ready to mate fully, we can’t keep
our wolves from each other any longer. We had done our best to take this ‘slow’ so far. Although, in werewolf culture most destined mates can’t resist the natural heat this long. maybe a day or two at most.

Fortunately we aren’t constantly in each other's space, so we are able to hold off. I will admit that it doesn’t help at all that *all I ever think about anymore is her.*

Truthfully the only reason I waited at all is because I want to make her first time special, and I want to treat every single part of her right.

Well there is also the issue of me being an Alpha- she doesn’t even know yet. My Father won’t allow me to take a random female, from an outside pack, as my Luna. So I will complete the Mate process before revealing her to Him, at the Alpha ceremony, that way he can’t make me reject her.

“Leon.” My Father snapped suddenly, pulling me away from my thoughts about my secret getaway I had planned for Octavia and I.

“Sorry, I was lost in thought.” I said flatly, attempting to keep from revealing I had anything to hide from him.

“Stressing about your ceremony?” He shifts around the seat in front of my desk, before taking a seat. He sits his head on his fist, watching me like prey.

Why did my father always look at me like some type of toy?

“Yeah, I guess.” I brush him off, turning around and stapling together a packet of information on catering.

“Listen son, Alessia would make a great mate. Shes strong, intelligent, and beautiful. Besides, you’re twenty four and haven’t found your destined mate.” He rambles, trying to convince me. I push his voice into the background and continue to fumble through the papers in front of me.

The fury in my mind spreads to my chest, making it feel sore and hot as he continues.

“Most wolves find their mates around seventeen-“

“Dad. Beck hasn’t found his mate and he’s twenty one. Don’t make me do something I would regret.” I snap, and try to recuperate. *I wish he would just understand what I want.*

“Beck is a Beta!” He slams his fist down on my desk, making the cup of pens on the corner rattle and fall over. Nothing he does surprises me anymore. “YOU ARE AN ALPHA. The continuation of our bloodline is more important than some silly woman chosen by a smiting goddess!” He points his finger in my face, his dark eyes fuming with anger.

I take a deep breath, with a lousy attempt at holding in my *seething* rage. My heartbeat races, My wolf stirs and growls deeply. Something inside feels as if it will snap at any second, like a dog close to freeing itself from the chains that have held it down for years.

“You WILL mate with Alessia AND THAT'S THE END OF IT.” He huffs and growls, storming out of my office and down the steps of the packhouse. I stand blankly, the hair on the back of my neck still standing straight up.

*’Once I’m Alpha, that's the end of it. **all of it.** no more telling me what to do, who to mate, what to want… I will chose for myself and **my pack**.’* I think to Jasper, storming out of my office and down the steps. He simply growls in agreement. *’After the ceremony, it will be over for him.’*

As I reach the final step, already dripping in sweat from holding in all my feelings towards my father, I slide my black t-shirt off and toss it to the side.

“Hey!” I hear an *annoyingly* familiar voice. “Well- at least it smells like my sexy *mate*.” I turn to see a dolled up Alessia looking up at me, with doe eyes. She held my shirt in one hand, and had her opposite hand on her hip to complete the sassy pose she stood with.

“I *am not* your mate. **Alessia.**” I scoffed, fed up with all the shit that is happening right now. I ran a hand over my face, before turning to walk away from her.

“Wait- Leon! Where are you going?!” She yelps, trying to grab my arm. I slowly turn to her, an angry lump growing in my throat. *’This whore better not touch us..’* Jasper warns, growing more enraged by every second that passes.

“Come on baby… let's go out on a date tonight!” She rubs her hands on my bare torso, attempting to stand on her tip toes and kiss me. Pins and needles attack my skin, bringing up vomit from the pit of my stomach. “Maybe we can have a little fun afterwards..”

Before she can go too far I forcefully grab her wrists, and shove her away from me. “Don’t *fucking* touch me.” Jasper briefly leaps forward, with a bark and a scowl. She falls to the carpet, and looks up at me as if she might cry.

I immediately turn and roar through the front door, almost ripping it from its hinges. I bolt into the woods and shift as I pass through the trees, shredding my jeans to pieces. I allow Jasper to take over for the run, as I mindlinked Beck for some spare skinny jeans and a t-shirt.

After a while of running, Jasper stops near a small clearing to wait for Beck to arrive.

Jasper rolls in the grass, before chasing a golden butterfly back onto the edge of the wood. Where Beck stood in human form, with his arms crossed and his brows cocked.

*”Bro, what the fuck happened? Alessia is on a rampage back at the packhouse, she’s cursing and screaming at the female omegas.”* Beck midlinks me, before I shift back to my human form. He passes me a few pieces of folded clothes.

“The same as usual, she tried to corner me man. I can’t do it anymore, that bitch drives me nuts.” I shake my head and shimmy into the dark, torn jeans he handed me.

“Your father won’t stop until you mate someone, in fact he probably won’t stop until you mate her.” Beck looks at me with a solemn expression. “This situation just sucks all around bro.”

“I agree, but it doesn’t matter right now. I have something to do later, can you cover for me?” I slide my shirt over my head before shaking some of the sweat and dirt out of my hair. I am seriously going to need a shower later.

“What do you want me to tell him this time?” He rolls his eyes, obviously annoyed. Beck always has my back, no matter how much he hates my dad. That's why I’m going to trust him as my beta, once I become the alpha.

“Just tell him I'm at the Tavern, doing payroll or something.” I chuckle, as we make our way back into the woods. There was no way *in hell* That I was letting my dad get in my way this time. For the first time in my life I have something worth fighting him for, and I won’t let her go.