The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 130: Chapter 130

Josie’s POV
I sat staring into the lake, my legs crossed beneath me, listening to the sounds of the leaves rustling in the wind, the sun shining down on me, feeling thoroughly miserable. Today should have been a special day. Today should have been a day of celebration. I should have been rejoicing with my family. But instead, I was out here, alone, feeling as though my heart had been torn into pieces. I didn’t have the willpower to stand up, let alone go back and face my family. How did I tell them, my mother and father, who wanted the best for me and my brothers, that my mate, the one who was supposed to love me unconditionally, had just rejected me point blank and for the most ungodly reason there was. I tried to hold the tears back. I stared miserably into the water.
It was my eighteenth birthday and I had yet to get my wolf. I should have gotten her at midnight but as the clock ticked over, nothing happened. My mother, God bless her heart, tried her best to reassure me. “Honey, I didn’t get my wolf until much later, don’t stress” and I had stared at her mutely, feeling nauseous. My father had wrapped his arm around my mother and added with a smile “I loved your mother regardless of if she had a wolf or not. I’m sure you’ll get yours but even if you don’t, the right mate will come along and love you for you. I’m sure of it sweetheart.”
I had no choice but to go back to sleep. Now, I sat here, watching the party preparations, my heart filled with misery. There were so many guests, visiting Alpha’s and Luna’s. An hour ago, the most delicious scent had caught my attention. It smelled like gingerbread, my favorite smell in the world. I loved Christmas. Gingerbread men were my favorite food. My mouth had watered. I had followed the smell out of the pack house, dodging the omegas who were busy with putting up decorations, sniffing the air eagerly. I might not have had my wolf, but I knew enough to know that this could be the scent of my mate. I still possessed a sensitivity to hearing and smell.
I practically skipped outside, my eyes scanning the crowd of people arriving with eagerness. My brothers were away, doing training at different packs but would be here later. I followed the scent, to the outskirts of the forest, where he had been waiting. My eyes lit up. The man had been handsome. Devastatingly so. My heart had skipped a beat. He was older, perhaps by two or three years. He had Sandy blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and broad shoulders, towering over me with his tall frame. I had never seen a man so beautiful before and every instinct inside of me was begging me to throw myself at him. I was just about to do so, when I saw him rake his gaze over me and a look of disdain came over his face, halting me in my tracks.
“Wait” he snarled.
I hesitated. Why did he sound so angry? So cold? We were mates, weren’t we? I could tell by the tone of his voice and the authoritativeness of it that he was an Alpha. Only I wasn’t certain which pack.
“I don’t understand” I stammered.
His eyes turned glacial. He motioned towards me. “Look at you,” he said, his lips turned down. I looked down at myself. I was clad in comfortable clothing, my typical denim shorts, and a loose loose-flowing shirt. I was barefoot, my long red and brown hair cascading down my shoulders. I didn’t understand what he was getting at. I wasn’t the type to wear dresses, finding them way too constricting and uncomfortable. I had always been a bit of a tomboy.
“You look like a hoyden,” he said disgustedly “and bigger than you should be” he added callously.
Ouch. I was curvier than average shifters, but I took after my mother’s frame. I had never been too self-conscious about it, not until now. I looked back down at myself uncertainly. It was strange. Most of the boys in my pack seemed to like my curves, but this man didn’t. I swallowed hard.
“I um” I stammered, feeling tears coming to the surface.
He snorted, sniffing the air. His eyes narrowed. I flinched. “You don’t even have a wolf,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re not worthy to be an Alpha’s mate.”
“I’m the daughter of an Alpha,” I said dumbly.
He laughed “Be that as it may” he said mockingly, clearly disbelieving it “I am not going to be mated with the likes of some fat, plain, wolf-less female. Alpha’s daughter or not. I already have a girlfriend back home and she’s far more suitable to be my Luna” he added, digging the knife in deeper.
I could only look at him helplessly as he took another step forward and grasped my arms, tightly, painfully, his nails digging into my flesh. I knew that he would leave bruises on my skin, but I was past caring. I sucked in a breath. Why did he hate me? The moon goddess was meant to give you a mate that loved you beyond compare. Like my father loved my mother. Was this some sort of mistake? Shouldn’t his wolf want me? I could feel my body shaking violently. He gave a low growl, his eyes flashing black.
I waited for it. The rejection. I had read up on that too. I knew that it could cause excruciating pain. That it severed the mate bond. It hurt so bad to think that this man, didn’t want me. I could feel the tears threatening to break forth. He seemed to be wrestling with himself. I stared up at him, waiting. He swore, letting go of my arms, his eyes flashing between black and blue, his wolf seemingly attempting to take control to the man’s annoyance.
“God Damnit” he hissed, clenching his hands into fists and looking at me infuriated, like this was all my fault “I want nothing to do with you, but my wolf is insistent that you stay my mate. Rejecting you would only weaken us” he snarled ” and I’m willing to take that risk, but he isn’t. If you tell anyone that we are mates, I’ll kill you” he added darkly and I knew that he meant it, nodding quietly as he gave another growl of exasperation, before turning and stomping away, every thud of his footstep sounding final, before I took stock and turned around, feeling a desperate desire to get away, from everything and anyone, taking off for the one sanctuary that was mine, that nobody ever went to, the lake.
“I don’t even know his name” I murmured, picking up a pebble and throwing it mindlessly across the water, watching it skip across and then slowly sink beneath the surface of the water “but he sure as hell doesn’t want me” I added with a sniff.
Time was passing. I knew that the party was going to be prepared soon, that I would be expected to be dressed at least to a reasonable standard, but it was like I couldn’t force my body to move. If my mother and father knew I had been rejected, they would be so disappointed in me. I must be lacking something, if my own mate despised me, I thought sadly. I wiped the tears from my eyes, watching the sun beginning to set. I had been out here for hours. If I waited any longer, no doubt mother would send a search party. I got up, standing awkwardly on my bare feet, the earth feeling soft underneath, grounding me.
“Josie” I heard my mother’s voice and resolutely composed myself.
I bent down and grabbed some water in my hands, splashing it on my face to get rid of the splotches. “Josie, where are you, there you are” she exclaimed, her voice filled with amusement as she put her hands on her hips and regarded me fondly “I should have known I would find you here” she added softly.
My mother was so beautiful, with her long dark hair and chocolate brown eyes. Her curves were emphasized by the maxi dress she wore, and she had the loveliest smile. I gave her a guilty look. “Sorry, I’ll go get ready,” I said quickly as she laughed.
“It is your party, so I’m sure you’ll be forgiven for being fashionably late” she teased and then came closer, looking solemn. “I’m sorry that you didn’t get your wolf today,” she said quietly “and I know how disappointed you must be, but I promise you that it will happen. You just have to be patient.”
She wrapped her arms around me and held me tight as I breathed in her familiar scent and the light perfume she wore. I closed my eyes. “I know” I whispered, the lie getting stuck in my throat “I love you mother” I added.
“I love you Josie, my precious girl” she added lovingly “and your younger brothers will be back soon from their uncle’s pack with them” she said with a hint of laughter “if they haven’t worn them out.”
I giggled in spite of myself. My brothers were a handful. My mother stroked my hair. I wished I could have stayed there, but I forced myself to take a step back. “I’ll go get ready and meet everybody in the marquee” I said firmly, and she smiled.
“Your father and I will be waiting for you. Take all the time you need. You only turn eighteen once” she said, a hint of sadness in her voice, that made me wonder, once more, about the past that she tried to keep from us, although we had caught little snippets here or there, to know it had not been a pleasant one. I felt bad for her, as I turned and walked away, heading to the pack house. My mother was the nicest, kindest woman I knew, and I was glad that she had met my father who loved her beyond reason. I wished someday that I would have the same.