Be Alpha's Mate Again?

The time when we were together, felt as clear as the present.

I stepped out of work, tired but ready to head home when I spotted Desar. He was standing by the entrance, cool and calm as always, dressed in his usual suit, looking every bit the picture of stoic charm that had once drawn me in. I used to rush to his side, heart pounding, feeling grateful he was mine. But tonight, that spark wasn’t there. I sighed, clutching my bag a bit tighter, and turned toward the station instead.

Not one to let things go, Desar quickly fell into stride beside me. “It’s Kyle’s birthday tonight,” he said, voice smooth and composed. “He invited us to dinner.”

I stopped and glanced up at him. “Sure,” I replied. It didn’t matter much, but it saved me from the awkward silence of the train ride home.

In the car, I noticed the faint scent of jasmine lingering in the air. It was Elize’s scent. The familiar floral note stirred a sharp sting inside, knowing it clung to him from their time together, just another reminder of her constant presence in his life.

I forced a casual tone, “Do you like the smell of jasmine?”

Desar’s eyes flickered, though he tried to keep his voice steady. “It’s… okay.”

“Really?” I replied quietly.

The scent seemed to linger on him often enough that I wondered if it wasn’t intentional on her part, a mark of her claim in a way I’d never dared.

If someone from the pack smells him, they would think they're mates. But their pack members already knew the truth, yet they vouch for their “love”.

At the restaurant, Kyle and the others were already gathered. Desar walked straight to Elize, who looked up at him, visibly pleased.

She acted surprised to see me. “Maisie,” she greeted, overly polite, “it’s good you could make it.”

I smiled, but my conversation was directed to Kyle. “Thanks for the invite, Kyle,” I said, nodding to him. “I didn’t have time to bring a gift, though.”

Kyle waved a hand. “Don’t worry, Maisie. Desar’s covered it.”

I resisted the urge to laugh. Even this was taken care of for me, an afterthought.

The seating arrangement felt deliberate—me across from Desar, with Elize beside him, her chair angled just slightly toward his. I chose to ignore the awkwardness, pretending the slight didn’t bother me as I focused on the meal in front of me.

While I kept quiet, Desar laughed and joked with them as if I weren’t even there. I noticed the way he peeled shrimp for Elize, carefully setting them on her plate, a small smile softening his usually impassive face. I felt a dull ache watching him. He’d never done that for me, not once. But with her, he acted like it was second nature, a familiar, affectionate gesture he didn’t even think twice about.

“Don’t forget about Maisie,” Kyle jokes, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Can’t have you favoring one over the other, Desar.”

Desar glanced up at me, looking momentarily confused as if he’d just realized I was there. “Order another plate,” he said. “I’ll peel some for you too.”

I took a breath, my heart sinking as I shook my head. “No need. I don’t like shrimp.”

He raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. “What about fish?”

“I don’t like it either,” I replied, tone steady.

“Chicken?”

“Desar, it’s fine,” I said, more firmly this time, my voice devoid of emotion. “I don’t like anything you’re offering.”

He looked genuinely thrown as if he couldn’t fathom that I’d turned down his small attempt to appease me. I didn’t even bother meeting his gaze, focusing instead on my glass, the ice clinking softly as I took a slow sip.

Elize, ever so gracious, placed a hand on Desar’s arm, glancing over at me with a faint, almost pitying smile. “Maisie, please, don’t be upset. I’m sure Desar didn’t mean to forget about you.”

It took everything not to laugh at her mock concern, her tone just patronizing enough to remind me that, in her mind, I was merely the complication between her and Desar. My heart hardened, the small cracks from the past months widening with every second I sat at that table, feeling like an outsider among his closest friends.

I excused myself as the evening stretched on, stepping out onto the balcony to escape the suffocating atmosphere. The cool air was a relief, and for a brief moment, I let myself acknowledge the truth I’d been running from. Desar’s life, his world, was one where I would always be on the sidelines, and Elize would always be at the center, like a magnetic force pulling him back, time and again.

A few minutes later, Desar joined me, shutting the door quietly behind him. “What’s wrong?” he asked, voice low. “You’ve been distant all evening.”

I shook my head, refusing to look at him. “Nothing’s wrong. I just don’t belong here, Desar.” I finally met his gaze, letting him see the weight of what I’d realized. “Not here, not with you, not anymore.”

His jaw tightened. “Maisie, you’re overreacting.”

“Maybe,” I said, feeling the numbness settle in. “But maybe I’m finally seeing things for what they are.”

“Seeing that we are mates? Everyone knows that,” he continued.

“It wasn't about everyone knowing it! You're acting like Elize's mate more than mine. Of course, you knew that and you never cared about my feelings,” I bursted out.

“Stop this nonsense Maise. Why are you comparing yourself to Elize? You're my mate. That should be enough for you.” Yet, just having the title is not something I could hold on to.

Any minute, a political marriage between Desar and Elize is not impossible. Desar is Alpha of the Stanley pack and Elize is the daughter of the previous pack -perfect match from the moon goddess.

“Come on inside, it's freezing out here.”

With that, I obeyed my Alpha and went back in.