The Alpha's Painful Redemption

Today, I didn’t wake up as the same girl I was yesterday.

That girl was unsure of herself, completely lacking confidence, a virgin. My best friend, Demetri Stone wanted to be the first man to ever touch me. I was shocked when he came to me and didn’t believe him right away. Why would the son of our alpha want to have sex with me?

“You might find your mate soon,” Demetri whispered. “Freya, you won’t have as much time for me so I want to always hold a special place. Almost as if a part of you will be mine.”

When he kissed me the world slowed down, time became abstract.

He didn’t exactly make love to me but after a little foreplay, he started off fucking me gently. There was care in his strokes even when they gained speed and were harder.

In the morning Demetri was still in his bed with me. He was holding me against him as if I was his and I kinda wanted to be. I had a crush on him for years but I didn’t believe I’d be lucky enough to be his mate so there was no point in telling him or trying to be anything more than a good friend. Not to mention I’d be terrified of the responsibility of being Luna so that wasn’t something I was after.

I looked at Demetri as his eyes opened. “Good morning,” I said, surprising myself by giving him direct eye contact and not acting awkward after the intimacy we shared last night. There was no reason to be nervous, not with him.

“Morning, Rei,” Demetri said in his sexy morning voice. “We’re going to keep last night between us, right?”

I nodded and sat up. “Yeah,” I cleared my throat. “And you were right, I do feel a lot closer to you now.”

Demetri’s eyes were on me the entire time I got out of bed and slowly got dressed. “I told you it wouldn’t ruin our friendship.” I was afraid of that. “So you honestly don’t want to be my beta?” he asked, for about the fifth time in the last six months. He’d become alpha within the next few years, whenever his father, Alpha Austin felt he was ready. His inner council was something he was already putting a lot of thought into.

I laughed as I shook my head and said, “No, I would hate that and so would the rest of the pack.” I wasn’t exactly well-liked here but it was still my home. Ever since we were kids Demetri always protected me but his special treatment didn’t exactly make things better for me. It gave the other pack members our age a reason to resent me. Whenever Demetri wasn’t around to defend me they were more cruel.

Demetri sat up and said, “Who cares about the pack?” He laughed as I shot him a look, questioning his choice of words. “Wait, I said that wrong, obviously I care about the pack but it’s my decision who leads alongside me. Freya, I’d be the best alpha I could be with you by my side. Would it truly be that bad?”

I was flattered but I couldn’t accept it. “For me, it would,” I said. “I couldn’t be happy in a position like that. I wouldn’t be fulfilled doing anything other than medicine. On top of that, you know how bad my anxiety gets. I’d had anxiety attacks on the regular trying to live up to the position while knowing that so many of our members think I can’t.”

“Alright,” he said and shrugged. “Fine, you’ve convinced me I’ll stop asking but we would have made great partners.” His charming smile warmed my cheeks.

I nodded and tied my shoes.

Like every pack, ours was psychically linked so we could send telepathic messages to each other. My eyes clouded over as I received a mind link from Demetri’s sister Ashley, ‘Freya where are you? Your birthday is tomorrow so I want to go over the plan for your party tonight.’ Ashley was a year younger than me and a good friend since I was so close with her brother. She was so concerned about my party being perfect because this was my nineteenth birthday, which meant I’d officially be able to find my mate.

Demetri smiled at me before I grabbed my bag and left his room with a blushing smile. I looked around quickly, making sure no one saw me leaving. There’s no doubt I’d be shamed by the pack if anyone found out about me having a one-night stand with our future alpha right before I could start my search for my mate. I hoped my fated mate wouldn’t think of me as a slut. It’s not like most people waited to meet their mate before having sex but some people expected it regardless.

I didn’t regret sharing my first time with my best friend.

I spent most of the day with Ashley and my parents but it was hard to try to get Demetri and our amazing sex out of my head. There was no way I was his first but I didn’t mind it.

When night came right before my party began my parents sat me down in our living room. Both my parents had serious expressions on their faces. “Freya, we probably should have told you sooner but you’re adopted,” Mom said, ripping off the bandaid.

Adopted…?

“You were found in our territory as a baby and no one came for you. The pack didn’t hesitate to take you in,” Dad added. “We wanted a child but couldn’t conceive so Alpha Austin let us adopt you.”

Mom nodded and continued, “When we adopted you we had planned on telling you at twelve but the years went by and we hadn’t thought much about you being adopted.”

They stayed silent for a little while as I processed what I had been told. I didn’t want to respond quickly because it was hard to believe in the first place.

“We love you,” they said in unison, breaking the silence and there was no doubt they meant it.

I hugged my parents and said, “I love you guys too. Thanks for telling me but this changes nothing.” They hugged me tighter in relief. “Really.”

“We hope you find your mate tonight,” Mom said after kissing my cheek. “We want tonight to be special for you.”

Half the time a werewolf would find their mate on their nineteenth birthday during their party. A big part of that was because we’d invite werewolves from allied packs who hadn’t found their mates yet.

I didn’t need to find my mate tonight, I just wanted to have a good time.

Becca and Sasha, my other best friends met me outside the ballroom where my party was being held. “Freya, you look beautiful!” Becca exclaimed.

I smiled and hugged them. “Thank you, I’m so nervous.”

“This is your day,” Sasha said. “You don’t have to be nervous, we promise.”

We went into the ballroom and I instantly smiled. Ashley outdid herself with the classy decorations and there was live music. I thanked her about a million times.

As the guests arrived I looked around and didn’t see Demetri. I reassured myself that he’d be here soon and spent my time talking to my friends and family. My mother’s sister and my cousins who were of age were here for me as well.

Happiness was already flowing through me, this was going to be a night to remember!

Ashley dragged me towards the middle of the ballroom as my guests sang Happy Birthday to me. My wolf was howling inside with anticipation since she had a feeling we would find our mate tonight. The clock struck midnight and the crowd cheered, it was officially my birthday.

‘Where are you?’ I mind linked Demetri.

‘I’ll be there soon Rei, I wouldn’t miss your nineteenth birthday party, I promise.’ Hearing his voice in my head sounded and felt different than it usually did. It felt almost… pleasurable. ‘I’m rooting for you but even if you don’t find your mate tonight hopefully we can both take or go home with someone.’ Of course, sex was always on his mind.

Unlike Demetri, I didn’t plan on sleeping with anyone else who wasn’t my fated mate. Last night was a one-time thing and it wouldn’t happen again. He was the only person I’d fold like that for… literally.

I danced with a few guests and after making my rounds and introducing myself to the guests from our allied packs I came to the conclusion that my mate wasn’t here. That was until a certain scent struck me, not only that but I felt a sort of pull. I followed the scent and general feeling out of the ballroom. There was only one person in the hall.

Mate.

There was no doubt the man in front of me was my mate. His back was towards me as if he was walking away from the ballroom entrance. He turned around and our eyes met.

“Trey…”

“Frey.”

A smile formed as the revelation that Demetri was my mate set over me. My first time didn’t have to be a one-night stand with my best friend. It was having sex for the first time with my best friend and fated mate.

This was perfect.

It was perfect until Demetri sighed and shook his head. “What…? It can’t be too weird,” I said, still smiling. Sure things would change but it would be for the better. “It kind of makes sense, I’ve had feelings for you for a while.” Last night instilled a kind of confidence in me. There was no way he didn’t feel a similar way after that. You don’t just have sex with someone without feeling something. “Come on, let's go in and announce the good news.”

I reached out to grab his hand but he pulled away from me and stepped back. “It’s not good news Freya,” he said.

“W-what do you mean?” I asked, a lump in my throat.

Silence dominated the conversation for several minutes.

Demetri, say something.

“Reject me,” Demetri said… Demanded… Ordered.

Don’t say that… anything but that.

I shook my head and chuckled in disbelief. “I’m not going to reject you…” I looked up at him. “Don’t you want to be with me?” I asked but didn’t get an answer, causing my eyes to water. “Demetri, I’m not going to reject you so come on, w-we can figure this out later.”

Was it a lot for him to process…? I badly wanted to understand.

Demetri shrugged and looked away. “I wanted to spare you the pain but I guess it can’t be helped,” he said. “I, Demetri—“

“Stop!” I shouted and threw myself at him, hoping the delight from physical contact with his fated mate would change his mind. Pleasurable static coursed through me and he had to have felt it too.

Demetri grabbed me and looked away. “Freya,” he said gently. “You’re making a fool out of yourself. I don’t want to be with you.” No… “The moon goddess made a mistake.”

Diana doesn’t make mistakes…

My knees almost buckled because there was nothing else I could do to stop him. “I, Demetri Stone of the Blood Moon Pack, reject you, Freya Roman of the Blood Moon Pack.”

My eyes widened as pain struck and Demetri let me fall from his arms onto the cold wooden floor. It was a pain worse than any other I had experienced.

But why…?

My nineteenth birthday was the most memorable but not for the right reasons. I cried on the ground in pain where Demetri left me, trying to find the energy to lift myself up. Demetri was the last person I’d expect to hurt me this badly. “What happened?” Asked the voice of a friend. It was Becca, she got down and wrapped her arms around me.

“What do you think?” Demetri answered coldly, walking past us.

Becca frowned as she put together what happened. “And where are you going??” She asked him.

Demetri shrugged as he walked away he answered, “For a run. Don’t tell anyone about this.” His tone was threatening.

It was like he was a different person. My fated mate rejected me… Demetri rejected me. I actually thought the future alpha would want me as a mate, funny.