I blush and look around. “Darius.”
He leans over kissing my neck. “My little mate.” I guess this is what I get for having a perv as a mate. Even if I had no choice in the matter.
Once we reach the ball I see a few people mumble to each other as they see me. I am never going to get used to that. None of them see me as worthy to be mated to Darius. I don’t really blame them. I don’t feel worthy of the title of Beta female either. Darius picked me though.
He takes us straight to the floor to dance. He takes me in his arms and sways me around. He is showing off his prize. “I really don’t think they hold me as high of esteem as you do.” I point out.
He looks around. “Do I look like I give a fuck what any of them think? I chose you for a reason. You are the perfect one for me.”
I blush at his words. He may be a possessive man, but he can sweet talk when he wants to. “I still don’t get why you picked me.”
He brings me closer so that my forehead is resting on his chin and cheek. “You have no idea how amazing you are. My brother has been talking about you for ten years for fucks sake. I didn’t know it was you by the way. That was not why I picked you. I felt it as soon as I saw you. The first day of high school. You were wearing this pink shirt that was a little big on you. A pair of jeans and you looked hot as fuck. Those fuckers were calling you names. I knew the one way to keep you to myself was to be worse than all of them. Every night I would go home and pray to the goddess that you would be my mate and forgive me for my behavior, to make you understand what I was doing. Then when I smelled that scent I begged for it to be you. But the scent went right past you. She had pushed you that morning. I was highly disappointed to say the least. Then I found her, she wasn’t alone. She didn’t even make it the morning before bedding another wolf. Before I had found her I considered giving her a chance, even though she wasn’t you. But she fucked that up. I knew right then that I had to keep you. I waited to see if you found your mate so I could get rid of him. You never did though. I know I am a selfish prick forcing this on you, but I can’t be any other way. Not with you.”
I don’t know why I say what I do next, I think it is to make him feel better, but the words do come out. “I do forgive you by the way.”
I can feel him smile. “For forcing you to mark me?”
I let out a little chuckle. “Still working on that one. But the bullying. I forgive you.”
He sighs. “At least I am getting somewhere. I don’t want you to hate me forever.”
“I don’t hate you. I get it, I just feel this loss for the mate that will never know that I am theirs.”
He pulls his head back a little. “You are mine not theirs.”
I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean. The mate that I was supposed to have.”
“He doesn’t love you the way I do.”
I chuckle at his ridiculousness. “Darius, you don’t even know who he is.”
He pulls me close again. “Doesn’t matter. No one can love you the way I do.”
“You may be right.” No one can be as insane as Darius that is for sure. “Did your mom talk to you about what we talked about yesterday?”
“What?” He sounds confused. That means that his mom didn’t bring it up.
“About me going to school.”
“No, you are not going to school. I may have to let you do training with Mr. Future Alpha but I do not have to let you leave me to go to school.”
I shake my head and pull back so I can look him in the eye. “No, they would be online classes. I wouldn’t go anywhere.”
He looks shocked. “Oh, well, that’s fine. As long as you don’t go away, then yeah do it.”
“Really?” The prospect of getting a degree is at least a happy thought.
He kisses my nose. “Yes, really. It’s not like I don’t want you to do things. I just want you to be close to me while you do them.”
“Thank you Darius.” I snuggle back into his chest.
“I told you, I love you. I want you to be happy. I just can’t be without you.”
Just then there is a tap on his shoulder he looks over and sees his dad. “Time to switch, son.”
He hands me over to his dad with little complaint. But let’s be honest here there is some grumbling.
The Alpha chuckles at his son who goes off to find another partner. “He is smitten, that is for sure. I don’t know what you do to that boy but he really enjoys it.”