The Alpha’s Mate

Oliver and Elena sat across from each other in the dimly lit restaurant, their conversation still lingering on their previous discussion in the dorm room.

Elena, eager to change the subject, spoke up, “Anyways, did you think about what I told you? In the dorm room, I mean.”

Oliver’s eyes met hers, filled with remorse. “Yes, I have,” he replied honestly. “And you were right. I shouldn’t behave like that again, and I promise I won’t. Can you give me another chance?”

A glimmer of hope sparkled in Oliver’s eyes as he awaited Elena’s response. She maintained a stern face, her voice steady as she spoke, “I will, but on one condition: a long-distance relationship.”

Confusion clouded Oliver’s face as he sought to understand. “Long distance relationship?” he repeated, trying to grasp the meaning behind her words.

Elena nodded solemnly, her expression unwavering. “Yes, Oliver. I like you very much, and I want to be with you. You make me feel things I’ve never felt before. However, I am an independent woman. You didn’t expect me to quit my studies and job to go with you, did you?”

Just then, the waiter arrived with their food, placing it on the table between them. Oliver’s attention momentarily diverted, he replied, “But I can support you, Elena. I can take care of everything.”

Elena’s pouty lips curled into a small smile of appreciation. “I know you can, Oliver. But I want to be independent. It’s important for me to feel confident in myself. If I were to solely rely on you for support, I would feel like nothing more than a gold digger. I don’t want that.”

Realization dawned on Oliver’s face as he processed her words. “But you’re not that type of person, Elena. I know you.”

Elena sighed softly, her gaze meeting his. “I know, Oliver. But these thoughts still linger in the back of my mind. I can’t help it.”

Silence settled between them for a moment as they both contemplated the situation. Finally, Elena spoke, her voice firm yet tinged with vulnerability. “So if you want to be with me, you need to be okay with a long-distance relationship. And you have to promise me that you won’t act possessively and won’t force me to do something I don’t like.”

Oliver’s expression turned complicated as Elena finished speaking. It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand her perspective or didn’t want to comply with her wishes. It was the fact that he knew his wolf, a part of him that couldn’t be denied or ignored, would never allow him to entertain the idea of a long-distance relationship. And deep down, he knew he was right.

Almost immediately, as Elena’s words settled in his mind, a voice reached out to Oliver from within. It was the voice of his wolf Roy, asserting its dominance. “Don’t even think about it. There is no way I will allow you to do that,” his wolf growled. “We have just found our mate, human. How can you even think about sending our mate away from us?”

Oliver felt a pang of frustration rising within him, clashing with his inner turmoil. “What makes you think I want to send her away from us?” he retorted, his voice laced with confusion and a hint of desperation. “Did you think I would do that if I had any other option left?”

A fierce argument erupted within Oliver’s mind as he grappled with his wolf’s protective instincts. “Then don’t sit there like an idiot and talk her out of it,” his wolf persisted, its tone unyielding. “And if she still doesn’t change her mind, we can always…,” his wolf’s voice trailed off, hinting at a more aggressive solution.

But Oliver swiftly blocked out his wolf’s words, knowing all too well what the suggestion would have been. He couldn’t bring himself to do anything that might make Elena resent him or push her away. Their newly rekindled connection was too valuable to risk.

Lost in his internal struggle, Oliver failed to notice Elena waving her hand in front of her, endeavouring to recapture his attention. Her gentle gesture finally broke through his mental turmoil, and his focus shifted back to her.

Startled, Oliver blinked a few times, his eyes refocusing on Elena’s face. He took a deep breath, attempting to push aside the war within him and meet her gaze. “I’m sorry, Elena,” he apologized for his momentary distraction, his voice tinged with a mix of sadness and determination.

“I want to do it, Elena, but I’m afraid,” Oliver confessed, his pout evident. “In a long-distance relationship, we won’t be able to give each other the time we want, like going on dates. And while we’re away from each other, you might find someone better than me.”

Elena looked at Oliver, a small smile playing on her lips. “It’s not going to happen,” she reassured him. Intrigued, Oliver raised an eyebrow and asked, “How can you be so sure?”

With a contemplative expression, Elena began to explain, her voice filled with sincerity. “Ever since leaving your house, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. No matter how I tried to remove you from my mind, my thoughts kept drifting back to you. The longing I felt for you was undeniable. It was one of the reasons I pushed you away – that feeling scared me.”

Oliver couldn’t help but smile, a mix of happiness and relief washing over him. Hearing Elena’s words confirmed that she also felt the deep connection between them. The mate bond that pulled them together.

“You know, Oliver,” Elena continued, her voice softening, “I even tried to date someone after coming here. I thought that maybe if I dated someone for a while, these feelings I have for you would fade away.”

Oliver’s eyes widened at Elena’s admission, conflicted emotions raging within him. As Elena spoke about her failed attempts to pursue other connections, he felt a surge of possessiveness and jealousy. His wolf, Roy, yearned to assert his dominance, but Oliver fought to keep control, knowing that acting possessively would only push Elena away.

Elena shook her head, her expression filled with both frustration and longing. “But things only got worse,” she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. “No matter how wonderful the other person may be, I can’t help but compare them to you. It’s repulsive to me, and it only deepens my longing for you.”

Hearing her honest confession, Oliver felt a mix of relief and guilt. The mate bond between them was stopping Elena from being attracted to others, which brought him some comfort. However, he couldn’t ignore his reservations about a long-distance relationship.

Elena’s voice softened as she continued, a small smile playing on her lips. “So, you don’t have to worry about me getting attracted to anyone else anymore,” she reassured him. “You’ve completely spoiled me for being with someone else.”

Oliver felt a sense of relief flood through him, knowing that their bond was strong enough to deter any potential rivals. But the thought of being separated from his mate for an extended period didn’t sit well with him. He feared the impact it could have on their bond and the unbearable ache that would accompany their physical separation.