HE'S MY ALPHA

"Arise, my Luna." His voice rang in the air and sent shivers down my spine. I looked down at the ground, slowly rising to my feet while holding my breath. 

"My name is Clair, Alpha Aeon." I answered respectfully, but I refused to look at him. Frustration rolled off of his aura before it changed into anger. I swallowed hard as bile threatened to rise from my throat. 

"Have I done anything to despise you?" His hand snaked around my nape as he took one step closer. "My wolf is so close to marking you, Clair. I can assure you, it'll be painful. I'm the only one standing in the way. Submit, and we'll make it less painful." He moved his hand to my jaw, forcing me to look at him. "Look at me. You'll be mine! And I will make sure all others before me are forgotten."

I closed my eyes, and the tears fell from my eyes. I was already losing this battle. I took a deep breath, ready to nod my head, when a ferocious growl marred the air, shaking the ground where I stood. 

"I dare you to touch what's mine!" I snapped my eyes open, turning in the direction of the threat.

He's here. 

He came for me. 

My Alpha came for me. 

¤¤¤¤¤ ALPHA JACOB GALHART of the Black Shadow Pack never wanted a mate. He has led his pack for years without a Luna and was content to remain that way. But it was time to produce an heir. Not wanting to find his mate, he set his eyes on this one female, Clair Montrell. 

He thought he had everything planned out until she turned out to be the fated mate he never wanted. But would he be able to let her go?

PROLOGUE: Young Jake & Clair

Jake - 14 yrs old

Clair - 9 yrs old

JAKE

Her scent reached my nose even before I felt her presence. Twigs snapped as hurried little footsteps echoed around as she approached the place I was resting in.

I turned my head in the direction of the noise just in time to see Little Clair emerge from the bushes with a small plastic bag that she immediately placed behind her back as soon as she saw me. Her round eyes widened in surprise as she realized that she was not alone in this place.

"What are you doing here, princess? Hiding again from your mother?" I asked without taking my gaze away from her small, lovely face. A smirk formed on my lips as I waited for her response.

She let out a little huff and continued to walk towards the boulder I was sitting on before slumping her small frame onto the space beside me.

"How did you know that?" She raised her brow and tilted her head to look at me. "Did you follow me? And why are you here? This is my place. You're not allowed here." She continued to look at me, her gaze scrutinizing mine.

I suppressed a smile. While I found it annoying to be disturbed in my moment of silence, I won't deny that this 9-year-old girl with a feisty attitude has lightened my mood without her knowing it. "Hmmm... I didn't know I was supposed to ask permission from you before I could come here, princess."

I lifted my gaze away from her and threw the small rock that I had held in my hand for a while now, watching as it bounced on the water in front of us. "Last time I checked, I owned this land. This is still part of my territory."

Her jaw dropped in disbelief at my words before huffing and puffing her chest out proudly, "I don't care, Jake. When I say it's my place, then it's mine!"

She smiled cockily before continuing, her finger pointing at a tree standing three meters to our left, just beside the stream. "See that name on the tree? Absaline Clair Montrell."

I shook my head, smiled at the satisfied smirk on her face, and kept my mouth from objecting. Making a girl cry was the least of my priorities at the moment.

"Okay, tell me then, what did you take this time?" I asked her without taking my eyes off the beauty of the stream in front of us.

Clair may have declared this place her sanctuary, but it has also been my refuge, the only place I could sit and relax without anyone imposing responsibilities on my 14-year-old self.

It has been three months since I took over as the Alpha of the Black Shadow Pack. It was three months ago when my grandfather, the former Alpha of the pack, passed away. And although I'd been prepared for this moment since I was eleven, the responsibility of keeping the pack together without my grandfather's guidance has taken its toll on me and my sanity.

"Just cupcakes." Clair's reply came out weak but enough to get me out of my thoughts.

"And how many?" I felt her tense beside me. My question made her uncomfortable. I reached out and ruffled her hair before pulling her closer to my side for a brotherly hug. "Spill it out," I asked nicely this time.

"Just three." She answered without taking her eyes off her feet.

I snorted a laugh. "Lies."

She huffed again before telling her truth. "It's seven! I took a lot of them because it's my favorite. And I'm going to give you one, just one! So you can't tell Mommy, okay?"

She wiggled her eyebrows and raised a cupcake in my face, tempting me to agree with her.

I let out a full smile before taking the cupcake from her hand. The icing on the cupcake looked like it had gone on a battle itself from the way it was smashed with all the other cupcakes. It doesn't look appetizing, but I knew from experience that it was a good one.

I shoved half of it in my mouth before responding. "You know, she will still find out regardless and be hell-mad at you again. Now, she needs to do more for the pack meeting later."

She giggled while she chewed her cupcake. "That's why I took seven. Then it would be worth it when Mommy gets angry!" She gestured with an angry face and pretended to have her claws out. "Grrrr... angry like that!" She continued to giggle after that and proceeded to eat her cupcake.

I chuckled at her actions and picked up one more cupcake, waiting for her complaints, but she just glared at me and didn't say anything.

We continued to eat in silence until she broke it.

"Do I really, really need to call you Alpha now? Mommy keeps telling me to address you as Alpha, but it sounds stupid. You're not old. Alpha is for grandfathers." She rolled her eyes, and my lips pursed to suppress a laugh from coming out, and I let her continue with her retorts.

"Why did they make you an Alpha? Can't somebody older than you be an Alpha? I am scared for you, Jake. Maybe being an Alpha will make you older. You should have told them you don't want to be an Alpha." In the last sentence, she spoke in a low voice, as if to avoid anyone hearing us.

But then she smiled as she looked up at me. Her eyes glowed with admiration. "But you're doing okay. Mommy said you are strong and can protect the pack. So I think that's okay." I smiled back at her, ruffling her hair once more. She didn't even know, but her words warmed my heart.

"But don't grow too old like your grandfather. Silver hair is not cool!"

I chuckled before facing her, my hands cupping her little face. "Well, princess, thank you if you think I'm too cool to be an Alpha, but I wanted to be one and I would do anything to keep this pack running. And if that means I will get silver hair, then so be it."

I told her my truth. She looked directly into my eyes and tried to gauge if I was joking before she shook her head and swatted my hands off her face.

"Will you be getting a Luna? Mommy said you should have one. We have never had a Luna for... forever. Mommy said that too." I clenched my hand into a fist with her last statement and let out a sigh. I wasn't expecting her question, although I already knew the answer even before I took the Alpha post.

No Luna.

I wouldn't be needing one. If my grandfather was able to survive without a Luna after my grandmother, his Chosen Luna passed away at a young age, then I could do it as well. The pack would still continue to thrive even without a Luna. They just needed me, an Alpha without any baggage.

"No, I don't need a Luna." There was a note of finality in my voice.

PROLOGUE 2: Young Jake & Clair

JAKE

"No, I don't need a Luna." There was a note of finality in my voice.

She turned her full attention on me, a scowl forming on her small face. "Why? I always wanted to find my mate, Jake. How can you even say that? What if she finds you? Will you run away?"

I smiled at her questions, but in a bigger picture, it would look like I was running away from my fate. "I just need to reject her, then we can both move on with our lives. It's that easy!" Her eyes widened again, jaw-dropping.

It took her a few seconds before she started talking in a whisper that, if not for my werewolf hearing, I would not be able to pick up. "You can't do that. Mommy said mates are a gift from the Moon Goddess. And it will hurt her. It will hurt you too, you know."

Her eyes locked with mine, and for a moment, I thought I was looking into the eyes of a grown woman who knows the depth of her statement. I cocked my head to the side and winked at her, hoping to lighten the atmosphere. I didn't like her going on the full mate topic, but I couldn't break her heart by not answering her questions.

"I'm used to being hurt, princess. No harm done." I saw confusion written all over her face but she was not yet ready to drop the topic. "What about her? Maybe she doesn't want to be hurt."

I frowned as I lifted my gaze away from her, annoyed that I was trying to explain this to a 9-year-old girl. I adjusted my position, leaning my arms on the boulders behind us before I shifted my gaze back to the stream in front of us. I just wanted to end this conversation. "I don't care. Women are just a pain in the ass if you ask me."

I heard her shift from her seat and jump up to a standing position, facing me with both hands on her hips, a scowl evident on her face. "I AM NOT! I might be stealing, no... taking cupcakes and cookies from Mommy, but I am not an ass! So take it back!"

I was taken aback by the anger radiating from her. I threw my hands up in defense and tried to stifle a laugh. "Of course, of course, you're always the exception! Otherwise, I won't be sitting here beside you, right?"

I saw her shoulders relax at my words before she sat back in her place beside me.

"And what if I´m your mate, Jake? I would make a very good Luna."

It took me a while before her words sank in. I smiled and moved from my prior position and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to my side again, squeezing her shoulder.

"I'm sure you'll be a good Luna. But not my Luna. You're too good for me, princess." I answered sincerely, not wanting to say the wrong thing.

She took one more cupcake and started to eat it without looking at me. "I know, I'm too good for everyone, even for you. But what if... what if, will you still reject and hurt me? Then I no longer have a mate."

I swallowed hard and tried to think of the best answer. I honestly don´t have an answer. How do you tell a little girl that, regardless of how special she is, you will never have room for her in your life? I closed my eyes before hugging her tightly.

"I'm sure the Moon Goddess will not mate you up with me, Clair. I'm sure of that. You're too special." I swallowed more before I added. "But just in case, then this big bad Alpha will help you get over the pain. I won't let me hurt you, princess."

¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨

Jake - 17 years old

Clair - 12 years old

JAKE

A low growl escaped my throat as I covered my eyes with one arm, annoyed at the disturbance from the loud banging outside my bedroom door. I grunted as the disturbance continued.

With my eyes squinted, I glanced at the clock overhead, flashing 6:08 AM. I shoved off my blanket and made my way to the door, ready to pounce on the person behind the door.

"Jake! Jake!" I growled more as I recognized the voice behind it. I opened the door with a force strong enough that it slammed on the wall inside my room.

"Absaline Clair! What the fuck is wrong with you? I was up all night and you didn't have any consideration at all! Six in the morning?! For Goddess' sake, can't your brother help you?"

I scowled at her and leaned my arms on the door pillar. I was annoyed that my sleep was interrupted, making me totally unaware that I only had my boxers on and was standing almost naked in front of a crying 12-year-old girl.

Clair reached out to touch me but didn't find any shirt to tug on, so she ended up tugging on the waistband of my boxers. "Daddy is sending me away to live with the humans! You can't let him do that! I'm a wolf! Please, I don't want to live with my uncle!" Tears continued to pour out of her eyes.

I lifted her hand away from my boxers and let out a defeated sigh. My hand reached out to wipe her tears as I responded calmly. "As much as I am your Alpha, he is still your father."

"But you are my father´s Alpha! He can't say NO to you!" She retorted back as she slapped my hand away from her face and wiped the tears with the back of her hand.

"You're only 12 years old, Clair, still a minor and not one of my warriors. I don't have a direct right on you. I can, however, talk to him and tell him to think about this. But the decisions are his."

I looked at her, pain evident in her eyes as she stepped back before shouting at me. "You all talk bullshits! You and Aaron! Cowards!"

I combed my hair and tugged it in annoyance, pissed off at being disrespected at this early hour.

"Watch your mouth, young girl! Seems you forgot who you were talking to!" I reprimanded her only to be shouted back at again, her hands shaking in anger.

"Of course, I don't! How could I? Mighty Alpha! But it still doesn't change a thing! Nobody cares about me here!"

I let out a sigh and tried to reach her head, but she moved a step back, avoiding my touch. "Calm down, Clair, please!" I sighed before continuing. "He said it's not a permanent thing. Just until he gets his act together. Give him some leeway, he just lost his mate."

I tried to reason, but it was too late for me to realize that I ignited her anger more with my choice of words.

"Don't talk as if you know anything about mates! Because you don't! And just in case you were not aware, Alpha, I lost my mom! I don't need to lose a father and brother too!" She retorted back glaring at me before turning on her heels to walk away.

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THANK YOU for finding my book. He's My Alpha is my first book, and I would like to apologize for the grammar and spelling mistakes. I am not a native English speaker, but I am doing my best to learn every day. So, please bear with me and I hope you'll enjoy the story and see past the errors.

CLAIR

I turned the radio a notch higher and let myself get lost in the blasting music as I drove on the freeway. With my window down, I basked in the warmth of the sun against my skin, loving the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair.

I had been driving for five straight hours, and I still had two more hours to go before I reached my destination. Fourteen hours of driving were too much to bear, but I had no choice.

My name is Absaline Clair Montrell.

I am a shifter. I spent the last five years of my life living among humans, except for my werewolf uncle. Uncle Theodore found his mate, who happened to be a human, and decided to leave the pack life for her. And from what I witnessed, he has no problem living the human life.

After my mother died from an attack while visiting her friend from another pack, my father decided he didn't want anything to do with me and sent me away.

Maybe I reminded him of my mother. They said I had her blue sapphire eyes and slightly wavy chestnut brown hair. But it wasn't a valid reason to send me away. My father might have lost his mate, the love of his life, but in turn, he made me lose not just my mother. I lost him too, my brother and the pack that should have been my home.

Now, the pack holds no meaning for me. I was still part of the pack - not being able to break the bond, but I felt alone, and going back there didn't feel like going home.

My uncle's mate, whose name is Laura, is a fine and lovable woman. She would make a great mother, and I hoped that one day the Goddess would give her a child of her own. Laura was very patient with me through my rebellious stage, and I will always be grateful for her presence in my life.

It wasn't easy living with my uncle and his mate at the beginning. But after a year of crying and begging for my father to take me back, I finally gave up. I started to not care anymore and embrace the human life I was given.

I have my own life now, and if it were up to me, I would've stayed hidden among the humans. Unfortunately, the Moon Goddess has a different plan. I would be turning eighteen in a couple of weeks, and for that reason alone, I found myself driving back to my pack's territory.

On the last full moon before a wolf turns eighteen, shifting happens, and that would be five days from now. For obvious reasons, I cannot shift around humans. Humans were oblivious to the fact that werewolves existed. Or maybe they weren't, but no one seemed to acknowledge or talk about it.

But once I was done with my first shift, I would leave and sever my bond with the pack. I don't want to be a part of them anymore, the same way they never wanted me.

¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨

JAKE

'Alpha?' I received a mind-link from my Gamma, Aaron.

I´d been waiting for him the whole day, and I silently hoped he was sending the information I would like to hear.

'Yes? Where are you?' I asked without any emotions.

'I'm on my way to pick up Clair. She's already waiting by the border.' He answered.

'Good.' I cut my response short and waited for him to cut the mind link, a smile curling on my lips as I got the confirmation that the little princess had finally decided to return home after five years.

I knew she hated me for abandoning her, but knowing Clair, she always had a soft spot for me. I only hoped that she was still the same feisty little girl I knew and that the humans didn't destroy her spirit.

'Alpha,' Aaron's mind-link startled me. I didn't notice that the mind link wasn't cut off yet.

'Hmmm..' I replied, not really in the mood to converse with anyone.

'Do I need to take Clair there as soon as we arrive? Or can I take her home to meet Dad first? You know, Dad has been anxious to see her, and the wait is killing him.' Aaron asked politely. He knew the protocol, but it seemed he was trying to get around it this time.

'You know the rules, Aaron.' I replied, again void of emotion. 'Bring her here.'

'I know, Jake. But she didn't change packs. I believe she didn't do anything to sever the pack bond. Or I can ask her along the way.' His tone was respectful but determined.

I closed my eyes and squeezed my temples before answering. This annoyed me, and I know Aaron could sense I was pissed off already.

'She was twelve when she left, and if she severed that bond, I would not feel it. I need to know if she still belongs to this pack, otherwise, a ceremony needs to happen right away. I don't want non-pack members roaming around my territory. And just because she is your sister, doesn't make her an exception. Just do your job and bring her here. Am I clear, Gamma?' I retorted, leaving him no space for any argument.

'Yes, Alpha. I will soon reach her and will let you know when we have arrived at the pack house.'

I cut the mindlink right away without giving any response.

A smile played on my lips again. I could have easily let Aaron take her home and meet her tomorrow. She was no threat to the pack. But I wanted to see her. I didn't know I missed my little princess until the idea of her arriving sank in.