Chapter 2 His Mate

"No, how could I meet my mate after so many years, only to discover I am mated to an omega? An omega?" Gregory thought angrily as he pushed away all the files on his office table.

The papers scattered wildly across the floor, some fluttering through the air as they fell. His frustration turned the neat room into a storm of papers, raw emotions, and shattered expectations.

"I asked for a real mate, and you gave me a burden! What wrong have I ever committed, huh? Tell me!" Gregory cried out, his voice echoing loudly in the empty office, questioning the Moon Goddess's choice of mate for him. The room suddenly felt far too small, suffocating under the heavy weight of his discontent.

Ever since he was eighteen, Gregory had waited patiently for his mate, constantly feeling a sharp pang of sadness whenever a pack member came to register their bond. Each union had felt like a personal taunt, a bitter reminder of the bond he longed for. Now, at forty-one, the Moon Goddess had finally decided to grace him with a mate—only for it to be a weakling of an omega. It felt as if his decades of patience and loyalty had been rewarded with a cruel joke.

"Argh, this is impossible! I can't do this. It was better when I had no mate at all. I waited for years and had finally come to terms with not having one, but you just had to humiliate me by giving me this burden of a mate," Gregory said, his angry words directed toward the heavens.

"I can't accept this. I really can't take that thing as my mate," Gregory muttered to himself, pushing back the dark hair sticking to his sweaty forehead.

"Alpha, may I come in?" Tobias’s voice suddenly came from the other side of the heavy door, breaking into Gregory’s chaotic thoughts.

Gregory took a deep breath, trying his best to compose himself, and then responded, "No, wait a minute." He quickly sat back down in his chair and wiped his face, trying to erase any lingering trace of the tears that had escaped. He didn’t want Tobias to see him like this, vulnerable and exposed.

"Come in," Gregory finally said. Tobias opened the door and stepped into the office with a bright, wide smile, completely oblivious to the dark storm brewing within Gregory.

"Congratulations, Alpha!" Tobias said enthusiastically. "I heard you found your mate. I am so happy for you."

The words hit Gregory like a physical blow to the chest. "What is there to be happy about?" he snapped, his voice laden with intense bitterness. "Tell me, Tobias, why are you congratulating me? On what grounds? Or are you trying to mock me?"

Tobias’s smile faltered for a moment, his brow furrowing with sudden concern. "Stop that, Gregory. You know I wouldn’t mock you. If I had a problem with you, I’d come straight to your face and tell you. Besides, what is there not to congratulate you about? You finally found your mate, and instead of being happy, you’re acting like a wild beast. Just look at your office," Tobias said, gesturing at the absolute mess around them. His tone was firm but carried a distinct trace of warmth, a reflection of their long-standing friendship.

"Is that what you think this is about? My office?" Gregory growled, frustration bubbling up inside him. "This isn’t about the office, Tobias. This is about the Moon Goddess’s decision. After all these years, she gives me a mate who’s an omega—someone weak and entirely unworthy. What’s there to celebrate?"

Tobias’s eyes widened in surprise, and he took a step closer to Gregory, his expression a mix of pity and exasperation. "Gregory, you’re letting your anger cloud your judgment. The Moon Goddess has her reasons, even if we don’t understand them yet. Your mate might be an omega, but that doesn’t make them any less deserving. You need to give it a chance."

"Give it a chance?" Gregory echoed, his voice rising dangerously. "How am I supposed to give it a chance when I feel like my destiny has been mocked? You don’t understand, Tobias. You’ve never been in my position, waiting and hoping for something that feels like it’s slipping away."

Tobias shook his head, disappointment evident in his eyes. "Gregory, I’ve always known you to be strong, fair, and capable of seeing beyond your immediate frustrations. If you can’t see past this right now, then maybe you need to take some time to reflect. You know where to find me when you’re ready to talk."

Tobias walked right up to Gregory and, with a sudden, sharp movement, used his middle finger to tap Gregory’s chest lightly—a stark reminder of their deep bond and his frustration with Gregory’s current behavior.

Gregory’s wolf growled softly, reacting instantly to the intrusion on his personal space.

"I’m done with you for now, Gregory," Tobias said, his voice firm but not unkind. "When you’re ready to face this situation with the maturity and wisdom I know you possess, I’ll be here to support you. But right now, you need to sort yourself out."

With that, Tobias turned and headed firmly towards the door. He paused briefly, looking back with a mix of sadness and resolve, before stepping out of the office and slamming the door behind him. The finality of the slam echoed in the now-silent room, amplifying the heavy solitude Gregory felt.

When Tobias left, Gregory sat in the deafening silence, deeply lost in thought about the dramatic events of today.

How could this be possible? He, an Alpha known for leading one of the strongest packs, was now faced with an omega mate. It felt like a cruel, twisted fate. His pack was renowned for its immense strength, so much so that neighboring pack leaders often came to him, seeking alliances, especially in times of war. They needed his power, his ruthless leadership.

He had always been well-respected, his authority unquestioned. Other pack leaders he knew, leaders of strong packs, had powerful and formidable mates. But now, he was bound to a weak omega. Why him? What had he done to deserve this? How could the Moon Goddess see this as his destiny?

"The worst part of it all was that this omega wasn't even a dominant one but a submissive," Gregory thought bitterly. "So there is a high chance he won't even have an alpha offspring." The very thought made his anger rise like a smoldering flame, and he slammed his hands hard on his desk.

"No, I will not allow this. I will not accept a weak mate." Never.