The Designated Mate novel Chapter 3

"Poppy, oh my God, what's happened? Are you hurt? Calm down, deep breaths." She encouraged while half-helping half-dragging my body into her home. She gave her mate a pointed look before he made himself scarce.

"Okay, that's it. Deep breaths. Here, sit on the couch while I make you a cup of tea, okay?" She soothed while stroking my cheek. I just nodded while trying to further calm my raging emotions. I could hear her bumping around in the kitchen while cursing to herself, something that made me smile despite the deep aching in my chest.

She rushed back to me with the cup I'd told her on numerous occasions was my favorite - a larger sized cow printed mug with pink udders for the feet of it and a tail for the handle. I grasped the steaming cup in my hands before blowing on the piping liquid. I gingerly took a slurp as to not burn my mouth while Kiara stared at me expectantly.

"You want to tell me what's got you so worked up?" She asked in the most gentle way she could. It was an unusual thing to hear as she was the most aggressive and assertive person I knew. She always joked that we were a match made in heaven because she made up for my naivety and lack of backbone and I made up for her pushy sass and brash attitude.

"Alpha Rhymes and my father...t-they pretty much sold me off to the highest bidder," I growled out, anger dripping from my voice.

"What?! What the hell do you mean?" She demanded, her eyes wide with shock.

"Apparently Alpha Williams showed interest in me, so my father signed my life away to him to form an alliance between our packs. They said that Alpha Carmichael has become an even bigger threat and that this is the only way to protect our people. T-they're making me be his mate, Kiara. He's so o-old." I cried, my nose scrunching up in disgust as my stomach whirled and heaved. Looking up at her, I saw nothing but anguish for me.

"Oh my god. What did your mom say? There's no way she would let your father force a mating between you and some 38-year-old dude you don't even know!" She exclaimed, getting heated herself just by talking about it.

"She was just crying. She didn't say anything. There's nothing she really can do, Kiara. You know what my father would do to her." I whispered out the last part harshly.

"So what's a few silver whip lashes when it's for your own daughter's happiness and well-being!" She argued back loudly.

"It wouldn't do anything but bring hurt and pain! You should've seen his face, Kiara." I rasped out hoarsely, a shiver running up my spine as I saw said face when I closed my eyes. "It was terrifying. I don't want to go back for fear of being whipped again. There's no doubt I will be punished for running." I wept, distress evident in my tone.

"They can't do this to you. I won't allow it!" She growled fiercely before swiping her hands over her coffee table in anger, violently knocking everything off.

"There's nothing you or I can do about it, Kiara. I-I'm just going to have to figure out a way to bear being Alpha Williams' mate." I conceded with a defeated sigh as I looked away from her and down at my hands.

I fumbled with the plate of scrambled eggs Kiara had just handed over to me before I set them down on the table with my shaking hands.

"I have to go. Alpha's orders." I explained, my voice quivering. Kiara gave me a look of deep resentment.

"We're going with you," she stated in a no-nonsense tone. "Besides, I have some really good news I know you'll want to hear," she said with a smile.

"That's not necessary, Kiara. You just spent the past half hour cooking breakfast, there's no need for it to go to waste," I insisted, but she was already shaking her head in reply.

"I'll put it away and we can eat it tomorrow morning, I'm not letting you go there alone. C'mon," she insisted while quickly throwing the food into Tupperware bowls and dragging me out of the house. I stumbled over my own feet a few times as my nerves grew until it was nearly unbearable. Entering the pack house, my feet felt like they were made of lead as we became just a few steps away from the room I was dreading entering, though Kiara gave me no choice.

"Head up, chin out, shoulders squared. You'll face them with the fierce attitude and pride I know you harbor in you deep down within that tiny little body of yours," She asserted before doing the same herself and throwing the doors open. I wasn't sure how, or why, but everyone in the pack respected Kiara. She held an air of power and authority around her that even Alpha Rhymes didn't question, though that didn't stop him from sending her an annoyed glare after we made an appearance.