The Alpha’s Little Rogue (Alessia)

Chapter 140

Daphne's POV I hit my knuckles against the door twice and waited for my Mom to answer it.

The door flies open to reveal my Mom in a day dress with her hair tied up. "Daphne," she greets me with a huge smile and an open arm which I walk into. "I was wondering when you were going to come visit."

"I got off work early today and decided to come over." It's not a lie but it also isn't the truth. However, I'm not about to tell my Mom that her twenty-five-year-old daughter needed some of mommy's love and s we et care. She pulls away from the hug. "Come in." With a hand on my shoulder, she guides me into the house and closes the door behind us.

"How have you been doing?" I ask, taking a swift look over her person. My Mom is certainly not a dependent middle-aged woman but she's still my Mom and I naturally worry about her well-being.

She likes to act like a tough fox who is impenetrable but I still worry, especially as she lives alone.

She rolls her eyes when she catches the look that I'm giving her.

"Stop being a mother hen." She pushes past me and walks into the kitchen. I follow right behind her and watch as she puts her oven mitts on, opens the oven and reaches inside for a casserole pan that smells like lasagna.

I force myself not to salivate over the mouth-watering smell emitting from it.

"I was just having dinner started." She drops the pan on the counter. "Join me." It's not exactly an offer but I don't care because there's no way in hell that I'm going to say no to her cooking.

Three hours later, dinner is cooked, served and we're both draped across my mother's comfy couch with a wine glass in both our hands.

Our gazes fix on a television in front of us but I have no idea what show is currently playing on it. That's because my thoughts keep drifting off to something that has absolutely nothing to do with what's on the television. I'm in denial and refusing to acknowledge the root of my dilemma. Thankfully, whatever is on the television seems to be a favorite of my mother's because she keeps giggling and laughing nonstop.

"Daphne, is everything alright?"

At the sound of my mother's voice along with her gentle touch on my shoulder, I pull myself back to reality and find my Mom staring at me worriedly.

A glance at the television shows the credit of whatever it is that we were watching. Dear Lord, how long was I in my head? No wonder my Mom looks so worried.

"I'm fine," I finally answer, giving her a smile that I hope doesn't look as fake as it feels on my face.

She gives me a skeptical look but doesn't press me on it. "You know that you can talk to me about anything. Whatever it's that's on your mind, I'm here to give a learning ear. No judgment."

"How strong is a werewolf mate bond?" Is it possible for a werewolf to choose a human over their destined and true m a te?

I don't voice out that last question though..

My Mom blinks, surprise evident on her face. I have never made my feelings about my absence of werewolf blood known.

I've gotten over being the only

person in this pack who doesn't possess supernatural strength or hearing. As hard as it was, I came to terms with it but ironically the thing that manages to creep into my head at my darkest hour is knowing that I'll never get to experience the joy of sharing a bond with the person

gifted to you by the Moon goddess.

"Well..." A clearing of her throat was followed by a set of pinched brows. "I didn't know that you were interested in knowing about those things?"

I know my question borders on being uncomfortable for my Mom.

She hates talking about any subject that hints at her mate, preferring to avoid any discussion that could lead to him.

But I need an answer to this question and even though I feel bad about torturing her, I continue, "It just crossed my mind." A shrug.

"It wouldn't hurt to have some knowledge about them. I'm kind of curious."

She opens and closes her mouth with no words coming out and I almost lose hope. Then she starts talking.

"A mate bond is the greatest bond a werewolf can have. It attunes your senses with your other half. It makes them the center of your world and your whole focus."

She gets a faraway look in her eyes as she keeps talking, describing how incredible a mate bond is. My heart sinks until it hits the ground with a hard thump and shatters into a million pieces.

I'm never going to be able to experience this bond that she speaks of. I'll never experience the feeling of being someone's center of the world and main focus.

And even if I meet a rejected

werewolf -or one that has searched the surface of the earth for their mate with no luck- and decide to be with him, I'll always know within me that I'm the second choice.

I will always know that I'm not their second half.

"Is there something that you want to talk about?"

At the sound of my Mom's worried-infused words, I pull myself out of my head again.

"I'm fine," I answer and it isn't a lie. I'll be fine. I'm already used to the hollow feeling that is always inside of me and I've learned how to deal with it. "Let's watch another movie," I say, infusing as much cheerfulness in my words as I can and silently hoping that she doesn't see through my facade.

I can't let anyone know about the hollowness and darkness that lurks within me. Not even my Mom.