Monachopsis

yourself and deal with it. He chose me, after all." Ivy smirked.
I let out a chuckle, anger swirling around inside me. "Oh, my fates, I just want to claw that look off your face." I took a small step toward her. "You're a manipulative bitch, Ivy. Your mate got killed, so you had to take someone else's."
Her eyes grew wide, but it only pissed me off more. She tried to play the victim every time she'd hit a nerve with someone. The only reason she got away with it was that she's an Alpha's daughter, but then again, so was I. I didn't know how my wolf hadn't killed her yet with the disrespect she'd thrown my way.
"Sophia! Reign it in." Dad used his Alpha command on me to contain my wolf.
I snarled in his direction, disregarding the pleas in the room.
I stormed out, shifting into my jet-black wolf. My skin sprouted fur, ripping through my epidermis. My claws ripped through the flesh of my fingers, and my bones snapped into a new form. I had become so numb to the pain of shifting that it didn't bother me anymore. My paws gripped the soil as I took off sprinting along the river and as far away from Ivy as my wolf would carry me.

I arrived back at my cottage a few hours after my inability to control my shift. The only control I had managed to keep over my wolf was not to kill my sister. If I could even call her that. I followed the river for miles, not stopping until the pounding in my head ceased. Once I felt the anger seep away, I turned around and ran back home.
I shifted back to my human form on the safety of my back porch. The crisp wind nipped at my exposed skin, causing me to shiver. I ran a hand over my face mumbling a "fuck" as my back door opened, revealing Xavier.
His brown hair was disheveled, tanned-skin on display with him only wearing a pair of boxer briefs, as his chocolate brown eyes met mine. A smirk played across his face. "Couldn't contain your wolf?"
I rolled my eyes, pushing him back inside before slamming the door shut behind us.
"Not that I'm complaining. You know I love seeing you naked." He winked, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me into his chest. His strong arms wrapped around me as he rubbed circles on my back. "Riley told me you lost control of your wolf."
Xavier was warm and comforting. I felt content when I was around him, the same way I did when we were just friends. I stepped out of his embrace, walking toward the bedroom.
"Ivy was explicit about our arrangement to my parents once again," I said, shaking my head.
He paused for a moment before starting to walk behind me again. "Arrangement? Fuck, Sophia. I think I'm more than just an arrangement."
As we approached my bed, I spun around on my heels. His expression was stern as he gripped my chin by his thumb and index finger. "Look at me."
My hand rested on his arm as I stared at him. "You know you're my best friend."
He sighed, letting me go. "Right. That's all I'll ever be to you."
My eyebrows knitted into a frown. "Xavier, you have a mate out there."
His eyes flashed and he stepped closer, towering over me. "Don't you think I know that? I can't help but feel something for you though. I have since we were younger."
A gasp escaped my mouth. His lips descended on mine. He seared me with his kiss as we fell back onto the bed. His lips felt warm, but I pushed against his chest to stop him.
"Xavier. We need to stop." I said.
"Why? You know you feel it too." He sighed, sitting up. "I've been in love with you for a long time. Forever almost."
I sat up, gathering the covers and wrapping them around me. "You haven't met your mate," I paused. What if the same thing happened to her? I could never live with myself. "It's a different feeling. You won't know what real love is until you meet her. I promise you that."
"I don't care because I haven't met her yet. Who knows if I'll ever meet her?" He started to sound like Ivy.
"You will, and then you'll understand what I mean." My hand rested on his shoulder. "You can't be unfair to her. You promised me you would always have your heart open for her. You're talking like you've already broken that promise."
His eyes welled up with unshed tears. "I know." He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Fuck. I'm sorry, Sophia. I'm so sorry." He gripped his hair and then looked up. "What happens when we stop this? What happens to us?"
"We'll still be best friends. Just like we always have been." I tilted my head to the side. "You are my Gamma, after all."
His mouth gaped. "Are you fucking serious?"
I nodded. I knew he was angry. Hurt even, but I couldn't let the same thing happen to him. I just couldn't. "Regardless of what we are to each other, I know I will always be able to count on you."
He was quiet for a moment, then a big smile spread across his face. "What if we celebrated? You become Alpha in two days. What's the harm in that?"
I bit my lip. The devious little devil. I knew it was wrong but I couldn't help but want to give in.
"You let me take your virginity, Sophia. What is one last time going to hurt?" He pouted his lip, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
I leaned my head against his palm. "One last time. Then, that's it. Promise me?"
"Cross my heart, Soph." He used my childhood nickname as he used his finger to cross over his chest.
"This is a bad idea." I shook my head before he brought his lips to mine.
We kissed for a long time, our bodies tangled together in bed.