Alpha or Affection: A Love Struggle Novel – Strike of eleven: “Try as you might, chipmunk, even your birthday suit wouldn’t qualify as sexy for the party,” Ethan chuckled, a smirk playing on his lips. “Isn’t your candor just a breath of fresh air?” I shot back, a sharp glare aimed his way. “Remember, honesty is not always the best policy.” He shoved his camera under my nose, distracting me with a taunting grin. “So, are you going to fritter away the night picking out a dress that won’t turn heads, or embrace your inner glutton?” He was still smirking, the rascal.
The picture on his camera showed a delectable roast chicken, provocatively nestled among an array of buffet dishes. It was a no-brainer. “All hail the goddess of hunger!” I yelped, snatched the first pink frock that caught my eye, and dashed for the bathroom. Ethan’s echoing laughter trailed me. Hey there, I’m Esther Taylor. The wisecracking fellow you’ve just met is Ethan, my best mate. I can almost hear you groaning, “Esther and Ethan? Seriously?” Yes, folks, welcome to my world of unimaginative monikers. Born on the same day in the same hospital, our parents became fast friends, thought it’d be a riot to give us rhyming names.
The sweet part? Ethan despises our paired names more than I do, making it a prime source of my amusement. Whenever he tries to charm a girl, I latch onto him and flash a warm smile at her. “You’ve met Ethan? Hi, I’m Esther, his name twin.” His future partner will no doubt appreciate my teasing. Anyway, back to the day’s agenda: Ethan’s brother Dennis’s 16th birthday bash. Dennis’s the hotshot future alpha of our ‘Bluewood’ pack, and the spotlight of the evening, of course, was his prospective mate. Once Dennis finds her, they’ll begin their decade-long training to become the next power duo of our pack.
Dennis’s intent on being a doctor – a noble ambition his dad, Alpha Blake Wood, wholeheartedly supports. Do I sense some whiff of envy from you? Well, you’re right. Ethan and I are somewhat green-eyed about his royal highness Dennis’s smarts and obedience. Ethan, however, pulls the short straw here, having to share a roof with Dennis – who we are convinced was a British aristocrat in a past life. Bearing platters piled high with chicken, we headed straight for the lawn and found cozy spots, ready to savor the food and the unfolding drama.
Dennis and his dad were busy schmoozing with the pack’s movers and shakers – a rather yawn-inducing spectacle. Our attention veered towards the 16-and-above ‘Luna hopefuls’, dressed to the nines. I glanced down at my simple attire and sighed. “Wish I were sixteen.” “So, you could be Dennis’s mate?” Ethan sniggered. “Hilarious,” I retorted, fixing him with a glare. “I just want the chance to look stunning in a dress.” Ethan flashed a grin. “You’ll outshine them all someday.” “Really?” “Absolutely.
Just slow down on the feasting,” he advised, his own mouth full of food, “and stop treating me like a brother.” I shook my head, defiant. “No can do.” “You know, I once asked Dennis what he wanted in a mate. ‘Elegant, graceful, kind, someone who will serve our pack alongside me,’ he’d said. He even mentioned that he’d like her to be a doctor. For some reason, I thought of you,” Ethan turned towards me, a serious look on his face. “Me?” I gasped, wide-eyed. “Yes,” he affirmed, then quickly added, “But the exact opposite of you,” winking at me.
I shot him a glare. “Oh, we’ll see. Mr. Uptight won’t know what hit him when his ‘elegant’ mate shows up.” Speaking of Dennis, I wondered if he’d found his mate yet. With him, it’s hard to say. He could be grinning like a Cheshire cat or frowning like a bulldog – his expression would remain the same. I often wondered if a book could be one’s mate. If so, Dennis would be betrothed to his precious hardcovers. When he caught me staring, I quickly shifted my gaze to Ethan, waiting until Dennis was distracted. “Ye g