Ice Cream Overflow ( Cole's Point of View)

As Declan stared intently at me, I knew he would never understand my decision either. Honestly, I didn't even understand my own decision most of the time.

I was an omega, and by werewolf rules and biology I could only mate with an alpha. Omegas were special and revered due to how different we were in terms of build, beauty, and charm. Betas and Gammas didn't have true mates, but most omegas did, and because we can only mate with alphas, some alphas had true mates as well.

Ninety percent of omegas were given a destined mate by the Moon Goddess. Nobody knew why the other ten percent weren't given true mates. Some believed that their alpha mates may have died young before the matching was done, but it was all speculation.

All alphas and omegas have their DNAs collected and placed in a matching bank after they are born, and when we're twenty the match doctors try to find our match in the alpha bank. Alphas always found out by age 21 whether they had true mates or not, but not all omegas were that lucky. Some omegas were fortunate to have their matches found within the year they turn 21, but for others, it could take up to three years, which was why my parents believed me when I told them I hadn't received my letter to date.

We still had a choice whether we wanted to mate with our "Perfect Match" or not. The Match council sends a congratulatory letter with a link to your mate's profile on the mating portal. You then check your mate's profile on the portal and contact them, getting to know each other before accepting one another to complete your mating bond in a mating ceremony.

It was rare for perfect mates to reject each other, but sometimes it happened and they both find other people to mate with instead. I had rejected my mate without even looking at his profile, and when I think about that, I feel a niggling sense of doubt.

"Did someone advise you to do that?" Declan probed, and I looked away quickly before he could read my mind through my expression.

"Stop asking questions."

"So someone did put you up to it. I worry about you, Cole because you're too trusting. Anybody who advises you to reject your true mate and lie to your parents about it is not someone you should be listening to. They don't like you at all."

"That's not true! He knows my mate from years ago and he's bad news."

His eyes narrowed in speculation. "He? Who is he? And how exactly does he know your mate?"

"That's enough, Declan. I want to sleep. You should get some rest too. You can come in late in the afternoon. Unless I need you, of course."

"Of course," he muttered drily, rising with me and taking the empty ice cream container.

He looked like he wanted to argue, but he decided to let it go. I had no doubt however that he would raise the topic again soon.

"Wait," I called when he headed towards the door. I opened the freezer section of my fridge and took out the tub of cookies and cream ice cream, crossing over to the door where he had been standing to hand it to him. "Give this to Anna." His little sister was almost an ice cream addict like I was.

He looked momentarily shocked but gave me a small smile. "Thanks. Sometimes I almost believe you're not so bad."

I shrugged. "I'm certain you'll change your mind again soon enough." He laughed and exited my suite, making me feel a little lonely again since Cookie was also asleep now.

I picked up my phone again and walked into my large bathroom, rinsing out my mouth with water and mouthwash. When I was satisfied that the ice cream has been washed away, I crept back under the covers and turned off my bedside lamp, trying to fall asleep again.

Thoughts of my mate started to haunt me again, but I diligently pushed down all the doubts I had started to feel. He had never contacted me after the rejection, and I understood him. I may be a prize in so many ways, but alphas have a lot of pride, and although I don't even know exactly what was written on the rejection reply that was sent to him, I knew it would have been brutal because I had been told that we had to tell him something that would discourage my mate from ever coming to look for me.

As I fell into a deep sleep, I wondered fleetingly if that had been a wise decision.

I woke up a few hours later a very upset Declan shaking me gently. I groaned and turned away from him, covering my head with the pillow.

"Cole, wake up!"

I guess it didn't take him that long to change his mind about me being so mad if his tone was any indication.

"Whatzit?" I mumbled through the pillow

"Cole!"

I groaned and pushed the pillow from my face, opening one eye.

"What is it?"

"I thought we spoke about your posts and being careful about what you say online. Why do we have ice cream trucks and ice cream deliveries filling the compound?"

"What?"

He showed me pictures from his phone.

My eyes widened in shock and I began to laugh, which only made him madder.

That was indeed A LOT of ice cream.

"What are we going to do with all that ice cream? Stop joking about wanting things online. You have followers who take you seriously!"

"They're amazing, aren't they?" I gush, making him scowl more.

"Come on, loosen up! Who gets mad because they have received tons of ice cream?"

"The one who has to deal with said tons of ice cream, that's who!" he groused with an annoyed huff.

Cookie trotted to my bed, yipping in excitement and trying to jump onto the bed.

"See, even Cookie is excited," I declared, picking up my dog and laughing at his excited barks and yipping while she tried to lick all over my face.

"Let me take a shower. Tell the staff to take what they want from the trucks. We will go share the rest with the schools and the homes, but before that, take some pictures and caption them with my greatest gratitude. Remember to tag everyone who sent some before you post."

"I know what to do," he groused, leaving the room with Cookie in tow so she could take a leak outside. Declan was the only wolf apart from me that Cookie would willingly follow anywhere. She was cautious around other wolves, especially alphas.

I stretched happily, having an agenda for the day that would both be fun and helpful. I couldn't wait to see the looks on the kids' faces when the trucks showed up.

"And the adults as well," I thought with a laugh. Ice cream is for everybody.