The Ties That Bond (Love Conquers All Book 1)

by Riki Bishop

  The Ties That Bond

  CHAPTER ONE: GRADUATION

  It’s finally here. The day I have been working so hard for over the past three years. I am finally graduating from college, and I could not be more ecstatic. No more tests, essays, or classes. All I must do is get through the ceremony, and then I will be on my way back home to start my life. I have been going over my valedictorian speech in my head since I woke up this morning. I don't want to mess this up. I have worked so hard to get to where I am today. I have 20 minutes before all the graduating students must line up, and I am getting nervous. I was ready to get this day over with so I could be home with my family. Granted, I am only about forty minutes away from home, but I wanted to go live in a dorm and have the whole college experience.

  I take one more look in the mirror before heading to the ceremony. My hair was pulled back in a curled ponytail, and I had the dress that I picked out. It was dark blue, and it accented my curves perfectly. It came up just above my knees and it was gorgeous. My makeup was simple. Foundation, some contouring, eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara. I was all set to go. I grabbed my purse and headed out the door.

  "Willow! I am so proud of you princess," my dad said as he came over to hug me. My mom, brother, and sister followed behind him. After we hugged and they congratulated me, they headed to their seats since the ceremony was about to start. I headed to my seat on the stage and waited for the dean to get done with the introduction.

  "We here at Yale University would like to thank you all for coming to support and celebrate our graduating class of the 2020 school year," Dean Waller started. Dean Waller went on to talk about the determination and hard work of our class before it was my turn to speak. "I would like to welcome our valedictorian, Willow Thompson, as she makes her speech." As I got up people were clapping, and of course, my dad and brother were shooting and hollering in the crowd.

  I got up and headed to the podium to make my speech, willing away the nerves and the urge to vomit. It does not help that my wolf won't stop pacing in my head, saying that our mate is near us. That does not help matters much so I put up a wall to block her out.

  "Thank you, Dean Waller," I say before starting my speech. "Hello everyone, and welcome to the commencement ceremony for the class of 2020. We finally made it. Dr. Seuss once said you have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You are on your own. You are the guy who will decide where you go." “I chose this quote because it goes with what I will be talking about today. I will be talking about what now?”

  “What now? From everything we have learned in school, what will you remember? What will you forget? Personally, I hope to remember the good times I had with my friends, and all the memories I have come to cherish during my time here at Yale. I hope not to forget anything I have learned." That got a chuckle from the crowd. As I was about to continue, he walked in. Levi Andrews. “MATE!” My wolf yelled in my head. This cannot be happening. I am in the middle of my speech. What is the Alpha doing here? Does he feel it too? As if he can read my mind, he looks at me, and I blush. Then it dawns on me. His brother, the Beta, and one of my good friends are graduating today. I hear someone clear their throat behind me, and that makes me blush even more. How long have I been staring at him instead of finishing my speech? "I'm sorry, where was I? I h-hope to be able to remember the experiences that I have had while here." Damn it! Why did I stutter? I clear my throat and continue. "So, what will you all remember, and what will you forget?”

  “We would not be here today if it weren't for each one of us working hard and dedicating every ounce of our time to finish classes. It wasn't easy, but we are here and now we just figure out what now? We also wouldn't have made it here if it wasn't for our educators putting up with us. When we complained about that grade we did not like, or the essay we had to stay up all night to finish. Or, even the all-nighters we pulled to study for our tests. I'm sure it isn't easy dealing with sleep-deprived individuals who live on coffee." Once again, everyone laughed. I could still feel his eyes on me, but it was giving me some confidence that I hadn’t had before. I suppose it could be the mate bond.

  "Finally, to all the graduates sitting in front of me today, some of you I know personally and others I know from passing by. So, here's to the Graduating Class of 2020!" Everyone claps as I head to my seat by Alexis, with the other students. The dean says a few more words before he starts to call each of us to get our diplomas. Almost everyone has been called up before it was my turn. "Willow Grace Thompson." Dean Waller called my name and I could feel his eyes on my back as I walk up to the stage. It's distracting. I am trying to concentrate on not falling instead of turning around to look at him. I walk up the stairs, surprisingly not falling, and get my diploma and shake Dean Wallers' hand as my mom takes pictures. It doesn't take much longer before the ceremony is over, and as Dean Waller introduces us as the Class of 2020, we all throw our hats in the air and cheer.

  "Babe! I'm so proud of you!" My ex-boyfriend, Jake, came up to me. Jake refuses to accept the breakup. "Don't call me that Jake. We are not together anymore. Why won't you accept that?" I said as I tried to walk to my family.

  "You can't get away from me that easy, Willow." Jake said as he grabbed my arm a little too hard. That's why we broke up. He wasn't the nicest person. At first, he was amazingly sweet, and it just accelerated as the months went on and I wouldn't have sex with him. "Let me go! Jake, I mean it. You're hurting me!" I loudly whispered.

  "I like it when you fight me, and you know it." He says.

  "Get away from me. My parents are coming over here and I don't want to make a scene!"

  Before I know it there is someone behind me. "I suggest you get your hands off of her before I make you." It was him. It was Levi. My mate.

  "And what exactly are you going to do Mr. Alpha?" Jake said. Oh no, this can't end well. Of course, he's drunk and will challenge anyone.

  "Oh, I'll do a lot of things. Starting with ripping that arm off your body if you don’t get it off my mate." Jake's eyes went wide as his drunken brain comprehended what was going on. He let go of my arm.

  "Are you okay?" He asks after Jake scurries off.

  "Yeah I-I'm fine. I need to go over to my family. Thank you, Alpha." I said as I went over to my parents and siblings.

  "Ready to go home?" My dad asks me.

  "Yes. I need to get out of here anyway." There is so much that they don't know. They don’t know what happened between Jake and me. It's time to go home and get my life going the way that I want it.

  CHAPTER TWO: HOMECOMING

  It felt so good to be back home in Hartford. I missed it. I was glad to get away from Jake and everything that he did to me over the two and a half years we were together. I just wanted to forget about it, and I thought I could since I didn’t have to see him in class every day, and now that I'm home, but it doesn't work that way apparently. After he grabbed me at graduation it brought all the memories right back. I thought I was past it, but apparently, it takes more than four months to get over it.

  After walking into the doors of my childhood home. I head straight to my old bedroom. Nothing has changed. It still has the same twin bed and the Eiffel Tower bedding that I had on it the last time I was here. The blue walls were the same as were my pictures from high school with my friends. It feels good to be back. My parents, my brother, and sister are leaving tonight to go back to New Haven where the Moon forest Pack is so my sister can see if her mate is there. I know it sounds weird not to look in your own pack, but the Moon forest pack is bigger by about a hundred people, and it is also where my parents met. My mom lived the
re before she met my father and moved to Hartford to join the Orange Moon pack with my father. So, we are having a family dinner to celebrate my graduation and homecoming before they leave.

  I need a shower so I can wash the stress of the day away. I gather my towel and some clothes and as I head to my bathroom, my phone dings. It's my best friend since we were pups, Alexis.

  ALEXIS: what are you doing tonight?

  ME: having dinner with my parents before they leave.

  ALEXIS: when are they leaving?

  ME: probably around eight or so. Why?

  ALEXIS: I'm taking you out to celebrate our graduation!!! Don’t even bother fighting me on this you won't win.

  ME: I was just going to stay home and unpack and relax...maybe binge-watch my DC TV shows...

  ALEXIS: you can do that any night. Come on, it'll be fun I promise. We deserve this.

  ME: Fine. Where?

  ALEXIS: Posh. 9 PM.

  ME: see you there...

  I guess it wouldn't hurt. I did work hard, and I barely went to any parties while at school. I was either in the library, or in my dorm, or class studying my ass off to get my law degree. I really wanted to relax a little before though, but Alexis is the type of girl that won't give up until you say yes. I'm the same way, so I guess that's why we click together so well. Its seven now and dinner is almost done when I get out of the shower. I throw on my tank top and pajama shorts and head downstairs to my family.

  "It's about time you grace us with your presence. I thought you were going to miss out on your homecoming dinner!" My mother exclaimed.

  "You know I could never miss out on my favorite meal mom." I said. She makes the best homemade chili there is.

  After dinner, I am stuffed! Chili has always been my favorite food since I can remember. "Alright young lady. Your mother and I got you a graduation present. We are so proud of you and wanted to get you this because you worked so hard," my dad says as he hands me a little box with a bow on it.

  "You guys didn't have to get me anything. Just being there today and every day of my life is enough," I told them. I opened the box and there was a set of keys in it. I'm a little confused. I didn't see a car when we pulled into the driveway.

  "Come on. Follow us," my dad says. We walk out of the door and there, in the driveway is my dream car. A white Chevy Tahoe. I have always wanted one.

  "You guys didn't!" I yelled. I can't believe they got me my dream car. My parents aren't the richest, but they have worked hard for all they have and saved throughout the years.

  "We wanted you to have something nice. You are going to be a lawyer after all. You can't just walk to work and back every day. Your father and I use our vehicles so they wouldn't be here when you left." My mother explained.

  "Thank you thank you thank you! I love you guys so much!" I squealed, jumping to hug them.

  "Does that mean we get cars when we graduate college?" My brother and sister ask.

  "We'll talk about that when you actually do." My father said. We go back inside and it's almost time for them to go on their trip. They'll be back on Monday since they're only staying the weekend.

  "Alright honey. We're heading out. You be careful and don’t have too much fun while we're gone. Make sure you clean up after your party tomorrow." My mom said. They have always been easy going about me having a few friends over for a party and they trust me, so I don’t get asked very many questions when I ask to do something.

  "Okay, I'll make sure I do just that. You guys be careful, and I'll see you Monday. I love you guys. " I say. I watch them leave and it's now eight-thirty and I still need to get ready.

  Posh is a new club that opened a few years ago. It is supposed to be nice, so I must look the part. I go up to my room and pick out a red dress with an open back and a plunging neckline. It's not so far down to where my boobs fall out. It is mid-thigh length and it shows my curves just right. It's not skintight, but it's tight enough to accent my body perfectly. I finish getting the dress on and grab my black ankle boots with a wedge heel. I straighten my hair and do my makeup and am ready to head out. It's a good thing that the club is only ten minutes from my house since I have just that amount of time before I meet Alexis.

  ME: me.

  I text Alexis.

  ALEXIS: okay. You won't believe who is here!

  I don’t even think I want to know. It couldn't be Jake, could it? He's been trying to get me back, but I keep turning him down, and it keeps pissing him off. He wouldn't show up here. Would he? He was supposed to go back to his parents’ house that was a good 3 hours away or so. I instantly felt like staying home and not bother going, but it is a little late since I'm already here, and I did look hot. It's a big place, maybe if he is here I won't see him.

  CHAPTER THREE: NIGHT OUT

  I found my parking spot and got out of the car. I pushed all the thoughts of wondering who Alexis was talking about out of my head as I walked up to the door to meet my best friend. I found her up by the bouncer fighting with him to let her in instead of waiting to see if we even get in from waiting in the line.

  "Alexis what are you doing?" I ask as I walk up to her.

  "This asshat of a bouncer won't let us go in. He says we're not on the list and we have to wait in line." She explained.

  "It's fine we can wait. Sorry, sir, she can be a bit of a spitfire. We'll just go wait in line." Of course, I don't want to wait in this long line so I'm using my nicest tone and batting my eyelashes as I drag Alexis away. "Wait. Willow Thompson?" The bouncer guy asks. "Yeah, that's me. Why?" I ask. " I have special instructions to let you in and for you to go to the VIP area, from Alpha Andrews." He said. What in the hell. Why is Levi here? I mean obviously, he's here, it's a club, but how did he know I was going to be here. The bouncer let Alexis and me through and we head to the bar. I look up to the VIP section and there he is. In all his sexy, muscular glory. Talking to some bimbo. I want to be pissed, but I know that I can't because we haven't even talked since we found out we were mates. I may not be able to be pissed, but I could be petty.

  Alexis and I get our drinks after doing four rounds of shots and go to the VIP section so I can see what Mr. Alpha wants. As I'm walking up the steps, I know he sees me, but that bimbo is still all over him and it seems as if he is enjoying himself. His eyes lock with mine and I can feel the pull to go towards him getting stronger.

  "You ordered me to come here?" I asked with a hint of anger in my tone. I'm not the type of woman to get bossed around. At least not anymore. Not after what Jake put me through. "How did you even know I would be here Levi?" I ask. By now Alexis has gone off and started chatting up any hot guy that looked at her. So, it was just me and the most feared Alpha in the US.

  "I couldn't exactly have my mate come here, alone could I. Especially with you wearing something like that. As far as ordering you here. I wanted to be able to keep an eye on you." He said into my ear. The sparks were flying through my body like crazy and it could be a result of the alcohol, but I knew it was more than that. "So, you think you can order me to come up here so I can watch you with some bimbo? I don't take kindly to men ordering me around. Mate or not. You will respect me and treat me how a lady deserves to be treated." By this time, I was pissed. Who does he think he is ordering me around? Yes, he is my mate, and he is an Alpha son. That makes me more possessive and protective, but that is beside the point.

  "You know no one talks to me that way and gets away with it. I'd watch how you talk to your Alpha. Mate or not." He said. "You may be my Alpha, but I will not be spoken to or treated that way." I told him. I didn't even give him a chance to reply. I grabbed Alexis after pulling her away from some guy she was talking to and went to the dance floor. Who did he think he was? He was being an ass. It would have been different if he would have asked, but to follow me, and then order me to join him? I came here to have a good night and celebrate with my best friend, and that's what I intended on doing. I can feel his eyes on me with every move I make. I catch myself lookin
g at him and catching him staring. That bimbo bitch is back and rubbing upon him and he doesn't seem to push her away. By now I am slightly drunk and dancing away, which makes it a little easier to tamper my jealousy rage.

  As Alexis and I were dancing, two guys come up and start dancing behind us. It's a club, so I didn't think anything of it, and I was dancing back. I look up to where Levi is, and he is still staring at me and I can tell he is pissed to no end because there is some other guy that is dancing with me. Maybe it's the pettiness in me right now from what he did, but I just smirk and keep dancing. We danced to other songs and I had to go to the bathroom. I do my business and wash my hands and I'm about to go back out to get another drink, but when I turn around Levi is standing behind me.

  "Don’t you know this is the lady’s room?" I ask sarcastically. I can tell he's mad, but I just don’t care right now. However, he does look extremely sexy when he's angry. I can feel my panties getting wet just looking at him.

  "What the hell was that? Dancing with other men?" He asks.

  "It’s a club Levi there are a lot of people on the dance floor. What do you expect me to do? Stand there and appeal to your Alpha ego? I came here tonight to celebrate my graduation. I'm not just going to stand there. Besides, what does it matter? You were letting Malibu Bimbo Barbie rub all over you like a bitch in heat."

  "That's not what I said, but you shouldn't be letting men dance that way, or anyway like that with you. I AM YOUR MATE AND YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR THAT! He yells at me, effectively avoiding the last part about the bimbo.

  "You may be the most feared Alpha out there Levi, but you don’t scare me, so I suggest you calm your shit and don’t ever yell at me like that again. Maybe next time if you don’t want men dancing around me then you should join me yourself, or even show me the respect I deserve and trust me." He steps closer to me and I take a step back until, eventually, I am up against the wall. I can feel my breathing accelerating with each step he takes getting close to me.