Chapter 3 - Forgotten Memories

Erik’s P.O.V

The excitement was bubbling all around my pack. The arrival of my only child and mate was in 2 short days. I sat at my desk in my rather empty office. I never saw the point of decorating it after my father handed the title of Alpha to me. I held the latest photo of her in my hands. She had just turned 16, for whatever reason Freya had not sent me any other photos after this. 2 years can certainly change a person. Staring down at Sera I could only see her mother except for her silver hair, which was all mine. Pride willed in my heart. Although I could not be there as she grew, I would finally get to have her in my life. I glanced at the red-headed girl hugging my daughter with bile at the back of my throat. Her sister. The shock I had received all those years ago when I opened that fateful letter from Freya advising me she had a second child. I couldn’t believe my mate had been with someone else, the pain and anguish I held were even now, overwhelming.

“You deserved it, she left because of you”

Kaelb growled inside my mind, my wolf was right of course but it did not help my heart. I placed the photo on my desk with the small collection I had accumulated over the years. I wondered what Sera would be like, I hoped she would be as kind as her mother. I felt a smile start thinking about both her and Freya before linking to my beta Rodrik.

“Rodrik, has the expansion on the packhouse been completed yet?”

“Yes Alpha”

I had asked Rodrik to do rounds on all of the wolves within the pack, showing photos of Freya, Sera, and the girl Emma notifying them of who they were. It would have been easier and quicker to just explain through the pack link however it showed more respect to do it in person. I liked to run my pack with a sense of mutual respect and kindness. Unlike my father. He previously had run this pack with an iron fist. Fear was his greatest gift, did not matter if it was his Luna or his own child. Come to think of it my mother was just as cruel. I allowed her to stay here within pack territory after my father’s passing but had not visited her in 8 years. I shook my head trying to rid the memories that wanted to come back, I would not allow myself to wallow in the past.

“It’s done, but maybe we will get another chance. Mate can’t be upset forever”

Kaelb responded to my thoughts, my heart beat a little faster with hope.

“The only reason we could not have her as Luna was your father and he is no longer Alpha”

He rationalized letting me think about her, A goddess among men. I let the first time I saw her wash over me;

I saw her standing out the front of the packhouse back when I was just a boy, no more than 19. Her scent hit me first, a mix of fresh rain and honey. Kaelb took control of my body and forced me to her, growling mate. Her stunning dark blue eyes lit up in wonder as her full pink lips smirked:

 “You’re going to have to catch me, first sir”.

I had not realized I had said mate out loud, as she darted backwards and ran into the forest giggling. Her raven black hair licking the tree branches as she went. I felt thankful that my mate must have been a werewolf. My father was what you would call a purist and would accept no less as my mate. I chased her, waiting for her to turn into her wolf but she didn’t. Kaelb loved the chase regardless and was excited that our mate seemed to love it too. I caught up to her as we reached the lake that separated our pack territory from Crystal Falls the next pack over. I tackled her to the ground growling possessively as she continued to giggle. 

“Mine”

I started to kiss slowly over her face, wanting to savor each touch of her soft supple skin. Her scent causing a euphoria of joy and need. She stiffened under me, looking into my eyes reflecting the same emotions.  

“I found you”

It came as a whisper but her voice was just as amazing as her smell. Thick and sweet like maple syrup. She was perfect Kaelb huffed in satisfaction before I planted my lips against hers, causing the most intense fireworks of my life.

“Alpha”

Rodrik’s frustrated voice brought me back. I growled in the mind link he had opened angry he had disturbed me.

“Sorry sir but I just got the word you have been requested for an urgent meeting with the council”,

I groaned. The council was comprised of an Alpha of each pack, we only get together once a year to discuss alliances, rules, issues and to encourage unmated young ones to meet other packs in hopes they would find their mates. While us Alpha’s and Beta’s spent most of the week in discussion our Luna’s would organize a big ball for all pack members that had come along as well for the unmated ones. It was a glorious time as long as your pack was not the one hosting. It was our turn this year and I hated it.

“Thank you, Rodrik, same place as last time?”

“Actually they have requested to hold it here now that the packhouse extension has been completed”

I sighed in contempt. Having so many Alphas under the same roof would cause problems, and with my daughter and mate coming in such a short time there was no way I wanted to deal with the madness. But I had no choice. I could request to move the meeting place but we worked on a voting system so I doubted the others would agree.

“Okay, we will have the meeting there but I do not want them staying here”

I sent back before terminating the link. I stretched, Kaelb wanted to run and perhaps dream about reuniting with our mate but business comes first. Kaelb whined in protest and I promised we would run after the meeting. 

Rodrik waited for me outside the main doors of the packhouse looking at me intently, the meeting had not gone well. The Alphas had voted and expected to stay here as we had the room. Much to my dismay, I could not refuse. I grumbled and sighed, Kaelb was ignoring me as I could no longer go on the run I had promised him now having to placate the Alphas.

“Alpha, do not worry the others will not act up while they are here. They respect you too much”

Rodrik sounded so sure of himself. I wanted to believe him but I couldn’t. Many of the other alpha’s still lived by the old rules, my father’s rules. Adin the alpha from our neighboring pack Crystal falls and my childhood friend approached with a wide playful grin. He looked like a typical surfer, with bleached blonde hair, soft blue eyes, and a lean frame. His looks were deceiving, he could be as wicked and cruel as any other alpha.

“Ah Erik, what did you expect to happen? After insulting most of the oldies?”

I frowned in response before he pulled me into a bear hug,

“My friend it’s been too long, I see you still have that grumpy attitude.”

“Adin I don’t have an attitude I just prefer to have my own space”

He laughed before turning to my beta,

“And you must be Rodrik”

Shaking his hand Rodrik nodded curtly.

“Nice to finally meet you Alpha Adin, where is your beta?”

“Stellar, my beta is currently stuck with the other pack's Lunas. You know the oldies, no women allowed no matter their place”

His grin fell slightly. The older alpha’s hated the fact Adin had chosen a woman as his beta. They believed it was a man’s job however none of them had seen Stellar in battle. She is the fiercest wolf I had the displeasure of meeting on a bad day. The memory of her untameable rage gave me a slight chuckle. Rodrik looked a little surprised as I kicked myself for forgetting to fill him in on that part,

“Oh, well I look forward to training with her”

Rodrik now beaming. Rodrik was young for a beta, only recently did he celebrate his 21st birthday. His father was my first choice, however, Rik had passed a few years ago. Rodrik was just as vicious and loyal as his father but I knew that being unmated gave him sadness. I wondered for a moment if my life would have been better if I had never met Freya. Maybe the loneliness would have been better rather than the pain and inner hate that came from being separated from one's mate.

“Don’t get any ideas Rodrik, I see her as my own daughter and she is yet to meet her mate”

Adin smiled but you could see the authority and warning in his eyes. Rodrik cleared his throat and excused himself, obviously nervous thinking he had pissed of Adin.

“Adin be a little more sympathetic, the boy is young”

“Erik, your daughter. How would you feel if someone looked at you like that when speaking about her?”

I growled, Kaelb growing protective instantly. Adin’s laugh boomed before he smacked my shoulder playfully

“So will I finally get to meet her and your elusive mate?”

He wiggled his eyebrows and I smiled remembering in just 2 days I would have my family complete.

“Yes actually, they are coming home”

I paused and looked around,

“Wait, Adin where is your mate Drakacus?”

Adin’s smile dropped and was replaced with a blank face trying to hide his emotions.  

“He could not make it, his previous pack leader is attending this year and he did not want to cause any… tension”

My heart fell a little, Drakacus was a kind handsome man that brought so much love into Adin’s life. His previous pack as mine once did hold certain beliefs in the old ways. Having a son mated to another man was seen as an embarrassment to the entire pack. Adin’s father Luke was anything but that and I thank him for it. He had been a very kind and understanding man, when Adin brought Drakacus home for the first time to announce him as his mate he could not be happier. He had never cared that they were both males, all he wanted was for his son to be happy and that’s what Adin was.

“Look Adin, sneak him into the top floor of the packhouse, that’s my floor”

Adin smile returned before he slapped my shoulder again, I could not help but wonder if he was waiting for the offer.

“Thank you Erik, I will get him to come tonight when everyone is in the mead hall”.

I couldn’t help but feel joy fill my body, my family was almost complete. Life was sweet again.

“We should set up the meadow for Freya”

Kaelb suggested as I thought about her again, wondering what she looked like now.