Chapter 1 - Stephen

“Ma… stop fussing over me already.” I try to dodge my mother as she attempts to attack my face with a baby wipe. I’m as clean as I’m going to get. I already took a damn shower. 

“You’ve got something on your upper lip. I want you to look presentable if you’re being sent to aid another pack. You might find a second chance mate.” Mom huffed once again, trying to yank my face down to her to clean some invisible grime from my face. 

“Ma, it’s called facial hair.” I groaned as she tried to rub off my facial hair. I’ve been trying to actually let my facial hair grow in.  

I wanted to point out the chance of finding a second chance mate was near impossible. But since Beta John’s mate ended up being a human, people have started believing in miracles.  

“That’s supposed to be facial hair?” Suzie giggled as she unzipped my duffle bag. I growled, trying to reach her, but mom had me by the collar before getting her.  

“Stay out of my stuff, Suzie.” I growled. My little sister rolled her eyes at me and started digging through my bag.  

As long as she doesn’t find the condoms, I’m good. I know they’re not something I should bring to war, but while I have no hopes of a second chance mate I certainly won’t be unprepared to hook up.  

“EEEWWWWW!” Suzie squealed, throwing the box of condoms like they were wolfsbane. 

I groaned and winced as my mother’s hold on my collar tightened, and her claws were digging into my skin. “When did those become standard issue gear for warriors? Who do you think you are, Stephen Rhett Walterson?”  

Great. Now I’m going to get a lecture. I don’t have time for this. I need to report to the airstrip to not miss the plane. I can’t fuck this up. This is my first big assignment as a pack warrior. I’m one of the youngest warriors chosen to go. 

Dad’s heavy footfalls echoed off the hardwood as he entered the kitchen. “Edith, let the boy go.” He sighed as he picked up the condoms. 

“He’s an eighteen-year-old man, not a little boy. And there is nothing wrong with him having condoms. Better to be prepared than to find out a few months later we’re grandparents.” He shook his head, putting the box back into my duffle and zipping it. 

Mom huffed but let me go. “Just stay out of trouble. You are going there to help fight a war. Goddess, you’re too young for war.” Mom frowned.  

I sighed, grabbing my duffle. “Thanks, pop. And ma, I’m not too young. I joined the pack warriors when I was sixteen.” 

“I’ll be fine. Alpha Logan wouldn’t have selected me if he didn’t think I could handle it.” I assured her, giving my mom a hug and kiss on the cheek.  

“I’ll call you once I am allowed to.” I promised as she hugged me tighter, almost cutting off my air. 

“A..air. Ma…air.” I gasped, tapping her shoulder. Thank Goddess she let go, and I could catch my breath.  

She seems to forget her strength at times. Then again, she also seems to forget that Conway isn’t as strong as he was after losing Lexia.  

I’m lucky he’s still around. And that’s probably more to do with the fact that we hadn’t gotten close to Lexia. We’d only scented her and made eye contact before the alarms went off, and she had to take shelter, and I had to report to fight.  

I didn’t even know her name until after it was over and I went to find her. Only to find her sobbing mother holding her limp body. 

I felt numb as Conway howled in agony. Conway didn’t speak or do anything for a year. A year of being able to feel my wolf, but he didn’t communicate, and I couldn’t shift.  

It was hell, but he didn’t die, so that was good. It just took him time to recover. And even now, he’s not fully recovered. I just try to do what I can to help keep him from letting go completely. 

I’ve been considering maybe taking a chosen mate. Of course, it would have to be someone that Conway and I agree on. So I’ve already ruled out all the humans I attend college with. Some are cute, but I want a werewolf mate. That way, Conway will have a she-wolf counterpart.  

I sighed as I heard Clement laying on the horn of his jeep. I hate that guy, but he’s the only person who lives near my place that could give me a ride. Another reason I need to get my own car. I’m saving up to hopefully get one this fall. 

“I’ll see you all soon. I’ll bring back a souvenir from Sicily.” I promised, hefting my duffle over my shoulder. Suzie begrudgingly hugged me as mom nudged her in my direction. Then dad gave me a hard pat on the shoulder before I was out the door. 

“Dude, what took you so long? I want to get out of here. We’re going to fucking Italy! Imagine how many hot Italian girls we can hook up with.” Clement was grinning as I climbed into the passenger seat. 

‘Can we kill him?’ Conway grumbled. ‘He speaks of females so disrespectfully. I pity his mate.’ He scoffed from where he was lying in our shared mind-space. 

‘Sadly no. I wish, but who knows, we’re going to war. Anything could happen.’ I sighed.  

“Sorry, ma was being well a mom.” I shrugged, giving a half-hearted apology. 

It wasn’t like he was waiting long. Hell, he didn’t even come to the door or link me that he was here. Just laid on the horn-like an asshole.  

“That’s why I’m glad I moved out as soon as I could. Can’t live with your mom and expect to get laid, man.” Clement scoffed as he skidded away from the curb.  

I rolled my eyes. “You talk like you get laid.” I scoffed. I ignored him, growling at me calling him out for it. 

“I’m more liking to get laid than you are.” Clement scoffed. “I mean, what female is going to want a broken wolf like you.”

That got Conway on his paws growling. Thank the Goddess we were already pulling up to the airstrip. I was opening the door before he could even come to a stop. 

“I should kill you. You don’t get to talk that way to me. You have no idea what it’s like to survive. And I feel sorry for your mate. No one deserves to have a piece of shit that disrespects females for a mate.”  

I grabbed my duffle from the back, intentionally hitting him in the head with it as I hopped out. “Stay out of my way while we are in Sicily.” I warned, double-timing it to where the others had started to gather around Captain Darren Delaney. 

Now Darren Delaney is a wolf I actually look up to. I’ve actually been considering enlisting in the military to get that experience he and his brothers got. And yes, there would be the benefit of getting away from the pack and the reminder that I’m forever mateless.  

If I manage one thing on this mission, it will be learning as much as I can from people like Darren Delaney and Collin Kearney. So my plan is to stick close to them. To prove my worth as a warrior. And stay as far away from Clement as possible. 

Not that Clement makes that easy. He didn’t make anything easy for anyone after we arrived in Incubi. First, by saying stupid shit like how he can’t wait to fight.  

We are here to stop a war. That doesn’t mean we have to kill people. We don’t even know what kind of conflict we are walking into. 

Conway couldn’t sense any malice in the air when we pulled our convoy over. I wasn’t going to fight people who don’t actually want to be fighting. 

Which is why I stayed with the convoy and went into town. I was pleased to arrive at the Incubi town hall. Odd that they don’t have a packhouse, but okay. 

Especially when a gorgeous blonde greeted us. “Welcome to Incubi. I’m Zoe Petridis, daughter of our Beta.” She introduced herself before gesturing to the older version of herself, though with a different shade of blue eyes. 

“And this is my mother, Beta Isadora Petridis.” I rather like her voice. The accent is hot. 

“We will assign you rooms for your stay here with us. Please follow us.” So I, like the rest of us that arrived first, happily followed Zoe and Beta Isadora inside and to our rooms. 

I was respectful, trying to not watch the sway of her hips like some of the unmated males. And, of course, Clement showed up and screwed up. My room is regrettably across the hall from him. So I saw the whole thing.  

The moment he slapped her ass, I grimaced because she’s a Beta heir. Anyone messing with her is in for a world of hurt. And I was not wrong. Conway even blinked, sitting up when Zoe turned Clement to a statue with a glare.  

‘Now that is a gift.’ Conway commented. I have to agree. Of the gifts I’ve seen, this one takes the cake. And has the added bonus that now Clement was silent.  

I was well aware when Clement unfroze. Tragically it wasn’t permanent. I was the one that had to go find Collin since Captain Darren seemed occupied with the Incubi Alpha heir. I also got to witness Clement’s next bout of stupidity. 

He sexually harassed a Beta heir and insults her and then the Alpha heir in the morning. I winced when I watched Alpha André pin Clement to the wall and threatened him. He seriously is stupid.  

I can’t help but wonder if Clement was sent here to die. I don’t know Alpha Logan well enough to make that assumption. But I have to say, if I was in charge, I’d look for a way to dispose of Clement without getting my hands dirty.