Chapter 5: A Moment for Two

POV Alfred

"I don't know Great mother. I think the chosen Alpha will feel a calling in his heart"

 I reply to the old woman still sitting in front of me.

Both she and the old father, are still looking at me with a look of a teacher who expects his student to know the answer to the question.

"And what do you feel in your heart?"

 The old father asks tenderly, so that I dispel my suspicions that it is my vanity that is this voice whispering inside me.

" Is it me...?"

 I don't know if it is a question or an answer.

" Of course it's you, hollow head!"

Says the older mother, tapping my head lightly.

I bet that this "hollow head", she learned from Akira. Only she calls me that.

Alpha, Akira, calm down!

"Am I Alpha? I mean, am I the chosen warrior? Akira and I, we were made for each other like the roar of a wolf and the moonlight?!"

I am elated that I can barely process all this information.

" If you don't believe it, how do you expect Akira to believe it?!" 

The big mother says and it really makes some sense.

" You are right, big mom. I need to be confident. "

I get up on the floor as fast as my heart beats with happiness and hug them warmly.

"I need to tell Akira!"

I have a feeling that if I don't, my heart will explode. But this time, they are not so excited.

" Son, perhaps your first and greatest lesson will be that big things don't come easy for all of us, especially for an Alpha. And when it comes to the heart, everything gets a little more difficult. No one knows what the key is that opens the chest of feelings we carry here!" 

He points to my chest. 

" At certain times, even we don't know it ourselves, mind you. "

" Don't worry, old dad, I will fight for Selena. There's nothing that city boy has that I can't offer either!"

✧✧

" A car? I can't believe it!"

 I mutter softly, hiding behind a tree.

I see that just like me, Richard has changed. We have grown up and become grown men with responsibilities. He for his father's money and I for my people's sacred territory that their money cannot pay for. And as much as it pains me, I have to admit that this metal freak is attractive.

"A lifeless horse?"

I try to follow the explanation he gives Akira.

Would she once again be seduced by his antics? If not, it's about to happen. Akira is not willing to waste time and neither am I. However, he needs to understand that what exists between Akira and me is bigger than his greed and his passing feelings...

"Akira's not going anywhere with you!"

 I surprise them both, and Akira even more when my hand instinctively holds her arm. I don't care how stupid my reaction is. In my defense, she has held me to her fate and now that I am fully certain I exist to protect her and that is what I will do.

" I'm sorry, who are you?"

Richard asks, a little irritated.

" It's Alfred, my friend. Don't you remember him?", replies Akira in an attempt to calm the tempers between us.

" Oh, you look so different, Alfred. I'm sorry! Akira always talks about you. Is this another one of your pranks?" 

He looks back at my hand holding Akira's arm.

" No. Her parents have given me the assignment to take her home, and so I will. Your car ride will have to wait, Richard..." 

And deep down I hope it never happens.

" But it makes no difference whether it's me or you taking her home!"

He defends himself.

" Why not? Only your sister or the big city ladies can obey their parents and have rules to be respected?"

Akira says.

 Richard and I are taken aback.

"Akira, I didn't mean to say that..."

Richard is confused and so am I.

" It's okay, good night, Richard. Let's go Alfred."

I am not understanding anything, however I dare not disobey.

" What happened at this dinner party?"

I ask as we are far enough away from the gate.

She is more irritated than when she misses a prey on the first try.

" Come and I'll explain!"

 She suspensefully asks, and my curiosity only increases....

✧✧

" A little lady doesn't hunt. They just drink tea, do embroidery, take care of the house, play instruments, sing, dance..."

 Akira imitates the accent of big city people, I can't tell if it's a representation of Mister Jeremy or Richard. All I know is that I am enjoying seeing her for the first time seeing things as they are.

"Their life must be pretty boring..."

I say before looking at the vastness in front of us.

We are sitting on a cliff and can see most of our town. The little houses are so tiny from up here. But in compensation, we are free like the wind that blows through these mountains and we stand firm and strong like the oldest logs in this forest.

"You don't understand, Alfred. I put too many expectations on that dinner, in this case on my future..."

She sighs a little sadly.

" I know. But give me a chance to show you that this here..."

I invite her to look around us, at our real place. 

" It's all you need, and nothing matters more than your home."

" Hum, and how will you do something that even my parents couldn't do in twenty years?"

She challenges me with her stubborn smile, not taking my proposal seriously And I expected that, old dad is never wrong.

"The day after tomorrow is the moon festival. Will you be my escort?", I am preparing myself since the last full moon to make this invitation.

She hesitates, which makes me anxious.

"Alfred, we have a problem."

"What?"

" I also invited Richard to the Lunar festival...."

Oh, great! It can always get worse, right?