06 - Anguish Howl

*** Matthew's POV ***

It can't be. Why was she here? Why now? Did the Moon Goddess listen to Susie? I look around the room to find her, but I don't see her. Maybe outside, I thought, but before I could walk out again, two massive growls erupt from the middle of the room, and the word "mate" soon follows.

I turned to see what was going on to see that Robert had found his mate. They both were hugging, burrowing their heads into each other's necks. What worried me was the older gentleman, obviously Rob's mate father. If looks could kill, the gentleman's son would be a dead werewolf. The look of disappointment was set on his face, and you could feel it from a mile away. He lets out a warning growl breaking the couple apart. I approach them to make sure a war doesn't start in my ballroom.

Rob's mate is no other than Gabriel Owens, the future Alpha of the Silverfalls Pack. From the pack's report, if I recall correctly, they are an ally of ours; their current Alpha is Sam Owens, and they have more or less 200 werewolves, a relatively small pack. But legend has it that they are direct descendants from the first werewolves blessed by the Moon Goddess, allowing them to possess extraordinary abilities.

- "Apologies, your majesty, my husband didn't mean to disturb the celebration."

Owens' Luna bows her head, and I give her a sympathetic look letting her know no offense was taken. She pulls her husband by his arm and escorts him to the corridor. Before I can address the new couple, Gabriel storms out of the room into the garden. Rob tries to follow, but I hold him by the upper arm.

-"I think you should give him space. Let him process the situation."

-"You don't understand, Matt. He is my mate. It hurts seeing him in distress. The bond makes us share our emotions. What I feel, he feels, and vice-versa. I want to be next to him. He needs to know that I am here for him and that he matters to me."

- "I understand where you are coming from." Once you find your mate, I know that there is this constant need to be around them, especially after you mark them. This wasn't the case, but I advise further, "Just follow him at a safe distance." I let go of his arm, and he nodded in agreement.

Susie mind-links me in panic and tells me off for not waking her up. Glancing down to my wristwatch, I and take notice of the time, 7:14 p.m. Dang! We had planned to give a speech at 7:00 p.m. I ping Susie back and make my way up to the master bedroom.

-"I think the Goddess has heard you." I say while I crack the door wide open and storm inside the room.

Susie was currently wearing a pink silk robe. Her hair was nicely done in a twisted and curled low chignon displaying her Swarovski Crescent Moon earrings.

I watched her go from one side of the room to the other, grabbing clothes, make-up, baby toiletries and laying them out on our king-sized bed where Carl was playing with his toys.

-"What are you talking about?"

-"My Mate... I mean, my true mate is here". Her frenzy motions come to a halt for a moment before she resumes.

-"Oh... that's nice." She says in a monotonous voice.

Wait, I must be out of my mind. Did I just chirp about my true mate to Susie? I shake my head in an attempt to organize my thoughts. What a jerk I am. I just told Susie her replacement job was over. 

-"I am so sorry, Susie... I... didn't mean... I'm not going to leave you. It's my duty as husband and father to look after you." I wrap my arms around her burying my nose into the crook of her neck. The usual rose-scented perfume she wore and I enjoyed made me somehow nauseated now. 

- "I am not upset. I did wish for that, remember? What's her name? Is she from one of our ally packs?"

- "I don't know. Alex and I can feel her presence and smell her scent, but we haven't seen her yet. I was too busy sorting out Robert's little situation."

-"Rob? My cousin? What happened?"

-"Can you believe his mate is Gabriel Owens? You should have seen the look on his father's face. I thought a war was going to start downstairs." Susie and I giggle.

-"Let's address the guests, and then we can both look for your true mate. We should let her know about my condition and that you won't reject her." Her statement surprises me.

-"Why would she think that I will reject her?"

-"Well, Mr. Stevens, did you forget you're married and have a son? How do you think she will react to that? She doesn't know our marriage is political."

But was my marriage just political this far into the game? I have grown accustomed to Susie's companionship, and we share a son. What am I going to do? I can't leave my son's mother, but I also can't reject my true mate that I longed to meet for so long. 

Susie finishes dressing up, and forty-five minutes later, we make our way down the ballroom's staircase. She wore a navy-blue ballgown matching my tunic, and our baby boy was in a tiny white navy seal uniform. As usual, those two are giggling, smiling, and cuddling. We stop halfway through the staircase and take notice of the fully packed room. The fruity scent was still faintly in the air; I inhaled it deeply, giving me a boost of energy. Alex purrs in contentment. With confidence, I address the crowd,

-"Respectful guests and family. I, Alpha King Matthew Stevens and Queen Luna Susie Stevens, are happy to share our son and future Alpha of Crescent Moon Pack's first birthday with you. We..."

A possessive growl comes from the outside--its owner unknown. My heart becomes erratic, making me breathe faster. My chest tightens, and I pause my speech. I can't even remember what I was trying to say. All I want to do is chase that fruity scent and inhale it right from the source.

-"We hope you enjoy the celebration we prepared in his honor." I manage to spill out.

Susie attempted to grab my arm, but it was in vain. I storm out to the garden. She must have mind-linked Morris because he appeared behind me accompanied by two warriors as I made my way to the greenhouse, following my mate's scent. The botanical building insides are completely frozen. The blast's epicenter seemed to have been somewhere by crossroads, right in the middle of the building. There, I find Sam Owens on the floor with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His Luna, his Beta Benson, and Beta's wife attempt to get him off the frozen plants, but the floor is so slippery that they struggle to do so. On the opposite side stands Rob, hugging Gabriel, who has his canines out and hands in a firm fist. The fruity aroma is so strong that Alex takes over my human form.

- "What's going on? Where is she?" Alex growled. Everyone remains quiet; confusion evident on my men's faces.

-"I asked you a question. ANSWER. ME. NOW". The greenhouse's glass walls shake to Alex's demand.

Before anyone could speak, I felt a sharp pain right above my chest, as someone was stabbing my heart with a knife. No, I don't even know who she is, yet she is rejecting me. I lose my balance, falling onto my left knee from the pain.

Everyone remained in silence, perplexed by the situation. Alex sniffed out our mate's scent. It's coming from the back exit. The smell begins has a hint of mint mixed with it that wasn't there before. I follow it into the rear driveway, where Susie stands by the road's edge. As soon as she sees us, she comes closer.

- "Alex, you need to calm down and give control back to Matt. I need to speak with him." My eyes are black instead of my normal blue ones, so she knows Alex is in control. She tries to place her delicate left hand on my right arm.  Alex grabs her wrist tightly, twisting it to the side, and Susie winces a bit.

-"No, I don't! And don't touch us. You are not our mate!" He jerked her wrist with such force that she fell to the floor.

The ache in my chest makes it difficult to breathe. If only I could bask in our mate's scent, I would be able to ease the pain. The need to hold her was unbearable. We shift into our wolf form, with Alex still in control; he is so powerful. A painful howl escapes our body, and we take off into the woods.