Mate

My eyes open and I take a breath. I hadn't realized I had been holding it. For a moment, I thought my biggest fear came true, but then I realized the powerful voice that I heard came from my Beta, Kreon, who was standing next to me. My eyes quickly scanned the room, looking into all the faces. It was still so quiet inside as I looked back over at my Beta and followed his gaze to the front of the room. That's when I noticed Jessy staring right back at him. I was a little to myself trying to hide it from everyone else in the room. Jessy was a good match for Kreon, but I feared that I might lose my Beta, or our trip just got a little more crowded. I laughed, thinking to myself, I wouldn't really mind Jessy tagging along, she was a really nice girl.

The silence in the room was quickly broken by hearty laughter coming from the front of the table, Alpha John, his blue eyes gazing down at my beta. He genuinely seemed happy. "It's not every day that your little sister finds her mate." His voice echoed throughout the room. He looked back up toward his sister. "Is it true Jessy?"  he asked, needing confirmation from her before anything could be settled. Her gaze finally left Kreon and found her brother. She nodded slightly and she seemed a bit scared, but then again, I don't think I could blame her in this situation. 

Alpha John rolled his eyes towards his little sister and then back to Kreon. "Well, what are you waiting for, go!" With that confirmation Jessy moved from her spot and made her way down the hall and slowly moved until she was standing right in front of my beta. "Mate!" She whispered a faint smile dancing along her lips. "Mate." Kreon whispered back. Both of their smiles widened, they both looked so happy, it kind of made me sick. What if Kreon decided not to even come on this trip with me? It was a last-minute decision in the first place. Does that mean that if he decided that he didn't want to come that he would never have found his mate? Or was it simply the moon goddess’s doing?  I guess she really does work in mysterious ways.

“Go, let the new mates dine alone and get to know each other.” Alpha John motioned for Kreon and Jessy to leave through a side door. Two Omegas show them out and he brings his attention back to my father and me. “Come, Alphas, join me, meet my new Luna.” He motioned again, toward us. I watched as Liam joined one of the long tables, chatting with some pack warriors as my father led me to the head table. My father took the empty seat next to Alpha John and I sat down next to him. “So how's the trip going Gabriel?” He asked, making small talk with my father.

Some Omegas started to enter the dining hall with loads of food, placing it on every table. Whole baked chickens that smelled of lemon pepper and other seasonings, potatoes, pasta, rolls, green snow peas, and a bunch of other things that looked absolutely amazing. “So far so good.” My father answered, making his plate. “Kreon found his mate so I suppose she will be leaving with us in the morning.” He added. His assumption made me feel a little uneasy, but it was fleeting.

“Aye.” Alpha John said, his mood still very high and happy. He was a loud and proud man it would seem, and even a bit comical. “I know Jessy will be fine in Lunarflare. You’re a great Alpha, Gabriel, I know you wouldn’t let just anyone be your daughter's Beta, so I have no issues with Jessy leaving out with you if that is what she wishes.” His words made me feel a little better, I really didn’t want to lose my best friend, especially this early into our trip. “Oh, and you have to meet our new Luna, Feng.” He said, motioning to the small woman beside him who was all smiles. “I’m hoping to have an heir on the way by the next Alphas meeting.” He finished, taking a huge bite of a chicken leg.

“It’s nice to meet you, Luna. I’m Ume, the future Alpha of the Lunarflare pack.” I said, leaning over both the large men to look at the petite woman. She smiled politely at me. Her eyes looked happy, which made me feel a lot better.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ume and Alpha Gabriel. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Lunarflare pack. John only speaks the best of you, and he doesn’t speak great about many people.” She said with a light laugh, earning an auditable groan from her mate.

Alpha John kind of rolls his eyes and continues to have conversation with my father. “Are you taking her into Lycan territory?” He asked with a serious expression. The conversation pulled my attention toward the men. I picked over my snow peas as I listened.

“No!” He answered quickly. “I don’t see any reason to take her up those mountains. We are not allied with the Lycan pack, and they never come down here and bother us, so I don’t see any reason that Ume or any of my family need to have dealings with them. It’s best that we stay away anyway.” He added, taking a few bites off his plate. “In the morning we will travel south to Terra Firma, then after that we will be heading to Silver Adder.” My father explained and I made sure to take a mental note.

I watched as Alpha John leaned a little closer to my father and whispered, but with my enhanced hearing I was still able to make out what he said. “You know she went up there, right? To the Lycan king?” My father shrugged his shoulders a little, like he already knew what Alpha John was talking about. “I also hear she has seven chosen mates now.” The Alpha added.

“I don’t see any issues with her mating choices.” My father replied. “She lost her mate in war and the mates she has taken now all share the same fate. You know most of us die without our mate, she is giving them a reason to live.” Alpha John shrugged at my father’s reply, and I just smiled a little. “Plus, she’s the only person who's seen the Lycan king and lived, and her warriors are fierce. If we want anyone on our side in the time of war, it’s Terra Firma.” My father made me proud, the way he defended his friends and always challenged silly rumors. I would be lucky to be half the Alpha he was one day. 

I decided to add to the conversation. “I can’t wait to see Terra Firma. I’ve heard the landscape is beautiful. No offense to Crescent Wind, I just don’t do very well in the snow.” I laughed a little, followed by a hearty laugh from Alpha John.

“None taken, Ume. Not a lot can live up here in the harsh winter winds, but at least now I have my Feng to keep me warm at night.” He looked over to the Luna and smiled at her with just as much love and admiration as my father gave his Luna. 

I finished my dinner listening to the Alphas talk about pack matters, taking in all the information that I could. It was interesting to listen to. The difference of opinions, the way they could argue in a friendly manner with my father seemingly always winning Alpha John over to his side. I was introduced to the Beta and Gamma and even a few pack warriors. After everything was over, my father went with Alpha John back to his office for a drink and one of the Omega women showed me to my room on top of the east tower.

I shut the door behind me, finally alone. I turned around to take in the scene in front of me. The room was round. It was odd but beautiful, like the rest of the castle. The walls are still that magnificent cut stone, but the floors here were carpeted, a deep royal blue and heated. I really appreciated the heat. The ceilings were high, and a beautiful chandelier made from what looked like light blue crystals hung down. The bed was also round. Thick royal blue blankets with golden embroidery and matching pillows. There was a dark mesh canopy hanging down and tied open with gold ribbons. To my left there was a closed door and to my right a beautiful glass double door that led out to a balcony. In the center of the room was a massive stone fireplace that already had a roaring fire inside.

“Let’s see what’s behind that door first.” Lasaya sounded excited in my hand. I laughed out loud at her and walked over. I twisted the knob and pushed the door open to see a big bathroom. The entire room was black marble with flakes of gold inlaid. There was a jetted tub that could fit three grown alpha men inside with a waterfall-type faucet. In the corner was a sizable shower with a rain shower head over the top and a detachable shower head a little lower. “I really want to use this tub, Lasaya.” I said to my wolf, and she yapped in agreement. There was also a sink vanity combo with a big lighted mirror and a chair. There was a toilet, of course, and a shelf on the wall fully stocked with towels and clothes. 

“Maybe we can go for a run then come back and soak in this tub?” I asked my wolf, a little excited. “I think that would be amazing.” She howled back at me. “But first I want to check out the views. She nodded in my head playfully as I stepped back into the room, pulling the bathroom door closed behind me. I crossed the space and pushed open the balcony doors, instantly getting smacked in the face by the cold night air. 

I held my breath for a second as I stepped outside. It was snowing a lot, but thankfully the balcony was covered so my feet would remain dry. I walked to the edge, placing my hands on the cold stone rails and peered over. The snow-covered landscape was beautiful. It was so white that the light from the moon made it look bright outside. I can see yellow lights lit in some of the small cottages and smoke pouring out the chimneys. I smiled and quickly mind linked my father, asking him if I could go for a run, and was even more excited when he said yes. 

I hurried back inside, shutting the doors so that my room would reheat while I was gone. My belongings had already been brought up, so I opened my suitcase that was on the bed. I dug inside for a few minutes and pulled out a big robe. I stripped out of my clothes and quickly tied the robe around me and exited the room. I followed the instructions that my father had mind linked me with and made my way out to the back of the castle. I stood there alone for a moment, shivering in the cold and admiring the snow-covered forest behind the castle, when I heard my father's voice behind me. “You ready princess?” He asked and I turned to him and nodded with a smile.

I followed him to the edge of the forest and ducked behind a tree to remove my robe, hanging it over a tree branch. Most werewolves were used to being nude around other wolves, but it was still weird when it was your parents. It didn’t take long for me to shift; I have been doing it with ease for over two years now. As soon as the shift was over, I stepped to the back of my mind and let Lasaya take over. Lasaya was a beautiful tan wolf with a few darker brown spots here and there throughout her thick coat. I was also instantly warmer in this form, so the shivering had stopped.

I stepped out from behind the tree and pounced a little when I saw Grizz. He was twice my size. A deep red wolf with massive paws and sharp fangs. He had a scar under his left eye similar to the one my father had in his human form that he got during a battle long before I was born. He looked so regal in the moonlight. If I hadn’t grown up with him, then I would probably fear for my life right about now. But I wasn’t. Lasaya wasted no time and pounced on Grizz, knocking him down, but he quickly rolled her over and pinned her down by her neck. “Too slow, princess.” Grizz growled at her though the mind link.

“I was only playing, Dad. If I really wanted to get you, then I could.” Lasaya laughed back, nipping at his snout. 

“Is that right, Tiny? How about a race then?” Lasaya leaned her head down to the ground and barked at him, her tail wagging excitedly. 

“Bring it old man.” She laughed and lined up beside him, raking her paws into the snow.  “On three. One… two…” Before she said three, she darted off into the forest laughing. Grizz growled playfully at the smaller wolf and dashed after her. Lasaya was fast but Grizz could take three steps to her, one, so he caught up to her quickly, biting down on her tail and dragging her to the ground to pass her. Lasaya growled. “No fair.” She pouted, shaking off the snow and resuming the run.

“If you’re going to play dirty, little one, you’re going to have to take what you can get.” Lasaya growled again, lowering her head a little and picking up speed, dashing in front of Grizz. She looked back at her father to taunt him a little when he suddenly stopped. “Lasaya, stop!” He shouted through the mind link, using his Alpha energy so she would follow the command.

Lasaya stopped suddenly as the command hit her. Her paws were no longer moving but somehow, she was. She looked down and noticed that she was no longer on land, yet on the surface of a frozen lake. She looked up at Grizz and panicked a little. “Dad?” she whimpered. She started moving her paws back toward her father but just slipped and fell, cracking the ice a little. The last thing she wanted was to be at the bottom of this cold water.

“Lasaya, don’t move. I will be right back honey.” Grizz’s voice echoed in my head. I was panicking a lot but Lasaya listened and was much more calm then I was. She remained still, still hearing cracking in the ice as she watched Grizz vanish from our sight. “He will be back soon, Ume.” She tried to calm me but with every crack I heard I was more scared.

It wasn’t long until I heard the bushes rustling and looked up and saw my dad standing there in human form, holding my robe. “Lasaya, I need you to shift. You’re lighter in human form, okay?” My dad’s voice echoed. Lasaya nodded and in a couple of seconds I was standing there, still in the back of my mind, letting my wolf control my human body. My father had turned around and tossed my robe. Lasaya quickly tied the robe around our body. “Grab on to this.” My dad said, tossing a long tree branch onto the ice. Lasaya wrapped our hands around the branch and with one swift pull my father had us back on solid ground.

I felt Lasaya retreat to the back of my mind letting me push forward now that we were out of danger, and I just laid back in the snow, my father towering over me. “Never turn your back on unknown territory, little one.” He said, pulling me to my feet and hugging me tightly. “I think that is enough running for tonight. You about gave Grizz a heart attack.” He smiled, patting my hand.

“I’m sorry Daddy.” I said, looking up at him innocently. After the adrenalin died down, I was shivering again. “I think I just want to go get some sleep.” I told him as we walked back to the castle in the snow.

“Yeah, we have a long drive tomorrow. But it’s much warmer in Terra Firma. I doubt they’ve even seen snow yet this year.” He teased me.

“Well, that would be a relief.” I replied as the castle came into view. “Good night, Daddy.” I said, standing on the tips of my toes to kiss his cheek before running off to my room.