Kissing and Babies

               And then I remember my mate is hungry, she definitely didn't eat after she went missing.

I take her hand and we all walk out of my office to the huge dining room. Fortunately, Jace had already mind linked the cook that we have a pup with us that needs to be fed.

When we step inside, the smell of warm pancakes and syrups hits us. Mercedes lets go of my hand and runs to the table, clearly starving. I take her to the seat that has been vacant since I became the Alpha of this pack. I pick her up and place her in the Luna seat. Jace and the chief warrior watch with interest, holding their breath sharply but I don't pay attention to them at all. When I sit in my chair at the head of the table, I grab a plate and place a pancake on it. “Tell me, Mercedes, what syrup do you choose for your pancake? There is strawberry, caramel and pure honeybee”, I ask her.

Delightful she eyes the pancake on the plate, I think my mate is a real foodie. “Honey, Zane. My mother always puts a lot on it for me”, she exclaimed enthusiastically. I sprinkle a generous amount on her pancake and cut it into smaller sections for her. When I give her a fork, she immediately digs in. “Thank you, Zane”, she says a moment later with a full mouth. I also pour her some fresh orange juice. “You're so welcome, little one”, I answer her.

When I know she's comfortable, I start on my own portion.

“Zane, we need to talk. There's more going on here," I hear Jace say. "I'm starting to suspect what it is from the glow on your face." I look at my Beta and Head Warrior and nod. Once I've made sure that Mercedes is focused on her food, I turn back to the two at the dinner table. “Yes, she is my fated mate”, I confirm their suspicion. “Only the Moon Goddess knows why she paired me up with a pup, but I love her already and will make sure she stays in my life. Until she's of age to take her place as the Luna of Midnight Moon," I declare confidently.

Jace looks at me thoughtfully.

“You know Alpha Ahri is strict with his pack members,” he reminds me. "You will have to be very convincing to make him believe that the pup belongs to you."

 Yes, Jace is right. I am aware of that too. Ahri is definitely a suspicious figure. He trusts no one and if any of his people get into trouble, even the lowest rank Omega, he is ready to start a war. And here we have his Beta's daughter, I know it's going to be tough talks to have my mate regularly in my pack. But he will have no choice but to allow me to be close to her, by Were laws, mates belong together. The only gripe he has is that she's underage, so I can't claim her and bring her to my pack. Until she is eighteen and recognizes me as her mate, she must remain under Ahri's authority.

“Zane, how old are you then? And where are your mommy and daddy?” Mercedes demands my attention again. “I'm twenty, Little one. My parents live in the other wing of the packhouse. And I have a younger sister Elise, the Head Warrior here is her mate”, I let her know. “Do you know what a mate is?”

Her big round orbs are staring straight into my eyes again. “My mommy and daddy are mates. They kiss each other all day long," she says with a grin. “I often ask them why they kiss so much if they've had only one pup after all.” Jace and Cleo burst out laughing at her words. Mercedes throws them a shy look. “Little one, who told you mates get babies by kissing? The person lied to you, you have to trust me on that," Jace teases her, hiccupping with laughter.

A serious look appears on my mate’s face.

“Marco's parents have five pups and they also kiss the whole day. Marco says he often sees them without clothes in the house too,” she says wisely. I almost spit the pancake out of my mouth. Holy crap, what’s the matter with those people not locking their doors when they are on it? “Did he mention that to you? Maybe his parents would shift into their wolf at that time?” I suggest. If I run into this Marco, I'll have to teach him not to meddle in matters that concern grown-ups. He seems like a smartass who wants to initiate my mate in bedroom secrets way too early.

“No, no, no, Zane”, she reproved, shaking her head. “Everyone shifts outside the house or in the woods. Never in a bedroom.” Now it is Cleo who can't hold back, he drops his head on the dining table to hide his laughter. Ooohhh Goodness! I'm clearly not ready to follow the logic of a teenager. And then one who has a nosy friend as an example.

I look sternly at Cleo, who is struggling to get himself together. Jace also has a hard time keeping his face straight.

In a frantic attempt to change the subject, I place another pancake on Mercedes' plate. "Why don't you try the Strawberry syrup this time?" She nods and with that, I have successfully shifted her attention.

After eating all, Mercedes begins to yawn. Obviously, the past few hours have worn her down quite a bit. “Are you sleepy, Little one? Wait, I have my sister come over to pick you up. She will help you bathe and then you can rest for a few hours before your parents arrive to take you home,” I say. Happily, she shakes her head in agreement. I mind link Elise to report to the dining room. ‘On my way, Alpha’, she answers immediately.

When Elise enters the dining room, she walks straight to Mercedes.

“Cleo told me we have a beautiful guest today in the pack”, she says beaming at my mate. “Hi, I'm Elise. This big Alpha is my brother. And you must be the sweet Mercedes.” Mercedes nods shyly, watching Elise. “Can you bathe her and give her clean clothes? Put her on my bed to sleep. She spent an entire evening outside of her pack. We fed her and now it's time for her to rest," I explain to my sister.

Elise takes her hand and as if they have known each other for years, the two leave the dining room chatting lightly.

Now it’s finally time to have an in-depth discussion about the situation with my Beta and Head Warrior...