Chapter Four
894 Words
James POV
I slammed the front door as I walked into the pack house not worried about my Beta and Delta behind me before collapsing onto the couch, burying my face in my hands.
“Bad day, huh?” my sister asked sarcastically as she was taking a bite out of her chocolate bar
“Not now, Adeline,” I muttered.
She rolled brown her eyes.
“Fine. Then don’t talk to me.”
With that, she stormed out of the room.
I leaned back against the couch with a heavy sigh, surprised she’d actually walked away without arguing.
“Well… that’s a first,” Liam said as he walked in from the front door, stepped into the living room
“Yeah.” I rubbed the side of my face. “I’ll talk to her later. Right now, I don’t even know what to do about my mate.”
“Don’t worry,” Liam said reassuringly. “We can have a few pack members keep an eye on her and figure out who that other girl is.”
I nodded.
“Yeah… but I think I need some advice first.”
Pushing myself off the couch, leaving the pack house. I headed toward the clinic.
⸻
The scent of herbs filled the room as soon as I stepped inside.
Quinn, our healer, stood beside my mother’s bed. Her fair hands glowed with a soft silver light as healing magic flowed into my mother’s frail body.
She looked up and smiled.
“Hello, Alpha.”
Her violet eyes shimmered faintly with magic.
“How is she?” I asked, unable to hide the worry in my voice.
“Her vitals are improving,” Quinn replied softly, brushing a strand of white hair behind her ear. “But she’s still very weak. She’ll need plenty of rest before she’s fully recovered.”
I nodded.
Looking down at my mother broke my heart.
The healthy color had disappeared from her skin.
She looked exhausted. Fragile as if I touch her she would break
The deep s***h across her chest reignited the anger burning inside me. Every single rouge will die for this
“Mama!”
A tiny voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I turned to see a little white-haired boy wobbling toward Quinn with his arms stretched out.
“Hey, Rain.” Quinn smiled as she scooped him into her arms. “Where’s Daddy?”
“Right here.”
Her mate with shaggy black hair stepped into the room, carrying their other twin boy River he had black-haired just like his dad.
“Alpha” he turned to look at me with his golden brown eyes. Before bowing slightly
I nodded back to him
“Rain really wanted to see his mama, huh?” my mother asked weakly with a faint smile.
“He sure did,” Quinn laughed.
“Quinn…” I glanced toward her. “Could I have a few minutes alone with my mom?”
“Of course.” She smiled warmly. “Call me if you need anything.”
She stood up placing Rain on her hip walking along side her mate as he shifted River in his right arm placing his free arm around Quinn before the family quietly left the room.
Silence settled over us.
My mother slowly reached for my hand.
“What is it, sweetheart?” she asked gently. “I can tell something’s weighing on you.”
I let out a shaky breath.
“Mom… I found my mate.”
A smile spread across her tired face. “That’s wonderful.”
“It doesn’t feel wonderful.” I blurted out honestly
Her smile faded.
“She lives with another girl…” I admitted. “One of my hunters identified her scent.. rouge.” I paused breathing in. “And… My mate shes human.”
Confusion flickered across my mother’s face.
“The Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes,” she said quietly.
“I know.” I said rubbing my forehead “I don’t even know if she knows our world exists. I don’t even know how to protect her.”
“I don’t know how to get her away from whoever she’s living with what if she hurts her?”
“If Dad were here…” I said my voice cracking from holding in my emotions “…everything would be different. He would’ve known exactly what to do. He was a far better Alpha than I’ll ever be.” I felt tears burned behind my eyes.
My mother squeezed my hand.
“James.” She said carefully
I looked over to her hesitantly
“Your father would be incredibly proud of the Alpha you’ve become.” She smiled softly. “And so am I, you’ve protected this pack through impossible circumstances. You’ve carried burdens no nineteen-year-old should ever have to bear. You don’t have to be your father…You only have to be yourself.”
A lump formed in my throat.
“As for your mate…” she continued, “follow your heart. If the Moon Goddess chose her for you, then there is a reason. Protect her, earn her trust, and when the time is right… Bring her home.”
A small smile tugged at my lips.
“I will, Mom.”
She smiled back, feeling her gently squeezing my hand “I know you will.”
- Writer
