The Vampire and the Alpha's Son

Waiting and Dreaming

David’s POV

I walked slowly back to the casino, back to my father, already regretting the words I was planning to say to him. I would make amends for now, pretend like I had ‘come to my senses’ and told the vampire off. I walked into the front entrance to find my father leaning against the counter. He stood at attention as soon as he saw me, his eyes black with anger.

“Leave us,” he ordered the lobby staff, his eyes never leaving mine. He did not need to use his alpha voice with them since they were human. Also, he was the owner, and thus their boss. They left immediately through a door behind them, into the employee lounge. 

“I hope you can explain yourself,” he said to me as soon as they were gone, his voice low and venomous.

I put my hands up defensively and answered with an apologetic tone, “I’m sorry, Alpha, I lost my head for a minute. But I came back to my senses out there in the chilly autumn air, so I made sure that no-good vampire left us for good.”

I winced internally as I insulted the woman I loved. It hurt to say such things, but I knew it was necessary. I only had to live this lie for the next two weeks: one week until my birthday, and then one more week until my alpha ceremony. 

“Good, that’s more like it,” my father, Derrik, sighed in relief, easily buying my lies. He relaxed his face and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Now, shall we head back home to the pack house? We’re going to be late for dinner.”

I was silent for the entire half hour ride back to the Ponderosa Pine Pack territory. Yes, our pack is named after the state tree; not very original, but we loved the alliteration. I couldn’t stop thinking about Liz’s eyes and the way they bore into mine. I thought about her ruby lips, and wondered if they were as soft as they looked. I wondered too if she tasted as good as she smelled.

Then, I thought about my alpha ceremony.

It was at this ceremony where I intended to announce Liz as my mate and Luna. I was sure there would be some who would reject her as their Luna, and I was even more sure that my father would disown me. I didn’t care. 

A small part of me wondered, though, if maybe I really was overreacting and she possibly wasn’t my mate after all. But why else would I feel so strongly about her, and after such a short exchange? It was common for one to start feeling the effects of the mate bond when they are so close to their eighteenth birthday. Still, there was no way to know for sure until I had my wolf.

Suddenly, a week felt like much too long.

I was in a sullen state by the time we arrived at the gate, though I tried hard not to show it. The guards recognized the Alpha’s silver Rolls-Royce Phantom and opened the gates to let us through without being told. During the five minutes from the gate to the pack house, I worked on composing my face into a neutral expression. If anyone would notice my distress, it would be my mother, the Luna. She was a keenly observant woman, even without the help of her wolf.

She had been awaiting our return, and she greeted me instantly with a warm hug. My father and mother regarded each other with a small smile. Though they never said anything about it, it was a known fact that they were not mates. The intense affection and desire of two people who shared a mate bond was unmistakable, and they had never had such a relationship. They loved each other, of course, but only respectfully.

The story was that my father had rejected his human mate long before I was born. Soon after, he chose a strong and beautiful she-wolf to be Luna instead. He refused to talk about it, of course. However, it seemed not only plausible, but highly likely, knowing his personality and the way he was raised. As a pack, we did not tolerate rogues, humans, vampires, or witches within our border.

My mother pulled back from our embrace and looked at me with loving concern. I wasn’t sure how she had done it, but she had seen through my façade.

“What’s wrong, my son? What bothers you?” she asked softly, even though my father had already left us for the dining hall.

“I’m just tired, mom,” I sighed. I didn’t enjoy lying to my father, whom I respected, but I loathed lying to my mother whom I adored.

It was clear she was not convinced, but her face softened in defeat. She could see the resolve in my face, so she didn’t even bother pressing me for the truth.

“You’re lying, my son, but I know you’ll tell me when you’re ready,” she stated, matching my sigh. She hugged me one last time, and then walked with me arm in arm to our dinner. It was past six and most of the pack had already eaten, but my mother had waited for us. She always did this when we were out late on pack business no matter what we said on the matter, so we had stopped arguing about it long ago.

Inside the dining hall, I met up with my future Beta, Beethoven. He was a month older than me, though he was a few inches shorter. He had a wide frame, bushy eyebrows, and wispy hair. He had been named Beethoven due to his heavy brow, but I called him Bate, for short. He had hated the nickname at first, which I had started when we were eight, but it had eventually grown on him to the point that everyone in the pack now called him this. Everyone except for his mom, of course. Beatrix, Bate’s mom, was the current Beta, and the only female Beta I had ever heard of. She was in the dining hall as well, awaiting her Alpha. 

“Yo, David, how’d it go?” Bate asked me, addressing me in the informal, friendly tone that he always did. 

We greeted each other with a fist bump, as Alpha Derrik and Beta Beatrix looked on disapprovingly. We ignored them, as always. I enjoyed our informal relationship, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It was fine, mostly,” I shrugged. I sat down and grabbed a glass of milk, taking a huge swig to avoid any further questions.

“There was a vampire at the casino,” my father interjected bluntly.

Everyone gasped and I choked on my milk. “Oh, yeah, that,” I added after I was done coughing.

“What happened?” the Luna and Beta asked in unison, their voices heavy with shock and concern. My mother’s concern was for our safety, while Beatrix’s was for the safety of the pack.

“We told her to leave, and she left,” he answered firmly, then turned to me, “Didn’t we son?”

“Yes, Alpha,” I agreed dutifully, avoiding eye contact and focusing on my plate of steak and potatoes.

“Well, that’s a relief,” my mom said with a sigh, “I’m glad my boys are safe.”

“I don’t think she was dangerous,” I mumbled to the side, hoping no one would hear.

“What was that, son?” my father asked sharply.

“Nothing, Alpha,” I replied loudly. We’re werewolves; we have excellent hearing. Silly me.

My father was satisfied with that and began eating his dinner without another word. My mother, however, was not convinced. She fixed me with a suspicious glance but said nothing. s**t. I was going to have to spill the beans to her sooner or later, before she figured it out herself and told the wrong people. I didn’t really think she would do something like that, but I had to be extremely careful with this delicate secret. 

I had lost my appetite, thanks to my nerves, but I ate anyway. I sat silently through the rest of dinner while Bate chatted away beside me. After I was done, I went up to my room on the fifth floor, where the Alpha and his family lived and went to bed early. 

I dreamed of Liz of course, but in my dream we were running side by side across unknown lands as I stared lovingly into her glowing green eyes, and she gazed reverently into mine. Dream me looked down at her swollen belly with overwhelming pride and admiration. 

I awoke the next morning feeling disgruntled and unsettled. I spent the weekend avoiding my family while I pondered what this dream could mean.