Mythical Mate for an Alpha

Chapter 12

Andre pulled the SUV up to the airport curb and jumped out. “Alpha, It is so great to see you again.” He said, bowing low to my father, a smile plastered across his face. 

“I appreciate your restraint Andre, but I know you better than that.” My father said, a smile forming at the corner of his lips and playing across his eyes.

At this, Andre embraced him in a bear hug, then Owen and myself thereafter. He helped us load our bags into the trunk and we all slid into the SUV. I was so happy to be back in Maine. It was a two hour drive back home, but all that mattered was that I was here. I missed my mom. Heck, I even missed my siblings at this point. I had never been away from home so long. 

Andre drove, while my father sat in the front seat, with Owen and I in the back. “Anything new with the pack Andre?” I asked.

“Not much really. A few new pups have been born, a rogue or two have been spotted in the territory, and -”

“What rogues?” my father cut him off. 

“Yes Alpha, I’m sure you haven’t been able to read all the report emails I have sent. The past few nights, the spotters in the east tower along with some patrol guards on foot have seen a few rogues lurking on the outskirts. We think they are gauging the size of the territory and how best to make it around. So far they have given no indication of organization or attack.” Andre’s tone instantly turned to that of the Gamma at my father’s inquiry. 

Rogues have always been a thorn in the side of any pack. These are wolves who, whether by choice or force, left their pack. They follow no rules and are concerned only for their own survival. Period. They will go to any lengths to get what they want. Some have even banded together in order to attack packs. 

My father grunted and nodded as Andre reported, asking nothing else once Andre finished. “So, what else were you about to say?” I asked again, looking for any reason to cut the shop talk.

“Oh! You have a house guest.” he said smiling. 

“A house guest? From a neighboring pack?” I was confused. No one mentioned anything about a guest at the house. Honestly though, I had not talked to anyone in the last few weeks. My mother had tried to call a few times, but she always seemed to call as I was occupied with a guest of my own. I never bothered to call any of my siblings. Maybe I should have checked in now that they had started school again.

“The Luna mentioned something to me about it.” My father added. “She said the girl is a human friend of Trish’s and she doesn’t have much in the way of family. Your mom really likes her.”

“A human girl has been staying at our house? Trish doesn’t usually like human girls.” I wondered out loud. 

“Her name is Kitty. She is the nicest person I have ever come across, aside from our Luna that is.” Andre threw in, looking sheepishly toward my father. My father could only smirk and shake his head as he continued to scroll through his now open email.

“So you know her then?” I pushed Andre.

“Well yeah. She has been spending the weekends at your house.” Andre replied.

“And why exactly have you been at my house Andre?” I asked with a hint of menace in my voice. He always liked to flirt with Trish. Is he trying to take it farther?

Completely unphased, he says “Luna’s cooking of course. You could be gone a whole year and our dear Luna is still going to take pity on my skinny hollow form and cook for me.”

I snorted in return with Owen belly laughing beside me. “I’m sure you are more like mold. Hard to get rid of, yet so easy to return.” I retorted.

This time my father was the one laughing. Andre merely shrugged his shoulders. “Even Orla likes her.”

At the mention of his mate, Owen’s ears perked up. “Does she now?”

“Yeah. Why are you so surprised?” Andre asked.

“While I love my dear mate, quite frankly she hates everyone. She isn’t the easiest female for others to get along with.” Owen said, feeling a bit bad about talking that way about his mate. 

“Wait until you meet Kitty. You will understand. It is almost impossible not to like her. And although her cooking isn’t quite as good as Luna's, it is pretty damn close. Her souffle is out of this world.” Andre was licking his lips as he spoke. 

“Souffle?” I scoff. “I didn’t even know you could pronounce souffle.”  Again, the car was full of laughter. 

The rest of the ride home was filled with jokes, catching up on pack business, and filling Andre in on some of the happenings at the International Council. While most of the European Alphas were cordial and welcoming, the other Alphas from the East were much more reserved. They only spoke when it was their turn to report on their packs. They would answer questions when asked, but rarely pro-offered advice to other packs.

The American Alphas were a bit more easy going, though I felt that some were too free with their opinions. My father said this was one of the benefits of the Council. In our lifetimes, most packs would face the same trials and difficulties. Learning from the others would make me a better Alpha. I thought this was ridiculous. One Alpha’s weakness in his pack was his problem, and sure as hell not one that I could see happening in our pack. 

There were however, a few Alphas that rubbed everyone the wrong way. Too many times, those Alphas would cause a disruption, or on one occasion, a full blown attack between themselves and the Alpha and Beta of another pack. The instigating Alpha of that incident didn’t fare too well and was forced to leave the meeting entirely. 

There were a few American Alphas that were rough around the edges. The one closest to our pack is Alpha Zephyr in New Hampshire. Every time he would speak, he would talk about how he feels the other American Alpha’s exclude his pack.  He is struggling with trade and territory expansion. What I heard from other Alphas, my father included, is that Alpha Zephyr has a habit of not trading fairly, or paying his debts. Hence, his perceived exclusion.

Alpha Zephyr had caused such a ruckus at the Council meeting that all the American Alphas agreed to reconvene in a few weeks state-side in order to discuss all domestic dealings. The Alpha King, Cornelius, agreed to come and attend, along with the High Alpha, Gareth. In the werewolf world, they were the ultimate figure heads. Most issues went to High Alpha Gareth, while the Alpha King oversaw the lot. 

Before long, we pulled up in front of our house. We were no sooner out of the car than Mom, Trish, Orla, Eli, and Ella came running out. Orla flung herself at Owen, wrapping her entire body around him, sobbing with joy. He whispered to her faintly, kissing her in between and stroking her hair. He carried her into the house, likely to one of the guest rooms. Thank the Goddess the rooms were sound proofed. After living in the pack house, my parents knew this would be a necessity. 

Mom stood there looking at us all for a moment, tears in her eyes, before my father took long slow strides toward her. Even without seeing his face, I knew he must be smiling from ear to ear. No matter how long they are together, their bond is still as strong as the first day they met. A gift from the Goddess, he would say. The other half of your soul, always eager and willing to be one with you.   

They embraced briefly before father turned to my siblings and Mom rushed over to me. “Oh Syrus, I know you are grown but I still miss you as if you were my baby.” She hugged me tight and I could feel her love pour through me. I had never felt love like this from any other creature in my life. This is what is truly felt like to be home.

Andre had already taken the bags from the SUV into the house. My father soon scooped Mom up into his arms and disappeared into the house with her. I could only shake my head as my siblings came over to greet me. Eli shook my hand and Ella jumped on me hanging from my neck. “Oh I missed you big brother.” She said, kissing my cheek. While I wouldn’t consider us terribly close as siblings, they too weren’t used to having one of us gone for so long. 

Trish stood back, leaning against the railing of the wrap around porch. Beside her was a girl I had never seen before. She was quite small compared to my sisters. Her hair blew lightly in the breeze. To me it looked like a fire swirling around her delicate features. I made my way closer to them. The whole time, I could not take my eyes off of the girl. 

She seemed to glow and flame at the same time. She was the most exquisite looking human girl I have ever seen in my life. It felt like I stood staring at her for ages. In reality, it must have only been a few moments. 

“Good to see you brother.” Trish said amused, breaking my stare from the girl on her left. “This is my friend Kitty. She just moved here from out west and started at Grammercy.”

Kitty reached over the railing holding her hand out toward me. “Hi! I’m Kitty. I’m so happy to finally meet you. I have heard so much about you from Trish and your mom. Oh and Andre too.” She said, smile wide across her face.

I stood there staring at her outstretched hand as if it were a foreign object. My brain would not work. I could not seem to form a sentence. I was so confused by what was happening. I tried to call on my wolf Nash, but I could tell that he was equally confused. Our senses were going haywire.

Kitty pulled her hand away, looking away from me. “I’m sorry. That was a bit forward of me, wasn’t it. You must be tired and I’m some strange girl in your house. The flight from Germany is pretty long, I read. Trish, I will let you and your brother talk while I get back to the kitchen. Everyone seems to be a little occupied,” she laughed. “Someone has to make sure we eat tonight.” She gave Trish a quick hug and headed into the house. 

Trish finally broke through my thoughts. “No moves on my friend Syrus. I mean it. You can have anyone else in the pack or at Grammercy, but not Kitty. I really like her and so do Mom and Orla. It is hard enough for the Alpha family to make friends, especially me. Don’t screw it up.” With that, she punched me in the arm and headed back into the house. 

Finally alone, I could breathe again. It was like a fog had lifted, yet everything felt sort of dull at the same time. What the hell just happened?