The Silver Creek Wolves: The Gamma's Heartache

Growing up as the son of the Gamma was not easy. Like the Alpha and the Beta there are certain expectations of you since your father is in that role. For me it was fitness and strategy. As Gamma, my father was in charge of our warriors and helping the Alpha with battle plans. He was also head of Western Star Security. So, on top of my college courses, I also have go to additional Elite training and warrior training. Plus, because I am an Elite in training, I have to take patrol rounds. It doesn't leave much time for hanging out with my friends or finding my mate. It is just after our morning warrior training session and I am headed back to the pack house. "Hey Blake, hold up" Jake, the soon to be head warrior is running after me. "Kevin and Josh are coming back today so a bunch of us are going out tonight to celebrate, you coming?" Kevin is our future Alpha and Josh is our future Beta and they are my best friends along with Jake. We all grew up together. We were raised knowing that we would lead our pack as a group one day and the best way to do that was as friends. "Sorry Jake, dad put me on patrol tonight. I imagine he did it on purpose to keep me out of trouble." We both laughed imagining all the trouble we have gotten into over the years. "Let me see what I can do. Maybe my dad can convince him to back off just for tonight. It's been so long since we have all seen each other." Jake said as he walked toward the kitchen. We all graduated 4 years ago. Kevin and Josh went off to the Executive Elite Academy where all Alphas and Betas go to train for 4 years before taking their rightful place. Alphas are the leaders of our packs. Their mates are called Luna and they rule the pack as equals. Betas are the second in command of the pack and assist the Alpha when needed, often standing in while the Alpha is away. Their mate is the Beta female and she holds much the same role her mate does but for the Luna. Alpha and Beta daughters are encouraged to visit the school often so that the wolves in the academy can find their true mates to keep the bloodlines strong. Jake and I went off to college close to the pack. To be honest, I was ok with that. I have twin sisters who are younger than me and I can't imagine being that far away from them while they grow. Even with the 10 year age difference, we are really close. As a matter of fact, I insisted that my parents stay on the Gamma floor with my sisters until I found my mate and we were marked and mated. They have reluctantly agreed, but have given me the option to change mind at any time. Our pack house is beautiful. It is beside Silver Creek Lake which is surrounded by trees. Silver creek runs down the mountain, beside the pack house, and into the lake. The building is old and made from stone but it has been kept up well and expanded over the years as needed. The Alpha family has the top floor, The Beta family the 6th floor. The Gamma family the 5th floor. The 4th floor is for the guests. The 3rd floor is for the unmated warriors. The 1st and 2nd floors are offices, dining rooms, unmated Omega quarters, the kitchen, and a couple of TV rooms. The basement has a game room, a bowling alley, an indoor pool, and a small theater. The basement and first 2 floors are open to the whole pack. I run up to my room to take a quick shower and get ready for school. I only have this week and then finals before I graduate with my business degree. On top of pack security, I will be taking over running the security firm the pack owns to help bring money in to support the pack, Western Star, from my dad. I step out of the shower and throw on a grey short sleeved polo and black jeans with black vans. I run my fingers through my golden brown hair and run out the door to grab breakfast and go. Before I can escape through the front door, 2 girls, age 12, golden brown hair, golden brown eyes, and the beauty of the moon goddess herself come running up to me. "Blake! Blake! Did you hear? Did you hear?" Twins, everything is in double. "No, what did I miss?" there was no telling. "Only one of you tell me." "Mom just told us that Kevin and Josh are coming home and..." Jenna stops talking so Jessa can finish, "they are bringing their true mates home!" "Wow, that is exciting. Ok, I have to go, I can't be late for school." And with that, I pick them up and hug them both, drop them, and go. At 6'3" and 250lbs of muscle, picking up two 12 year olds is nothing! However, picking up my true mate, impossible. As werewolves, we can start finding our true mates at age 18. Most guys it happens around 20, but I am 22 and still have not found her. It doesn't help that I never leave my pack. I go to college, but most of the students are human, and human mates are rare. The wolves that do go are mostly from my pack, so I would have known already if it was one of them. Maybe it is a good thing I have to work tonight. Otherwise, I would have to fly solo with Jake, and he and I are nothing alike in the ladies department. Later I get a text from Jake around lunch time. Jake: Dad got you off duty tonight. No excuses, you are going. Blake: Fine if you insist After I got back from school I got called to the Alpha's office for a meeting. When I got there I knocked on the door. "Come in." "Hello Alpha Richard, you asked to see me?" "Yes Blake, I have your first official assignment as Gamma ready for you. "So soon, sir? I haven't even graduated yet. I was hoping for a small vacation before taking over officially." "Normally you would be first in line, but apparently we have to do the Alpha and Luna ceremony at the same time and very soon. And if you tell anyone I told you this next part, I will deny it to my grave boy!" He chuckles and I let out the breath I was holding. "Apparently my son takes after his old man and is not going to leave he and his mate much alone time, if you get what I am saying. So they are going on their honeymoon immediately following the ceremony." I winked at the Alpha and told him his secret was safe with me, I wished him congratulations and then asked what my assignment was. "Oh yes, your assignment. We have been nominated to run the Elite Warrior Summer Training Program and I want you in charge. This is an honor as you know and you have my blessing of whatever resources you need for this to run smoothly." "Thank you Alpha Richard, I am honored." "Then why do you look scared sh!tless?" he chuckles again. He must be getting some perverse pleasure out of my pain right now. "It is just a huge responsibility. How long do I have to plan everything? When do the warriors arrive?" "The delegation of volunteers will be here in 3 weeks to help you implement your plan. They are hand picked wolves who show potential for the Elite training program, but are too young or have just graduated high school and can not officially participate yet. Blake will you be able to handle this?" "Yes sir. I will do what I can over the next 2 weeks along with other duties and then finalize everything the 3rd week before the delegates get here." "Good plan boy! I am releasing you from all duties apart from school and the last week of Elite Training. I expect top grades from you and a strong finish. No excuses. I am proud of you Blake." With a smile on my face I thanked the Alpha and turned and left his office. I headed straight to my dad's office to apologize for what Jake's dad did and then head off to take post tonight since it will be my last shift. "Hey dad, got a minute?" I ask as I peek my head in my dad's open door. "Sure son, come on in." I walk in, close the door and sit in the chair in front of his desk. "First, I am sorry for Jake's dad asking to have me pulled off patrol. I am more than happy to work tonight if you need me to." "Blake, if you had told me the guys were coming back tonight and you wanted to go out, I would have given you the night off. You are allowed to have a social life. Your mother and I worry you work too hard and that if you don't find a mate soon, you never will." "I have all these responsibilities dad, and it is not going to get any easier when I graduate. I wanted to take a vacation after graduation. Head to a couple other packs. Learn some new fighting skills, maybe meet my mate." A smile forms on both our lips. "I am sure Richard would let you. The new Gamma is supposed to have the first break after graduation anyway." I roll my eyes. "Yeah not this year. Kevin already knocked up his Luna so all their plans get moved up and I get pushed to the back. Maybe I should consider a chosen mate." "Absolutely not!" my dad roared. "There is a good reason you have not found your true mate yet. I am sure when you do, you will understand why. You have to have faith in the Moon Goddess." My parents were some of the few who still held true to the moon goddess's teachings and believed that to be our strongest and purest wolf, we had to be with our true mates. "You're right. I just am getting so frustrated and now with being in charge of the Elite Warrior Summer Training Program, I don't know when I will ever find the time to escape." I am starting to sound as tired and defeated as I feel. "Have I told you lately how proud I am of you? Rick didn't even tell me he was giving you that assignment. I am guessing you will no longer be on patrol duty? I want you to finish all of your schooling strong and get started on preparing for the training program. I would imagine it starts soon. I also want you to take tonight off and relax with your friends." I smile with a short chuckle. "You sound like Alpha. Are you sure you two didn't talk about this before? He let me know that I was to concentrate on school to finish strong. And yes the delegation of volunteers will be here in 3 weeks to help get everything set up and then stay to continue to help me run things." I finish filling my father in on everything and get an update on how my sisters are doing in school. "One last thing and I will get out of your hair to get ready to go meet Kevin and Josh. Because of me running the program this summer, Alpha would like me to hold off on taking over full time at Western Star Security. I know you and mom were looking forward to your retirement, but it looks like it is going to have to wait a few more months. Oh and if anyone asks, you did not hear from me that the soon to be Luna is pregnant. Alpha will kill me!" My father smiles and laughs. "I will push back my retirement with pride. And let me guess, he swore you to secrecy and said no one knew? Blake, he has been telling anyone that will listen today. Luna Celeste is going to kill him!" Later that night Kevin, Josh, Jake, and I were hiding in the Beta's office playing poker, drinking whiskey, hiding from the guys' mates, and reminiscing about our younger days. Kevin and Josh were filling us in on their time at the Elite Academy. Jake and I were talking about college and our impending graduation. Then we hit the subject of mates. The one subject I wanted to avoid. "Blake, have you given any more thought to a chosen mate?" Kevin asked, taking a sip of his drink. "Yeah, but first, my parents would never allow it and second, I can't rush it if I have never been anywhere to see if my true mate is out there waiting for me." I am starting to get frustrated having the same conversation over and over for the last 2 years. "Why do you care what your parents think? If you aren't going to choose a mate and you haven't found your true mate yet, at least go out there and have some fun!" Jake smacks my back and I give a low growl. "Boys, leave the poor guy alone," I think Josh is coming to my rescue, but boy am I wrong, "he is just afraid to get hurt. He is a big chicken!" At that all three guys start laughing. I throw down my cards and stand up. "That's it, I am out of here. I don't need your sh!t. This is not pick on Blake night. I have real responsibilities to handle tomorrow. Have a good night." And with that I walk towards the door. Josh yells out, "Blake come back, I didn't mean anything buy it." "No, you did and I am done. I will find my true mate, just like you did. I am not taking a chosen mate and I am not going to have "fun" just to have it cause problems down the road." At that I step through the door and slam it behind me. As I walk up to the Gamma floor, I wonder if I have been too hard on the guys. I know they like to mess with me, but I just want to find that special someone. I just hope she is out there waiting for me too.