The Lycan Mate's Souls

Chapter 4: Exchange Program Part 1/4

Our Alpha keeps talking, but my mind is somewhere else—anywhere else, honestly. I can feel my legs bouncing, like they want to run out of this room. I force myself to listen, but it’s tough when my brain is already dreaming about Angel Manuel’s party tonight.

“We waited for a while after we discussed and planned together,” Alpha says, voice steady like this is the most exciting story ever. “They had no idea the folder had been stolen on its way from Cataras, a country south of the United States. It took them two months to realize it was missing, until I found it in the public library.”

Ugh, library talk. My thoughts start drifting again, but then our Beta pipes up with a joke, and I can’t help but pay attention. “Apparently, the ones who stole it thought they were in some low-budget action flick,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. It’s kinda funny, but I’m not letting him see me laugh. Gotta keep that cool-kid vibe. Cierra scuffs at something, making me flinch—totally overreacting. Smooth, Kiko, real smooth.

She follows it up with a sharp question. “Okay, with everyone here and whatever, why is he here?” she asks, jerking a thumb at Alpha.

I smirk. She’s got a point, but our Alpha just smiles like he’s above it all. “I understand,” he says, trying to keep things friendly. “Let’s get to the real reason you’re here.” He pulls out a stack of folders, laying them on the desk like they’re some kind of treasure map.

“These are the plans,” he says. “You’ve been picked for a mission—a group effort, not solo.”

Now he’s got my attention. I lean forward a bit, trying to catch a glimpse of those folders. Missions, secrecy… and then I remember the party. Crap, I’d almost forgotten. Jonathan nudges me, like he can read my mind.

“Hey, you going to Angel Manuel’s party?” he asks.

I freeze, then laugh at myself. How the hell did I almost forget about the biggest party of the month? “Oh, hell yeah, I’m in,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. But inside, I’m already planning how to get out of this meeting without looking like I’m ditching.

Alpha keeps talking about tracking down some Lycan, and I try to focus, but the words blur together with my own thoughts. I’m excited about the mission—don’t get me wrong—but my mind keeps bouncing between the idea of chasing down a Lycan and imagining what’s going to happen tonight at the party. Adventure and parties? It’s a lot for one day, but I think I can handle it.

Alpha finally wraps up, talking about coordinating with the rest of the team, and I do my best to pay attention. “So, I’m guessing Cierra, Jonathan, John, and I are on the Lycan search?” I ask, trying to sound casual.

Alpha nods. “Yes, but that’s after we figure out what happened to Diana.”

That pulls me back into reality a bit. Diana, one of ours, in trouble—makes it harder to keep up the carefree attitude. I glance at Cierra, Jonathan, and John, all of us serious now, absorbing what the Alpha’s saying. There’s danger out there, sure, but I can’t help but feel that itch of excitement underneath.

As we leave the pack house, Jonathan gives me a look. “You still thinking about the party, Kiko?” he asks with a smirk.

“Hell yeah, can’t wait. You coming too?” I ask, grinning. He nods, and we start talking about who’s going to be there, what we’ll do. It’s a distraction from the heavy stuff, and I welcome it.

When we get home, we find Dad sitting in front of the door, military bag and all. Carlos steps up—stuttering through it—but tells Dad he’s not welcome here. Proud of him for that. We all stand together, even when Dad tries to guilt-trip us. Jonathan’s already on the phone with Gamma, letting him know what’s going down. I just keep my arms crossed, waiting for this whole thing to be over.

Then Mom arrives in her red truck, storms up, and slaps Dad. It’s a loud, sharp sound, cutting through the tension. “Get inside, NOW!” she orders, and we all scramble inside like we’re still kids. Before I go, I pause, managing to blurt out, “Ma, can I go to the party tonight?”

She gives me the look—the one that says I better behave—but she nods. I don’t wait for her to change her mind. I’m out the door and on my way before I can even think twice.

As we get home, the three of us—Jonathan, Carlos, and I—stop in our tracks. Dad is sitting right outside the front door, military bag at his feet like he’s planning to camp out. Carlos, who usually stays quiet, steps forward, his voice shaky but determined.

“Y-you sh-shouldn’t b-be here. M-mom said so-oo!” he stutters, but he gets the words out, and I’m impressed. Carlos never stands up to Dad, so this is huge.

Dad looks like he’s been punched in the gut. He stares at Carlos for a moment, then drops his gaze. “I know, Carlos, but I don’t have anywhere to go,” he mumbles, sounding defeated. It’s weird to see him like this—small, almost. Not the Dad I remember, always picking fights with us or with the pack elders. A part of me almost feels bad for him… almost.

Carlos shakes his head, his voice steadier now. “N-no… n-no p-pack wo-worries, ap-apart-me-men-tt-t. Y-you g-go there!”

Dad’s face falls, and I can see the hurt. But that doesn’t mean I’m letting my guard down. Jonathan finishes his call, tucking his phone back in his pocket with a satisfied look. “Gamma’s on his way, and I told Mom too. She’ll be here soon.”

Dad tries to look tough, but I see the panic flash in his eyes. He looks from Carlos to Jonathan, then finally at me. But I just cross my arms, leaning against the doorframe, making it clear I’m not going to make this easy for him. He put us through hell, and now he wants sympathy? Yeah, right.

Carlos, though, is on a roll. He takes a deep breath, managing to get out, “G-go… g-godd-e-ss he-lp us-s.” I wrap an arm around his shoulders, pulling him into a side hug. “You said it, bro,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. Carlos flashes a small, proud smile, and I give him a look that says, “You did good.”

Jonathan joins in, ruffling Carlos’s hair. “Ese es mi Carlitos!” he says with a grin, but there’s a hint of emotion in his voice. He’s proud too, and for a moment, it feels like we’re all on the same page. But then Dad speaks up again, sounding all broken and regretful, and my patience snaps.

“I’m sorry, I’ll get out of your way,” Dad says, but it’s too little, too late. Carlos doesn’t even flinch; he just shakes his head like he’s done with all of it.

And honestly? So am I.

Just then, Mom’s red truck roars up the driveway, and she jumps out, looking furious. Without a word, she marches up to Dad and slaps him across the face. The sound rings out, and even I wince. “Get inside the house, NOW!” she yells, not leaving any room for arguments.

“Y-yes m-ma’am,” Carlos stammers, and we echo him, scurrying inside like kids who’ve just been caught sneaking cookies. But before I close the door, I turn back and blurt out, “Ma, can I go to the party tonight?”

She pauses, glaring at me with that death stare that says I’d better behave. “Fine. But don’t make me regret it,” she warns.

I nod quickly, not wanting to push my luck. As soon as she waves me off, I’m out the door, sprinting down the driveway like my life depends on it. I’ve got a party to get to, and after all this drama, I need it more than ever.

Jose POV

Before I arrived at Marisol’s house, I made a stop at my eldest son’s apartment. And, as usual, I’m greeted by the same damn argument.

“Honestly, I can’t believe you’re doing this. Leave her alone; she’s fed up with you! Can’t you understand that?!” Luis, my oldest, is practically shouting. He’s got my stubbornness and his mother’s sharp tongue when he needs it.

Every month, it’s the same conversation, the same frustration on his face. I’m tired of it. But all I want is my family back, even if it’s a long shot. Solimar stands behind Luis, looking nervous, her eyes darting between us like she’s bracing for a fight. Luis bangs his fist against the wall, and I can hear the desperation in his voice.

“Get out!” he yells, and I lift my head from where it rests in my hands, sitting on the edge of the bed. “What?”

Luis glares at me, all fire and frustration. “I said, get out of my apartment. I’ve had it with you, Sol, and I don’t need your negativity and mistakes. I will not let my pup live with someone like you!”

Sol steps forward, resting a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him. Her touch softens his expression, and she speaks in that soothing voice of hers, “Honey, please calm down. I can feel you through our mate bond. Please, calm down for Luz.”

She rubs her stomach, and Luis’s hand follows, resting gently on her bump. The way he looks at her, with that tiny smile full of love for their unborn pup, twists a knife deeper into my chest. I feel even worse about everything I’ve done.

Sol guides him away, helping him breathe into her neck to relax. He mumbles under his breath as he walks out, slamming the door behind him. She turns back to me, sitting down beside me on the bed. I shift, giving her space, and we sit in silence for a while, the tension heavy between us.

“Are you really asking me to leave?” I finally say, my voice barely more than a whisper. I’m hoping for just a sliver of a chance, something to hold onto.

Solimar sighs deeply, and I brace myself for what she’ll say. “Jose, everyone has a positive and a negative side. I think you should try to show her that all of your children matter to you. I’m just starting to have pups and can show you pictures of the circus coming to town soon. Luis adores our pup—sometimes, I feel like I’m being replaced by Luz, jajaja.”

She chuckles softly, and I can’t help but smile a little, even though it feels like a bitter reminder of what I’ve lost. “Yeah, that happens when you have a pup,” I say, thinking back to when my own kids were born. “I’ve got five, but… I ruined three of them.”

Sol looks at me with a small, encouraging smile. “I think you can still fix things. You were loving to them once, just like my little Luz will be to us.”

She rubs her belly, and her words hit me harder than I want to admit. I sit there, quiet, letting her message sink in.

I don’t tell her, but out of all of Luis’s mates, I’ve always liked Solimar best. Giovana, on the other hand, just grates on my nerves. I let out a long breath through my nose, trying to keep my emotions in check.

“Ouch!” Sol suddenly winces, and I snap out of my thoughts, a jolt of panic running through me. Please, Moon Goddess, don’t let her go into labor right now.

It brings me back to when Marisol had our kids. She gave birth to all five of our sons without any help. When her water broke the first time, she just grabbed her truck keys, shouted at me to snap out of it, and drove herself to the hospital while I stood there like an i***t.

Flashback - 20 Years Ago

I still remember that day. Marisol was eating ice cream, pouting like a kid. “So, you agree?” she asked, her mouth full.

I wasn’t paying attention, so I asked, “Agree to what?”

She gave me this wicked grin, the kind that always meant trouble, and punched my shoulder, making me drop my hot dog. Now I’m covered in ketchup, mustard, and pickles. Great.

She burst into laughter, and I couldn’t help but smile. Even when she’s driving me crazy, her laugh is my favorite sound. I went to grab a new hot dog, and when I sat back down, I noticed her staring down, eyes wide.

I followed her gaze and realized… wow. Her water had broken right there.

Marisol didn’t wait for me to catch up. She just got her car keys, waddled to her truck, and rolled down the window to yell, “When you’re over your shock, I’ll be at the hospital giving birth! See you soon, hun!” Then she drove off, leaving me in the dust.

It took me a minute to snap out of it, but when I did, I rushed to my car. On the way to the hospital, I made a quick stop to grab a box of pink cupcakes with cream cheese frosting—just like she wanted.

When I got to the hospital, I ran into her friend Chamika, who pointed me to Marisol’s room. As soon as I walked in, I heard her yelling at the doctor, pushing like she was in charge of the whole show.

I put the box of cupcakes on the bedside table and tried to step closer, but she shot me a look that made me freeze. “Don’t even think about it; just stay there,” she growled, and I raised my hands in surrender.

She pushed again, and the doctor finally said, “You’re ready. Let’s do this!”

And just like that, Marisol brought our first son into the world, strong and fierce. She was everything I loved about her—tough, stubborn, and a little bit crazy. And I… well, I was just along for the ride.

End of Flashback

Sol’s voice pulls me back to the present. “Jose, can you help me up? I’m kind of stuck.” I shake off the memories and help her to her feet, guiding her to the bathroom and locking the door behind her. Nothing to see here.

As I walk back to the living room, I start gathering my things, packing up what little I brought with me. My chest feels heavy, but I’ve made my decision. It’s time to try and fix things—if they’ll even let me.

I grab my bag and head out, hoping that I can somehow find a way back into my family’s lives. I’ve got a lot of making up to do, and I’m ready to start kissing some serious ass.