My Mate Is An Outcast

Deliberate Distraction

Lucian

“Had to keep us waiting, didn’t you?” Catriona, my older sister chided me, dressed in a lovely multicoloured sundress. Her dark hair quite similar to mine was piled on top of her head and held in place severely by an Alice band. The cold diamond around her neck was no match for the fire in her golden eyes however. The limousine moved smoothly as if it was gliding on water and not moving on tarred ground.

“He was probably busy with his pretty assistant,” Nigel chipped in from beside her, his eyes glittering with mischief. “You must have noticed her incorrectly done buttons, Cat.”

“I did,” she confirmed and giggled into her palm. Anyone watching us would assume we were the suburban siblings on our way to our suburban hometown. It was almost true with some major variances. Nigel was my older brother and the first son of our father, Alpha Hale which meant whenever the spirits called Father to rest, Nigel would be his heir, a fact that he had drummed into my ear endlessly since we were mere pups.

I said nothing to admit or deny their accusations, too busy with getting my nerves under control. It had been five years since Father let us leave home to seek our destinies. We had done well for ourselves in our various capacities: Nigel was a peace ambassador in countries affected by war and strife, outspoken about his resent for people who took advantage of others;

Catriona was a philanthropist, her name involved in major charity causes and fundraisers. I was more of the business type, managing personal investments and buying smaller companies so I could resell them later. Nigel and Catriona were enough to keep the world safe.

“I heard Father’s throwing a party in our honour. Isn’t that grand? It’s been a while.” Catriona sighed with mild longing, her gaze full of nostalgia. Nigel nodded in agreement and I silently pondered on her words. My last day in Moon Valley had been very eventful: literally running into someone. She had been nothing remarkable but our collision had quite the impact on my memory.

“Why don’t you say something, Lucian instead of acting so cold?” Nigel complained, poking me in the ribs.

I glared at him and pursed my lips in a grim line. I had nothing to say and even if I did, I was too distracted to be good company. I wondered if Moon Valley had fully embraced the change that came with time or if she-wolves were still reserved only for childbearing. Linda would be appalled if she knew how low her kind was treated. She would launch into her favourite speech about feminism and talk till I gave her the eye.

“Share the joke, Lucian,” Catriona beckoned, squeezing my palm urgently. “Something is amusing you clearly.”

“I was thinking about my assistant,” I dropped the sentence and let them interpret it anyhow they liked. Nigel was the first to react, shaking his fist in righteousness.

“I knew it!” he declared, evidently proud of his assumption. “I knew there was something between you and dear Linda but is it something permanent, I wonder? Oh, the she-wolves back home would be sad to hear that a mere human stole your heart.”

Catriona giggled again at Nigel’s foolishness and though it was not fun being the butt of the joke, I preferred their laughter to their suffocating concern. Siblings were for life and I was stuck with them for longer, thanks to our supernatural long lives.

“We are in pack territory,” our driver announced in a form of warning. The time for nonsensical laughter was over and I could see it reflect in Nigel’s proud eyes. The light shone also in cool pools of gold through Catriona’s eager eyes. It was time to see home again.

Allison

I held up my long to-do list, disheartened by the amount of things I was yet to get. Sunflower seeds were sold on the other side of the boundary which meant almost a trip around pack territory. My last meal was a small piece of meat saved for me and it was long gone by the time I started my errands. I would have given up and gone home but for Lorraine, my boss’ threat:

“Do not return until you get everything on that list. Disobey me and you no longer have a job here.”

A bag of loamy soil was dragged along by my tired right arm and the oil for the tools had been purchased also. Evening had fallen long ago yet I was dogged to finish my task. Lorraine would have no reason to let me go and perhaps I could get a promotion or something. Messenger/bundler was no working for me anymore. Soon, I had to resort to my honed eyesight to see clearer when night fell.

Fortunately, my task was completed and I could go back to the shop. Strangely, I met no one on the way and the few people who scurried past me appeared to be in a haste. I picked up the pace, barely managing to balance all my wares accordingly. No one had volunteered to accompany me but at least, even if I was stupid, I was strong and could endure some stuff the average male werewolf could not. Whistling to tear through the silence, I knocked on the front door. There was no response and no sound of people discussing.

Dropping my wares, I dashed to the back door leading to the garden and found it locked as well. Where could they have possibly gone without telling me? Surely Lorraine knew I would be back and should have made someone wait for me. Instead, they had forgotten about me, a usual occurrence. With nothing left to do, I resolved to go home and wash up. The dried soil on my body was beginning to itch and my fur smelled bad.

“What are you doing here?” Fay suddenly said, scaring me into a jump. I was glad to see her and to know my heart was still in its rightful place. A frown of worry furrowed her forehead and I felt self-conscious about my dirty appearance.

“I just returned from my errand. Where is everyone?”

“At the Household of Alphas where you should be too with the rest of others.”

When I did not react as she must have expected, she regarded me like the five-headed mythical Hydra.

“The royal pups returned today and there is a big celebration hosted in their honour. Were you not aware?”