A Soulmate's Scent

Warning

Ciel

Their Pack’s compound stood in a private property located in the middle of the woods, and the only unfortunate thing about the fact was that it was painfully far from the city where most of its members either studied or worked. Regardless, it was a fair price to pay for having a home, a large family, and the protection of their kind.

For centuries, Ciel’s Pack had resided in that beautiful and quiet location of which he was so fond.

While there were still many of them residing there, rumor said that the number of members had decreased dramatically over the last few decades, mainly because Shifters were getting more attached to humans. This fact led them to leave their Packs to become independent and also weakened their bloodline. Most Shifters who reproduced with humans would not have Shifter babies.

If anything, those children would be healthier, more robust than a regular human, and have better senses. Still, the gene would not pass on unless these children reproduced with a Shifter themselves, which was not something that happened often.

Modern Shifters didn’t like to be bound to Packs, which was the main reason why they chose to be with humans in the first place.

Ciel had always been open-minded and respectful of new mindsets. The world was constantly changing, and he had to be accepting if he wanted to become an understanding and compassionate Leader, but he couldn’t deny his love for the whole concept that being part of a Pack was.

Tradition, trust, camaraderie, and the constant feeling of safety and comfort that only family can provide. Not all of them were blood-related, but all the small families that made part of that bigger one had been linked through the trials of time, and they had grown together, building everything they had as one.

Of course, Ciel’s Pack was old-fashioned in many ways. Most Packs didn’t live in compounds anymore, tucked away in the middle of nowhere as theirs did. Kei’s Pack, for example, lived in a high-tech building that belonged to his family, and most of them worked together. Another Pack in the district lived in a vast Mansion, while another owned a small street in the city's outskirts.

Most Packs adjusted to modern times as they saw fit.

Ciel didn’t mind that his Pack was outdated for the time being because once he became the Leader, he would make the necessary changes to make life easier and better for his people. He didn’t want anyone to feel oppressed or obligated to live a certain way if they wanted to be part of a Pack.

And, of course, he would make sure all the district’s Packs could co-exist in friendly terms.

When he thought about it, it brought him a sense of both joy and bitterness. Kei would also become a Leader someday, and hopefully, he would work towards this end. Still, the Council and their kind had strict rules, so even if they did find peace, when would it happen, and at what cost?

Would their truce come too late? Would they be forced to co-exist from afar forever?

Ciel couldn’t stop himself from constantly wondering how things would go if they ever had the chance to try something else together, even if it wasn’t a realistic expectation.

As a Progressive Alpha, there was a chance that he and Kei were only attracted to each other because their pheromones balanced each other out. Ciel’s scent now that he was a full adult was potent even though he hadn’t fully Awakened yet. Still, he also released pheromones that were dangerously similar to those of females since he could (supposedly) reproduce like them. It also made him susceptible to dominant Alpha pheromones, just as Kei felt enticed by his more delicate ones – the ones that called out to the breeder in him.

Because of this, Ciel and Kei felt drawn to each other, or so he guessed. There was no other way explanation in Ciel's mind.

The strange thing was that Ciel never felt as hungry for another Alpha’s scent, male or female, as he did for Kei’s. It was feral and instinctual, and thoroughly confusing.

While he was comfortable with his gender, he felt that his body was fighting a constant battle when it came to Kei, wanting both to submit and own, and this didn’t happen with other Alphas or Betas, and not even Omegas.

Ciel had a highly dominating urge when it came to his kind, so he wasn’t likely to submit easily - it was a matter of power and pride, not to mention that their very bodies resisted another Alpha’s dominance on instinct alone.

Even so, he could be on the receiving end if he was with a human because his pheromones didn’t react to their weak hormones.

Indeed, s*x with humans was a lot easier yet considerably more boring since animal instincts worked their bodies differently, and pheromones did wonders to a Shifter’s libido.

Ciel knew why he was attracted to his supposed rival, and while this wasn’t an issue for him, he couldn’t understand why their mutual desire wasn’t confusing for someone so intelligent and curious as Kei.

The man hadn’t once questioned Ciel (or himself) about why they felt this way toward each other as if he had accepted that this was something they had to live with, already a part of them.

They felt the same way about each other, yet Ciel couldn’t help but fear that it would change if he ever had his Awakening and his scent became too overpowering for Kei.

What if what once drew them to each other would end up pulling them apart out of disgust? Because that was what Alpha males did to each other – exuded their scents to assert dominance more often than not, their pheromones unpleasant to each other’s senses and nervous systems.

Kei had the most intoxicating scent Ciel had ever smelled (even more so after he had matured). Ciel didn’t want to think about the possibility that something that had drawn them together for years would also be something that could ultimately pull them apart. If so, what would be left? Would they just turn their backs to each other, or was there more between them than just pheromones?

He supposed they would know when it happened. That was why Ciel unconsciously repressed his Awakening as Argo had put it, but he couldn’t help it.

He was irrationally scared of losing what he and Kei had, even if there was nothing between them and nothing to lose. It was a stupid way of thinking, but there was nothing he could do to help it.

oOo

Meetings were held at a small wooden temple further up the hill at the end of the compound. As expected, that was where his grandmother was waiting for him.

As he entered the temple, he saw her sitting at the end of the large oval meeting table, her two main chaperons, Carte and Main, seated on either side of her. Ciel also spotted his best friends (and Main’s children) sitting at the table next to their father – the twins Lia and Mot - both eyeing him with identical expressions that said he was in for a scolding.

“I don’t understand why you never do anything I say!” his grandmother, Lady Lune, yelled upon his arrival, making him stop in his tracks at the opposite end of the table. “We’re swamped with work, and you run off to who knows where! And when I call for you, you still keep me waiting!”

“Don’t be like this, old hag; I was taking a break. Everything is under control,” Ciel said, with a dismissive gesture of his hand, trying to soothe her.

“Is it?” Lune asked, looking at Lia. “Lia, is everything under control?”

Lune was a small woman with platinum blond hair tied in a bob at the top of her head and powerful golden eyes. Despite her old age, she was still a beautiful woman, albeit immensely intimidating with her vivid red lipstick and nails. Her angry Alpha pheromones were strong, so much so that Ciel almost flinched at how heavy they made the atmosphere feel.

“Yes, Lady Lune!” Lia immediately replied, her huge green eyes wide, throwing a glance at Ciel that said, ‘I got your back.’ “He’s been doing a great job so far. Everything is in order since we can only finish the remaining preparations on the day of the meeting.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Lune said sarcastically.

“You sometimes talk as if you have no faith in me at all,” Ciel threw, not moving from his standing position.

“Of course, I have faith in you; otherwise, I wouldn’t have put you in charge of this important event,” Lune said.

She grabbed the Pack of cigarettes resting on the table in front of her and took one out. She trapped it between her lips. “You seem a little out of yourself lately, so I’m worried about your well-being. Perhaps I have put too much responsibility on your shoulders, especially since you’ve been managing the restaurants as well.”

“I’m fine.” Ciel watched as Carte seemed to magically make a plastic lighter appear out of thin air as he promptly lit Lune’s cigarette. He was a big man, with shoulder-length grey hair and a scar marking his left cheek. “It's just a lot of work along with the restaurant and everything.”

Lune inhaled from her cigarette before breathing the smoke out. “No signs of-”

“Geez, woman, I already told you no,” Ciel interrupted, rolling his eyes at her in exasperation.

“Don’t speak to me in that tone, brat,” Lune snapped, frowning heavily at him. “I don’t care if you’re an adult now. I’ll have you tied up to a tree and whipped until you learn some manners.”

Mot - a guy who was usually a brave loudmouth - shivered openly at that. No one enjoyed being threatened with The Tree even if it wasn’t that much of a standard punishing tool anymore. Ciel sincerely doubted that his grandmother would ever put him through that, but he at least had to indulge her and show some fear and respect.

He sure liked to tease her, though.

Heaving a sigh, Ciel allowed his muscles to relax before lowering his head respectfully. “I’m sorry, old hag,” he said softly. “I mean… Lady Lune.”

Lune’s left eye quivered, but she let it pass. She took a long drag in her cigarette before smashing it on the ashtray in front of her.

“Ciel, this meeting is a significant occasion for all the Packs in the district,” she said, choosing to ignore his taunt and finally gesturing for him to sit down. “Even if this isn’t the first time we are the hosts, as this Pack’s future Leader, this is the first time you’re going to be formally greeting our guests.”

“I’m aware,” Ciel muttered, pulling the nearest chair and sitting down. “You don’t need to worry; I can behave.”

“I never said you couldn’t,” Luna retorted in her business-like demeanor. “You have a gift to deal with people, so I’m not worried at all. I just wanted to remind you to be polite, but because you’ll be in the spotlight, you will also need to be careful of what you say and do and with whom you interact. We don’t need unnecessary rumors to create misunderstandings.”

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Ciel assured her, with a relaxed smile. “I’m well-behaved.”

Ciel could be a little rough around the edges and enjoy doing things his way, but he had never in his life done anything that could embarrass his late parents or his Pack - he was too prideful for that.

Well, at least he didn’t think him secretly meeting Kei counted as a severe transgression since they weren’t technically doing anything wrong. So far, they just talked. And sniffed each other a bit, but that was a meaningless detail.

“I hope I don’t need to remind you to stay away from the Phlox’s Pack. More specifically, from the Phlox family.”

Oh s**t, the woman just had to bring that up just as he was thinking about it. Today was sure full of coincidences, Ciel mused.

“You’re doing it anyway,” he pointed out, jokingly, but Lune didn’t smile, neither did the other four in the room. His friends both shook their heads from side to side very slowly, warningly.

Again, Ciel sighed, leaning back on his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. “As the host, I have to greet them at least, Lady Lune.”

“Yes, of course, but if you absolutely must socialize with them, then do so with their Pack Leader,” Lune instructed firmly. “I don’t want you being unnecessarily friendly with them."

Ciel could only groan between clenched teeth. “Yes, I know.”

“I’m serious, Ciel,” his grandmother emphasized, her golden eyes on him unfaltering. “I don’t care what excuses you use. I don’t want you anywhere near them, least of all the youngest son. Is that understood?”

God, Ciel was tired of this already. Every year the speech was the same about the Phlox’s Pack, and he never got to lay eyes on Kei anyway. He knew this year would be different because courtesy and protocol demanded it, but this persistent nagging was exhausting.

Ciel could feel the spectators in the room tensing unexpectedly for some reason, which was also strange considering no one knew about him and Kei - not even his two best friends and future right hands. He wondered if he had somehow let something slip, but he was sure he had always been careful.

It didn’t matter - he needed to keep the façade, so he did his best not to let his expression change, so it wasn’t noticeable that the slightest mention of Kei affected him.

“I understand,” Ciel conceded, thoughtfully. “It doesn’t matter either way, but I wish you would at least explain to me why he, in particular, is such a problem to you.”

He instantly realized he had said something wrong because his grandmother’s nostrils flared up, the oxygen in the room becoming thicker.

Lune’s gaze didn’t leave Ciel’s. “Please leave,” she said to the others, her calm tone a solid contrast to her energy. “All of you.”

“Yes, Lady Lune,” the other four said in perfect unison, getting up at once.

Ciel watched them leave, chewing on his lower lip. Mot dropped a hand on his shoulder as he walked by him as if he intended to give him some moral support, but this only exasperated him further.

Once it was just Ciel and his grandmother, Lune took a deep breath. She suddenly seemed very tired.

“That family is powerful and very dangerous,” she muttered started, almost solemnly “You don’t understand this, and it’s better if you’re not aware of things, but Kei Phlox is a dangerous existence for you. Like you, though, he is someone the Council has in high esteem, someone that provides a lot of hope for our kind. Much like you.”

“Because of his super outstanding genes,’” Ciel said mockingly, with a shrug of his shoulders. Everyone knew Kei’s genes were remarkable and while the 'why' wasn't publically known, everyone talked about it because the power in his pheromones gave it all away. “Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Both his brothers are magnificent specimens as well, but Kei is… different,” Lune informed, making a face as if this fact displeased her beyond anything else. She pursed her lips together before proceeding. “It’s not just the conflict between our Packs that prevents us from getting along. The Council preaches notions of peace, but while this isn’t openly debated, the truth is, our packs are forbidden to form deeper bonds. Doing so would be not only problematic but also potentially catastrophic.”

Ciel’s blue eyes widened - it was the first time his grandmother was talking about this. “Why?”

“You need to trust your guardian on this,” Lune said, shaking her head, not willing to elaborate, but her stern gaze giving away the fact that this was not a matter to take lightly. “As Pack Leader, I am bound by an oath of secrecy, but when your time comes, you will know the truth, and perhaps understand things you now don't. Until then, I don’t want you near him; it’s dangerous for you both. Promise me that you will stay away from him.”

Despite himself, Ciel swallowed hard, his heart sinking.

Just what he needed to make him feel even more miserable about his relationship with Kei.

“Granny, you’re silly,” he said, forcing himself to smile. “I haven’t seen the guy in years. I don’t care about him, even if it would be nice to have things going smoother with both Packs. I don’t understand what’s so upsetting about their Pack, but you don’t need to worry. I’ll just be my charming self and ignore them all for the rest of the night.”

That hadn’t exactly been a promise, but he hoped it would be enough for Lune to accept.

He hated lying to his grandmother, but there was nothing to be done when fate seemed to be slowly but consistently trying to make sure there was no place in this world for any kind of relationship to exist between him and Kei - not even friendship. It wasn't fair and he refused to accept it when no one gave him a good enough reason as to why this happened.

He and Kei were connected somehow, and his grandmother knew it. Even if it didn’t have anything to do with them and he and Kei were just unfortunate characters caught in the middle of something bigger, he couldn’t just sit still and roll with it.

If the purpose of this ominous silent warning was to scare him, it had done nothing but cause the opposite effect, because Ciel felt defiant.

Was he supposed to swallow this pathetic excuse of an explanation and wait until he became Pack Leader to find out the truth when it might be too late for them - for their Packs?

What could be so serious that the only solution was to keep them all separated? Why were their Packs allowed to socialize just to look good in meetings but were forbidden to form bonds, to find connections among themselves?

Did Kei even know about this?

It wasn’t fair, and Ciel couldn’t accept it - he needed to find out what was going on for himself and the future of his Pack.

There had to be an answer and a solution, but he knew his grandmother would have his head if he ever expressed the intention of going against the law by trying to uncover secret information by himself.

But well, he hoped he wouldn’t have to do this alone.

Lune’s expression showed that Ciel wasn’t convincing, but it was clear that she was eager to drop the subject not to spike Ciel’s curiosity too much.

“Good,” was all she said, intertwining her fingers over the table. “This brings to mind the reason why I called you here. I have some interesting news for you.”

Oh boy, what else was there?

Still, his smile grew as he nodded. “I’m all ears, granny.”