The Alpha's Hybrid Luna

You Ungrateful Prick!

-- Luca

"You did what? You put your mate up as collateral in a flippin' alpha challenge? You better be happy you haven't met her yet. Maybe you'll get the chance to fix this alpha challenge before you do."

How was it possible that my brother was trumping all the i***t things he's ever done through the years all in one encounter? I'm sure being challenged for the alpha title felt strange for him and frustrated his wolf but it technically wasn't going to really be his anyway. I know Landon doesn't want to be alpha, so he's going to give the pack to me. Once I got the title, I would no longer be the small and nerdy little brother. I'd have respect. I'd have authority, even over Landon. And the love of my life would fully accept me. 

I know she loves me so I don't blame her for not wanting to live in my brother's shadow without any official rank. But that would all change once I was alpha. That is, if my brother didn't lose the freaking challenge first. He's an absolute i***t for adding his future mate up as collateral but at least he doesn't have to face her just yet. This will all probably be resolved by the time he finds her. 

"Well, that's the other thing. She actually walked out on the field shortly after the challenge debacle. I think she's a new cheerleader or something."

I can't lie, hearing that my brother had found his mate brought back a familiar tinge of jealousy. I bet they she accepted him right away. I can't imagine a she-wolf not wanting to be with the "next alpha" of one of the largest packs. I still needed to help him think through this though to make sure he didn't lose the pack for me. 

"Are you kidding me?! So what did she say when you told her all this?"

In a very uncharacteristic movement, my brother averted his eyes from me and looked down. I don't care if he wants the title or not, my brother is still an alpha and an alpha never looks down. Could she have rejected him? Just as I was softening to really feel sorry for the awful day he must have had, he responded with the dumbest sentence he's every spoken. 

"I left and didn't say anything to her."

"WHAAAAAT? You found your mate and didn't even go to speak to her?! Let me get this straight. You are challenged by a wanna-be alpha on human property because you're so oppressed by pack life that you are always trying to get away. To get away from the challenge without costing the pack, the pack you promised to give me by the way, you offer a counter challenge. And instead of upping the stakes of the challenge with material collateral like your apartment or that stupid vintage car you insist on driving, you offer the most precious gift a wolf could receive from the goddess, your mate. Then, to top it all freaking off, you actually find your mate after going years without her and instead of immediately running to her and cherishing the gift you've been given by protecting her from that asshat Scanlan, you left the field. You left your mate. Is that right?"

I was struggling not to shift. Draco was just as pissed as I was. We know all too well not being fully accepted by your love. 

"Yea. That's about right."

My claws were starting to come out in my human form and I'm sure my eyes were already black with anger. 

"You ungrateful prick!"

I didn't even wait for him to respond. I turned back around towards the forest behind us and shifted midair. I have no idea why the goddess even bothers with my brother. He is the most ungrateful wolf I know. He is automatically loved by tall, strong, attractive, and he does nothing for it. Not only does he not have to do anything, but he also doesn't want any of it. He's so gifted and he just refuses to take any of it. I could feel the love-hate relationship I have with my brother slowly morphing to land farther away from the love side of the line. 

This is why we should be alpha. We have to make sure he doesn't fail the challenge so he doesn't lose our pack. 

You're right. Then we'll have everything. I'll get my love and you'll get your pack. 

Draco wasn't too keen on my mate. He honestly doesn't really accept her as our mate but I know better. She's perfect in every way. And she'll be a perfect luna. He doesn't bother me too much about her though because he knows she's my biggest motivation for taking on the alpha title from Landon. Now that, that is what makes Draco happy. He desperately wants to be alpha. Just thinking about it calmed us down enough to slow down the run and start heading back towards the packhouse. 

Landon is too proud to still be standing there when I get back but that's fine. I need some time alone before we meet up with our father to help figure out how best we can get this accomplished and make sure Landon wins the challenge. The Scanlan's have always been known to fight dirty, which is a big reason why their pack is no longer intact. We will have to account for every possibility because once the challenge starts, there's no stopping it. It will be to the death. And Landon has already used the counter-challenge clause to postpone once, it can't be used again. 

After I shift back and head into the packhouse, I grab a few snacks from the pantry and a bottle of water before I head down to the pack library. I try to mindlink Landon but feel he's blocking me. I'm sure he's probably pissed that I ran off like I did. It's fine though, I'll just ask dad to postpone our meeting together this afternoon. Or maybe I'll just let them go ahead and meet. Landon doesn't like meeting with dad alone and I'm still annoyed enough with him to make him sweat a little. 

-- Landon

Who does that little jerk think he is? I can't believe he just ran off like that. I still have another hour or so before I'm supposed to meet with my dad so I mindlink my childhood best friend. If I were to take over as alpha, he would be my obvious choice for beta. His dad, Andre had been my father's beta for years. Naturally, we spent a lot of time together as kids being the next in line for alpha and beta. We shared everything. This is why I felt guilty about telling my brother about the counter challenge and meeting my mate before I told him. 

I've honestly been feeling guilty every time I talk to him these days. He knows I don't want to be alpha, but like my dad, he just assumes I'm going to still do it anyway. I haven't told him because I don't want him to be disappointed in me and am honestly not sure what that would mean for him. As the new alpha, Luca would have the full right to choose his beta. 

He does know I don't want to take my mate though. He fully disagrees but I think that's just because he met his mate so young. Jasmine went to school with us and was the youngest daughter of one of the guards, Gregory Knight. We were all afraid of Mr. Knight growing up. I am pretty sure he has never smiled in his life, especially the day Derek mated to Jasmine. 

-- FLASHBACK --

Guards aren't technically ranked but they also live in the packhouse with the other ranked members and their kids are required to go to the schools on pack grounds. Ranked members have to learn just as much about pack history, training, and their roles as regular human subjects. At any given moment, one of the ranked members may be forced to lead. 

We were all having breakfast in the breakfast nook of one of the kitchens. Several of the girls hadn't come down just yet but Derek had no problem with flirting with one of the kitchen omegas while we waited. We were the equivalent of high school juniors but I'm pretty sure Derek had already lost count of how many she-wolves he'd slept with. Wolves are pretty instinctually led creatures but that guy was insatiable and everyone knew it. 

The look on the poor she-wolf's face when Derek just stopped midsentence all of a sudden. His eyes closed as he lifted his head, smelling the air, and his head darted towards the staircase where a frozen Jasmine was coming downstairs behind her father. We were only in high school but Derek was easily our best fighter and almost faster than me. I'd still never seen him move as fast as he did when he almost knocked Mr. Knight on his behind to rush towards Jasmine. 

No sooner than Derek had Jasmine lip locked against the staircase wall, Mr. Knight reached between them and grabbed Derek by the throat, lifting him off the ground. Of course, Mr. Knight knows the power of the mate pull but he was running off of pure instinct to protect his pup. 

"I'd keep my hands to myself if I were you, pup."

Derek's eyes flashed black with anger from being ripped from his mate. Jasmine rushed to Derek's side and faced her dad, probably stopping what was quickly about to be WWIII. 

"Daddy, he's my mate. Let him go!"

"Jasmine, you don't know what you're feeling. You're only 17. You won't find your mate until next year."

"My birthday is next month and Derek turned 18 already earlier this year."

"But it's still too early."

Mr. Knight loosened his grip enough for Derek to properly hold onto Jasmine, which would have helped to calm his wolf. He also gave a bit of news none of us had known up until that point. 

"My mom's dad was an alpha. I'm a beta because of my father but I have alpha blood Mr. Knight. So, my mate will feel the pull sooner and stronger than most wolves if I find her. I realize I haven't had the best track record but I've never felt anything like this. I can promise you with everything in me that I will honor Jasmine with my life and protect the mate bond between us. She's always been a precious she-wolf and I have never tried to be inappropriate with her. But with all due respect sir, she's my mate now and you have no say in that. If Jasmine will have me, I will never let her regret that decision."

And with that, my best friend looked at his mate with the saddest pup eyes I've ever seen. She clearly was accepting him because she kissed him hard enough to make us all blush a little. Mr. Knight huffed, probably his wolf still annoyed, but he never had to choke Derek again. My best friend was a completely changed man and he always attributed it to the mate bond. 

-- FLASHBACK END -- 

Knowing the change Derek made literally as soon as he found his mate, I'm pretty sure he was going to give me just as hard of a time about me still planning to reject mine after finding her as Luca did. He might even be worse. I still needed to talk to him though. I don't like randomly calling him anymore because I've overheard too many compromising situations with him and Jasmine.

I was starting to get a headache from trying to mindlink him, so I'm pretty sure he's definitely with Jasmine. 

"Bro, will you let her walk for a second and answer me freaking mindlink."

After not getting a response for a few minutes, I send another one. 

"No one's dead ... yet, but it's still kind of an emergency."

I couple of minutes later, I finally get a response.

"Ugh. Screw you bro. Goddess knows she needs to hurry up and get a mate so you can leave me and mine alone. I've had a long day doing pack work with my dad. Now is my time to enjoy with my mate. You're interrupting that time. Not cool man." 

"lol. My bad but you know I wouldn't reach out to interrupt your night if I didn't need it. It's kind of a big deal and you're my best friend and the next beta."

I probably shouldn't have added the last piece in, knowing that Luca may not decide to keep him. But, if he does stay beta, he will definitely have to be available at awkward moments sometimes. I tell myself this is just practice for him and I'm not being selfish. 

"I'm assuming you're already in the packhouse. Let's meet in the kitchen off from the offices. I could use a snack now."

"Cool."

I'm kind of thankful for the food suggestion because it'll be harder for him to get too pissed if he's eating. Knowing Derek, he'll probably not even head over for another 15min. So I link a kitchen omega and ask them to whip up a few quesadillas and some tater tots in that kitchen. I need to grab a couple of pack history books before I head over. I'm concerned about my mate supposedly being a wolf, according to Bain, but one I can't smell. Not sure how rejection would go if she's fully human anyway. Hopefully, Derek can help me think through all of this. My mind has felt like it's been on pause since the challenge and feeling the mate pull.