The Lycan Kings Forbidden Mate

Chapter 3

Greyson

I was walking out of my room to head down to dinner when I got a text coming through on my phone from Noah.

*Hey Man, mall tomorrow? Mom's making me go get my outfit for the ball. Draggg. Figured we'd goof around while we are there and make the trip worth it.*

I shoved my phone back in my pocket. I don't want to commit to any plans if my father hasn't agreed with my mother about giving me some of the summer off. I guess I am about to find out. I walked in and my family was already seated at the table. My mother is on my father's right side while he sits at the head of the table. River is seated beside my mother and I sit to the left of my father and across from my mother. During these dinners we can pretty much sit wherever we would like. When we include the pack, we have strict seating based on ranking.

I looked at my father. "You know, old man, in just a short time that seat will be mine, with or without you continuing to be Alpha." I shot him a grin.

My father let out a laugh, "Yeah, yeah, I hear you child. Just remember, you also wouldn't have that position if it wasn't for me creating you."

My mother cleared her throat, "Excuse me?" then shot my father a look.

He instantly backpedled in his words, "If your mother and I didn't create you. If your mother hadn't given birth to you." She nodded and you could see him visibly relax.

Mother reached over to take my father's hand and whispered "And how much fun it was to make him." My father had a slight blush creep up his face. My mother sat confidently in her seat with a smirk of satisfaction on her face.

I started making gagging sounds, "Okay, move on. I can't listen to whatever is going to come next from either of you."

I heard a giggle release and saw River, who had a hand covering her mouth trying to stifle a laugh. I smirk. It's not very often she contributes to conversation, or even makes a peep while we are at dinner. When we eat with the pack, her seat is next to mine and even then she doesn't talk. Now that I think about it, I don't even remember the last time I had a conversation with her.. Is she like this with my parents also? Maybe something is wrong with her and we are just too blind to see it? No, that can't be it, I see her talking with Ava Thompson all the time. I saw her just this morning walking to training with her. I guess I won't worry about it unless I have more of a reason to. Maybe she just doesn't care for me, or isn't comfortable around me. The thought of that slightly pains me. I'm not sure why exactly, so I just shook the thought away and moved on. "Sooooo... mother, did you get a chance to talk with the Alpha here about your idea from this morning?" I made sure to put an emphasis on 'your idea' so if he blows up about it all it won't come back on me.

I watched as she adjusted herself in her seat and started to express how happy she was when she turned to my father and myself. "Actually I didn't get a chance." Then she directed her attention to my father after glancing at River. "Theo, I was talking to both of the kids this morning after you left and I think it would be a good idea for them to enjoy some of the summer off before the very real and big world hits them. I think we should give them half of it off before Grey steps up as King and River moves along with her mate." Almost immediately it is as if she can read my father's thoughts. "Now, Theodore, hear me out. I told River this would only be allowed, so she and Greyson had some bonding time with one another. They are about to start their lives and our family seems like it drifts farther apart every day. They don't even act like siblings for goddess sake. I ALSO told Greyson that he would still be mandated to attend all his meetings and keep appearances up as the Elders and you see fit. They both agreed." I snapped my head toward my mother and River. River nodded in agreement but I felt blindsided.

"Um, actually, I agreed with keeping my meetings and staying in touch with the Elders and Father. No one mentioned anything about River to me. So, if I am hearing you correctly, I will be allowed to have the summer off, but only if I spend it with her?" I pointed my finger across the table from me.

My mother nodded yes to my question. My father follows the direction of my finger over to River, and then back at me. It was as if he was seeing all the awkwardness between us for the first time. His face scrunches up as if he is confused and trying to figure out when it had happened, and how he had missed it. "You two," he moved his finger between River and I, "you don't talk to each other, do you? You don't hangout or know anything about one another, do you?" I wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement. I felt eyes looking at me and turned my gaze back across the table. River looks at me as if she is asking if we should lie. I already know there is no point because mom and dad have it figured out already. Keeping her gaze, I shook my head no.

Turning around again, "No, we don't." My father's face fell for a moment, not from anger or frustration, I think it was sorrow, sadness. He let out a sigh and sat his eating utensils down.

"I think your mother is right." He took my mother's hand, "I agree. You both deserve a break. You are both always working and hardly get down time. I think you both spending time with each other is a good thing also. You can get to know each other. Take turns doing things each other like. Take a weekend and go to the cabin. Your friends can join you guys, but we would also like the two of you to spend some time alone bonding before you move on. The last thing I want is to have separate holidays with my children or never have my family together under one roof again because my kids never took the time to understand each other. who knows, by the end of this, you might find you have more in common than you think. You might even become friends." He smiled.

I sat confused for a second. What did he mean we are both always busy? What does River have to do besides run around with Ava and enjoy herself? I guess if I want time off, this is the game I will have to play. So instead of answering my father, I talked to River for the first time in I am not even sure how long. "Noah and I are going to the mall tomorrow. We both need to get our outfits for the Mating Ball this weekend. I don't know if you need a dress or have to pick anything out, but you and Ava are more than welcome to tag along. It might be a good way for us to ease into this." River glances up and just gently nods a yes to me, accepting my invitation.

She turns her attention back to my mother. "Do you mind if I excuse myself to my room? I have a few papers I need to finish looking over and this way I can call Ava so she can be ready for tomorrow?"

"Yeah, go ahead sweetie, I think we are all pretty much done here. I will give my card to Greyson in the morning, so you both have one to use tomorrow. Sleep tight River." I watch as she leans over to kiss mom's cheek and then gets up to kiss the top of my father's head and tells them good night.

Once again, I sat confused. Papers? School is out. She graduated a month ago with me. I shake it off and excuse myself from dinner. I need to go to bed. It's been a long day today. As I made my way to the stairs, I heard my father's voice.

"I don't know where we went wrong, Melony, our priority was and is to keep River protected. We always thought her being the sister to the Lycan King would be more than enough to make that happen. I know she is older and can protect herself, but I just wish we would have been able to push them to bond more growing up. I really hope this works."

Just before I made my way up the stairs I heard my mother say, "It will baby, I know it will."