Fated

Chapter Sixteen: Unexpected Enemies, Unexpected Protector

Alpha Jason’s P.O.V. 

The tension reels the room like electricity. 

Seated across from my son and his mate are myself and my wife. The energy coming from my wife hits them so hard they can’t even look at us. 

This reminds me too much of our last meeting together – I suppose now we’re picking up where we left off. 

The last time we had a meeting with the four of us, my wife tried to discuss the future of the cub, and well, neither my son nor his mate were in the mood for that discussion. 

So now, here we are. 

I glance around at all of them, their faces, waiting for one of them to say something. I thought my wife would start this conversation, but I suppose not. 

I shall take it upon myself to start then, I suppose. 

“So,” I begin, my voice causing my son’s mate to jump slightly, my son simply keeping his head down. 

Before I can follow up on my introduction, my wife’s voice interrupts. 

“What are you going to do about this cub?” Her eyes burn into the spot where my son sits. Her gaze is intense, so intense I am unsure if she is even blinking. 

My son dares to look up at her, slowly, but steady, “What do you mean, ‘what am I going to do about this cub?’” His tone is accusatory, defensive. 

The tension rises. 

“Well, you’re not exactly in an easy situation right now. None of us are. What would the rest of the pack think if they found out their future alpha is having a cub with someone other than his mate?” 

Isaac straightens up now, a quiet fury in his eyes. 

“What exactly do you want me to do, mother?” His voice is tight, heavy. 

Jennifer thinks quietly for a moment, giving a small glance to Sophia, before switching her entire aura. 

A soft smile plays on her mouth as she loosens her pose. 

“I don’t know, sweetheart. We will support you no matter what you choose. But you need to tell us what your decision is.” She reaches out for Isaac’s hand. 

The tension lifts a little, like sunlight breaking through clouds. 

His expression softens a little in response, but a defensiveness remains. 

“Well,” He begins, moving closer to the centre of the desk, “I want to look after and care for my cub. I want my cub to live with me. I want to be a father to them.” 

That is a terrible idea. My gaze shifts to Sophia, whose expression is now a mixture of horror and anger. 

Jennifer looks at Sophia now too, and I know we’re both thinking the same thing. 

But my wife has this look on her face – as though she’s deeply considering something. 

Sophia remains silent as Isaac waits for someone to respond. 

“Son, are you sure? You will have plenty of cubs with your mate.” I interrupt the silence.  

I completely believe it is a terrible idea for my son to raise this cub with him. His mate will not be able to accept this cub or raise them, clearly. Such is the nature of the mate bond – I doubt my son would be able to do what he is asking his own mate to do. 

Although, I understand him. 

The bond between a parent and their cub is unbreakable. More so if the parent has a strong bloodline. 

He wouldn’t feel any other way. So now, we’re stuck. 

“I’m sure. Totally sure.” His back is straight, confidence and commitment exuding off of him. 

“Okay. So be it.” My wife finalises, glancing back and forth between my son and his mate. 

“Sophia, dear, why don’t we go and have some tea together. We should have a strong relationship, as mother and daughter-in-law. I can also go over some of the Luna duties with you.” My wife rises from her chair, moving to take Sophia’s hand. 

Sophia simply nods, biting her lip as she takes my wife’s hand and leaves the room, the door closing behind them. 

My son and I sit in silence for a few moments, neither of us making eye contact. 

“Son,” I finally interrupt the silence, “Have you talked to your mate about this? Have you considered how it might make her feel to raise the child you had with another wolf?” 

My son looks up at me, a slightly shocked expression on his face. He starts to fidget in his chair, moving to scratch the back of his neck. 

“Not really... I mean, yeah, a little... She said she would support my decision...” 

“Did you tell her, before today, what your decision was?” 

“...No.” 

Idiot. 

“Son, you know the mate bond is incredibly strong. If Sophia were to have a cub with another wolf, how would you feel?” 

He gulps in response. 

“Isaac, talk to your mate about this. Really talk to her. Come to a decision together.” I finish, before rising from my seat. 

“I’ll bring your mate back so you can talk about it.”  

“Thanks, dad.” Isaac gives me a small, tight smile, before I leave the room, closing the door behind me. 

It takes a few moments of pacing through our home before I even hear the voices of my wife and my son’s mate. I approach the room they are in, the door almost entirely closed. I move to open the door but stop in my tracks upon hearing their discussion. 

“I can’t. I can’t raise the lovechild of my mate and some other wolf.” Sophia’s voice... “I’m supposed to be carrying his child, the future alpha of our pack. Not her. Not anyone else. Me!” 

“I understand, and I completely agree.” My wife comforts her, rubbing her back a little, “So, we should start preparing...” 

“Preparing?” Sophia’s voice cracks through her tears, “Preparing for what?” 

“You must get pregnant as soon as possible.” My wife’s voice is resolute. “Isaac will feel a much stronger bond to the child he has had with his mate, than one he has had with some insignificant wolf. Once you have a cub, he will entirely forget about Claire and... their cub.” 

“You - you think so?” Sophia hiccups. 

“I know so, dear.” I can hear my wife smiling. 

“But their cub will always be a burden on you, and the rest of the pack... Curadh’s reputation will be destroyed...” My wife moves to sit down in a separate chair, putting her head in her hands and rubbing her temples. 

Sophia is silent for a moment, lost in thought.  

“You’re right...” She realises. 

“No matter how many children you have, their cub will always be there. Going to the same school, running around the same pack... And our reputation – Oh!” 

“Well... Luna, we, we should do something about it. We can’t allow Curadh’s reputation to be damaged.” 

“Yes, dear, you’re right.” 

“But what should we do?” Sophia questions. 

“We need to get rid of the cub. And we need to get rid of Claire.” My wife’s voice is certain, strong.  

“O... Okay.” Sophia’s voice imitates my wife’s sternness. 

I know my wife. I know my wife and I know her determination, her resolution. I know what she is planning on doing.  

And as a close friend of my Beta, as the Alpha of this pack - I cannot allow her plan to go ahead. 

… Later that evening... 

My wife now sleeping beside me, I pull out my phone to message the daughter of my Beta.  

‘Claire. This is Alpha Jason. I know everything. Meet me tomorrow at the pack house, at 11 am.’ 

Within minutes I get my response. 

Thank the Goddess for her obedience. 

She’s smart. 

Not smart enough, however. 

Her pregnancy could ruin our pack. My son. 

And I will never allow that. 

And I will never allow her to die at the hands of a silly mistake.  

And I will never allow my wife, nor my son’s mate to kill her. 

I will make sure she can live. 

I will protect my pack, each member, always.