WILLING TO LOSE

*Drake's POV*    I woke up to an ordinary day. As the son of Beta, I had not much to concern myself with. I had lived a carefree life up till now. I had it all. I was living in the gigantic Pack House, all pack respecting me, had a lot of money and a promising future... All I had to do was behave, be good at my training, and have good grades at school. School and my warrior training came in naturally, being the wolf I am. And behaving... I had no complaints as long as everyone left me be. I am 17 years old.  Since I turned 16, I had been quite popular amongst the she-wolfs.  Oh, yeah. By the way, I am a wolf. Our pack is called Dark Forest. Our Alpha and Luna are not the peaceful types. Our pack is constantly at war with the smaller ones over resources and land. Also, we usually fight with other supernatural beings as well. Although this may sound cunning, it provides more members with decent jobs and a solid income. As to my personal thoughts, well, no one really cares, and I am not looking for trouble, so I will not share them. It will never be my place to question our Alpha and Luna.  Well, I had been spacing off lying in my bed for too long. I quickly got up and head to the shower. I didn't like missing the breakfast, which soiled my mood for all morning. After a quick shower, I put on some clothes and headed to the dining room.    "Hey Drake, come here, sit with me!" Megan called from one of the tables. Megan was the firstborn of the Alpha. We grew together as she was just a few days younger than me. Everyone, including her, believed we would turn out to be mates. I waved to her and went to assemble a plate of food for myself and some juice.   "Morning," I called, kissing Megan's cheek as she giggled.  "Why are you eating alone?" I asked. The Princess she was, she was usually surrounded by people.    "Bad morning. Mom's being a total pain, and my dad's not hesitating to help double it!" she gave me a pout. I sighed internally. She was sometimes tiring.    "Still going on about you sneaking out with Phil and go around running into another Pack's land?" I asked. She was inconsiderate and loved playing around with wolves even though she thought I might be her mate.    "I mean, what is it matter?" she asked, poking a sausage "my dad would have invaded the area soon anyways... What's wrong with wanting to go for a run? I have a wolf, a quite wild one at that..." she wiggled her eyebrows, indicated what they've been doing so far away. "The patrols in the territory are so frequent; it's impossible to have some privacy," she pouted.    "Yes, Princess, they are protecting our land," I said in between bites.    "Okay, dad!" she said, getting up annoyed and leaving me with my breakfast.   *************************************************************************************************************  I was heading through the gates when I heard my dad's voice in my head.   Boy, come to my office, stat!  Is something the matter? I was about to head out to school.  For Goddesses sake, Drake, come to my office. It's urgent! I'm on my way up.  I hurried the steps up. Whatever the issue was, it seemed urgent. It wasn't commonplace that I was summoned to the office of the Beta. I reached the door, checked my appearance then knocked on it once before opening the door. Letting myself in, I closed the door behind me.   "Father!" I greeted him with a firm nod of my head.   "Drake, take a seat," he said, without looking up from the documents on his lap. He was leaned back in his chair with a pile of papers on his lap. I did so, patiently waiting for him to finish whatever report he was reading. A minute later, he finally looked up at me.  "Drake, have you recently interacted with anyone supernatural or human outside of our pack members?" he asked to my surprise. I taught about it for a second. I did visit the neighboring human town from time to time but never interacting with any of them.   "I don't think so, father. Although I have been to the town a couple of times last 3 months, my interaction will be limited to one for purchasing things or paying a check." I said, still thinking if I did have anything other. "What's the matter? I  find it strange that you are asking me now. We have been in and out of the pack frequently since we turned 16."  "We have received an invitation for you to attend to the luna ceremony of a strange pack, not so far from us. They are not necessarily our allies, although we do not have any ill intentions for them. It is strange that only you are invited from the pack, although our Alpha and Luna have not received a word yet." He said. Looking intensely into my eyes now. "I want to believe that you are not lying to me, Drake." he pleaded. Now, this was my father asking, not the Beta of the Pack.   "Father, I assure you, even if I did encounter someone, I am not aware," I said. "Which pack is it, by the way?" I asked. He sighed, combing his hand through his hair, which I took after him.   "They are called the Red Crescent," he said, looking distressed. It was odd. We were the most vigorous and aggressive pack on the continent. Why would he be this anxious about me being invited? He realized my questioning look, added with a sigh, "they don't mind announcing their firstborn daughters as Luna, even though they have not found their mate yet. They think very lightly of our traditions. They cannot form any alliances with other packs due to this." he explained with exasperation. "I hoped we wouldn't have to deal with them for a long, long time. But I guess that's not happening." he blabbed. I wanted to ask, So what? so much... but I kept my tongue. "What is going on in their minds, inviting the Beta boy, but leaving out the Alpha, Luna, Beta, Beta's mate, children of the Alpha... That's ridiculous," he said. It was a rare occasion; my father was usually the calm type.  "Father, you are stressing out so much. I don't have to make attendance. After all, I don't know anyone from the pack; you say we have no alliance with them, and they have been disrespectful of our management. I think I have every reason to turn down their invitation." I mean, it was apparent. But something in my gut said I would be forced to show myself there, and I was not going to regret going.   "How naive..." my father said. "Drake, we are indeed the strongest Pact around here. But we have no idea of the assets of the Red Crescent. They are and have long been isolated from all others. They don't even host the Elders Meeting or Alphas Meeting. Ever! It may be dangerous, but we couldn't risk pissing them off. We have no idea what they are capable of!" now it all made sense.   "Okay then, I will go. Alone, as being invited. I will look around, and maybe I will be able to give you some interesting information about the pack, so you can plan on taking it down when need be." I shrugged. It wasn't like I was afraid of dying... I was well trained, and when in survival mode, I had my ways to fight large groups. I have defeated our experienced warriors even young in age, more than one of them, actually, together. So, it wasn't like I couldn't take care of myself. Also, I doubted Alpha and Luna, and even my own father will feel anything if I am lost. Maybe Megan could mourn for me for a year or something... That's what happened whenever a pack member was lost.    "You sure about that?" he asked, searching for the slightest doubt in my eyes, I was sure.  "Absolutely!" I said with confidence. "When is the Ceremony?" I asked.   "It's a week after your 18th birthday."   *************************************************************************************************************  Megan's POV  Drake has been my childhood friend. Always there, always will be. I knew we were going to turn out each other's mates. As my birthday closed in, I was excited to find out that he was my future. However, I wanted to improve my abilities in the bedroom. Knowing that he was so cool about me fooling around actually irritated me. I wanted to see a little jealousy in his eyes. But he was always so collected and calm. I knew he was trained to keep his cool, but I wanted to see some kind of a reaction.    At first, my fooling around was out of interest. Now, after almost two years, I just became aggressive. If I wasn't the daughter of the Alpha, I was sure there'd be rumors all over about me being a w***e. Fortunately for me, my father is the most feared creature around, and no one dared to gossip about me. This made me even more uncontrollable. I wanted to stop, but my frustration always got the better of me.   I knew that all she-wolves around our age would be head over heels for Drake. He was gorgeous. Fair skin with dark hair framing his manly face. His hair was almost always disheveled, which added to his excellent character. His eyes were a beautiful green, and I have loved to look at them since we were children. He was muscular, tall, and overall handsome. I wanted him to myself. I know I was selfish. But that's what I have been raised to be. Selfish!   For a good few months, I have been giving him the cold shoulder. Always finding excuses to avoid him or pretend that I was hurt by his remarks or something. The truth is, I was dying to be held by his strong arms. No other boy in our pack was a match to his power. And even though I knew my younger brother was to become the Alpha, I was sure Drake would make an excellent one. Too bad, our traditions didn't let me rule the pack along with my mate. We would be working wonders.   Any time he took a girl to that abandoned cottage in the woods, my heart sank. I knew it, I saw it... I smelled it on him when he came back to the packhouse. It pained me, but I was in no place to complain as I did act just the same.   I was making myself busy, working with my mom, aka the Luna, to arrange my birthday party, which would be count as the birthday party for those who will become of age in the same month. They had the privilege to celebrate with me every year. One of them being Drake.  I haven't had the chance to know what he had been doing lately, but he seemed busy just like I was. I looked at the choices of tablecloths and silverware, trying to match them with the flowers I chose, which were oleanders. We prepared a matching knee-length pink fluffy dress, but the silverware was just not pretty enough.  I looked at my mom; she was exasperated with me trying the same arrangements over and over again. I wanted it to be perfect; in fact, I needed it to be perfect. It was THE DAY, after all...    Megan, where are you?  I heard him in my head. Did I forget to block him off?   At my mom's office... I am busy.  I said, trying for it to sound exasperated.   I need to talk to you now. Come to the kids' playroom quickly. It's empty. I won't take long. he said and blocked me out immediately. How on earth was I going to excuse myself from the presence of the Luna? Being their firstborn, I was spoiled by my surroundings and occasionally by my dad. However, Luna was not very fond of me because she wanted to produce her heir as soon as possible, who would free them to early retirement. So when I was born, she was very disappointed and never shied from showing it.    "Mother, I need to be elsewhere for a little while.  Do you mind we continue in an hour? Drake asked for me. It seemed important." I said.   "Look at you... ditching your Luna for the Beta's boy... You are the one taking forever deciding the cutlery! Just get it over with so you can run into your lover boy's arms!"   "Come on, mom, we can take a breather. It will be good for you too. I will not take very long, promise."    "You better don't keep me hanging more than necessary! I have work to do!" she said. And I practically ran out of the office, almost flying the stairs down. It's been a hot minute since I last had some alone time with Drake, and I wondered what he wanted to tell me.  When I came to the playroom, I stepped in and quickly closed the door behind me, locking it. I turned around to see Drake looking at me expectantly.  "Hey, you called?" I asked cheerfully, bouncing towards him. I was advancing to hug him when he raised his one hand to make me stop. "Drake, you're scaring me. What's going on?" I asked. His expression was very, very odd. He took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He brushed his fingers through his dishevelled hair and slumped into the TV couch. I gave him time to allow him to work his thoughts or emotions through... Took a seat opposite to him, still my eyes on him expectantly. He was a sight to look at.   "Megan, I am not it," he said with a flat voice. I couldn't understand what the heck was going on.    "You are not what Drake? Just cut the chase already!" I said. Now pretty much exasperated with his antics.    "I am not your mate." He blurted out.  ************************************************************************************************************* Drake's POV It was my birthday yesterday, and Megan wouldn't even remember it! We haven't been able to see each other for a while, and I was wondering if she, in fact, was my mate or not. I wouldn't be around for her birthday, so I wanted to make sure before I head out for Red Crescent, which was tomorrow.  I mind-linked her and called her in. She would be a minute now. I had to brace myself at the back of the playroom. I knew this place was soundproofed. So even if I have to scream out, if I find out that she is, in fact, our mate, I will be able to refrain myself and my wolf from having the daughter of the Alpha right then and there. And in the event of an accident, it will be out of the sore eyes of any passers-by. So I wouldn't be killed.  Megan came in, locking the door behind her. "Hey, you called?" she sang in a cheerful voice. I was calm still. I stepped a few steps closer; maybe I couldn't catch her scent because there was no wind. But even when she ran almost hugging me... no! Nothing! I raised my hand to signal her to come no closer.   "Drake, you're scaring me. What's going on?" she asked. She wasn't our mate! Oh, good grief, thank you, Goddess, she wasn't our mate!!! I took another deep breath to make sure. I could feel my shoulders slump with relief! I sank onto the couch. Oh, thank Goddess!  "Megan, I am not it," I said.    "You are not what Drake? Just cut the chase already!" she asked. Utterly oblivious to what was going on. How could she!   "I am not your mate," I said curtly. She sat there lost in her own thoughts, and a shocked expression clouded her features. I let her be. After almost fifteen minutes, she found her voice again. "How?" she asked. On mission mode now.  "Yesterday. My birthday was yesterday. I am of age already." I explained.   "But I am not of age yet. You cannot be so sure," she said with really no emotion at all. We were all trained with the best poker faces.    "Yes, I can, Megan. I should be able to feel a pull towards you, find your scent appealing or something. Yet, here you are, and I feel nothing." I say. Yes, these are harsh words. But this conversation ought to be done and done quickly.   "Well, it doesn't matter. We can always be chosen mates," she said like it was nothing.   "No!" I said simply. "Megan. Get that thought out of your head. The mate bond is not something to be taken lightly. You should be more serious." I said with an authoritative voice. I had no idea where that came from. "Also, you better stop fooling around too. You are the daughter of the Alpha, for Goddess's sake! I didn't care, but your mate actually could." I did like her; she was like a sibling. I wanted the best for her. She sat opposite of me, her posture slumped.  "Once..." she whispered. "What?"  "Sleep with me once, and I promise I would not fool around after my birthday," she said. I couldn't believe she would say such things. "Megan, this is not subject to bargain. You are not my mate." I said. Starting to feel angrier with every second.  "So? You weren't mates with the girls you slept with. What's the difference? Am I not pretty enough?" she said, maddened, touching her body to show off her curves... Oh my... how embarrassing! "STOP IT, MEGAN! Of course, it's different. I don't care about any of the she-wolves I fooled around with. However, I do care for you. What happens when your mate actually rejects you. And how on earth am I gonna be able to act as nothing happened around you?! It can't be. We can't be..."  "So you do care for me!" she said.  "Of course I do. The question is, do you, at all, care for me, Megan? You are acting so inconsiderate. You didn't even care to remember my birthday! It is just 5 days before yours, for Goddess's sake! I will be sent off to another pack for some damned ceremony I have to attend and couldn't be here for your party. And you don't even care a soul!" that got to her finally. Her face looked tormented. I felt a little bad for her. "What do you mean you will go?" she asked. I sighed.  "It's some Luna ceremony I have to attend. And that's not my point, Megan. I am just trying to kick some sense in you. You are a nice young woman. Just start acting like one and not like the spoiled princess you have been putting a facade on for a long time. We both know this isn't you. Just get your act together. I don't want to lose my childhood friend, please. Come to your senses by I get back to the pack." I said. Getting up, indicating this conversation was over. I heard some things crashing and breaking behind me as I walked out of the door and closed it behind me.