My Mate or My Pack?

POV Alice It was a normal morning like every other day, but my mother, Krystal seemed strange today. She was prepping breakfast, serving up fried eggs, crispy bacon, golden brown toast, sausages and many other brekky foods you can imagine. I was sitting at the kitchen bench, minding my business reading my book while waiting for my brothers to join the living. My oldest brother James, who is 26 and is happily mated and is next in line to become alpha soon was first to join the world, walking in the kitchen dressed in his usual training clothes. Basketball shorts and the tank top with his dirty brown hair still a little wet from the night before. With a small grin to me as he walked past, making a beeline to our mother. I think he stole a piece of bacon cooking on the stovetop because my mother playfully slapped him on the back of his head. “Can’t you wait James?” She scolded. “Just one quick bite before I head off to training, gotta keep in shape ma” he replied as he spins on his heels and approaches me. “Whatcha doin?” He asked causally, looking over my shoulder to my book in my hand. “Waiting for breakfast like a good child” I scoffed, rolling my eyes He chucked “I got no time to wait for breakfast as I’m already late” “Well, you better-..” I replied but stopped to the sound of sniffling from my mother “What’s wrong mom?” James and I asked at the same time as James quickly walked over to our mother and I stood up from my chair. “Oh it’s nothing really, just your father has this big meeting and I just pray to the moon goddess that things work out in our favour today” my mother lightly sobbed as she was platting up everyone’s meals. I sighed sadly at her response, our pack has been going through a hardship with all the rouge wolves attacking and stealing our livestock and supplies. Our pack, the Blue Moon Pack is quite isolated as we are so far in the northern mountains and far from towns and cities that can help us with supplies. I knew things been tough from the small changes in our daily life’s but I didn’t know it was that bad. James hugged our mother close and kissed her cheek “it’ll be okay ma, we’ll get through it” he said softly, reassuring our mother as I gave her a hopeful smile. “I’ll be okay” she mumbled and took two plates, piled up with food to the bench in-front of me. James nodded and kissed her cheek again “I got to go or I’ll have Beta Damon to answer to” he chuckled I looked at the clock on the wall “You already do big bro” James looked at the clock, surprised at the time “gotta go!” He quickly shouted and quickly stole some more bacon on my plate before rushing out the back door. “Hey!” I shouted and pulled my plate closer to me. Mom and I giggled at my brother as we heard loud heavy steps coming down the stairs. “And cue the twins in 3…2…1” I counted down as I sat down and pulled my plate closer and started to eat. Two tall men with dirty blonde hair, one with short sides and a man-bun tied up on top of his head and the other had short rugged style. Wait did he even style it today? I don’t think so to be honest. They’re my other older brothers, complete animals and horn dogs as I like to call them as they are unmated. “Awe thanks ma! I’m starving!” Nicky, with the man-bun said happily as he took a plate that was on the bench in-front of me and instantly started devouring his food like a starved animal. “Cmon that was mine!” Ricky whined and tried to reach for Nicky’s plate but Nicky quickly backed away from him, scoffing more food into his mouth. Yeah they’re animals. “Boys! There is enough for everyone” our mother stated at them as she handed Ricky a plate of food “now there’s much to do today” she started, clapping her hands together “Sorry ma, no can do. Nicky and I gotta train for the new season of warriors and we want to be at the number 1 warriors on the field” Ricky stated with a mouth full of food. My mother looked at them with a stern look “well at least make sure you are here before our guest arrive please” she asked and they both nodded. “Can’t you guys not train today? You both were top warriors last season” I asked them with an annoyed tone in my voice. “Oh come on little pup, relax before you go all wolf on us” laughed Nicky as he had a mouth full of food. Ugh don’t they know how to chew with their mouths closed? I’m pretty sure the food looked somewhat edible before it was all stuffed into Nicky’s mouth because to be honest he is not the neatest eater. My brothers call me little pup because it’s obvious that I’m the youngest in the family and yeah I’m quiet sometimes but I’ll admit that I act without thinking like a pup still. “Lil pup, we gotta train to become the best and stay the best it’s just how it is” Ricky explained as he put his plate in the sink. He finished his meal already? What a pig! Mother was sipping on her coffee as she leaned against the counter as I was finishing off my delightful breakfast. “Mom asked for your help though” I whined to my twin brothers “And we’ll help her” both Nicky and Ricky stated as they rolled their eyes. Wow talk about twins. I rolled my eyes as the twins kissed our mom on the cheek and headed out the back door. “You know that the twins and James have been mindlinking against me again ma, it’s really annoying how they use that against me” I said to my mom as I started washing the dishes I heard my mother chuckled softly and started cleaning the bench, helping me clean up the kitchen “yeah I know, I’ll speak with your father about the rule of it until you go through The Change” she answered sweetly. I turned 16 3 months ago and I’ve only heard my wolf in my head time to time, her name was Sliver but until I do my change I can’t mindlink like my brothers until then it’s hand written messages or cell phones to contact me when I’m not with anyone. Mom and I were quiet as we tidied up the kitchen but she did make some coffee for the both of us. “Now I got to run into town for groceries and start preparing for our guest” my mom said as she sipped on her coffee “Ma, what about we get Ryan to do the groceries, surely he can read a list and I’ll ask Susan come over to help you set up for the guest” I suggested, I didn’t like my mother over working herself. Yes she is Luna of the pack but she’s strong minded of doing things on her own, Ryan is an omega and Susan is Beta Damon’s mate. My mother hated asking omegas to do work as she hated titles and thinks that everyone should be treated equally with kindness and respect, I guess that’s how she’s a wonderful Luna as she treats everyone the same with respect and kindness both emotionally and physically. She hopes that I would be a Luna one day when I find my mate so throughout my life shes been guiding me and giving me tips of how to help and treat people and I’m thankful for that. “Alice thank you for your help and I’ll consider of asking Ryan to do that for me but in the meantime are you able to get ready? Because the guest will be arriving this afternoon and-“ my mother asked I interrupted her as I put my hand up in defence saying “ma please I know exactly what you’re going to say” I giggled She looked at me with soft eyes and sighed “and what was I going to say?” She challenged me “I know you’re going to say that if I can get ready and look presentable as you go down and try to make dad presentable as well then you’re going to ask Ryan and Susan to help you and don’t worry they’ll be happy to help they’re Luna because you’re bestest one out there” I giggled and saw my mom sighed heavily, knowing I’m right. “Don’t worry mama, everything will turn out great and things will get better” I said and pulled her into a hug. I felt my mom’s arms wrap around me for the biggest hug then she pulled away with her hands on my shoulders “thank you Alice, what did I do to get a pup like you?” She giggled I softly laughed back and kissed her cheek before running up to my room to get ready for the guest. I wondered to myself of who are the guest coming to our pack, and will they be able to help us?