Hunting Sawyer

Dash

SIMON POV

“Simon Dashiell!” My mother’s voice rang out through the pack house and I froze mid-strike with my pool stick.

“Fuck.” I muttered under my breath and my friends around me started snickering. But one sharp look from me and they silenced. Not that I’d actually do anything, but they took my anger seriously. Unfortunately, they had to.

The game room in the pack house was filled with young wolves socializing and doing things that young wolves do… But as usual, I kept to my small group of friends, and we’d taken up an interest in mastering pool this month…much to my mother’s dismay. Everything I did was usually much to my mother’s dismay.

She was the acting Luna of our pack. My father, rest his soul, was recently killed defending our pack against strange rogues. Forcing me into the Alpha role all too soon. My father was nominated for the Alpha position sixteen years ago by the Alpha King himself.

We were Omega blooded. So, these alpha responsibilities were harder for my father and I to navigate. We weren’t born into this. He was still learning....and now I'm still learning. I barely had any training as it is.

My mother, however, seemed to think she was designed by the Goddess herself to be the perfect Luna. And my father and I both seemed to consistently disappoint her.

Her citrusy pineapple scent filled the game room as the double doors flew open and she stood there in her bright yellow robe, light brown curls piled daintily on top of her head.

“Simon….” She chastised through a whisper and even though she was trying not to draw attention, her actions brought every eye in the room directly on her. “It’s well past two in the morning. You have a meeting with the King and Queen tomorrow.”

I crumpled my beer can in one hand and tossed it to my Beta, Charles who threw away the evidence.

“I’m aware of my meeting with the Alpha King and Luna Queen in the morning, Mother. I’ll be ready and presentable. I’ve never given you reason to believe otherwise.” I shot her a warning look and she chewed her perfectly manicured thumbnail. I felt Charles raise his eyebrow to my left and gave him a pointed look over my shoulder. I was a man of very few words, so maybe the beer was making me more confident tonight. It was rare that I pressed my mother. With that, I grabbed another beer from the fridge and popped it open, leaning against my pool stick and waiting for her response.

“Simon, I just think it would be best if you got some rest. Out so late with this crowd….unmated….”

“Mother. This crowd consists of the people I am sworn to protect…as are you…thanks to the agreement you and Father made. I need to know my people and they need to know me. I am the Alpha and I ask that you don’t question my methods. As far as my mate, I’m beginning to think she doesn’t exist. And you seem so happy with the Luna title, Mother, I’m surprised you’re pressing me to fill the position. Now, with all due respect, I’m doing quite well with this game.” I offered her a wink and she huffed, crossing her arms over her plump chest and her cheeks turning pink with frustration. But my mother pushed me, consistently, and while I knew it was out of love... some days I just didn’t have the patience to roll over and let her win.

I felt her staring at me through fiery eyes for a few moments as I played through the round. Charles walked up beside me deciding between a lecture and a laugh, shaking his head.

“Well, you’ll pay for that tomorrow, Dash. f**k, she looked mad.”

“I probably will. I love my mother. But Goddess, give me a break sometimes.”

“Don’t think I’ve heard you say that many words in one sitting, Dash!” My Gamma, Cullan was grinning ear to ear. He put on his best impression of my mother, hands on his hips and pouty lip stuck out straight. “Simon Dashiell! I never!” His voice shrill, he wagged his finger in my direction, and I gripped it in my fist, bending it back playfully. He dropped to his knees and dramatically tapped out. “Okay! Okay! I give!” He laughed and I helped him up from the floor, smacking him upside the head.

A pretty blonde she-wolf sauntered bravely in my direction, looking confidently in the direction of her friends. Her jeans rode low on her hips, and she dragged a finger in between her perky breasts hidden behind a pink tank top.

“Alpha Dash” she purred seductively. “If you’re looking for a Luna, I’d happily submit my resume for consideration.” She winked, biting her bottom lip. “I’m sure you’d be quite pleased with what skills I have to offer.” She took another bold move, placing her hands on my chest and dragging them south.

Part of me wanted to let loose, to let myself fall victim to her ploy. But my mother’s words were still ringing annoyingly true in my mind. And I knew I had to be on my A game tomorrow for the Alpha King. The Luna Queen would be able to read me like a damn picture book and I didn’t want the guilt of pummeling some desperate young she-wolf on my conscious. My father was given an opportunity. And if I besmirched his good name by my young actions, I’d never forgive myself. For if it was anyone’s opinion I gave a s**t about, it was our royals’.

So instead, I smirked as she ran her hands over the edge of my jeans, my wolf, Andros, whimpering in my mind, his attention elsewhere, and I looked back over my small group of friends. My officers. Much to the blonde’s dismay, I tossed my pool stick to Charles and held my hand out for another beer, which Cullan chucked my way. I chugged my freshly opened one, before popping the other and downing it, too. The blonde had a wicked look in her eye now.

“Maybe next time.” I winked and signaled for my men to file out of the gaming hall. They knew better than to groan about it. I didn’t run a tight ship, but they knew not to test me. I may be a man of few words, but when I did speak – I made it count.

Making my way to my quarters, I could sense my mother pacing the floor in her own room by the shadow dancing across the floor rhythmically. I wanted a mate for all the same reasons anyone else wanted theirs, but I didn’t want someone to come in and replace my mother. She and my father had been the definition of soul mates, so irreparably close. So when he was killed, I thought she would crumble to dust. Instead, she poured herself into loving our pack, in guiding me, in being the glue that held the pack of Corner Helm together. She made up for the socially awkward and silent brooding alpha that was her son. I didn’t need a mate that was going to come in and mess up her dynamic. My mother was a pain in the ass, but she was my priority.

She swept open the door, sensing me close by.

“Simon….” She whispered, emotion thick in her voice.

I simply opened my arms and let her cuddle into my chest. Her head fitting neatly against my heart.

“I wish you’d call me Dash…like everyone else.” I knew her answer before she said it.

“I can’t do that. Your father will always be Dash to me. I love that the name lives on through you, but you’ll always be my Simon.”

“I’ll be ready for the meeting, Mother. I won’t disappoint my Luna. I promise.” She leaned back and patted my cheek, lovingly. “I know my boy. I know this isn’t the life you chose. But you hold your duty well. I love you.”

“Love you too, Mother.” I kissed her head and turned to my own quarters. My wolf was still whimpering quietly in my mind. I’m sure the stress of the royal meeting and my denial of the pretty blonde weighing heavy on him. If I was a man of few words, Andros was practically silent.

But I crawled into bed still dressed, huffing out the anxiety of the day and stared at the ceiling before succumbing to the darkness. Surely there was more to life than this.