Reborn as the Lycan Beta

Chapter 14. You Really Have a Way to Draw Me In

Sebastian POV

“Daddy?” the door to the bedroom opened, and in came my pup, rubbing his eyes — only to break into a huge grin later when he saw the Beta beside me. “Papa Duke!”

My breath hitched as I felt something warm and substantial suddenly got removed. It was only a moment later I realized that, apparently, Duke, who had held me in his arms as he, too, stood when I did, had moved forward to catch Morgan, who jumped into his arms.

“Thanks, bud,” it was nearly inaudible, but I definitely heard the Beta utter it to my son. Especially since Morgan giggled.

“Morgan?” I c**ked an eyebrow when I caught the Beta wink at my son. The two exchanged a high-five.

“I had to get out of the room and look for the toilet,” Morgan said. “Papa Duke taught me where to go.”

“But you didn’t come back,” I pouted at the pup, who returned a sad face.

“I slept in Papa Duke’s room,” Morgan said. “When I got out of the toilet, Papa Duke’s room was open. It was huge!” He spread his arms wide to emphasize.

“You know that sleeping in other people’s rooms is rude, right?” I huffed.

“Not when he’s asked permission,” Duke winked at my son. “Right, pup?”

I could only swipe my hand over my face and shake my head. I have this bad feeling that this is just the beginning.

—

I didn’t get to see my cousin for the next twenty-four hours. Apparently, she and her mate had a lot of “catching up” to do, so I and Morgan were left to the mercy of my mate and some of the Lycans in the pack. Thankfully, the Bennington Brothers, Eric, Ron, Afer, and DJ, who had been my friends and employers before I found my mate, were some of them.

I didn’t notice when we arrived, but now in broad daylight, I realized how large the pack grounds — or at least, its central territory — really was. According to Duke, Moonblade’s land was unique among the Central Lycan Kingdom’s and even the Lycan Empire’s packs. Instead of one huge territory, Moonblade had “islands” — patches of smaller territories connected through unique pack trails all throughout Europe, the entire line forming the shape of a crescent moon blade.

As a Mother Lycan pack, Moonblade was similar to a Werewolf Union of Packs. Its main group is led by a noble in the guise of His Highness Prince Orion, and it has daughter packs which are mostly Lycan, although there are also wolf and other shifter-populated affiliated packs. Being the mother pack, the leaders of Moonblade are all Alpha by blood, although their titles vary with Prince Orion as Alpha, my mate as Beta, and Marshal Ted, and his twin, Secretary Tom, being the Gammas.

Despite being a Mother pack, however, Moonblade was relatively small compared to those owned by other nobles and members of royalty. Most Lycan pack unions have at least 100,000 members. Moonblade, however, only had 25000, and the members were spread among its small “islands”, while some go on missions abroad. Compared to werewolf packs, however, the Moonblade population was still large in number, so before the “grand tour”, Morrighan and I were led to their security officers to fill out initial forms.

It was a strange yet nostalgic feeling. Back when I was in my old pack of Mystic Moonlit Path with my cousin Morrighan, integration into the pack was as simple as swearing an oath. Here in Moonblade, on the other hand, going around the pack territory before going through the official pack oath-taking and membership ceremony, one is required to register first and get some form of identifier.

While leaving DJ to wait for our Lycan tags to be completed and ready to deliver to us later on, Beta Duke then led me and Morgan around the pack grounds.

Moonblade’s center was located in the middle of the forest. It was nestled among flat and hillside surfaces, with its tallest and largest building, the luxury hotel-like packhouse, safely ensconced between tall trees and rock formations. As we walked around, Morgan and I couldn’t help but gape at its size and height; its highest point was mostly glass but barely reflective unless one got closer.

“See that top two floors?” Duke said. “The top floor is His Highness’ and Luna’s pack house suite. The floor below that is their office.”

“And ours is below that?” Morgan asked. Ours, huh.

I could hear a faint snicker from my wolf. I mentally rolled my eyes.

“Yep,” Duke grinned and brushed my pup’s hair. “Are you still okay walking?”

“Yes Papa,” Morgan grinned.

Seriously… how could my son easily adapt to my mate?

“The packhouse has an Olympic-size indoor pool,” Duke winked. “We’ll swim there one of these days. Oh, and there are other things located on our subterranean floors, I’ll give you a tour there one of these days.”

“Do I get to swim there, too?” Morgan gawked in awe. “I can swim in deep water. Daddy taught me.”

“You’re quite a strong pup, aren’t you,” Duke grinned at my son.

“Of course,” Morgan huffed. “I even fished a large fish in the lake on my birthday!” He proceeded to talk about it, much to Duke’s wonder… and let’s admit it, I too was proud to back him up.

Sooner, we reached the branching paths within the pack where smaller buildings, gardens, orchards, and open grounds surrounded the packhouse. Duke pointed out which ones were family homes and which ones were offices or shops.

“Ori and your cousin live in a safe and private property away from here,” Duke added. “Someday, especially when our family gets bigger, I plan to move us to our own home.”

I remained silent, though deep down I felt butterflies tickling me pink.

There was even a school that seemed to house elementary, middle, and high school levels. Like the packhouse, it nestled between tall trees.

“And that, pup,” Duke pointed to one of the buildings, alternately glancing at it and at Morgan. “Is where we will be taking you next. We’ve already finished registering you for security, and your data should be forwarded now to the school.”

My son could only gape.

“Are you excited?” Duke gave my son a gentle smile that melted my heart… and sent signals to my groin.

Stop that, mutt! I mentally growled at my wolf.

Again, Sylvanus merely sniggered.

Near the school was an open field that they probably used for sporting grounds, and a tall, stadium-like structure, except its walls were heavily decorated with plants and trees. Its glass dome, like the packhouse, had a more covert surface.

“That’s the stadium,” Duke said. “Junior members train there. We also have many sporting events and pack gatherings held over there.”

“So you guys train there?” I asked. “And do I get to train there, too?” Sooner or later, I will have to apply for a spot among the pack’s warriors.

“Nope, we’ll be training somewhere even better,” Duke nodded, smiling. “It’s over there, on the other side of that hill. It’s easier to see when you’re on the upper floors of the packhouse.”

“So we go now?” I asked. I couldn’t help but feel excited.

“We’ll take Morgan to his school first,” he gave me another d**k-ha***ning smile. Ugh.

—

Not long after we left Morgan happily sitting in his class in his new school, Duke and I — escorted by Afer and DJ Bennington (the latter having finally handed me and my son our necklaces of identification) — finally reached the pack’s main training grounds, which lay beyond a line of buildings that reminded me of my old pack’s warrior training grounds that was surrounded by the pack leaders’ office buildings, some warrior cabins, storage rooms, and engineering wings.

There, we were met by Gamma Ted, a hulking guy who was an inch taller than my mate and looked even more imposing with his long dark hair in a man-bun. While the Bennington brothers, Duke, and I were all in varying colors of sweatshirts, joggers, and trainers, Gamma Ted looked more official with his camouflage shirt, pants, and combat boots.

“I’ll take it from here,” the Gamma-in-charge of Moonblade Pack Union’s Central Territory, Field Marshall Theodore “Ted” Brooks nodded once greetings had been exchanged. “As per His Highness Orion’s Instructions.” For some reason, despite his lower rank, he gave my mate a challenging look by c**king an eyebrow.

Much to my mate’s annoyance. Duke growled, to which the Bennington brothers bared their necks.

“You have reports to fill,”, reminded the Gamma, rolling his eyes. “You know how Ori can be if you go off skipping on your tasks again.”

Duke grumbled. Cute.

I mentally shook my head. From the corner of my mind, I could hear my wolf snicker.

I don’t know if I should scold you for being happy with our mate getting scolded, I retorted at my wolf. Or if I should remind you that him going off to do his tasks would mean less time for you to spend with his wolf.

You just reminded me, I could sense Sylvanus shrug. But it’s okay. I was able to spend quality time with Miles this morning, anyway. I’m even already feeling the rapid healing effect.

Rapid healing?

From the dimmer recess of my mind, my wolf suddenly sprang up and moved forward. Compared to yesterday when he looked spotty and disheveled, Sylvanus’ fur seemed suddenly… brighter.

Of course, Sylvanus strutted and pirouetted, swinging his tail sassily. If you notice, my grays are starting to… disappear.

He was right. Sylvanus used to have some gray fur, but for some reason —

“We’re here,” Beta Duke said. Before us was an open ground, with several people doing training in batches. Gamma Ted barked orders, while DJ and Afer walked further until they reached some sort of storage room, where they went inside.

Duke suddenly hugged me tight. It was brief, but I could sense his hesitation to part from me, along with his desire to keep poking and reminding my own despite the layers of clothes.

I wanted our hug to last longer, but a cough from Gamma Ted signaled my mate to back out.

Duke sighed as he put up a hand, and with the back of his palm he gently brushed my cheek. “I hate to do this, but I have to go.”

“It’s okay,” my breath hitched, but I tried to hide it from him. It had been a short walk, but ever since last night, I could feel the bond strengthening between us.

Not that I’m telling my mate that. I’m not ready yet, after all.

“See you later,” his voice went even deeper as he dipped his head lower. Both voice and act seemed to envelop me from head to toe… and more blood into my junior. S**t.

“You really have a way to draw me in,” is what I thought, but I refrained from saying it. Again, I’m not ready.

Yet why do I feel that he could read me? For before I could even pull further or give him a faint smile, Duke’s beautiful jade orbs suddenly grew dark. It was the last thing I saw before I realized I had closed my eyes when a hot questing tongue and tingly sweet lips drew my own to a searing hot exchange with him.

And he went even further. His hands, which had been holding me in a loose hug, now drew me in, tracing an e**tic line from the back of my neck and downwards… until he found and squeezed my two globes that sent my c**k to full mast.

D**mit. This guy will be the death of me.

—