Broken Moon

Chapter 11-

Altics POV

"What am I doing here?" I silently asked my wolf Shadow.

"Mate," was Shadows simpler esponse.

"I'm not so sure, man."

"Mate."

"So you say. I'm fairly sure I should be more interested in her than I am."

"I want my mate."

"You do know your mate is a pretty terrifying creature?"

"Hymf." I could practically feel Shadows eyes rolling. "Yeah, she looks absolutely terrifying,"

he said sarcastically.

"I agree that she did not have as terrifying presence today. In face she was very professional and even funny.

But don't forget that I was there that day and you were not. I still remember the pain."

I had been the first to arrive to the

restaurant. This is hardly surprising as I did not have much to do in my hotel

room. Also I was unsure about the amount of time it would take to get there.

Next to arrive was James.

"Hello!" I said.

"Hi, I see you got here fast."

"Yeah, no traffic today." And then silence and followed by more silence.

"So did you read the report on a shared economic system for all wolves in America?" James asks.

"Yeah, Maron is being delusional as always."

"How so?"

"As if packs would so openly want to share their finances and pay more taxes. We are already stuck paying enough

to the human government. Not to mention the amount of power it would give the council to know just how everyone makes money and in what amounts. We should have some right to privacy and autonomy."

"But imagine the beneficial effects to packs that need help. And the opening of trades. Many packs are having a hard

time getting by because they don't know the best way to market and distribute their talents. If we all could help each other all packs would become more prosperous. Did you read about the Moon Paws and Snowclan?"

“Yes I read about them and yes it pissed me off that they had been left in such a state. But have you ever hear of

utopia? It is always nice to imagine how things could work at their best. But I tend to think about how the power could be abused if someone in office wanted to, and this allows for easy corruption."

Again we sit in silence. I understand wecome from very different backgrounds. As far as I know James has been very well

educated but has been staying on pack lands. Only seeing what the Moon Council wants him to see. As their right hand we see it all. And they are not as squeaky clean as James is hoping. Again we sit in an awkward silence. I did not mean to

make the conversation negative. I did appreciate his effort in trying to start a conversation.

Fortunately, then Shadow started howlingin my head which must mean that Lizzy was on her way. This time however

something feels different. I feel excited. A warm happy glow is being lit in my body. I feel something wonderful coming my way. What is that smell, strawberries and vanilla? She did not smell like this earlier today. I give her a happy smile. If she is my mate this is how I want to feel around her. I don't want to feel confused or frightened. I want to light up with joy at seeing her.

Then I feel a sad sting. Like something I did made her very sad. What the hell happened? Lizzy seems happy enough. As

she gets closer her scent hits me. It has not changed. She still smells of forests and springs. Then who is strawberry?

Next to Lizzy is what I assume is her much younger sister. She looks maybe 13, but oddly well developed for her age. She

looks at me and I can't help but notice her turquoise surf eyes. They look like they belong dancing in joy or being mischievous, but now instead look sad. That is when real sadness washes over me. I feel like I want to lie down on the floor and cry. I feel hopeless. Whose emotions am I picking up. The girls finally arrive at our table and sit down next to us. That is when the strawberry scent completely envelops me and I realize it is coming from the little creature wearing a Twilight New Moon t-shirt. Ironic considering how annoyed it made ne to realize fiction was being written about werewolves where we mate with newborns. I give

the girl my full attention and I realize she is not thirteen. She is just much shorter than her sister. Petit, really. She would look adorable curled up in my arms with her blond hair with just a touch of red. In fact, it is a shame she is not sitting there now. And what is it that has made my mate so sad? Whoever did that is going to need to get on his or her knees and apologize.

"Not our mate," Shadow reminds me.

My head moves rapidly from the girl to Lizzy and back. No, it is not possible. It can't be so that the Moon goddess messed

up the mate-system and mated me with the sister of the one I want to be with. Jesus, at least if one was going to mess up the mate bond it should be with someone one does not have to meet in the future. These two we’re each other’s closest family. I would never be able to mate with one of them without being forced to see the other. I feel a slight panic spreading.

Fortunately, James is talking with Lizzy so my silence does not appear awkward. I have no idea what they're saying and

hope they have not asked me something I'm meant to respond to. Then a sound breaks through my almost

catatonic state. The most beautiful sound I've ever heard.

"The shared economics system for all wolves? Yes, I read that report too. It is very clear it has multi-pack

unity as a goal but I honestly found it a little confusing. We already have a shared economics system. We use the human’s money system. If it was just about helping pack struggling with either money flow problems or need of skilled labor,

then there are much easier ways to achieve it."

My brain quickly absorbed every word she said. Here I was basically incapable of forming simple thoughts

while she was showing she might very well be the smartest person in the room.

That was when the server arrived with our menus. I was slightly more under control but the shock had still not left

my body enough to be able to read.

"Em, what is good here? Is there anything you recommend James?" I ask.

"The triple bacon burger is my favorite. With a chocolate milkshake."

"Triple bacon burger sounds great. But I'll drink strawberry milkshake."

I decide I must talk to Lina to see what she feels.

"I saw an interesting clock on my way in. Lina, I think you might like it." I stand up and reach out my hand

to her. She takes it and I’m not prepared for the effect her body has on me. Her skin is so smooth. I move away quickly so the others hopefully won't realize what is happening. I move Lina around two corners to a very talkative area where we are out of sight.

"Do you feel it?" I ask.

"What?”

"So you don't feel it." I feel like jumping of a cliff would hurt less than this conversation. "What does

your wolf say?"

"My wolf?”

“Yes, does she call me her mate?"

"I don't have a wolf,” the girl responds. “I thought Lizzy was your mate."

"No, my wolf seems to think so but I think there has been a mix-up. I don't want her. I want ..." f**k there

is no way out of this sustenance now. "You."

At this point I'm expecting her to slap me but she doesn't. She puts her hands on my chest. Is she going to push me

back? That would be a fair response. Instead she moves them up around my neck making little flames dance across every area she touches. She pulls my head down and puts her lips close to mine. I close the rest of the distance. I also pick her up and she wraps her legs around me. I move us towards the nearest wall. One kiss and I know now without a shadow of a doubt that Shadow is wrong.

I want this girl in a way I have wanted no other or would ever want another. My d**k is rock-hard and begging to press into this beautiful, wonderful female. I grab her t-shirt in my fist and startmoving my hand up her stomach, And that is when I get punched by James.

I was so distracted I did not see or smell him even though he was next to me.

"Stop, you are hurting Lizzy!"He says.