CHOSEN

Chapter 6. Assumption

I saw Silas gulped and turn away after managing to regain control. I caught a glimpse of disappointment on his handsome face just before he walked away.

The other two boys bid their goodbye, not long after I arrived.

Lucien sat across from me. Seeing his brother pout, he said, “Someone has to be here to watch over you guys.”

“Dude, I can only get close to my mate when her husband’s not around. Have mercy on your brother!” Lucas grumbled.

Lucien shrugged before eating his burger. He didn’t move from his spot.

Lucas sighed deeply and rolled his eyes before turning back to me.

“Which pack are you from, Ester?” he asked.

I was reluctant to answer his question. Small talk like this should have happened before the hot wrestling on the bed, right? This felt so wrong. However, I figured discussing our race might benefit me, so I forced myself to respond.

“I don’t know anything about packs. I was raised as a human,” I replied, sipping my orange juice.

Lucas glanced at his brother, who was chewing his food.

Lucien shrugged again before swallowing and replying, “When I first met them, I had a hunch they were our kind, but I stopped digging when I realized they weren’t aware of it.”

“There are two packs around here: Timberhowl, known for farming and ranching, and Raven's Rex, a warrior pack,” Lucas said.

The funny thing is I didn’t know. My family was really crazy for hiding all this. Although, I think I’ve read the name Raven's Rex somewhere before, and it sounds almost identical to my hometown.

“Raven City,” I replied. “I’m not sure if Raven's Rex is another name for it, but my family lives in Raven City.”

“I bet you know their leader, Alpha Abraham,” he responded.

I chuckled, hearing him refer to my grandfather with the title 'alpha'. The idea that my grandfather could turn into a wolf seemed ridiculous.

“Abraham Sapphire is my grandfather.”

At that response, Lucien choked and coughed loudly, his face turning red, while Lucas’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out from their socket. I quickly pushed a drink toward him.

“You’re an Alpha,” Lucien whispered once his breathing returned to normal.

“Honestly, I’m not sure about that,” I replied. “As far as I know, my grandfather is a mayor.”

“That means you’re the next Alpha, Ester,” Lucas said. “I don’t know why your family has kept this secret, risking the survival of your pack.”

“My town is fine,” I replied.

“Without an Alpha, your pack will disappear, Ester. Unless—”

“Unless?” I interrupted Lucien.

“Unless Fabian takes your grandfather’s place,” he continued.

“He’s a toddler,” I hissed.

He deadpanned. “Of course when he’s older and shifted, Sis.”

“Aren’t you curious about the reason?” Lucas asked.

“Of course. Though I still hope all this is nonsense,” I replied.

Lucas snorted before taking off his gloves and framing my face with his hands. The moment our skin touched, it felt like when your tongue touches sparkling water, and for a moment, I forgot about our conversation.

“Isn’t this sensation proof enough, Ester? Did you forget how intense our lovemaking was yesterday? Normal humans don’t lose control over their bodies like that, Mate.”

I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond because he was 100% right.

“Alright. I’ll make my family talk,” I whispered uncomfortably as the electric sensation started to stir my desire.

Lucas removed his hand before glancing toward the kitchen, inside the cafe where Silas was sitting alone, busy with his phone.

“Why’s that kid suddenly being antisocial?” he asked.

Lucien looked in the same direction before replying, “Seems like he’s heartbroken. He’s got a crush on Ester but didn’t dare to approach because she’s happily married, then my crazy brother comes along and suddenly claims her as his mate.”

“Don’t joke about that. It’s not funny!” I hissed, but Lucien just shrugged again.

“You could ask him. Why do you think he doesn't have a girlfriend with a look like a Ken doll? Girls even lined up just to date him.”

Now I actually felt guilty for Silas. But who guessed he thinks about me like that? For god’s sake, he is seven years younger than me.

“This is going to be tough for Silas, especially since he’s a delta,” Lucas muttered.

Lucien paused, contemplating his brother’s words, then laughed.

“Just keep him away when Ester goes into heat,” he said.

Seeing my confusion, he explained, “A delta’s job is to be a luna’s guard. Silas will always be close to you, and when you’re in heat, well… your scent will be way stronger to attract males—”

“Gross!” I cut him off, accompanied by a low growl from Lucas’s throat and Lucien’s laughter.

“I’ll kill anyone who touches my mate,” Lucas growled, and I rolled my eyes because, in reality, I might never be his; I was already married.

“Do you know anything about where Dave came from?” Lucien asked, clearly changing the subject before his brother could go full protective mate mode.

I shook my head.

“He was adopted from an orphanage not far from here. We still donate for them,” I said.

“Why are you so sure he’s not human?” Lucas asked his brother.

“You’ll know when you meet him, Luke. My wolf instinctively bows to him, and his alpha aura is stronger than yours,” Lucien replied, this time with a serious face.

I blinked a few times, unsure what that meant, but I knew this wasn’t a trivial matter.

“If he has that without being connected to his wolf, imagine if he’s fully awakened,” Lucien continued.

“Is that even possible?” Lucas asked after a moment of thought, mostly to himself.

“If it’s true, he’ll have the power to claim you, and I’ll be left mateless,” he said, looking at me with sadness.

“Are you going to investigate this?” Lucien asked.

Lucas nodded without taking his eyes off of me.

“If I have to sacrifice for our people, I will,” he whispered before looking away.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” I said.

“Lucien is an Alpha-born beta. Even though he’s currently my beta, he’s capable of leading a pack. Alphas only bow to their Alpha. Dave might be the lost prince of the werewolves. I wouldn’t blame you if you chose him.”

Lucas swallowed.

“But you’ve already marked me, Luke,” I replied.

“My wolf marked his mate. If you reject me, the mark will fade. The mark only becomes permanent if we both mark each other, human and wolf side.”

He was silent for a moment before continuing, “What will you do?”

I thought for a moment before answering, “I’ll be honest with Dave, also tell him about our kind. I’ll see how he reacts. After all, we’re married and have a son. I can’t make this decision alone.”

“You’re not rejecting me?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“There must be a reason we’re fated to be mates and only met now. I believe in fate, Luke, and I hope we all end up happy. Dave is a good man, and I was wrong to betray him.”

I was silent for a moment, and Lucas squeezed my hand.

“I’m not sure he’ll take me back, and I’m really worried about my son. If my mother finds out I’ve cheated on her beloved son-in-law, she’ll kill me.”

Lucien’s phone rang, and he read the contact name before putting it on speaker.

“Beta, is Alpha with you?” asked a man on the other end.

“I'm here, Father,” Lucas replied.

“Both of you better go home right now. We need to prepare. They’re on the move.”