The Gypsy Luna's Beginning

Chapter 9 - Girls & Boys

Layla

I talked the other girls into going on a trail ride with me a couple of days after Maeve woke up. There was some much needed girl time to be had.

Like always, Freya, Maeve, myself, and Jessabelle, who is the daughter of Dominic and Arrah Summers, decided to play rock, paper, scissors to see who got to take Dub out this time. Jessabelle started jumping up and down when she ended up being the victor, her dark blue eyes sparkling as her brown hair swayed in her high ponytail.

"I NEVER win!" Jessabelle squealed while getting Dub saddled up. Amar groaned while he laid down out of the way, I swear it was his way of rolling his eyes at her giddiness.

"So. Maeve. What was it like?" I asked as I glanced in the direction of her and Bishop, the blue roan quarter horse she was tacking up.

"What was what like?" Of course she'd play stupid.

"Your first cup of coffee. What do you think?! Come on Maeve! We all want to know the feeling the moment that you knew he was your mate." Jessabelle shook her head as she put the bridle on Dub. She's a couple of years older than us and still hasn't met her mate yet. Once she turned 18, she stopped fooling around with single guys, thinking that maybe her mate kept his distance because of that, but she still hasn't found him.

"Yeah, I mean, you got to experience that pull before the rest of us. So spill." I wasn't going to give up, not when I knew there were juicy details to be heard.

I saw Freya shake her head as she started leading Zeus out of the barn. Most of these horses here were Aunt Rhi's before she moved in. A couple have passed and a few are new, but they wouldn't be here if it weren't for her. I gave Ferrari's neck a pat as I led the clydesdale cross mare over to the mounting block. Once we all mounted up we started heading out, Amar tagging along as usual.

"I don't know how to fully explain it. It's a weird feeling."

"Well, try!" Jessabelle turned around to give Maeve an encouraging look.

"I guess maybe compare it to being attracted to someone, only instead of the stupid pathetic honeymoon stage that wears off, it's like you've been together forever, even if you don't know them. You just feel comfortable and at ease with them." We were all quiet as we thought about what Maeve just said.

"Damn."

"What?" Freya looked over at Jessabelle with a questioning look on her face.

"You already have that with Aiden!'

"Shut your mouth Jessabelle!" Freya furrowed her brows in irritation as she glared at a chuckling Jessabelle.

"No way is Aiden her mate! I think it's Zane, to be honest. He's so kind and loving towards her." Maeve smiled, no doubt thinking about her own mate.

"Why does everyone have to try to figure out who my mate is? Why not one of yours?!" Zeus swished his tail as he picked up on Freya's growing frustration.

"Seriously?" I gave Ferrari a little squeeze and we trotted up next to Freya.

"Yeah, seriously, I don't get what the deal is."

"You've never heard the rumors?" Jessabelle and Dub were now on the other side of Freya, and Freya kept looking between us.

"Do I look like the type who listens to rumors?"

"That's true, you'd have to actually hang out with people to hear the rumors going around." Freya rolled her eyes at Maeve's comment as Maeve and Bishop moved to the other side of us, so we were all in a line riding across the field with Amar behind us.

"Ha. Fu.cking. Ha. So, is someone going to fill me in or not?"

"Well, you know our moms are going to have to eventually move into the coven, right? They can't continue to be coven leaders staying here forever."

Freya raised an eyebrow at me. "Yeah, I know. I've walked in on their conversations before. What's your point?"

"Well, her point is that everyone thinks you'll be one of the ones picked to take over as Delta or Gamma." Jessabelle smiled as she saw Freya's eyes widen after what she said.

"Me?! Why would I be picked? What about Tyler, Aiden, or Falco?"

"Falco will probably be picked, too. But let's be honest, I love my brother but Aiden doesn't have his sh.it together enough to be picked. Unless he happens to be your mate, that is." Maeve wiggled her eyes in humour as Freya curled her upper lip in disgust, making Jessabelle and I laugh.

"I'm messing with you! I think Zane is your mate. He comes from strong lines, too."

Freya rolled her eyes, clearly not amused, before shrugging her shoulders. "Zane wouldn't be a horrible mate, but wouldn't he feel the mate bond already? He's a few months older than us."

"Maybe that's why he's always hanging around!" Jessabelle's tone was giddy again as we all tried to figure out our new-found mystery.

"Oh! What about Kaden? You're both great fighters. Plus, I've seen the way you look at him." Maeve and Jessabelle started giggling at my comment.

"Ok, that's enough of my love life. We're hosting the summit this year, too. For all I know, my mate could be from another pack and I won't find out until they're here."

"Oh, sh.it! That's right! I forgot that all of the Alpha's will be showing up with their single, mating-aged kids. This is the first one we've hosted, too."

"Well, the first one since we were born at least. It'll be interesting, there's still a few other packs not happy with our way of life."

"It's not like we bother anyone else. It shouldn't matter how Aunt Rhi and Uncle Seth choose to run things."

"Well, it doesn't help that they don't have children of their own to take over, either. Because of Aunt Rhi's abilities, there's other packs that are jealous and see her as a threat that refuses to give up control."

Freya shook her head. "Alright. Enough of this talk. I'll race you guys to the woods. And no cheating, Jessabelle!"

Jessabelle smiled as she kissed at Dub, giving him a squeeze with her legs and leaving the rest of us in a cloud of dust.

"Cheating bi.tch!" I yelled as the rest of us took off after her.

Zane

The guys and I decided to let our wolves out for a midday run just to have a little fun and blow off some steam. But before we shifted, there was a view that caught our attention.

"Hate to see them go, but damn do I love to see them walk away. And before any of you say ...."

"That's gross Aiden! What's wrong with you!" Manny shoved Aiden, and Aiden turned around and put Many in a head lock.

"Excluding my sister, you sick f***k!"

"That's ok, Aiden. I'll be more than happy to watch her!" Manny blurted out before he started laughing as Aiden released his hold and shoved him away.

Kaden snorted and shook his head. "You know who her mate is. You may want to watch your mouth, Manny."

Aiden crossed his arms over his chest and made himself look taller as he glared at Manny. "Dis will be the least of his worries if he keeps his sh.it up." He really did try to make himself sound threatening, but it didn't work.

Falco kept his eyes on the girls until they mounted up and left. "What the fascination is about being on top of a thousand pound animal that has a mind of it's own is beyond me." He turned to face the rest of us with an eyebrow raised while shaking his head.

"I've got something they can ride."

"Manny, you seriously don't know when to shut up, do you?" I know I was looking at him like he was stupid, but there were just some days I couldn't help but wonder about him.

"You do realize that you're talking about both my sister as well as Aiden's, right?" Falco took a step closer to Manny as Manny's smug grin fell off of his face.

"On that note, are you guys ready for the summit?" Kaden looked at each of us to see our mixed reactions.

"No." Falco grumbled under his breath. He acts nothing like his dad, Delta Damian. But then again, Freya doesn't either. You can tell they have their mom's personality.

"Oh, come on Falco! We turn 18 smack in the middle of the summit, and it's being hosted here. How cool is that?! Think of all of the prospects that will be here!"

I shook my head. "Give it up, Aiden. You know Falco doesn't care."

Aiden placed a hand on my shoulder, pretending to be serious. "He will when he finds his mate. And he gets to bone her ALL.

NIGHT. LONG." I swear females and food are the only two things he has on his mind.

"Oh, like what happened to Zane?"

I swallowed the lump that leapt in my throat with Falco's comeback as Quinton, my wolf, whimpered in the back of my mind from the fresh memory.

Kaden looked at Falco with his brows raised in shock. "Dude. That's harsh."

"Sorry, but it's true. He was rejected by an Omega from another pack just because his parents were rogues from the most sexist pack in the country."

"Yeah, Desert's Mirage is lead by a pretty big douche canoe. No offense, Zane."

"None taken, Aiden." I knew they didn't mean anything, I couldn't help the stigma connected to my relatives.

"Maybe you should change your last name. Have you thought about that?" Manny may have tried to sound like he was joking, but I knew he was serious.

I rubbed the back of my neck, eager to get this conversation over with. "Davidson isn't even my last name, but everyone knows my parents and where they came from. Maybe people shouldn't be so close-minded and judgemental."

Kaden scoffed at my wishful thinking. "Yeah, like THAT'LL happen!"

"Maybe you'll find your second chance at the summit and stop swooning over Falco's sister." Aiden came over and playfully elbowed my side.

"Yeah, Kaden here hopes that Freya is his mate anyways."

"Will you shut up Manny!" Kaden picked up a small stick he spotted on the ground and whipped it at Manny, yelling "FETCH!" in the process. Manny laughed as he dodged out of the way.

"Hey, everyone sees the way the two of you look at each other. How you haven't ended up screwing yet is beyond me!" The words no sooner left Aiden's mouth and Falco let out a disapproving growl. "Keep your wings down bro, it's the truth!"

"I have strict rules. Don't treat someone you want to be with like a hook up, and don't treat a hook up like a mate."

"Yeah, that's a rule that Aiden here needs to follow!"

"That's it Manny! You're done!" Aiden quickly shifted into Waya as Manny's face fell right before shifting into Ian, his sandy blonde wolf. Their shift started a chain reaction for the rest of us as we took off after them.

"Do you think we'll get a second chance mate?" I asked Quinton as we ran with the others.

"Hard to say what the Moon Goddess has up her sleeves."

Thoughts of Freya danced around in my head as our wolves enjoyed their run.