The Alpha's Lost Love

Chapter 11

~ Alpha Bastian's POV ~

It's been about a week and a half since mother mentioned this mating ball. Baskier still isn't any happier about it, but I have convinced him to go through with this ball just to make our family happy. We don't necessarily have to pick another Luna from the ones who will be there; although, that might cause some strife, since mother is planning this whole thing for that specific reason.

I had just finished at morning training with the pup warriors. Not completely being back to my normal self since before losing Laila, I usually just supervise on the sidelines of any training. This time though with the young warriors in training, I felt the need to help. One girl seemed to be truly struggling in a sparring match against one of the tougher kids, so I decided to step in and see if I could help. I held back obviously since my strength would be too much, but I also showed the girl a few different techniques and ways to get the upper hand in a fight even if you are less trained or smaller than your opponent. I left the training grounds smiling and feeling more accomplished than I have in months.

That smile was soon wiped off my face when I got a mindlink from my father, "Son, your mom and I need you to come to your office to discuss some things regarding this ball. Please come in as soon as you can and with a smile on your face? Your mother is very proud of herself."

"Of course, father..." I mindlinked back, sighing while continuing the walk to the pack house, but with a little more dread in my step than before.

As I got to my office, I faked a smile and opened the door. My dad was sitting on the sofa in my office, mother lounging on top of him comfortably. I covered my eyes and made a gagging sound, trying to hide the fact that I am actually envious of my parents and their perfect mate bond with one another...envious of the fact that they are both here and can love on each other the way our wolves and we yearn to.

"Oh hush, boy," my father said while rolling his eyes and pulling my mom even closer to his body than she originally was. "You know us wolves are s****l creatures in nature and the bond makes it so much more -."

I uncovered my eyes and interrupted him, "I DO NOT want to hear anything about being s****l when it comes to my parents, no matter how natural it is or how old I am! Even when I am in my fifties, it will always be gross."

Mother just laughed and got off of father's lap, coming over to me so she could try to ruffle my hair - a feat considering I am taller than her by a foot. I leaned down with a chuckle so she would be able to and then motioned for her to sit back down while I pulled a chair from in front of my desk over near the sofa.

"Alright, mom," I began. "Dad said we needed to discuss this...mating ball? What about it?"

As soon as I asked the question, a megawatt smile appeared on my mom's face. She indeed looks very proud and excited, as father had said, I thought. Be on your best behavior, Baskier...please? I don't want to upset my parents more than I have in these past couple of years.

"Yes! I know it has only been a little over a week since we decided to throw this ball, but I have done an excellent and efficient job of planning it and have managed to make it where we can have it by next week," she said while barely containing her excitement.

"Next week?!" I gasped. "Isn't that too soon though? What alpha would be able to stop what they are doing and bring their daughters or unmated ranks to a ball in only a week? That isn't enough notice for anyone!"

"Actually, son...we have already called all of the packs with eligible she wolves and informed them of the finalized date of the ball. We had mentioned we would be having one by paper invitation originally without a date but made sure to say it would be soon; therefore, the majority of the packs we were inviting agreed to the timeframe and are excited to come here for the mating ball in a weeks time," my mother said.

~ A week later ~

I woke up groggy and groaning. Today is the day all of the packs will be arriving for the horrid ball and mother will be expecting me to be open to the she wolves that will be here. I have been arguing with my wolf ever since mother told us when this ball would be held, how soon it would be. We really both thought we had a bit more time than a week.

I looked at my alarm clock reading 5AM and then, looking over to my closet, I noticed a garment bag hanging neatly on the front of the door. Even at this age, mother is still trying to dress me to be the perfect gentleman and perfect alpha...despite me knowing how to dress myself, I thought.

"Granted, for the past couple of years, you have dressed and acted like a slob. No wonder she wanted to make sure you had a good suit to wear for this thing we are being forced to attend," Baskier commented smugly.

"Oh shut it, wolf," I said in my mind.

I got out of bed and went into the ensuite bathroom, starting my shower so I could begin to prepare myself for today. No telling what time the alphas and ranked eligible members of their packs will be arriving, so I won't be participating in training this morning unfortunately. It's become one of the best parts of my day. Helping out the pups training especially, because it allows my wolf and I to see how it will be if we ever become a dad and get to train our own children. Being almost 29 and without a mate or pups is definitely taking its toll on us, with the alpha wolf instincts making us want to procreate to ensure our lineage.

After the shower, I dried off slightly and wrapped a towel around my waist. I then walked out of my room intending to go ahead and get ready for the day with the suit mother had assigned me to wear. However, when I walked out of the room, I stopped in my tracks. There, standing in front of the bookcase in my bedroom was a woman. Not just any woman, but one that reminded me so much of Laila it made my heart and mind hurt. I could only see her back but the long blonde hair flowing down her back to her hips had me tensing and not able to speak.

Hearing a noise as the bathroom door shut closed on its own, the woman turned around and dropped the book she had been scanning through.

"Oh my Goddess! I am so sorry, alpha," she said while bowing slightly at me. "I know I shouldn't be in here...I was just curious."

Finally, I gathered myself seeing that she had brown eyes instead of green like the love of my life has and her face, although the same complexion as Laila, is completely different structurally. I walked towards the woman and bent down to pick up the book, setting it back in its place on the shelf.

"Who are you?" I bluntly asked the woman.

"Oh, I apologize. My name is Alessa and I have come here with my father's pack, The Steelclaw Pack. We have obviously come for the ball tonight," she said while extending her hand out to me.

I took her hand while gritting my teeth together a bit since I must portray a gentleman even in this weird scenario, "Thank you for coming, but why are you in my room?"

"Like I said, alpha, I was just curious about you so I kind of let myself in. I didn't expect anyone to be in here because I figured you would have been at training super early and I surely didn't expect you to be in the shower..." she glanced over my body, "Or for you to get out looking so much like a snack."

The shy man from before I met Laila appeared once more in me as my cheeks reddened and I attempted to cover my built body slightly more with my towel and hands.

"Okay, it's time you get out. I have a ball to get ready for and this is a bit of an invasion of my privacy," I said while ushering the psycho out of my bedroom.

She looked extremely shocked that I wanted her out, but went along with it anyway and let me push her through the doorway. I shut the door and took a deep breath, trying to reign in my anger and embarrassment. It's not like I have anything to be embarrassed about. I know I look good due to the amazing genes my parents gave me and the training I have done all my life. I just haven't had anyone looking at me that way since Laila and I never intended to have anyone else but my mate look at me with those come hither eyes.

"Mother! Why didn't you tell me that the packs have started to arrive?!" I irritatedly asked over mindlink.

"I didn't know that any have yet. I have been getting myself and your father ready to start greeting them as they do," she said, confusion and worry heavy in her words.

"Well they have and I just managed to greet one of them up close and personal when I walked out of my bathroom IN A TOWEL and she was just there in my room..." I said.

"Oh love, I am sorry," she said and I heard the hesitation clearly in her voice. "Was she cute though?"

"THAT is not the point, mother! I had a stranger, a random crazy woman who could have been someone here to m****r me easily access my room and I wasn't even aware that anybody new was here yet on our pack grounds! As Alpha, I should know immediately whenever ANYONE comes onto our land," I growled.

"Okay, okay," mother said sadly. "I am sorry, son. Just so you know then, aside from that one pack that has apparently arrived early without anyone being informed, no one else is to arrive for another couple of hours."

"Thank you for letting me know about the others, mom," I said, feeling upset at myself for being angry at my mother. "I am just worried that after I abandoned my duties as Alpha for the past two years, that people will continue to tell things to you and dad and Mark instead of me even though I am here trying to do better now..."

"I understand, son. And so does the rest of the pack. You had a rough time cause of Laila, but you are better now...or at least trying to be and this mating ball is a step in the right direction for the pack to realize you will do what is best for them as their Alpha," my mother finished the conversation and cut off the mindlink.

Since the woman was now out and I have vented to my mother and calmed down, I continued to get ready for the ball. It took about half an hour of styling and restyling my hair since I haven't tried to look good since Laila was taken, but I eventually finished and looked in the mirror, feeling accomplished in myself.

"D**n," Baskier stated. "You look good! Mother picked out a very nice all-black suit and it fits us perfectly. Despite this f*****g irritating ball she has planned, she has done good. I am proud of our mother."

I ignored his comment since it seemed like he wanted to compliment our mom more than he did me anyway. Having finished getting ready with an hour and a half to spare before the other alphas and packs arrive, I left my bedroom and headed down to my office.