Mom Is Mated To The Alpha

Chapter 9: The Elder

Drake glanced over Dave's shoulder, spotting his mother beaming back at them. Standing beside her was Gregory, although he appeared less content, his expression stormy, like he was ready to unleash his wrath on someone. An elderly man stood with them. "Who is that with your parents?" Drake inquired.

Dave turned to look and smiled. "Ah, that's Grandpa. He's the elder here. Everyone refers to him as Elder Jonathan," he explained. "He's visiting; his trips here are rare, mostly handling pack affairs, and he hasn't been around for years."

Drake cast another glance at the elder. He knew Elder Jonathan was the one who had forced Gregory to choose between his two mates. Even now, Gregory was locked in an intense discussion with Lolita, with Elder Jonathan seemingly trying to mediate.

Elder Jonathan noticed Drake's gaze and smiled warmly, excusing himself from the quarrel to join them.

"Hello, Dave, Katelyn. How are you both doing? And this must be the young alpha Drake that Lolita has mentioned frequently," he greeted, extending a hand toward Drake.

Drake forced a smile as he shook Elder Jonathan's hand, while Ace growled internally, reminding Drake of everything his father and Gregory had previously revealed about the elder's involvement in Gregory and Lucia's past predicament.

"Nice to see you, Grandpa. How long will you be staying?" Katelyn asked with a welcoming smile.

"I'm not quite sure yet, but your mother mentioned that you and Drake are mates," Elder Jonathan replied.

Drake clenched his teeth and maintained a firm expression. "No, we're not mates," he and Katelyn said in unison, catching Elder Jonathan off guard.

"But your mother said..." Elder Jonathan began, only to be interrupted by Dave. "Our mother is mistaken. They aren't mates; they're best friends. Drake has..." Dave started, but Drake swiftly covered his mouth to stop him from finishing that thought.

"No, Lolita was mistaken. Katelyn and I are close friends, nothing more. I am still searching for my true mate," Drake said, doing his best to remain polite.

Elder Jonathan studied him. "You know, Drake, you're getting older. If you don't find your mate soon, you may need to choose one yourself," he advised. "I did, and it was the best decision I made. My mate was a bear shifter."

"Not happening," Ace growled aggressively in Drake's mind. "I want to rip his throat out." Drake struggled to keep his composure, finding it increasingly difficult.

"What was wrong with her being a bear shifter?" Katelyn inquired, cautiously examining Elder Jonathan's expression. Dave appeared equally focused, clearly intrigued by the response.

"There's nothing inherently wrong with a bear shifter. I just wanted all my pups to be wolves," Elder Jonathan explained.

Dave, appearing to test the elder further, asked, "What if I found a mate who was, let's say, a Hybrid shifter? What would you think?"

Even Drake was curious about this line of questioning.

Elder Jonathan turned his attention to Dave. "Have you found a mate already, son?" he asked, but Dave shook his head. "No, I'm just curious. Personally, I wouldn't mind what kind of shifter my mate is. I would love her and our pups regardless," he affirmed.

"We would feel the same about Lizzie," Ace voiced silently to Drake, indicating his eagerness to know what Elder Jonathan's answer would be.

Elder Jonathan addressed them with authority, "Well, my advice would be to present her to the elders and formally introduce her as your mate. They will then determine whether she is suitable for the pack. You might encounter little resistance, but Drake here would face a different challenge," he said, shifting his gaze to Drake. "You are expected to have a wolf as your mate and lead by example. Other shifters are not suitable matches for an alpha wolf."

Ace was on the brink of losing control. "HE CANNOT DECIDE WHO MY MATE IS," he bellowed, unleashing his alpha aura, which immediately commanded everyone's attention and brought all activity to a halt. The music was abruptly cut off, and Drake could feel the weighted silence as all eyes were fixed on them.

His eyes glowed a fierce hue as Ace joined him, pushing forward. "YOU WILL NEVER DICTATE WHO MY MATE SHOULD BE," Ace growled through Drake's voice.

Elder Jonathan looked momentarily unsettled, but he quickly regained his composure. "I apologize, Alpha. I assumed you were already acquainted with our laws. When you find your mate, we will address any issues that arise," he said, attempting to maintain control.

Drake felt a firm hand on his shoulder. "Son, you need to calm down. You're frightening everybody," his father whispered. "What's going on?" Surveying his surroundings, Drake noticed his mother's expression — she appeared furious, as though she was ready to confront someone.

Taking deep breaths, Drake worked on calming himself and Ace. "Ace, please, we need to stay composed. We can't reveal anything about Lizzie right now." He communicated to Ace, who retreated into Drake's mind with a final intense glare at Elder Jonathan.

Upon regaining his composure, Drake reopened his eyes, facing the expectant crowd. "There was a misunderstanding. Ace dislikes being dictated to, particularly regarding his mate," Drake explained softly. "I think it's best if I find my drink now."

Turning away, Drake felt the need to distance himself and regain his cool.

Meanwhile, Kendell was utterly astonished by Drake's decision to reject her and his refusal to even consider her as his potential mate. Seeking clarity, she chose not to enter the pack house directly. Instead, she found herself walking around to the other side, needing time to gather her thoughts. Leaving him without a fight was simply not an option she was willing to consider.

As she strolled, deep in thought, a gruff voice broke through her musings, "So, you're after the alpha, are you?"