Dire Choices

Chapter 2: Alpha's son

“That was, by far, the worst,” Mason grumbled. I nodded in agreement. Father insisted we attend all meetings he did, for the sake of us learning how to be an effective Alpha. Despite the fact that most of them father doesn’t even need to be there either. His beta could have handled it.

“Grant could have easily just said ‘The harvest is on target for the winter.’ The end,” Mason continued. As we walked along the worn path from Grant’s home, I pretended to pay attention. He’s one to talk about being long winded.

Mason and I look too much alike; except he seems to have a perpetual scowl on his face. It frustrated me since I feel like it made it easier for the pack to see him as my equal. Plus, despite being two years younger he’s as tall and fit as me with less training. His scowl makes all of his sharp angular features look ominous and dangerous. The biggest difference is he has our mother’s chocolate brown eyes and his dark brown hair is growing out longer than mine.

Both my wolf and I relished the crisp Autumn air as fallen leaves crunch under our feet. I let my mind wander, blocking out Mason’s ranting. Last night I must have been a sorry sight. Naked and covered in the boy’s blood as I ran into the pack house’s hospital with a stranger in my arms. The nurse whisked the boy away on a bed and I haven’t seen him since. Maybe I could go check in on him when I get back.

“Why can’t I get him out of my head?” I asked internally to Griffin.

“He’s our mate,” Griffin says, clearly irritated.

“But how is this even possible?” I ask him, but he doesn’t answer. I’m sure he is annoyed at my reluctance to accept the guy as our mate. I’ve heard of some wolves choosing a mate of the same gender, but for predestined mates to be same gender? That is something I’ve never even heard rumors of. Especially a future alpha. Dread filled me at the thought of my father finding out. Alpha Desmond was not, what one would say, an easy going alpha. Or father for that matter.

“I should be grateful we were actually able to find our mate,” I say to Griffin. He just growls in agreement.

Mason shakes me, “Hey are you listening?”

“Huh?” Mason looks at me, confused and frustrated. He must have asked me a question while I was busy talking with Griffin.  He runs his hand through his hair as he makes an exasperated noise.

“I said, what’s your plan for the guy you found yesterday?” He repeated, gesturing to the packhouse hospital wing. We were almost back to the main house.

The Storm Moon packhouse is a decent size for our modest pack of around 100 wolves. The main building is a large old colonial mansion with fresh white paint from the omega’s hard work during the summer. Large columns support the topmost balcony that wraps and connects my family’s rooms. Obviously, not everyone can live there, but it is sizable enough for my family, the beta’s family, some omegas and the hospital staff. There was also space for a kitchen, dining room, a rec room, and meeting halls. The hospital is in a squat grey stone building a little away from the main house that was probably as old as the pack itself. There were only a few people going in and out, thankfully. From what I had heard, only a few hunters had gotten hurt after they had tracked down the ferals. None seriously, which was a plus.

“I’m going to go talk to him,” I stated, trying to sound very matter of fact. I was sure though Mason could hear my heart racing, simply from the idea of seeing him. I could also feel my wolf tugging me towards our mate. “I have to make sure he wasn’t in our territory for some nefarious reason.”

Mason laughed, “Him? Fiona’s pups could probably take him. He’s probably just a rookie hunter that got carried away when he smelled the rogues.”

I twitched at the insult. Thankfully, Mason didn’t notice. I can’t help but get angry at the thought of anyone talking bad about him. I don’t even know the guy’s name. What is wrong with me?

“You’re likely right. Still, it’s what father would want.”

Mason widen, “I can also go if it’s too much.”

I glared at him and growled. His offer would seem friendly enough, but I know what he is trying to do. He wants as many opportunities to show father he has picked up my slack. To prove he is better than me. I love my brother, and hell I may have even liked him if it wasn’t for this stupid rivalry our father has forced upon us. But I cannot lose to him.

Mason held his hands up, “Alright, I’ll leave you to it then.”

As my brother left as I stared at the hospital. I could feel the boy’s presence in there, which was good. Meant the he is not dead. From what I know of the mate bond, I would have known that immediately if he had anyways. I shake off the stress and roll my shoulders before forcing my body to move to the hospital. I am a the next alpha, I can manage to say a few words to my future mate. Or current mate? I grumble audibly before opening the hardwood door. Inside, Fiona the nurse practitioner is chatting to an omega orderly behind the nurse’s station. A handful of beds line two walls behind her, a few of them with the curtains closed for some semblance of privacy. I can smell my mate, but he is not in this room. What I can smell is strong disinfectant and some of the pack who were likely hurt last night.

“Oh! Wilder, how are you? I was wondering when you would make it in,” Fiona said with a friendly smile. She has been the nurse practitioner for our pack for years, and been working at the hospital for years before that when she had started training as an orderly as a teen. Now she has mostly greying hair and wrinkles. Mostly from years of pleasant smiles and caring bedside manner. Today, she smelled like peanut butter and jelly, which made me chuckle inwardly. She had waited to find her fated mate, and had managed to find him later in life. They were now happily married with two very rambunctious pups.

“How are you Fiona?” I smile and then nod to the orderly. He nods back. His name is Connor, but as an omega the act of even acknowledging his presence is often seen as an odd thing to do if you do not have a reason to speak with him. I have always felt weird about that. He is a wolf of our pack regardless, and the Storm moon pack needs all of its members to function. Without omegas we wouldn’t have help doing everyday things like tending to the packhouse, and in Connor’s case, attend to the less pleasant aspects of caring for patients.

“I’m doing well. And so is the Snow moon wolf you brought in yesterday,” She said as she pulled out a folder. “I assume that is why you are here.”

“You assume correctly.”

“Well, I put him in Room 2. So that he could recover and to give you some privacy for when you talked with him. I only asked for his name and where his wounds came from.” I nodded. Fiona knew the drill. My father preferred to question outsiders or trouble makers himself so he knew there was no one influencing their answers. It made sense.

“So, what’s his name?”

“Parker Perez, he said he was tracking rogues that had entered the Snow Moon pack’s territory and had been attacked,” she said, studying her notes. Tingles ran through my body hearing his name, maybe another mate bond thing. The name also sounded familiar.

“Wasn’t that the maiden name of Alpha Kent’s wife?” I asked. Father made Mason and I study and learn all of the neighboring packs family histories. Since so often this can affect allegiances and demeanors towards other packs. Fiona stared up to the ceiling thinking, but shrugged.

“Honestly, I don’t remember. I wasn’t invited to the wedding. Only your parents, the beta and his mate were invited.” I nodded. There was really no reason for Fiona to know information like that. I could just ask Parker though. It was odd that he might have his mother’s last name instead of Alpha Kent’s.

I thanked Fiona and nodded to Connor again before setting off to Parker’s room. I hesitated briefly as butterflies welled up in my stomach. I was not enjoying having so little control over my feelings. But I had to admit it felt exciting too. I decide to knock.

“Hello?” A mellow voice says through the door. My knees nearly buckle. I steel myself, knowing that Fiona and Connor are probably watching. I enter into the private room, it’s full of morning sun filtering through sheer curtains. Parker is sitting in the hospital bed against the far wall. He has been cleaned up and I can now see my beautiful mate clearly. His long auburn hair is still a little disheveled, but it looks like it could be that it is its natural look. He has a runner’s build, with long wiry limbs. His face has a boyish roundness to it, and those emerald green eyes I saw yesterday. They stare at me with a myriad of emotions swirling in them, almost like their colors are changing based on his mood.

“Mate,” he says barely above a whisper. Still I shush him and close the door behind me.

“Yes, I.” I have to clear my throat to speak in front of Parker but try again. “I believe we are mates, I am not sure how or why the Moon Goddess has chosen this.”

I walk over to him. His eyes follow me, like he is watching something unreal. I laugh at the thought. I knew I was good-looking, but I can’t be that conceited to think he would be speechless seeing me. I extend my hand.

“My name is Wilder Foster, future alpha of the Storm Moon pack,” I said as I shook his hand. My hand tingles and warms at the contact. I snatch my hand away in surprise, and the smile apologetically as I rub my neck. He smiles and chuckles at my nervousness.

“I’m sure the nurse told you, but I am Parker Perez of the Snow Moon Pack. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Same. I have to ask before I forget. Is you mother Maria Perez?” I asked, but realize my mistake as he looks away.

“Yea, that was her maiden name.”

“So you are Alpha Kent’s son?” I inquired. This clearly is a sensitive subject. I can feel his unease. He nods. I sit at the end of his bed, making sure not to touch him.

“I won’t pry any more about that. I am curious as to why a Snow Moon wolf was in our territory,” I said.

He shrugged, “I was tracking the feral rogues. They had run through part of our territory northeast of where you found me. I was on patrol when it happened and chased them away from a home that is near our border. I must have gotten to engrossed in the chase to realize where I was. I apologize for that Alpha.”

He bows slightly to me, which is uncomfortable. He seems just as uncomfortable though, and I can feel his distress and level of worry through my wolf. I take a deep breathe to steady myself and separate my feelings from his.

“You do not need to apologize, no harm was done and in fact I likely found you before your pack would have so far from your packhouse,” I said, which was true. There was no point in being upset about something so trivial. Still he did not calm. He sat there in silence now focusing on some birds out the window. I didn’t know how to bring up my concerns about us being mates, so I stared with him for a few minutes. He broke the silence first.

“So, when will you reject me?” He asked as he looked back at me, so monotone like he had turned off his feelings. It felt like an arrow being shot through me.

“You are the future alpha. I can’t imagine that your family or pack will approve of me.” He said. I take a deep steadying breath.

“You’re right, they probably won’t,” I said, and I watched his eyes darken and focused back out the window. Griffin whimpered in my head. Goddess the thought of loosing him hurt.

“Last night I had though something similar when I saw you laying there, but the thought of you dying,” I paused to breath and reign in my emotions. I am still the son of an alpha dammit, I can’t be falling apart. “The thought of you dying was too much.”

His green eyes turn back to me, his brows furrowed, “So? That has nothing to do with rejecting me.”

I rubbed my neck, “I, I can’t. I would understand if you want that. I just can’t say the words. I know that that’s selfish.”

 “I don’t want that either,” he said as he shakes his head. Hearing those words, I feel like I can breathe again. I feel my shoulders loosen. When had I become so tense?

 “So, what now?” He asked.

“Well, we could focus on maybe getting to know each other? Without letting anyone know that we are mates, that is. At least, not yet,” I said, fumbling over my own words. He paused for a moment and then nodded.

“I would try that,” He said, with a slight smile.