Chapter 14

Xander's POV

The guys all roll their eyes, and Eliot doesn’t bother to disguise his groan of annoyance.

‘The girls are not going to like her following us home, man,’ Zach links me.

‘I know, but you know what she’s like. She’ll be impossible to get rid of now.’

Zach met his mate Amara at the Night Howlers’ mating ball, just after we turned eighteen. We had gone as a meet-up with the guys following camp, but also in the hopes we might be allowed to see Zahra. But when we were there, Brice—Brant’s dad—told us it wasn’t allowed. It was devastating. Then as soon as we walked into the ballroom, Zach stiffened and all but charged across the room into Amara’s arms. They mated and marked each other within two days. Amara transferred to our pack and school to finish off her final year before the end of the month. She’s amazing—kind, funny, clever—a perfect match for Zach. She’s also a great Beta. She wasn’t of Beta blood originally, though there is Beta lineage in her family. Her mother’s father was a good Beta from White Fang. But in Night Howlers her family is unranked. She has taken to training well, and is thriving at AC. Dad got her enrolled, as she mated into the role before the year started, and she was allowed to come.

On our first day here, Oscar ran into Renée—literally—in the academic office, enrolling when we were. He stiffened as soon as he got out of the car and bolted inside. That was that. They were mated and marked later that night.

At our first freshman party the following night, Eliot met Elodie. They mated and marked each other at the party.

The girls all live here—except for Helena. I refuse to let her move in with me, but she stays so often it feels like she does, and it’s grating. The others are all members of Blood Moon now, so they’ll be coming home with us for the summer. While we’re at camp they’ll spend time with their families, but essentially, they’ll be working over the summer with Dad’s unit and their mates, learning the ropes and preparing for their roles in the pack.

I didn’t even think about including them in the graduation tickets, but I can’t help wondering how Titch will feel if we all turn up with mates and girlfriends in tow when she hasn’t seen us in three years.

Two days later I finally manage to extricate myself from Helena and get into my car to drive home. She has been unbearably clingy since I mentioned Zahra the other day. She has practically refused to leave, and in the end, I gave up trying to make her. But I sure as hell wasn’t going to let her come home with me. I’m actually looking forward to time away from her. She’s furious we’re now going to be home for a few days before camp.

I pull out and head towards the highway. The others are driving separately with their mates. It’s unnecessary really—we could all fit into two cars—but they want their alone time, so we go in convoy instead. Max is behind us in his truck with Noah and Ralph. They’re both mated too, but their mates don’t go to AC. Lara and Catherine are lovely, and thankfully all the girls get along well.

We should probably organise a social with the guys and all the mates at some point. Brant and his unit, most of Lincoln’s, most of Tobias’s unit have all mated now as well. It would be good to meet all the females. Maybe after I meet my mate. My heart clenches and Atlas whines in my head at the thought. The double blow of Max’s breakup and not being mated when everyone else is has weighed heavily on Atlas. He rarely speaks to me anymore and often doesn’t participate in the day-to-day life of the pack. I’ve tried talking to him but he shuts me down. When we go for a run, he seems a little brighter, but not much. I’ve thought about asking Mum or Alcyone to speak with him, but I haven’t managed to yet.

After a few hours of driving, I pull up in front of the house. Mum is waiting by the front door, a huge smile on her face.

I leap out of my car. “Xander!” she sighs, pulling me into a hug. “Goddess, I can barely reach you now. I think you might be taller than your father!” she exclaims, holding me at arm’s length. I grin at her. I’m fairly sure she’s right, and I’m eager to confirm it. Dad’s massive, a true specimen of an Alpha. Not many Alphas can match him for size. I’d love to be as intimidating as he is—if not bigger.

The others all pull up and clamber out, and Mum ushers us inside and out to the table set for lunch. Everyone is there, and we greet and hug in turn.

“Xander, my boy,” Dad says, pulling me into a crushing embrace. “How are you? How was your semester?”

I shrug. “Yeh, ok.” He arches a brow but lets it go. Everyone greets their families and we settle in for lunch. I feel my parents’ gazes on me from time to time as I sit listening more than I talk. The lovey-dovey touches and glances from everyone at the table to their mates gnaw at me. My phone keeps vibrating in my pocket, and I’m fairly sure it’s Helena. After I finish eating and help clear up, the others return to the fire pit to chat and catch up with their parents. I head upstairs to my room instead, deciding to get an early night and hopefully speed up time until I can see Zahra in two days.