3-Blended Family.

Over the next two years, Temperance and Sebastian both train to be the best warriors they can be. They fight each other, Zachary, Janice, older pups and even a few new wolves. Tempe starts to see the gap between them closing.

Temperance and Sebastian are now 12 years old; their education will be half general studies and half pack leadership.

As Alpha and Beta, they are expected to master their leadership classes. Sebastian’s are for Betas. Learn support and security. Temperance’s are for Alphas and as soon as she gets her wolf, she will be off to other packs, learning from them as well.

“Who knows about mates?” Shirley, the wife of Elder Abner, asks the newest group of year sevens.

The kids raise their hands. “Good, so starting about 14, you will start to get your wolves. Future Alpha Temperance and Future Beta Sebastian will get theirs early, because they will have powerful wolves. Starting at 16, your wolves will let you know who your mate is. For those of you who discover your mates at 16, you are lucky. It is considered a great blessing to find your mates so young. Alpha Zachary met Luna Nova at 16. They were blessed to negotiate the peace we live under and bless our pack with the most beautiful future Alpha.”

Everyone looks at Temperance, who lowers her blue eyes and hides behind her shiny golden hair.

“Thank you, Ms. Shirley,” Temperance says loud enough be heard.

“There really is no one prettier,” Kent, a warrior’s son, smiles trying to catch Temperance’s eye.

Temperance looks at him and he winks.

Sebastian sees the interaction and rolls his eyes.

“The purpose of finding your mate at 16 is to have two years to get to know each other. We can’t mark each other until we are 18, like me and Elder Abner, but we can date. And dating is very nice,” Shirley explains to the class.

“I think dating sounds fun,” Kent looks right at Temperance.

“It really does,” Kim looks at Sebastian with a smile.

“Everyone, eyes front,” Shirley requests. “So, once you find your mate, your wolves will want their mate. So, shifting and running together is common. After both mates turn 18, there is a ceremony, where the parents and the Alpha give their blessings. After that, the couple is free to do whatever they want to do.”

Shirley looks at her class. She removes her glasses and sits on her desk, facing her students.

“You are all very young right now, but one day that will not be the case. I urge each of you to wait for your mating ceremony before engaging in intercourse. I know as you grow up your urges will be stronger, but if you are determined, your bodies can be controlled. I urge each of you to control your urges.”

“What if we feel the mate pull at 16, won’t our bodies crave our mates,” Kim bites her lip and looks over at Sebastian.

“Not until you are 18, sorry to destroy your fairytale, but your body doesn’t lose control until you are in heat, which only happens if you get to 21, are mated, and don’t already have a child. If you find your mate after 21, you normally go into heat after about three months.” Shirley explains.

Sebastian looks at Temperance and Kent sharing glances and the pit of his stomach falls.

“What if you reject your mate in favor of another?” Sebastian asks, making Temperance look at him. He looks right back at her as he continues. “Like Alpha Reynolds, he was 28 and unmated, so he chose a mate, and they have son, who is as strong, if not stronger, than Temperance. When he found his mate 4 years later, he rejected her. What is the downside to a rejection?”

“I will remind you that Alpha Reynolds died two years after the rejection. His son might be strong, but he was very weak. It takes a weak person to reject their mate. And his true Luna was given a second chance and is very happy, while he is dead. Rejecting your mate is stupid. Don’t even consider it,” Shirley explains to the whole class, while Sebastian and Temperance stare at one another.

Neither knows why, but all this mate talk is making them very uncomfortable.

Both of them miss the rest of the lesson, because instead of listening, they were hyper focused on each other.

Lately they have been doing this.

“Alpha, Beta,” Shirley gets their attention again. “You two want to share what is so important with the rest of the class?”

Both Sebastian and Temperance look away.

~~~~

Meanwhile, at the council meeting….

Elder Abner is growing impatient with Zachary referring to Sebastian as ‘Stepson.’

“Alpha, we strongly urge you to allow Sebastian to attend Alpha classes with Temperance,” the other Elders hand Zachary the petition.

“He needs to train and be taught the Beta role,” Zachary shakes his head, pushing the page away.

“We agree,” Abner pushes this page back to Zachary. “Therefore, we believe they should both be trained as Alpha AND Beta. This will ensure that whichever of your children becomes Alpha, they are prepared.”

“I have one child and a stepchild. Terry’s son will follow him as Beta of Biczi Pack, My daughter will follow me as Alpha. I don’t see the need to train either of them to do the other’s job,” Zachary pushes the page back. “Janice and I agree that the rank the children are born to will be the rank they ascend to. Gentlemen, if you come here again with any ideas of usurping my daughter, I will banish all of you. Terry’s son will follow him. End of conversation.”

“Alpha, we mean no disrespect to you or your daughter. We have been watching the Young Beta train. He shows a lot of potential. As they come closer and closer to having their wolves it makes sense to discuss their travels,” Abner says, defying the end of conversation comment.

“Tempe will travel first to Justice Pack. Jasper has found his mate, a female named Mora. They have offered to host Tempe this summer, if she has her wolf or not. I think it is a great idea to have Sebastian here to train as Beta and have Temperance away,” Zachary informs them.

“Why not send Sebastian to Mitchell Pack for the summer? They turn 13 in March, wouldn’t it be perfect to have them both away for the summer,” another Elder wiggles his eyebrows at Zachary. “I’m sure the Luna would like a proper honeymoon or just alone time with her mate.”

“Janice and I are incapable of having children together. Sebastian’s birth was traumatic, to say the least. Janice cannot carry another child,” Zachary tells them.

“All the more reason to adopt her son and make him your heir,” Abner offers.

Zachary slams his fist on the table.

“NO!”

Zachary stands up and leaves them.

“We followed your lead, and he is now threatening to banish us,” an Elder, Jason, shakes his head.

“In six years, there is a real chance that we will have to bow and serve a female Alpha. Can I really be the only one who is worried?” Abner asks the assembly.

The other Elders all roll their eyes and leave the room.

~~~~

“Hey, what’s up?” Zachary asks, seeing the scowl on Janice’s face.

“They are at it again,” Janice says. “This time, it's over who said what to whom, two years ago.”

“When they were 10?” Zachary is almost laughing.

“It’s not funny. They are going to end up killing each other,” Janice whines to him.

Zach rolls his eyes and calls for the kids.

“Explain,” Zachary demands. “You take him, I'll take her and damn it, these two are going to at least be nice to each other.”

“Maybe combining our families and was a bad idea,” Janice says.

“We have reminded the kids that we love them, and they are our number ones. WE have done everything right. Something is off! You talk to Sebastian and see if he will tell you what is going on and I’ll talk to Temperance,” Zachary shakes his head.

After they talk, Janice and Zachary still have no more information about what started the fight this time.

“I say we lock them in a room and let them just fight it out,” Janice throws up her hands.

“Pick a room and I'll find the key,” Zachary tells her.

“Alpha,” Abner comes into their den. “Sorry, I was wondering if Temperance and Sebastian were coming to training today. They are both late.”

“Shit! Yes, they are going,” Zachary tells him.

Zachary pulls both of them from their room and hands them over to Elder Abner.

“Well, you two seem to be in fight about something,” Abner asks, his arms over both their shoulders.

“She started it,” Sebastian snaps.

“I can finish it too, you little ass,” Temperance yells at him.

Abner smirks and leads them off to the woods.

“Now you two need to work out your anger issues,” Abner brings them to a clearing. “Have at it. May the best fighter win.”

Sebastian and Temperance both smile as they start to fight. Temperance hits him with a jab cross, right in the cheek. Sebastian counts with a rapid punch to the belly. They keep trading blows until they are pulled apart by Zachary.

“Have you two completely lost your minds?” Zachary asks them.