Chapter 4: A Talk with Uncle Kenneth

                                                          -Colter-

“Run it one more time! Then we’ll call it for the evening!”

I could hear my uncle bellowing orders from halfway across the training field. He was always near some sort of training course as he was the Delta of Sno Wolf pack, and his whole life revolved around being prepared.

I couldn’t help but wonder if he would be prepared for what I was about to tell him.

By the time I approached, the younger recruits had already begun filing off of the training field and to their respective destinations.

“Hope you’re not trying to sneak up on me. If so, I must say, I’m disappointed in you, nephew.”

“It’d be hard to sneak up on you on a good day, Sloan. We both know that.”

He laughed, shrugged and turned around to face me. “I would disagree with you there, but who am I to argue against the truth?” he joked, though we both knew that it was one hundred percent true. “So, how’s my favorite nephew?”

“Favorite nephew or only nephew?”

“Ah no need for specifics. What’s going on?” he asked as he picked up a large bag of blades and another of axes and swords. Needless to say, the man made sure that we were prepared in all types of weapon combat.

He gestured for me to go and handle the other two sac bags that were filled with ranged weapons, and we headed back to the armory.

“So…college,” my uncle started as he gently placed the bags on a wooden counter opposite the glass cases and wall holsters were. “how’s that going for you?”

I rolled my eyes as his tone put me off a bit. “I’d be more inclined to answer you if I thought you actually cared about my college experience.”

My uncle stopped what he was doing. “I do care. I care a lot. What makes you think that I don’t?”

“Because” I grimaced. “You sound like dad.”

My father hated the idea of me attending a school wrought with humans. To him, going to class to get the degree, getting it all over with so that we can get on to the “more important thing” was his notion.

I wanted the experience. He wanted me to push past that and find my mate. Well, at least I did that part.

“Your dad just wants you to succeed.”

“And I am! I’m exceeding-I exceed in everything that I do! The least he could do is let me have this!”

“Why do you need to have this?” he asked.

“Because I…I just, I guess I was curious,” I finally said.

“Curious?” Kenneth put away most of the weapons and left the weapons out to tend to the blades. Then he turned to me. “Curious about what?” he asked.

“The human experience,” I replied. “I don’t deal with humans-not as closely as dad has in the past. I want early exposure. I want it all laid out so that I know how to deal with them when the time comes.”

“Okay, that’s understandable, but it’s also sounding a lot like an excuse that you gave your father when you convinced him that it was a good idea for you to go there. I’m not your father, Colt. So how about we start with the truth?”

He got me.

“It is the truth,” I countered and immediately he shot a look at me, his brow risen with mistrust. “In part.”

“And so, where’s the rest of the truth?” he asked me.

I was almost too afraid to say. It made me feel weak, and juvenile. Like a child. “Just…wanted to experience the normalcy,” I reluctantly added.

“So you want…to be a human?”

“No!” I quickly snapped. The amusement on my uncle’s face was almost like a slap in the face for me. “I-hell no!”

“Okay,” he chuckled. “Calm down and watch your mouth.”

“You are far too offended by this.” Said Maxim. “For it not to be true.”

“Shut up, Maxim!” I hissed.

“So even Maxim knows-”

“You know, Madi is attending too, right?” I pointed out. “No one is nearly as judgmental towards her-not to mention the few others who have attended university. So why am I the one that gets all the heat?”

“Because you’re the alpha’s son,” he shrugged. “Now, I know that must not make any sense but, unfortunately, it doesn’t have to where your father is concerned.”

My uncle knew that I was annoyed by this subject in our conversation. Maybe that’s why he stopped talking for a moment. I could only assume that he was giving me a moment to cool down before he said what he had next.

“It’s hard being the son of an alpha, Colt. All work and no play.” He continued sharpening the last of the blades. “It’s okay to want to experience normalcy, Colt. Just don’t forget yourself while you’re experiencing it. That’s all I have to say about that.”

“Not all dad has to say.”

“Well, he’ll get over it. And he’ll see you come out better for it, and everything will be fine.”

“I’m not so sure about that.”

“Why is that?” asked Kenneth as he began shining the blades.

It was the moment of truth. “I...I didn't come here to talk about dad's judgment of my decisions.There’s..." I hesitated. "There's actually another reason-a bigger reason that I came to see you tonight, uncle.”

“Ooo, uncle…” he looked at me curiously. “Well, I know what that means.”

It was clear that whatever he thought had happened, it wasn’t enough to distract him from what he was doing. There was a hint of teasing in his voice. But there wouldn't be for long.

“So, what’s happened now?”

“I found her, Uncle,” I said. “I found her today…my mate.”

He paused for a moment, eyes wide. “Well, this is great! Your dad is going to be ecstatic! It’s one of the biggest reasons that he has a problem with you going to college instead of focusing more on the pack. Having a mate that attends the college that you do will keep you grounded. Do you know what this even means for you? How much stronger you will be?” He chuckled. “You’ll come out all the better for having this she-wolf around for sure. I can’t wait to meet her. I wonder what pack she’s from.”

“I…wish it was that simple, but it’s not. In fact, I’m not sure that any of that stuff will be true for me if I accept her.”

Kenneth finally stopped what he was doing. “If you accept? You bumped your head or something?”

“No-”

“Then what do you mean by If? What did she do? What- why would you reject your mate? You’ve only just met her today. She can’t be that unattractive that you’d immediately shut her down.”

“It’s not that,” I countered.

“Then what is it? If she didn’t do anything wrong or-is-is she a part of the Moors Wolf pack?” he asked me. “Because if so, that can be easily reconciled. We have something in the works anyway-”

“No, no, it’s no! I wish it was that simple.”

Kenneth rolled his eyes and continued shining the blades. He seemed to think that I was being dramatic and to be honest, I didn’t blame him. I was drawing it out-not telling him what was wrong. It was because part of me was afraid to even tell him.

“What is it, Colter?” he asked impatiently. “Because it’s starting to seem like whatever your reason may be, it’s foolish.”

“She’s a human.”

My uncle froze and looked at me with bewildered eyes. “A what?”

“Yeah, that’s right uncle,” I said. “You heard me right the first time. She’s a human.” He dropped the blade and his gaze to the floor. “Now tell me…am I still overreacting?”