Chapter 2

Nathan

The guys had surprised me with a birthday trip; we were going to explore Mexico City and down tequila as if were water, also this would be the last time I would be able to take a trip for a few months, my father had already told me that when I come back, he would be letting me handle the beta duties for our pack Blood Moon. Alpha Dominic Thunders and Luna Athena Thunders wanted to start stepping back and groom their eldest son Aaron Thunders for the Alpha position; although the position was meant for their daughter Zephyra, but she was stolen from our pack as an infant. I watched everyday how my mom would spar with Luna Athena and the power and fighting skill our Luna had was amazing; she was an equal to skills with Alpha Dominic and they made a killer fighting couple. I shook my head and started packing my backpack and suitcase, I heard a light knock on the door and turned to see my girlfriend… Well son-to-be ex-girlfriend; she was trying to convince me that I should stay back and be with her here, like every other year. We have been dating for two years and I just do not feel it anymore, she has become so possessive and doesn’t even like me chilling with the guys; we were not fated mates and I was not interested in finding my mate any time soon after this break up, I needed to fly solo for a while.

“Nathan don’t go babe; we will have a grand party here and an exclusive after party in the bedroom” she began.

I let out a heavy sigh, she had no idea that I knew about her cheating on me, it did not affect me at all; I was actually looking for a way out and she gave it to me on a golden platter, my wolf howled for joy, internally of course when we found out from my best friend and us soon to be Alpha Aaron. He particularly did not like Emily; I liked the fact that she threw herself at me, she was one of the pretty girls in the pack, blonde hair, blue eyes; deep dimples; a curvy body and she was good in bed; but now my taste had changed, I was looking for something more and I knew that it would come to me when it was the right time and I was in no rush anyway. I set my clothes aside and turned to face her,

“Em stop begging me not to go; the plane tickets have already been bought and I am leaving tonight”

I was trying to let her down gently, but she was starting to work my last nerve,

“Nate, please don’t go; what if something goes wrong here and they need you?”

“Em, nobody here is going to need me and if my parents are allowing me to go… who the hell do you think you are to stop me!?”

She looked at me shocked at the change in my tone and tears began to fill her eyes,

“Why did you raise your voice at me?” she questioned, it was something I never did unless someone started to work my last nerve and I let to let her have it, she had to know that I knew about her cheating ass.

“Emily, I know you slept with someone from college, how I found out, when and from who does not concern you. I had a suspicion after smelling another male scent on you and I got my doubts clear.”

I paused to let my words sink in her head and when I could see the fear in her eyes rising of where this was heading, I continued,

“you and I have been over for months now, in case you have not noticed I do my own thing and we have not gone out on a date in months”

“What are you saying Nate?”

“you know exactly what I am saying Emily. Our relationship is over, and it is for the best.”

“Nate, baby… we can figure this out. I know we are not fated mates, but do you really think we will find our mates this late in life?”

“Since when has there been an expiry on finding your soulmate?”

“Nate” she cooed, and I snapped; I was being as gentle as I could, but she was just not accepting it

“Leave now Emily and do not forget; I am the soon-to-be Beta of this pack. Show some respect and listen to the orders I give”

I used my Beta tone on her, and her wolf submitted, I turned my back towards her and continued packing; I heard wood cracking and I turned around and saw Emily had broken my room door off the hinges

“You’re going to regret this Nathan, mark my words” she spat

My eyes changed colour and my fangs elongated, my wolf was pissed that a low-ranking wolf dared to threaten us.

“Get out!”

I roared and she bowed her head in respect and scampered away, as she left, I saw my mother come up and she looked at Emily and then at me and let out a laugh. My mother was beautiful; black eyes and full lips, her skin flawless and she had dark brown hair; I watched as my mother laughed and realised that for the time, I am away I will miss her the most, her sweet voice and quirky jokes and melodious laugh. My family was my anchor; I had an issue controlling my anger, anything would trigger it.

“let me guess; my son has finally woken up and dumped that stupid girl?”

My mother started and my father came running up the stairs

“say what?”

 He held my mother around her waist and pulled her close and they stared at each other lovingly, you would swear they just found each other like five seconds ago and not married for like twenty-three years and yes, I was born out of wedlock; kind of unexpected at least that is what they once told me which was a complete lie. My father was a handsome man with jet black hair, like mine and chocolate brown eyes he and I were almost the same height five foot seven and for a man in his early forties he was in amazing shape and, I really wanted to be lucky like them and find my mate early in life; but the moon goddess clearly had some other plans for me and not let my queen grace me with her presence.

“Yes, parents and this is why I don’t live with you guys anymore and I now regret giving mom a set of keys to keep in case I lost mine”

I teased them and they chuckled, we had a really good relationship, I had a younger sister but she left with her mate about three months back and she was my world, we had a six year age gap so I was always the protective big brother, even beat up a few dumbasses for trying to hurt her at school, yes I know she is a werewolf but she is so timid; she would not hurt a fly.

“Oh hush” my mother fussed and came over to my room and handed me my clothes that she had ironed and folded “You don’t want to keep Alpha Dominic waiting too long, I am going there now to see Athena”

My father and I nodded, and my mother left, my father slapped my shoulder lightly and we sat on the bed.

“Son, I know you might feel the burden of being a beta weighing in on you, but there are benefits and once you find your mate you will find that she is being the beta female will help ease your problems by more than half.”

“I know Pop’s but right now I am in no rush, I just got out of one relationship; now I want to wait for her enter and fill my world with colour.”

My father chuckled “glad to know my son has his Romeo qualities from me, anyways here we are”

My father handed me a couple of dollars to exchange,

“consider this a birthday gift and please enjoy yourself; I know I don’t need to give you any talks”

I laughed “no Pop’s”

With that we left to meet Alpha Dominic, he wanted to wish me in advance and bid me farewell till I returned.

Dominic

I stood on the patio in the backyard, overlooking the sea, the sun was setting, and another day had come to an end; another day… month… year added to not having found my little princess. I had no idea if she was alive or dead; what she looked like if she was alive, did she take after her beautiful and brave mother, or did she have some of my qualities? I searched far and wide for Zephyra; but no luck, I was surprised at how Athena was handling this for all these years and still loved me and was an outstanding Luna to this pack. I felt a hand wrap around my waist and a head rest on my back, the sparks and electricity flowing through my body told me it was my mate; I took her hand and pulled her gently in front of me and there she was with her beautiful big brown eyes and the brightest smile, she kissed my cheek.

“Trust in the moon goddess my love, Zephyra will find her way home” Athena reminded me, and I had no idea how she had such an unwavering devotion to the moon goddess when she did not help us find our little girl and it has been twenty-four years,

“Athena, how can you harbour such faith within yourself?”

“Because I have you standing by me and we have a pack that depends on us; I am Zephyra’s mother and the bond between mother and child never weaken, our daughter is blessed and protected by the Moon goddess, just wait and see. I can feel she is alive, and I know she is looking at that necklace and trying to figure out what we meant”

“My sweetheart…” she rendered me speechless, the number of wolves she fought to get any clues about our daughter’s location from any of the strays that got away during our face-off with Cassandra amazed me, the power and interrogation strategies she had even scared me.

“Shhhh, Nathan and Chris have arrived” she kissed my cheek and left and just then Nathan and Chris walked out to the patio.

I looked at Nathan and he was a handsome young man, when Zephyra was born; Chris and I decided that if they did not find their mates by twenty-six, we would ask if they wanted to wed each other, now was going to be twenty-five and my Zephyra was taken from us at such an early age. The moon goddess was playing a cruel game with our families, she had not blessed Nate with a mate, she took away my daughter and she sat there in her heavenly abode watching the drama unfold amongst us mortals, her faithful devotees.

“Alpha” both Chris and Nate said in unison

I raised my eyebrow at them,

“what the hell is wrong with you guys?” I chuckled and they looked at each other and then me as if I were mad.

“You looked like you were in deep thought Alpha” Nate spoke, and I tapped his shoulder, he was a respectful young lad and I loved him as if he were my own son.

“I understand son, what time is your flight?”

“at 11p.m, I leave here at eight p.m., I just wanted to know if there was anything you needed me to do before I left Alpha.”

“No lad, I just need you to enjoy yourself and come back to take the reins as Beta, I think your father is starting to slack”

Nate and I chuckled, and Chris pouted,

“I am not slacking Dominic and you know that”

I waved him quiet and handed Nate some cash to convert into Mexican Peso’s

“Alpha, I can’t take this much from you”

 He was pulling his hand away and I shoved it in his hand,

“as a father figure to you I insist you take it and as your Alpha, I order you to take it”

Nate Sighed and gave me a mischievous smile and took the money,

“Thank you Alpha, I will see you in a month.”

I hugged him and he left with his parents, Athena came out and held my hand.

“I have a good feeling about Nate’s trip my love, something is good and life changing is going to come off it” Athena spoke as if she had seen a clip of the future.

“I hope so my darling” I held her close to me and we walked into the house and spent time with our three sons.