Chapter 3: Alpha Summers and Moonlight

Alpha Christopher Summers sits behind his wooden desk filled with paperwork. He summoned his mother, father, and the five warriors he assigned to protect Nicole—whom Nicole has been friends with since her childhood. His parents remain seated on the couch while the warriors stand in attention.

The Alpha's office became eerily silent after Jeremiah's report.

"No one expected this to happen," Yvette, the former Luna and Christopher's mother, comments. Like her husband and son, she is still trying her best to accept this fact.

Her daughter is destined to be mated with their rival pack's heir. It's like something straight out of a movie.

"Out of all the werewolves in this realm, she had to be mates with the Midnight Moon Pack's Heir?!" Vincent fumes. He finds it hard to accept this arrangement.

Chris leans forward, putting his arms on the desk. "She carries the real Alpha blood in her veins, after all. What could be more fitting than an Alpha heir being mated to one with Alpha blood?"

"How are you calm about this? The problem between their pack and ours has been here for four decades," the former Alpha replies angrily.

His wife puts her hand on his shoulder, doing her best to calm him with her touch. "Perhaps it's the will of the Goddess to settle our differences and be at at peace with each other," Yvette suggests as her mate relaxes.

"Are you certain that he is Nikki's mate?" the Alpha asks the warriors to clarify once again before standing up.

Jace takes one step forward, answering for the group. "I had the chance of speaking to him personally, Alpha. He claims that he'll tell her himself if we won't."

The Alpha's growl echoes inside the office, silencing the people inside the room. Of course, every werewolf near the premises could have heard it, if it weren't for the soundproof walls of the Blood Moon packhouse.

"You five are dismissed. Go guard my sister. Wherever she is. She should not run into the werewolves from the Midnight Moon pack."

The five wolves bow their heads, saying, "Understood, Alpha."

Once Nicole's guards are out of sight, the Alpha slumps back in his chair pinching the bridge of his nose. A million thoughts are running rampant in his head. The pack's business has been going well, at least. He, however, had to deal with the sightings of vampires within the vicinity. He also had to create a plan of peace with the Midnight Moon pack. Now, another problem is added to the list.

"Nicole finding her mate changes everything. Our plans of letting her take over the pack are ruined," he grumbles while forcing his eyes shut.

Yvette laughs at her son's rigidity. "You don't have to take it all to heart by yourself, son. Nikki's still here with us. We'll solve this problem together."

"You're forgetting the main point here, wife. Nikki will be forced to accept her werewolf lineage whether she likes it or not. The Goddess Herself gave her a soulmate," Vincent argues, holding his chin with his hand.

Yvette sighs. "I vowed to let her live the life she wants. But she'll need to know about this part of her soon. That way, she'll decide on her own if she'll live her life with us supernatural creatures or live a life as a normal human. Her birthday is coming up, we still haven't told her anything."

'Merry, I think I failed this part of my promise to you,' Yvette thinks to herself.

The couple has a troubled expression on their face, skeptical about telling their third child the truth. They did not want her to think differently of them. That will surely happen once she finds out she's not their biological daughter. The possibility that she'll question everything they've done for her was high. Will Nikki forgive them for hiding the truth?

"Valerie and I can tell her," the Alpha blurts out without hesitance.

Yvette and Vincent glance at each other before turning their gazes to their firstborn.

"We'll tell her she's a werewolf. I'll shift for her if I have to. Knowing Nikki, she'll probably think of it as a joke." He crosses his arms in front of him afterward. "But you two need to tell her the truth about her parents. She deserves to hear it from you."

"Of course, Chris. That is our job as her parents by name," Vincent responds. "She'll probably hate us for hiding it."

Yvette nods, taking her husband's hands in hers. "It's fine, dear."

Chris opens his mouth to reply, but he gets cut off when the officer on patrol reports to him through the pack-link. 'Alpha. Vampires have been seen around our borders. Do we go after them or do we let them go?'

'Which part did they come from?'

'South of our territory.'

'Huh. That's the direction of the extinct Dark Crescent Pack. Send a group to investigate that area. Check if it has been taken over by vampires.'

'Understood, Alpha.'

"What could the vampires be up to?" he mutters to himself while taking out a map of the packs in the area.

Yvette's ears perk up after hearing her son. "Vampires?" Yvette asks, her heartbeat slowly accelerating at the mention of those wretched creatures.

"There have been no sightings of vampires after the battle with Dark Crescent," the former Alpha assures his wife, rubbing circles on her back to help her relax. "They can't hurt us, love. There are more warriors now."

'Uh. Mom, Dad, Chris? It's Val. Nikki just left with her mate. Do I follow them? I really hope not. I'm going out with my friends today.'

'WHAT?' Chris reacts through their mind-link.

'Leave her be. She's bound to spend more time with other people.' Yvette replies to her daughter causing Chris and Vincent to stare at her. 'He's her mate. He's not going to hurt her. Quit being overprotective.'

------

Two days have passed. My friends have been acting weirder than they usually are lately. What the hell is going on?

They've been going in and out of our classes. What's bothering me, even more, is that the teachers don't seem to mind their absence. Were they all told beforehand? Even Valerie jumps at the sight of me. What the hell did I do?

I huff out the strand of hair that blocked my view of my artwork. I'm not that good at art, but I just want to pass this class to graduate.

"Hey, Nikki!"

Right. This week, Leandre seemed to be spending time with me. If I was alone, he'd somehow appear somewhere near me.

"Andre, what brings you here?"

Our last period is free for today I'm using it to finish my requirements. That way, I can just go home to sleep.

"Free time. I was planning on going home since it's the last period of the day."

I unlock my phone to check the time.

3:48 P.M.

"You're right. It's almost time for dismissal. Might as well prepare to go home." I put my colored pencils in my pencil case and the bond paper in my envelope before standing up from the table.

"Oh? You were still here, Andre?"

He opens his mouth to say something but closes it again. He seems hesitant at what he's about to say.

"Do you wanna go grab snacks? Like in a diner or café outside school or something like that?" He finally manages to ask. His lips curl up into a genuine smile as he awkwardly rubs his nape.

"No one's ever asked me out before," I blurt out before thinking.

I'm not sure if my parents would allow me though... They'd probably freak out if I go out with anyone other than my group of friends.

Scratch that. I might as well ask them for permission.

"Hold that thought. I'll ask my mom first."

He nods as I take out my phone, sending a text message to my mother.

To: Mom

Hi, Mom! Can I hang out with a friend today?

From: Mom

Which friend? Is this friend your boyfriend?

To: Mom

Of course, not! I don't need one.

From: Mom

Just text us when you'll get back home. Chris can come to get you. Take care, sweetie.

I knit my eyebrows, confused at her response. I thought she'd say no, but she didn't even bother asking who I'm hanging out with. Is she alright? Do I have to prepare something for them when I go home so they won't scold me or something?

"She seems alright with it. I'll just grab my assignments in my locker," I say with a shrug before looking up at Leandre's relieved expression.

"I'll walk you there," Andre replies as he positions himself beside me.

It's a relief people haven't flooded the hallways yet. I do not want rumors circulating about how I'm trying to seduce the new guy. Girls my age can be crazy like that.

He takes my bag and puts it in the backseat of his royal blue hatchback. He opens the passenger seat and motions for me to get inside.

"Thanks," I say before he closes the door.

So he is a gentleman. I thought he'd be someone weird after he claimed that I was his last Monday. That part weirded me out, but it seems he's actually a nice guy. He's more puppy-like when he's with me, too. Like he's shy and not sure at what he's planning to do.

Didn't he have a girlfriend before?

He gets inside and twists the ignition key to start the car.

"Is there anywhere you'd like to go?" I inquire while putting my seat belt on. We haven't known each other for a long time but maybe he might just reach out to grab the seat belt to put it on me.

"There's this café called Moonlight. I thought I'd take you there."

Now that I think about it, I rarely go out of the house. This is probably the first time I ever went out without any of my friends. If we hang out, we tend to go to the mall and randomly go to boutiques, or stop by fast-food chains on the way home.

"Alright. I don't think I've been there before."

The bell rings. The bittersweet smell of coffee circulates the air the moment the two of us step inside the cafe. The cafe walls are painted blue except for one side that was painted with the night sky along with a full moon surrounded by the stars. Even the menu board above the cashier is decorated according to their set theme. It's making me feel ethereal.

"So what do you recommend?" I ask him while reading the menu.

"I recommend myself."

I stop reading the menu board and snap my head in his direction, surprised at his sudden response and at the same time amused.

He looks away, clearing his throat. His ears turn pinkish which makes me grin.

I stifle a laugh at his awkward reaction.

"Their Night Blueberry Cheesecake is great for the food. Their Carina Latte and Choco Java Frappuccino are good choices for the drinks. I'm not sure which one you would pick though," he rambles on.

"I'm not exactly sure which one to get," I drag on and squint my eyes, going over the choices again.

"How about this? I order for you and you can tell me whether you like it or not?" he suggests, while rubbing the back of his neck.

"But I'm supposed to treat you," I protest.

"It's alright. Treat me next time?" he returns and chuckles. "We have all the time in the world anyway.  There's no need to hurry up."

I shrug, agreeing with his statement as he lets me sit on one of the booths near the glass window. I examine Leandre's stature as he orders at the cashier. He's undeniably tall. He'd immediately tower over my five-foot-three height. If only I was taller, I'd definitely sign up to be one of those models but I guess I’ll just go to the community college and pick a course I’d like to study.

Leandre comes back with a tray filled with French macaroons and two plates of cheesecake. He sits across me and grins.

"I guess it's safe to assume that you like sweets?" I question him.

"That is correct." He flashes me a toothy grin which makes me giggle.

He places one plate of cheesecake in front of me and the plate of macaroons in the middle of the table. He sets aside the tray and hands me a spoon.

My skin tingles when it touches his, making me frown.

What was that all about?

I shake my head before we both begin eating our food. I take a bite out of the cheesecake slice, widening my eyes at its taste. I swear it tastes like heaven which makes me beam at him. "Oh my gosh! This is really good."

"I'm glad you like it."

Why do I feel like I'm being watched? I shift uncomfortably in my seat, scanning the cafe for any suspicious persons.

"Are you alright?" He tilts his head, furrowing his eyebrows at my sudden change in behavior.

I bite the inside of my lower lip and continue checking the surroundings, before whispering to him, "I feel like I'm being watched. Or maybe that's just a gut feeling."

"Don't worry. I'll protect you," he says, giving my hand a squeeze, making my hand feel tingly again.

"That actually sounds reassuring."

"I'm your mate, it's my job to protect you."