Howling Hearts

18 years later:

We danced away under the moonlight after getting away from all the drama, tears and hormones that seemed to flood the pack hall.

It was mating ball season again and honestly it was overwhelming each year.

So Lucian and I had our own little tradition to escape all the chaos and just enjoy ourselves under the moonlight dancing away all the worries that might have crowded up leading to this massive event. This year had been more stressful than all the years before since we were hosting the mate ball.

It was allot of planning and a lot of irritating young she wolves that wanted to convince me about being my sons mate and if not that they would make the perfect Luna for the pack.

That they would be the best option. But what had worried me most was the fear of my son experiencing the same thing I experienced the day I thought I met my mate

"As per usual the two live birds have sneaked away from the party" I heard Riley's voice in from behind me.

You'd thought that the hosts of the ball would be keeping all the neighboring packs company especially those whom they consider close friends" Asher's voice was filled with sarcasm.

I turned around to see them hand in hand walking closer to us from the other side of the garden.

When they found out they were mates it was a bit of a bumpy road for them.

Particularly because we all believed Asher wouldn't find his mate after taking Saige as his even though she wasn't. The other half of it was because Riley already had a daughter.

But after a couple of days apart they couldn't bear it anymore and soon decided to mate each other.

Asher got his position back as Alpha with Riley his Luna. Her relationship with her parents were still rocky but had improved slowly over the years.

They had accepted dawn partly.

"I was just a bit worried and stressed about Xanders first mating ball. He just turned 18 a week ago and i just worry about how his mate might treat him.

Will she accept him? Will she reject him? Ugghhh it's just so stressful going into this as a parent" I said in a frustrated tone. "Tell me about it. Men are less likely to be rejected so you can be more assured than me. Especially men that are positions of power and Xander is next in line for Alpha so all the girls are drooling over him.

I'm just worried about Dawn what if she gets rejected everyone knows she isn't the daughter of Asher witch isn't playing in her favor.

Not to mention the high possibility of her having a mate in another pack. What if it is one of those packs that much rather keep to themselves?

Ill barely see her my heart can't take that" me and Riley huddled up into a hug supporting each other's weight.

"She wolves always like to worry hey"

I heard Asher's snarky voice and snapped my head into his direction watching Lucian's movement with my eyes shooting daggers at him waiting for his response.

He shuffles on his feet unsure of what to do. "Asher just remember if it hadn't been for this she wolf heeling you wouldn't have been able to find this she wolf and marked this she wolf"

I said pointing towards riley making my point very clear. "Just remember your other daughter Sam will be of age next year so font think you won't be stressing about who her mate might be.

So remember your words and choose them carefully for i will hold onto this moment until you too experienced it" Asher lifted his hands up in a surrender position.

"Sorry my bad. I understand your point now" he said in a defeated tone.

"Don't worry about dawn Riley I've got a strong hunch that our two pups will be perfectly fine tonight"

"When you have a hunch you're always right so I feel much more at ease now" just then we heard footsteps approaching us.

When we turned to look we saw dawn in a beautiful lilac gown that hugged her body perfectly. She had grown into a beautiful young women.

Her black hair was pin straight and hung down to her waist. Her green emerald eyes were piercing and her tanned skin was clear and glowing.

Her body was curvy and her legs were long. She looked after her body and herself. She was also very smart and very talented in combat skills.

But her self-esteem was in the dumps after years of being bullied due to her real father not being part of her life.

My heart bled for her. However regardless of what had happened in the past she was as kind and sweet as always.

She also kept herself for her mate which few she wolves did. Something i respected about her most. Especially since i knew she was the one mated to my son.

I sniffed the air and smelled my sons scent and soon Layla's pupils dilated and her hairs stood up straight on her arms.

She froze in her spot as she sniffed the air. Xander turned the corner revealing the spitting image of his father except for his freckles and green eyes. He was dressed in a tan suit with a bunt orange tie.

I watched as they stared at one another and in unison they growled "mate" I elbowed riley whom was standing there shocked by what played before her.

"See I told you so" I then took Lucians hand and whispered under my breath

"I guess our boy is all grown up now." He nodded I turned and walked away from the crowd that had formed in the garden hoping to buy some time alone with my mate.

When we got far enough i stopped and turned to Lucian. "It's time for us to retire and pass on the pack to our son" he nodded once again not saying a word. "You know as well as I do when that happens... we have to leave to rule over mount Olympus" he nodded again still not muttering a word. "Say something Lucian"

"As long as I'm with you that is all that matters. Whether it is here or whether it is there it doesn't matter."

"What about Xander and Dawn what if they need us" he giggled a bit before he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me tightly against his chest

"Princess nobody is stopping us from visiting. It will be hard in the beginning but it's no different from Xander moving out into his own place. You can help them as much as your heart desires princess"

"I know I just don't know how to say goodbye"

"Then don't"

Weeks later:

Xander and Dawn had marked each other and taken their place as Alpha and Luna.

We sat at our table watching them dance as the newly marked couple.

They were lovely together.

"Hi my dear child it is time" I heard my mother's voice next to me.

I just nodded and soon a flash of light covered my vision.

End