Just a Wolf

Beta Malcolm

I haven’t been this happy since I found my own mate. To watch my friend suffer has been agony. He had forced himself to settle with his girlfriend Sandra, and had actually found himself content, even happy, despite knowing that she was not really his mate. They were very compatible, though, as much as any normal human couple can be, and were settled in for the long haul. He was even considering marrying her.

Until the day that she met her mate. It wasn’t like she was flippant when she left Kanen, she felt terrible about hurting him, but there was no choice. Wolves can have the same types of relationships that humans can, choosing a partner in life, settling down, making a pleasant life together. But it can only ever be a poor substitute for finding your destined mate.

Humans cannot ever know or understand what it means to have a fated mate, a werewolf pairing literally selected by the gods. There is nothing comparable for standard homo sapiens. For the werewolf species, the mate bond is overpowering, and it is impossible to ignore. You can’t realistically reject your fated mate. I’ve heard of it happening, but it is extremely rare, and excruciating to the parties involved. So Sandra had to say goodbye to her lover and best friend, and leave to start a new life with her mate. She left our pack, of course, and went to join his. There was absolutely no way that they could have stayed here, with our Alpha so devastated by her loss.

He has been despondent ever since. Even after two months, his face has not lost its ferocious scowl even once. Smiling is a thing of the past. He has tried to focus on his work, but even that is suffering, and I often have found him sitting perfectly still, staring off into space, with a forlorn expression of hopeless dismay on his face.

He really did love Sandra, and she loved him, and it made me wonder how the Goddess can be so cruel. Why tear apart a happy couple by introducing a fated mate to only one partner?

But now, I think I see why. There was a delay, but having Sandra gone is what Kanen needed, so that when his own fated mate appeared, he could immediately devote his full attention to her. The painful breakup with his girlfriend was already over.

When we entered the ballroom tonight and sat in our seats, Kanen seemed perplexed, a considerable improvement over his normal mood of threateningly grumpy. It took a minute, but as soon as the Dark Woods Pack entered the ballroom, an expression came over Kanen’s face that I had never seen before. His nose lifted in the air, his eyes darted across the room, and he surged down through the crowd to get to his fated mate, brushing aside anyone in his way, until he had her in his arms.

It has been chaos ever since, of course, an utter tumult of confusion and joy. Kanen’s face is shining, his pale blond head towering over his new mate, and he has not let go of her for one instant. She gazes up at him adoringly, probably finding this utterly overwhelming, to suddenly not only be mated, but for it to be to the Alpha of a large and prosperous pack. I’m not sure she has processed everything this means, how much her life is about to change. Her name is Janine, apparently, but she will be known as our Luna, the mate to our Alpha.

They would obviously like to sneak away and get to know each other better in private, but Kanen understands that first he needs to fulfill a few duties here. While keeping his arm firmly around her, he has a brief discussion with Alpha Ross of the Dark Woods Pack, welcoming him. “Thank you for coming,” Kanen tells Ross with utter sincerity, “and for bringing Janine.” He doesn’t need to clarify what he means. Everybody here understands what it means to have finally found your mate.

He never gets the chance to talk to Ross about the troubles they had on the road with the rogues, because he is clearly frantically eager to get his mate alone. Before they go, he pulls me aside. “Malcolm, I’m taking Janine to my lodge for a few days,” he tells me softly, as she listens quietly, clinging to his side. “We need some time alone together.”

I nod. Clearly.

“I’m leaving you in charge of everything. I’d like to pursue the idea of forming an alliance with the Dark Woods Pack, especially since my mate is from there. Can you discuss it with their leadership?”

“Of course.” I don’t need to tell him that I have already started that process with their Beta. I don’t want to burden him with any other distractions. “I’m happy to work out the details. Now, get out of here!” I tell him with a grin. Then I incline my head to Janine, and say, “Luna.”

Her eyes widen and she stares up at him. He gives her a reassuring squeeze. He spins around and raises his voice. “Good night, everybody, thank you for your good wishes, and enjoy the Ball!”

They leave the ballroom through the front door, and head straight outside where his car is waiting for him. He doesn’t need to pack anything for a trip of a few days to the lodge. It is fully equipped, an hour or two away from here in a very remote region, and will provide them with all the privacy they need as they get better acquainted. My lips quirk in a smile that I try to get under control. And as they fuck. I know there will be so much fucking.

I feel Helene’s shining green eyes on me, my own beautiful mate, and decide that it is time to start the actual Ball. I gesture to the musicians, and as soon as the music starts I approach her, take her slender hand in mine, and begin leading her in the first dance.

It will be a night to remember, and celebrate, for years to come.