The Lost Mate

Theodora

Now that Nash was done testifying, the non-ranking members of the pack like me had no more reason to sit through any hearings, to my great relief, which allowed us time to simply enjoy the amenities that the hotel offered. Marissa and I spent half our free time in and around the pool, not an alpha or beta or other ranked member in sight, which was great for the relaxation of us regular wolves.

The pool was aesthetically pleasing, with an open concept and many plants situated under a wide skylight, and a bridge that spanned the length of it. Marissa and I drank cocktails on the lounge chairs with our mates hovering around. I got tired of West’s bored hovering, so I finally sent him off, and he dragged his reluctant brother along with him, so I got some real peace after that. It was good for Marissa to get used to being away from her mate, at least a little bit.

“There’re no vampires here?” Marissa asked, glancing around nervously as if one might be lurking behind the pile of pool towels. The poor thing had been thoroughly traumatized, although she’d been learning self-defence, and I hadn’t failed to notice the metal stake she’d packed in her luggage.

“I’d be surprised if there was even a single one in the entire hotel,” I assured her, “and even if there was, I’ll rip its throat out before it gets to you. Wouldn’t be too hard, anyway.” I pointed up to the sunlight streaming in through the skylight. A vampire would be a fool to bother a werewolf in the afternoon when they were almost as weak as a human.

She relaxed back in her chair. “That’s true, the sun is up.”

A couple of females walked up to us, and I was instantly on guard. The wolves smelled strongly of a pack that was unfamiliar to me. The fresh-faced platinum blond radiated subtle authority, so I’d be surprised if she wasn’t a ranked wolf, even though she barely looked like more than a teenager in a bikini who wanted to hang by the pool. Maybe she was an older alpha’s daughter or something.

She smiled, and it looked genuine. “Are these spots taken?” she asked.

It was my fault the one next to me wasn’t since I’d sent my mate away, and a quick glance around showed there wasn’t anywhere else available in the pool area so it would be incredibly petty to try to deny them.

“They’re not.” Then I turned to Marissa and mind linked her quickly before she could get too worked up, “Don’t worry, they’re wolves, and I’m not getting any hostility.”

She nodded slightly in response, and I saw her body relax.

“Thanks,” the blond said as she took the one right next to me. I would have preferred to have the other who didn’t radiate so much power sitting closer to me even though she looked more unpleasant, but there wasn’t much I could do about that.

We all went quiet after that, Marissa and I relaxing into real silence, and the two newcomers chatting in their minds judging from the occasional giggles from my new neighbour.

Even with their occasional laughter, it was peaceful, and I gradually relaxed again, although I didn’t miss my mate ducking his head in to sneak a protective peek at me a couple of times.

I hid my smile. He was on edge because we were surrounded by other packs, but really, what could possibly happen here at the alpha assembly? Nothing interesting, that was for sure.

And as soon as I dared to think it, my luna turned up, along with our pack healer.

“Aha! Dibs on this seat, Luna,” she said as she scooped the chair on the other side of Marissa.

“Want my spot?” I offered Luna Carrie. She’d spent the entire day in those long hearings, so I figured giving her my spot in the increasingly busy pool area was the least I could do for her.

“No thanks, Theodora.” She smiled at my offer, and then her eyes widened as they found the girl next to me. I wasn’t the only one who noticed the tense surprise she quickly hid. Our pack healer had sat up again, watching with an interested expression, and Marissa shrunk back, since the human obviously could feel the sudden tension.

The young blond gaped at my luna with wide blue eyes. I wondered how they knew each other.

“Luna Heidi, how are you doing?” Luna Carrie finally broke the silence with a smile that was a really good effort, even though it definitely didn’t reach her eyes. Even though we didn’t talk much about our luna’s situation before we came to the pack, everyone had heard about the infamous Luna Heidi. Awkward.

“I’m doing fine. It’s nice to see you again, Luna Carrie,” the Greenwoods Luna said, her eyes barely making contact with ours. The blond girl with a shade lighter hair who she had come in with was giving my luna a hostile expression, and the disrespect towards my alpha aggravated my wolf.

My luna looked around, and she relaxed her stance. She glanced at me. “I think I’m going to take you up on that offer of your seat, after all, Theodora.”

I nodded and instantly got up, but I stayed near for backup, just in case she might need me.

Luna Heidi was watching her warily.

Luna Carrie smiled. “I’m not going to cause trouble, of course. Our packs are on good terms, right?” she said.

“Right. We are,” Luna Heidi agreed, her tone cautious, but I could see her relax just a bit as well at the reminder.

“So, how are things going back there? I haven’t heard much since my parents left.”

“They’re going good. We’re renovating the clinic.”

“It was due for an upgrade,” my luna agreed with a knowing smile.

“And, how’s your pack doing?”

“We’re growing all the time.”

“That’s good to hear.” It actually sounded like she meant it. Maybe she wasn’t so bad.

Luna Carrie paused. “And how’s being luna for you, now that you’ve been doing it for a while?”

The Greenwoods luna paused. “It’s good.”

“It’s not easy, at first. But it gets easier with practice.”

“It does.”

Their conversation trailed off and everyone was quiet for a few minutes. Luna Heidi’s companion kept giving my luna the side eye, but otherwise, everyone seemed to settle down.

I sat down on the edge of the pool with my feet in the water a few feet away, still listening, because I really didn’t trust the resentful female. She was probably just being protective of her luna, but I was feeling the same towards mine.

Luna Heidi was the next to speak. “So, do you think that alpha from Blue...”

“Gorge,” supplied the other female.

“Bluegorge, do you think he’ll get punished for harassing you?”

Luna Carrie paused. “I’m not sure, but this should slow him down a bit at least. What do you think?”

“I don’t know. But he seems like a bully.”

My luna smiled at that. Then she turned her head towards Heidi. “I hope we can count on your vote in our favour.”

“My vote? I think you’re mistaken. That’s the alpha’s job.”

Luna Carrie scoffed. “Forget that sort of thinking. Never forget that you’re half of the Greenwoods alpha pair. You’re an equal, not a doormat, and most alphas will run roughshod over their mates if they’re allowed to. The only cure for that is to put them in their place if they get out of line.”

She smiled a bit. “That’s true.” She shrugged. “But I think Alpha Dane’ll vote in your favour without me saying anything. He hasn’t liked Alpha What’s-His-Face ever since he said that awful thing.”

“Ugh, you don’t know the half of it. He acts like I’m queen of the rogues or something. Guess we’ll see tomorrow what’s going to happen when they get done discussing everything. Hopefully.”

Heidi groaned, clearly thinking about the next day.

“What’s wrong?” came a deep voice from off to the side. My head snapped over to see a large male who radiated alpha energy walking up. “You were nervous,” he said, his eyes fixed on Luna Heidi.

So this was the infamous Asshole Dane, huh? He was pretty good looking, but he seemed like he was wound too tight. Alpha Jason almost never looked that tense.

Luna Heidi rolled her eyes. “I’m fine, Dane.”

He scowled, and then his eyes found Carrie, and irritated features melted to deeply uncomfortable. It was sort of funny to see my luna make such a big alpha look so awkward.

Luna Carrie smiled at him. “Hello, Alpha Dane. I was just getting to know my fellow luna here. Teaching her some useful tricks, you know.”

Since I was closest to him, and I was pretty sure he’d disregarded me as background scenery, I heard him mutter, “Moon save me, she’s already enough of a handful.”

If I wasn’t protective of my luna, I might have felt bad for him, but since I was, his discomfort was only funny, and I had a front row seat for this riveting show.

He squared his shoulders and spoke. “Well, I’ll—” His eyes focused on his mate and suddenly he growled. “Wait, what are you wearing?” he asked, focusing on the small triangles of cloth that covered her strategically.

“My bathing suit,” Luna Heidi said, crossing her arms defiantly.

“I told you not to bring that.”

“And I told you I was bringing it.”

Carrie spoke. “Relax, Alpha Dane. It’s a bathing suit, and we’re at the pool. We’re not in the stone age, and women—even an alpha’s mate—can wear whatever we want. Nothing’s going to happen here, the assembly has great security. It’s no big deal.” During the conversation, Carrie had gone from wary to enjoying the situation, and I didn’t blame her for wanting this bit of petty revenge.

Alpha Dane ran his fingers through his hair in vexation and growled. “I’m getting a drink.” He walked off, and a short while later Luna Heidi and her friend went after him.

—————

It took two more days before the Alpha Assembly finally came to an agreement on Bluegorge. Not so shockingly, it turns out that alphas do not like when one of their number tries to manipulate them. Bluegorge was forced to pay reparations to our pack for the difficulty caused, and it felt like sweet justice not only for my pack, but also for the way he had treated my mate, and I back when I had first found West.

Bluegorge was quiet after that and didn’t bother us anymore, and I could only hope that they weren’t quietly simmering in resentment that would cause trouble later.

But for now, things were peaceful, and Tatiana was growing safe and happy alongside the other pack pups.