The Mating Rules

The pack was broken over the betrayal of their Alpha, and they looked to me to give them strength and to help them through. My mother was taken to the clinic where I visited her as soon as I’d been checked over by Dr meadows and he deemed me fit to leave.

I had Jamie-Lee and Hadley both mothering over my whilst my wounds were cleaned, both driving the doctor mad with their hovering and demands that he triple check every single mark. I huffed and grunted in annoyance but between you and me, I liked seeing my Mates worry about me.

I’m now stood outside the room where my mother has been placed, the door of the Luna room is guarded by one of my father’s Elite warriors but he bows his head and steps aside as I walk up.

Turning the handle, I step inside, shutting the door behind me before forcing my gaze to the first woman I ever loved. A sob wracks my chest as I see her laying on the pillows, her hair spread out around her like an angel, eyes closed, her chest barely moving.

As if sensing me, my mother’s eyes open and she smiles weakly at me, reaching out for me with her hand that trembles slightly.

I hurry over, grabbing her frail hand in my much larger one and bending over her to press a k**s to her forehead.

‘I’m so sorry mum’ I choke out, ‘I didn’t want you to get hurt, but I had.’

My mother releases my hand, cupping my face as she shakes her head at me. ‘You have nothing to apologise for’ she whispers, ‘What your father did? To Jamie-Lee, Hadley, to you? That was unforgivable.’

I nod, biting down on my l*p as the need to tell my mother everything, consumes me.

‘Tell me baby’ my mother whispers, stroking my cheek, ‘tell me what is bothering you.’

I swallow thickly before finally spilling everything about my childhood, how dad would drag me down the stairs and force me to fight him each night after everyone was in bed before leaving me on the mat, bloody and broken.

My mother’s pale skin is almost grey by the time I finish talking, her other hand gripping her bed sheets as she stares at me. ‘Your father hasn’t been the kind of man you deserved to raise you, and it should be me who apologises to you.’ She blinks as a tear rolls down her face, ‘I’m sorry Caden’ she murmurs, ‘I should have protected you from him.’

I shake my head, placing my hand over hers, ‘you didn’t know’ I reply, ‘you can’t be blamed for something you knew nothing about.’

Mum smiles sadly, ‘I wish you would have told me’ she admits sadly, ‘let me know what he was doing to you so I could have helped, kept you safe.’

I return her smile, ‘I didn’t want you to know’ I replied, ‘I didn’t want you to think I was unworthy too, that I was weak. I could cope with him thinking those things, but not you, never you.’

My mother’s fingers tighten on my cheek, ‘I never thought you were weak baby’ she growls softly. ‘You were my strong little pup, always taking care of your sister, training so hard every day that I worried sometimes that you wouldn’t even make it back to your bed. You were my warrior and you are going to make a great leader.’

I lean down, pressing my face to her chest as she caresses my hair, ‘I’m sorry mum’ I whisper, ‘I’m so sorry.’

My mother gently pushes me away so she can look at me, ‘stop saying you are sorry baby’ she orders firmly. ‘This is how it’s supposed to be, I’m not scared, the Goddess has a plan and this is my part in it.’ She studies me for a moment before gripping my hand in hers. ‘Promise me something’ she murmurs, her eyes starting to glaze.

I perch on the bed, holding her hand tightly in my own, ‘anything mum’ I promise.

She smiles, ‘don’t banish your sister’ she whispers, ‘she needs her pack.’

I frown down at the woman who gave birth to me, ‘I would never banish Ellen’ I reply gruffly, ‘she’s my sister, I love her.’

Mum beams widely, ‘I didn’t think you would’ she admits, ‘you are nothing like your father, your heart is too full of goodness, I just wanted to hear you say it.’

I laugh as she chuckles before starting to cough. I grab a cup from beside her bed, filling it from water that is in a jug and holding it to her lips. Helping her drink until she lays back, exhausted.

‘OK, my real question’ she says, ‘promise me that you will be the father that you wish you could have had. Embrace your children’s differences and encourage their strengths whatever they may be.’ She holds my gaze sadly, ‘do not hold on to any guilt Caden, because you have nothing to feel guilty about. I want you to leave this room and only look forward, fill our home with love and laughter because I’m going to be watching over you and I want to see nothing but happiness here.’

I nod, biting the inside of my cheek as tears build in my eyes, ‘I promise’ I reply, putting my arms around my mother’s neck as the door opens behind me and I know it’s my sister joining us.

I pull back, turning to Ellen nervously as she bites down on her l*p before throwing herself into my arms, sobbing loudly. ‘I thought you were going to die’ she wails, ‘I thought you were going to leave me.’

I hold her tightly, ‘never little sis’ I rumble, ‘I’ll always be here to protect you, well’ I add, ‘until you find your mate, then I’ll be in front of him kicking his a*s so he knows to treat you right.’

Ellen half laughs, half sobs into my neck before pulling back and walking around the bed to sit on my mothers other side, the two of us holding her hands, talking quietly. Three three of us talk about our childhoods for hours, cherishing each moment with each other until mum’s words slowly start to falter, her breathing becoming more difficult and her eyes repeatedly closing. Ellen and I sit silently, watching as the woman who raised us takes one final breath and her chest stills, the Mate bond finally pulling her from this world and into the next.

Jamie-Lee’s POV

It’s been two days since the challenge, Caden’s parents were both buried in the pack graveyard. Caden wanted to throw his father’s body over the border, but I convinced him not too. Not for Alpha Scott, that man deserves nothing, but for the Luna, who loved him, she deserves to be buried with her Mate.

Now we are all crowded around a make shift platform, Caden stood on top of it with Hadley and I to his right, My father and the Gamma to his right.

In Caden’s hand is the pack’s ceremonial knife and he straightens his shoulders before addressing the pack in front of us.

‘Thank you’ he calls out with authority, ‘for coming out today for this ceremony where we will welcome the new Beta and Gamma of the pack.’

The pack members howl loudly, feet stamping on the ground as Caden grins widely and beckons my father toward him.

Dad strides over, baring his neck to Caden before pulling him into a tight hug that my Mate reciprocates. Standing back, my dad waits expectantly for Caden to speak.

‘So firstly’ he starts, ‘I want to thank Beta Gregory for his service to this pack over the years, his dedication to our safety is inspiring and I don’t just say that because he’s my father in law’ he adds with a wink to me as the pack laughs.

‘It is my pleasure to announce his successor as pack Beta’ my Alpha continues, ‘someone who will strive to be just as dedicated to the position as Mr Sparks, I choose, none other than Gregory’s son, Isaac as my new Beta.’

The crowd erupts into cheers as my brother jogs up the steps to the podium, shaking Caden’s hand before hugging his dad tightly, our father murmuring something into his ear before they separate.

My dad holds out his hand toward Caden who slices the blade across his palm, turning and doing the same to Isaac before father and son place their hands together, a surge of power rushing through my brother as the powers of the Beta move from father to son.

Releasing my brother’s hand, my father turns to the crowd, ‘it was an honour to serve you all’ he says gruffly, ‘but I do look forward to retirement and spending quality time with my Mate.’

The pack howls again as my dad jogs down the stairs and goes to stand with my mother who wraps her arms around him as she stares up at us all proudly.

‘OK’ Caden continues and the pack quietens, the Beta position was well known to be Isaac’s but no one could work out who my Alpha would pick as his Gamma and everyone was keen to find out.

Clearing his throat, Caden smiles widely, ‘I spent a long time over the last two days considering who to make the Gamma of this pack’ he says slowly. ‘This position is even more important in my eyes than the Beta. Isaac will help me run the pack, protect us with training and strategy, but the Gamma will be responsible for the protection of the heart of this pack, our Luna.’

He glances at me as I redden slightly, ducking my head under all the stares.

‘I had to think, which member of this pack would give their life for my Luna without a second thought? Who would put her safety above their own each and every time it was necessary and I realised that there was only one name that kept coming to mind.’

He turns toward me, his grin widening, ‘I have chosen Hadley Carrington as my Gamma.’

Hadley’s mouth drops open swaying slightly as though he’s been clobbered over the head. I quickly give him a little shove toward Caden, the warrior stumbling as a few members giggle.

Reaching the Alpha, he gapes at our Mate in confusion as Caden reaches out and grips his shoulder. ‘No one in this pack cares more about Jamie-Lee’s well being than you do’ he murmurs quietly so only the warrior can hear him. ‘Her happiness and safety have always been your top priority and there is not a single wolf in this pack that I would trust with her over you.’

Hadley gulps, glancing out at the crowd nervously as our current Gamma steps forward and extends his hand for Caden to slice.

Both men slide their bleeding palms together, gripping each other’s hand tightly as the Gamma powers transfer to Hadley, the warrior breathing in deeply as a shiver rolls through his body. I feel it immediately, another tether, different from the mate bond, it’s a protective cord that binds Hadley and me together. I look up to find him staring over at me whilst Caden thanks the old Gamma for his service, the warrior feels it too, we’re connected on another level now.

Ending the meeting, Caden releases the wolves back to their normal lives before heading over to Hadley and I, wrapping an arm around each of us and pulling us to him.

‘You could have warned me’ Hadley huffs in annoyance as he shoves at the Alpha’s shoulder.

‘What, and miss your deer in the headlights look?’ Caden retorts, ‘I have been waiting all my life to see you taken by surprise Carrington, I wasn’t going to ruin it for myself.’

The two men bicker as I shake my head at them, they may be mated but they are still like a pair of brothers, I don’t think Caden will ever stop winding Hadley up, but at least it means that life will never be boring I suppose.