Chapter 3
Ashton
-Midnight Pack-
“Earth to Ashton, Come in Ashton” calls a voice, a voice belonging to a male as emerald colored eyes and short black hair stares at me, snapping me from my train of thought as I lean against a tree.
“Ya, What do you want?” I grumble, annoyed by the other. My hazel blue eyes moving to a figure who stood about 6 '1 in comparison to my 6' 0. Tall and fit, his body sat next to me as he waited for me to move. My athletic body ripped with muscle as I sat.
“Come on dude, we need to get ready for the mating ball. You know it’s our duty to attend this year” replies the voice.
“But why? I’m perfectly happy here. Besides, it's only mandatory because of you. You're the next in line to be Alpha, or did you forget that Isaac?” I tease.
“Me? Nah. I’m actually excited to find my mate” explains Isaac to his friend and Beta, which just so happened to be me.
“Of course you are” I say, moving to sit a little straighter. “Who’s all going from our pack?” I question, now wondering who was all going from the Midnight Pack.
“Well, there’s you, me, Alister, Raya and of course, your brother Damian” answers Isaac, as he thinks about who was all attending the mating ball over at the Moon Walker Pack.
“Damian?” I ask. “Didn’t think my brother was into finding his mate.”
“Of course he is. After all, there’s a good chance that if you find your mate, that you’ll end up leaving Midnight Pack to be with them, which means Damian will be my new Beta” chuckles Isaac as he nudges me in the arm.
At the mention of my brother possibly taking over at the next Beta I instantly grow worried. ‘Why are you so worried? Don’t you want our mate?’ gruffs Xavier, a little annoyed that I wasn’t more excited about possibly finding our mate.
‘I do, I do want our mate. I-It’s just, I never thought about us leaving our post here at Midnight. It’s our home,’ I countered.
‘Ya, well, the Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways. Besides what if your mate is an Alpha or future Luna? Then what?’ chuckles Xavier who thought that was funny.
‘Um.. I don’t know. Never really thought about being paired up with an Alpha or Luna before. I always just assumed it would be another Beta or maybe a Gamma or Delta or even an Omega’ I offer, now curious about our fate.
Glancing at Isaac I move to voice my question. “Hey Isaac, what would you do if the Moon Goddess paired you up with another Alpha or Luna?”
“I don’t know. Heck, I’d be happy with whoever it was so long as they were happy too. Even if it was an Omega, as long as she was safe and happy then so could I. Besides I don’t think it really matters anyways as mates can be just about anyone that the Moon Goddess deems worthy” answers Isaac.
“After all, my cousin Kaylee’s pack was just taken out in a heartbeat.” adds Isaac in an afterthought.
“Kaylee? What happened?” I ask, knowing just how close Isaac and Kaylee were. As Kaylee was the next Delta in the family for the Whiteclaw Pack.
“Hunters…” sighs Isaac, remembering what his father had told him. As the Whiteclaw Pack and the Midnight Pack were approximately 5 hours away from each other so it was revealed that Kaylee would go stay with an aunt over in the Dawnguard Pack as Elise’s cousin was the Alpha there.
“Hunters? For real?” I say in surprise. “Dude, I’m so sorry. Is Kaylee okay?”
“Ya, she is. And thanks. But while it’s hard for me and my family, just knowing she is safe and with Alpha Hayes' cousin makes me happy” finishes Isaac.
Hayes huh? I didn’t know she had a cousin, let alone one as an Alpha. Last we heard about her and the Dark Moon Pack, her father wasn’t doing so well all because of the Rogue King and the Sky Pack. A neighboring pack who kept trying to pick fights with her.
‘Do you even know Alpha Hayes?’ Xavier asks me.
‘Of course I know who she is. She’s a bombshell beauty. Blonde hair, blue eyes, milky white skin as she stands around 5’9 in height. Her long, lean and fit body just begging to be claimed’ I purr my attraction for the Alpha unlimited.
‘Sounds like you have it bad, especially if you can describe her in that sort of way’ snickers Xavier.
‘Ya well… Elise is only one of two Alpha’s that I’d be even remotely interested in otherwise I’m good with not having a mate’ I admit to him.
‘Oh? And who’s the second one?’ chuckles Xavier now curious.
‘Isaac… but not in a romantic kind of way’ I answer knowing that if I didn’t add that bit he would give me hell for it.
‘Good save’ smiles Xavier causing me to roll my eyes making him laugh.
‘So… if Elise does become our mate, will you leave to go back to Dark Moon with her? Or would you reject her and leave her heart broken?’ questions Xavier, making me pause.
Return to Dark Moon? I never truly thought about it. I only ever assumed I would stay here for the rest of my life but… if Elise truly is meant to be ours…. Could I really make that decision? Guess we’ll find out when the time comes, are my only thoughts as Isaac nudges me.
“Dude… you're spacing out. What’s got you so hyper focused that your spacing like this” chuckles Isaac.
Blinking, I move to look at him. “Uh… a certain little Alpha.”
Pausing, he takes a moment to register my words before smiling. “Alpha Hayes? I mean she is beautiful. Anyone would be lucky to have her for a mate,” is all he says causing me to frown and a small growl to rise.
Spotting my expression he bursts into laughter once again. “Okay, Okay, Sorry. But for now we should go back to the packhouse. We still have a 3 hour drive to the Moon Walker Pack and we each need to pack still if we want to make it in time for the ball. Because rumor has it that the famous Alpha twins will be there too” comments Isaac, as he moves to stand up.
“The twins? You mean Ares and Eros of the Mystic Shadow Pack?” I ask, now standing up as well.
“Yep, one and the same. They were here a couple of years ago with their father to renew our alliances. Their Gamma and Delta because the mates of Emily and Emma” admits Isaac with a smile.
Emma and Emily? Oh yeah, I remembered them. They were two young girls from our pack. Not many knew them as they mostly stayed to themselves but for those who did know them, knew their lives weren’t perfect as people liked to pick on them. At least the popular girls did. I remember having to break up their fights pretty regularly.
Smiling, I nod. “That’s wonderful, I’m happy they found their mates with the Gamma and the Delta. I always wondered where they went after that visit.”
“They moved, went to live with the Mystic Shadow Pack to be closer to their mates” is all he says, his eyes looking at me. “The only question now is, is if you’ll go back with your mate or leave them to stay as my Beta.”
And then, before I could reply, he moves to walk away from me leaving me to my own thoughts once again. Leave? Could I really bring myself to let my brother take over as Beta while I lived with my fated mate? I guess we’d soon find out after the ball. And then like so I too moved to pack for our long 3 hour drive to the Moon Walker Pack.