He snorted. “And you need to grow up more, pup.”
I snorted back and ignored his remarks as I scraped my nape. This is one hell of a reason that I never wished to face this old man.
“Come in. Neticia is asleep, we can talk at the study.”
Oh damn. I was hoping Mom will be awake. How I missed her. I’m a momma’s boy and the reason is obvious. My father is irritating.
We walked inside with silence. Michael is old. In his late 50’s now. The same for my mom and she have trouble sleeping again once woken up.
“I am sorry for what happened, Alpha Aiden. I hope I could be of help.” Michael said once the door of his study was closed. Aiden sat on a chair in front of his desk where he sat behind. I stayed standing though. My father is strict, he always believed that it was Beta’s duty to be alert whenever, wherever.
And if I sit right now, it would mean I’m slacking off. I almost snorted. I hope this talk will be fast.
“Is there a way to know if my mate is deceiving me?” Aiden, as straight to the point that he is, said. Not wasting a dime of his time.
Michael pressed his hands together then rested his chin above it. He watched Aiden with a hidden amused and disbelief gaze. Pfft. I know what he is thinking. That it’s amusing how Aiden was encountering this when it was his uncle that firsthand experience this at the North.
“This is different from before. During that time, your Uncle Zeuracious’ mate, Zynia, was a stealer. And when Jorhia showed up, he was baffled by another mate bond’s pull and since Zynia was a stealer, they thought she was tricking him.”
Jorhia, the stealer that truly tricked Alpha Zeuracious. The one no one knew about. The Jorhia that master being a stealer, well, from my opinion.
We heard this story before when Michael told us the truth about the past. I’m sure we’re around 18 by that time since that is the age that wolves naturally howls for its mate. Ready to multiply.
“No one knew that Jorhia was a stealer too. She’s one of the bad kind. They’d gone too far in trying to distinguish which one from them is the true mate. The process they underwent is filthy, ancient way, but both stealers are eager to prove they are the fated one.”
The method that the Ravenous pack elders suggested still hunt my mind. Zynia and Jorhia have to let another wolf to fu*ck them. To plant other seeds in their womb. If one of them became pregnant, then she is the stealer. Well, no one knee Jorhia was a stealer back then. The suspicion was directed to Zynia alone.
None of us are talking even though we heard it before. I don’t know about Aiden but for me, it’s like rereading a book to find some holes that we’ve missed to focus on. Aiden and I were not interested in the story when we first heard it.
Who knew we’ll need it now.
“I kept this to myself but I side with your mother, Aiden. I also believe that Zynia’s child was your blood. After letting a regular male wolf penetrate Zynia and Jorhia, it was Zynia who get pregnant. We believe that Zeuracious had gotten her pregnant. Jorhia on the other hand, didn’t. That’s enough reason to believe that Jorhia is Zeuracious’ true mate because no one knew that she’s also a stealer then.”
“Tina and I believed that she had taken contraceptives days before the judgment. The drug is not yet famous before but a bit of wolfsbane is enough to delay the work of a wolf sperm. That’s what we believed in.”
Jorhia got pregnant after a month, she already completed the process with Alpha Zeuracious by then. Making it seemed that it’s the Alpha’s pup inside her. However, when the pup was born, the child’s growth is of a regular one. Wolf with Alpha’s blood grows faster than a normal wolf. The pup was not Zeuracious’s.
“What I needed to hear is how I’ll know if Ashira is mine, Michael.” Aiden said, getting impatient. I figured he’s just letting Michael talk about the past even if he’s aware of it already. I bet he’s losing control as he waits for what he came for.
Michael sighed. “Allow me to finish, Alpha Aiden.”
“I’ve heard everything you’re saying.” Aiden replied, hissing.
“Tina met with Zynia before Zeuracious and Raekon’s duel.” Michael continued, ignoring our Alpha’s outrage. Aiden didn’t seem to be shocked but I am the opposite. My eyes widened from what I heard.
“What? Zynia was punished with death, how is that possible to happen?” I cleared my throat when the old man looked at me. Okay, I’m the Beta now oldie! I have the right to butt in.
“That’s why I’m telling the story again because the last time I told the both of you about this, no one seemed to heed the rest of it.” He looked at Aiden again who didn’t convey any emotions from his news.
Oh, well. We’re not interested before so he’s right.
‘Just let the old man speak, dude.’ I told Aiden and huffed silently. I watched his shoulder as he heaved a huge breath but didn’t speak a word.
“Zynia wasn’t punished by death. Zeuracious can’t do that to her so he let her go, let her escape. The pack is outraged, angered when they found out about her trickery and he knew she won’t survive from the pack’s wrath. Zeuracious had resented her but he can’t stand the thought of killing her and the child in her womb. They had completed the mating process and she’s linked to him by that bond. Losing her is not an option for Zeuracious.” Michael continued.
“It spread on the Ravenous pack that their Alpha killed the stealer. They cheered, proud of what they thought their Alpha achieved. On the other hand, Zeuracious felt half of his soul has left with Zynia. He longed for her. But Jorhia, being the stealer that she is, surge him the overwhelming emotion that can fill the hole in Zeuracious soul.”
Aiden shifted on his seat. Not comfortable with my father’s storytelling. I sighed inside my head because I knew what he wanted to do right now. I won’t be shocked if he’ll speak again to fast forward the story to where he will benefit from.
My father understood what Aiden might do so he sighed and huffed. Yeah, just answer his question, old man. Before his thread of patience rip.
“Fine. There’s no way to be sure if she is your true mate.” my father, at last, said to Aiden. “As you know, even Zynia lost to Jorhia even though she’s his fated one. Because she had no way to prove herself. But now both of you should know what to do.”
My old man turned to me. Like I knew the answer. He even raised his brow to me as if waiting for it.
And I was like, what the fu*ck? We’re not in class to do that!
I snorted. “We’ll find Zynia?”
Michael scuffed and leaned on the backrest of his chair. I rolled my eyes. I got it right, hallelujah.
“Find her,” he said to Aiden. “It been ages but I remember that she’s living outside packs and borders. She’s now a rogue. Let’s hope she had the answer.”
Aiden hissed. “If she’s a stealer and she’s with the Rogues then how the fu*ck will she survive those thirsty dogs?” he has a point.
I nodded and my father narrowed his eyes at me like I did something shameful. What the hell.
I agree with Aiden, what’s his problem?
Most wolves went rogue to find a stealer, to make them whole again. So what odds can help Zynia survive them? Unless she has become the rogues whore. But that’s impossible because wolf tends to be greedy when it comes to mate. Well, for rogues, stealer is finding their mate like it’s theirs.
“I know. But believe me, Alpha Aiden, she’s still out there.”
My brows furrowed from his words. I watched Aiden’s back and decided to speak when he didn’t.
“You sound so sure. Don’t tell me you’re meeting her?” I said. He nodded and my eyes widened. “Then why do we need to find her? She can come to you and we’ll talk!”
“She’s stopping by time to time. Her last visit was six months ago. I don’t know when the next will be. Unless you’ll love to wait.” he said, mostly to Aiden. Of course, Aiden couldn’t wait.
“Where can we find the rogues?” Aiden asked, more to me. So we’re doing that?
“We have the map of their spots, they’re plenty and sparse,” I said. Aiden nodded and stood up. Ready to leave.
Michael stood up as well. I
“In the meantime, don’t have se*x with the stealer.”
“They haven’t completed the mating.” I interrupt. Aiden growled from the tone of my voice, it came out almost teasing. I immediately shut my lips.
“You?” Michael almost laughed but held it and just cleared his throat.
“Oh well, it’s not entirely forbidden but if you think you can control your wolf, then you may. Otherwise, don’t even think about it or you’ll lose your senses.”
“Explain it more, Dad. I’m interested.” I said, smiling. My dad snorted but didn’t say anything as he continues.
“If the mating process was completed, the wolf will be dependent on the mate. If the stealer is deceiving him then it will complicate things when he found his true mate. It will be hard to let go of the stealer.”Then he turned to Aiden. “But if she’s yours, truly, then there’s nothing to fear. As I said, not completely forbidden. The risk depends on how well you control your wolf.”
“A hundred percent.” Aiden answered and I almost rolled my eyes.