Patrick looked up, letting the wind rush into his throat. Several times when Harry spoke, he wanted to explain himself, to say it wasn’t like that, that he had never undervalued him, that he was his best friend. But the words got stuck in his throat; he was never good at explaining himself.
Explaining meant acknowledging his discontent, but back then, he truly hadn’t done enough.
“But I’ve always valued you greatly,” Patrick said lightly.
Harry caught onto the remark keenly. Patrick spoke as if he was afraid to be heard, “You could have told me everything.”
“I can’t,” Patrick said seriously. “I don’t want to burden you.”
Harry interrupted, “After all this time apart, finally meeting like we did when we were kids, talking intimately like this, I don’t want to waste time arguing with you.”
He didn’t want to teach this person that if they wanted to build an intimate relationship, they shouldn’t always be shy about troubling the other, excessive politeness only creates distance. That was something the girl named Emma would have to deal with in the future if she harbored the same thoughts as Patrick.
Patrick fell quiet.
“First tell me, what’s with your wolf? You said it disappeared.”
“I don’t know. I tried calling for it, but it didn’t respond. Since it first appeared after I came of age, it has never been stable. Back then, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to respond to you. But even I can’t control it, and I often couldn’t receive your mind link. I don’t understand why it’s like this.”
Harry comforted him, patting his back, “Your mental state was unstable back then. The appearance of your wolf is closely connected to your abilities. Leave your wolf for now. It’s not the most important thing. What’s important now is for you to readjust yourself. That girl, Emma, right? Take care of yourself and her. The matter of the wolf can be dealt with later.”
“I will.”
“Oh, and there’s one more thing.” Harry made up his mind, deciding to tell him, “Originally, I wanted to postpone saying this, but now it seems you’ve already found the person you want to spend your life with. Nicola is preparing to return to the Silver Moon Pack. Do you want to meet her?”
Nicola DuBois, she used to be Patrick’s playmate, and she had feelings for Patrick, wishing to be his partner. Unfortunately, Patrick had no thoughts of her beyond friendship. She was the daughter of another OMEGA in the pack and was sent to study at the Silver Moon Pack after Patrick’s father passed away.
Her luck was good; as an OMEGA, she had experienced little discrimination. Because of her family’s connections with the werewolf royal family, she could do as she pleased. If she didn’t want to stay in the Silver Moon Pack, they sent her to study in the human world. If she disliked studying, her family sent her to learn arts. Despite the hefty expenses, her family doted on her.
In contrast, Emma’s life was dull because she didn’t have the opportunity for education or the time and money to spend as she pleased.
Patrick looked visibly agitated, “I don’t know. I’m not ready. I don’t want her to get hurt; she used to be my friend.”
“My friend, you need to think clearly. In a relationship involving three people, someone will inevitably get hurt. It only depends on who that person will be. Or is it because you haven’t asked Emma’s opinion? You don’t know if Emma would agree, so you want to keep Nicola around at the same time?”
Patrick was angry, “How can you think that of me?”
“Then why not tell her directly that you’ve found a suitable partner?”
“…” Patrick had no response. “I’m not sure yet.”
He always seemed to speak in ambiguous terms, thought Harry. How could anyone tolerate him?
“But you don’t like Nicola.”
“We are friends; I want to be as tactful as possible.”
“How do you tactfully handle not liking someone? I’d like to hear that.”
“For example, you have a better choice?”
“Who could be a better choice than an alpha of a pack?”
“… Her fated mate?”
Harry rolled his eyes.
“My dear, tell me, doesn’t Nelson have a fated mate of his own? He does, and he left that person for a better life. So stop with your superstitions about fated mates; they’re not everything for everyone. Only someone like you, who lacks nothing but love, would crave the appearance of a fated mate so eagerly.”
Patrick felt uneasy. Nicola’s status wasn’t ordinary; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been in such a prolonged dilemma. Her mother and Jennifer were good friends, so good that they wanted to match their children before Patrick was even born.
Nicola, just as both mothers had hoped, had set her sights on Patrick.
“Well, none of this is really important,” he muttered. “I don’t truly believe she will be hurt, I’m just afraid of my mother’s meddling. She and Nicola’s mother are close, and she has always wanted Nicola to be my partner, especially now that she strongly dislikes Emma. I don’t want Emma to continue to suffer because of my mother’s interference; she deserves the best.”
Jennifer. Harry remembered the first time Nicola was led over to them, introduced by Jennifer to the two young boys.
He pressed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. “I’ll think of a solution. But you must tell Nicola she’s not the right match for you, that you won’t be joining with her.”
Patrick looked puzzled. “So urgent?”
“She’s been called back; she wasn’t due to graduate until next year. But someone in her family wants her to come back and settle the matter of her partner before returning to continue her studies. I presume Jennifer and her mother have discussed this; they likely hope Nicola’s return will lead to a union with you.”
Patrick frowned. He had repeatedly discussed this matter with his mother, and she had agreed not to force him to find a suitable partner for the time being. “She’s truly out of her mind.”
“You’re only twenty; your father passed away early, and they have high expectations of you, especially with the border wolf packs starting to stir. You need a Luna. The Silver Moon Pack needs one, too.”
“Are they guaranteeing that Nicola is the right Luna?”
“What does it matter? Each community can have more than one Luna. If she’s not the one, they can continue to search until the right Luna appears.”
Patrick glared at him, annoyed. How could they be so dismissive of the importance and preciousness of a fated mate?
Harry sensed Patrick’s anger and shrugged. “Alright, I’ll mediate in this matter. Until the next alpha briefing, your only task is to take care of yourself and not forget to eat.”
“How did you know?”
“Even if I don’t come, someone will give me updates on your situation. After all, if something really goes wrong, I have to clean up the mess.”
Patrick felt sheepish. “I appreciate your efforts.”