Irene
"What?" She said at the incredulous words that Alpha Corneal spoke .
Everything she had heard so far has made her feel like she is having a fever dream.
She was relieved to see Alpha Corneal awake and conscious after that day. She was shocked at the man stating that he couldn't be alpha and was dumbfounded at his desire for Jake to take his place.
When she looked at Jake at a glance, she could see the slight smugness in his stare. While Alpha Corneal was the best Alpha, she couldn't say the same if it was Jake.
She couldn't imagine the man being able to care for anyone but himself , let alone the entire pack.
And now she is supposed to help him?
Only two questions filled her mind regarding that.
Why? And most importantly, how?
"I... I don't understand Alpha. How am I supposed to help him?" I asked
The older man sighed and
"In order to assume the title of an alpha-" he begins
"One needs to have a mate." I finished. I felt a gaze at my back and turned again to see Jake looking at me with shock. Did he not know this information?
Alpha Corneal only chuckled from his bedside, making me turn to him once more.
"Smart girl, you know everything as always.
"My son has been searching for his mate for the past years, all to no avail."
'He must have been too busy partying to find her.' she thought inwardly. She pushed away the nasty thought in her mind and kept silent.
"Which is why I want you to help him. With your connections and efforts, we need to find his mate before the elders."
"I have to ask, Alpha Corneal" she said
"He has been searching for his mate ever since he turned 18, that would make it nine years now. And yet he has not found her. What makes you think adding me into the equation is going change anything?"
The room was filled with tense silence.
"Also, there are other possibilities other reasons, we need to take account of why he has not found his mate yet." All eyes turned to her as she spoke.
"There's a chance that his mate may not be of age yet which may prove to be a problem. It may also be that his mate may be far away in another country or even worse, she may have-"
"Irene." The Alpha cut her off, giving her a piercing stare that made her bite her tongue and look down in submission and apology. She knew that what she did was wrong and Insensitive of her. No matter how much she disliked him, implying that his mate was dead would have been cruel.
She felt her hand being patted softly and looked to see the wrinkled hand of the Alpha holding hers.
"If we are not able to find his fated mate, we will look at other options." He said in a gentle tone. She felt her spirits slightly rise knowing he wasn't angry at her.
But we don't want to take any chances. Irene, you are one of the most resourceful people I've known. Do not see it as a commands, but as a request. Please, help my son find his mate." He said.
She looked at the alpha and his wife who looked pleadingly at her. She couldn't let them down no matter what. Decision made, she stood up straighter.
"Under the oath as the Beta of the Blood moon pack, I will do my best to assist Jake I'm finding his fated mate."
She left the room an hour later. After agreeing and making that declaration, the alpha dismissed both his wife and his son from the room so they could discuss other pack business.
While in the midst of giving a report, Irene could see the alpha slowly drifting away from reality.
"I'll take my leave now."
"But...but you have not finished."
No, you need to rest, you have already drifted off several times. Recover well."
His protests were only slight mumbles as slowly he drifted off to sleep, the sounds of snored replacing it. She smiled fondly at the man who acted as a father figure ever since she was orphaned and turned away, walking to the door as quietly as she could before closing it.
She had already reached the lobby when she was met with Jake and his mother, both infolved in a conversation. Not wanting to raise attention to herself she walked towards the door as quietly as she could.
Unfortunately for her, the Luna noticed her almost immediately and stopped the conversation with Jake to come to her.
"Did you think that you would escape my sight?" she said giving a warm smile as the woman reached her.
Close up, Irene could see that behind her warm smile, her beautiful grey eyes looked redish glassy and tired, wrinkles more prominent. It was no wonder why though. She had suffered from almost losing her mate and Irene couldnt help but feel empathy for her.
"Alpha Corneal is asleep at the moment. I wanted to take my leave." She answered.
"But you can't just leave like that, why don't you stay for dinner?" The Luna offered
"Oh no no" I said in an attempt to assure her. I appreciated her offer yet I was too uncomfortable to overstay my welcome. Especially with the presence of one Jake Corneal.
Like a switch, my eyes went to where he was standing. His face looked tends and tightened with disdain as I looked at him. He soon turned away back to me and walked to the door behalf him,vopening and shutting it with a bang.
The lina also turned to see itm and gave a huff.
"My silly boy is too hot tempered. Please ignore him." She said, making Irene wonder the irony of it, despite being younger, she was treated as more than an adult compared to him.
An eye light came to the woman's grey eyes as she moved forward.
I'm sorry if he caused you any trouble on your way here."
No no, you don't need to apologize" she assured the woman. For what is not the first-time, she felt envy for Jake. Here he had two loving parents who would give the world to him and yet he doesn't treasure them, rather go to parties and act like an asshole.
" He didn't do anything, I promise." I said, not wanting her to add to her worries.
"Also," I said with my head bowed in apology "I'm sorry for what I said back in the room, I should never have inferred that his mate-" I cut off my sentence
The Luna gave a warm, genuine smile "Don't trouble yourself over that dear. Besides, I'm sure he's... considered that option already." She ended somberly.
"There's a certain sense of completeness that having your mate gives you. But it's...more than that. Having your mate...balances you."
"How?"
"A fated mate is ones equal, the other piece of themselves. We arent perfect, we have negative traits within ourselves, yet ones fated mate can balance them out, improving on them and make them a better person. Like yin and Yang coming together to make a perfect whole.
There's nothing wrong to chose ones mate, but they don't have the same intense effect of their fated."
The placevwas filled with silence afterwards. Soon enough the Luna gave a small laugh and looked at the awed Irene.
"Nevermind. You'll understand it when you find your mate."
Somehow, her mind went to her parents. She remembered how they always seemed to gravitate each other. Even in death. Tears pricked her eyes at the thought of them.
She jumped a little at the hand atop hers and looked to see the sad smile and knowing eyes of the Luna.
"They would be so proud of you you know, seeing what you've become." The Luna said. There was no ounce of pity nor sympathy in her words, only pure honesty, and Irene appreciated that more than anything.
She nodded and although her eyes were glistening with tears, the smile she gave was happy.
"Thank you."
As Irene walked back home, she couldn't help but think of the task she was now to do.
He was spoiled, arrogant and carefree. She wondered how he would treat his mate. If he was even going to be faithful.
She rid her head of all the things she was thinking. One thing was for sure, she felt sorry for whoever was going to be his mate.
She begins to get her thoughts up. Pausing her steps to look up to the half moon shining in the night sky, she felt her spirits get lifted.
Her 18th birthday was just around the corner. Soon she'll be able to find her fated one.
With that thought in mind, she smiled and walked forward with a skip in her step.