Book 1: Chapter 23

*** Silas POV ***



Sam, Nate, Charles, and I sat at the bar on a Wednesday morning. Normally, we wouldn’t be here this early but we had some rumors that Noah and Finn needed some help. As much as I wasn’t happy with them, I also no longer wanted to kill them. But what I was witnessing with my own eyes was just pathetic.

Noah had spilled going on three drinks now, while Finn hadn’t said a single word to us or to Noah, who obviously needed help. Finally, Nate huffed and got up, going around the bar, he put his hands over Noah’s.

“Okay, look. You need some help.”

Noah tossed the towel on the counter and threw up his hands. “I fucking give up. I give up.”

“The hell is going on with you two?” I looked from Noah to Finn.

Finn surprisingly was the one who answered. “She was supposed to be back ten days ago.”

My eyes widened. Had it really been a few weeks since their third had left? I mean, she had walked out fully clad in the Alpha Prince uniform. That alone had been shocking but when Noah told us she was the First Alpha Prince, it was crazy to wrap my head around. A rogue being the First Alpha Prince seemed ridiculous to me but I knew not everyone had the same unwavering hatred towards rogues that I did.

Then there was the fact that they said she was dying. I hadn’t known a werewolf to have their body begin to shut down but I wasn’t about to argue with them. It was true I also hadn’t seen any wolf with two robotic limbs and a robotic eye. So, everything seemed plausible with this rogue. Plus, she was an Alpha. Not just any Alpha but the rumored Rogue King and these two were her Beta’s. It seemed completely absurd. 

“Doesn’t she go off and do her own thing often?” Charles asked.

“Yeah. She also said she was going to stop in to see her old man, but usually she would be back within a week. We are ten days past a week.” Finn poured a couple drinks and passed them out. He worked around Noah who had his arms crossed leaning against the back of the bar.

“So? Did you try reaching out to her old man?”

Noah chuckled. “You try talking to the Alpha King and see how well that goes.”

My eyes widened. “I thought the Alpha King didn’t have any kids.”

“Not biological ones, no. He basically adopted Sol when she was sixteen. Helped her through a rough few years. It’s why he named her First Prince. He probably would have handed her the crown and kissed the floor she walked on if it wasn’t for…” Noah’s fists balled up and he shook his head angrily.

“How long have you known Solaris?”

Finn answered. “She found us when she was eighteen. So almost ten years. We’ve been her Beta’s since she was nineteen.”

I nodded and stared at the drink in front of me. “If you guys can’t pull your shit together, we are gonna have an issue. I don’t want to hear my guys getting assaulted.”

Finn laughed. “Well, don’t let them come in and insult our Alpha. The moment that happens, gloves are off.”

Shaking my head, I took a sip. It tasted bitter, just like Noah and Finn’s mood. The door opened up behind us we all turned our heads. Solaris walked in, a slight limp in her step as the door swung closed behind her. Her eyes met Noah and Finn, giving them a small smile.

“If I’d known putting a bar here would create so many new alcoholics, I might have thought differently.”

Noah had her in his arms in seconds. My heart hurt a little. Seeing the love that Finn and Noah showered her with. It was weird though too. It was obvious Finn and Noah were mates but Solaris was an outsider in their relationship. She wasn’t their mate and yet they both accepted her completely. I wondered if she felt sadness from not having a bond as much as I knew Nate and I felt.

“What the FUCK do you think you were doing?” Noah chastised her as he peppered her face with kisses.

“It got a little…heated. I had to recover at the castle for a week. I’m sorry. My phone got destroyed in the mix. Denia even had to get repairs done on her at the castle.”

Finn, to my surprise, slammed a glass down on the table, shattering it to pieces. “How much time, Sol?”

She groaned. “Finn, I’m too tired to talk about this.”

“How much, Sol?”

“Probably a month, maybe two.”

Noah let her go and stumbled back. “What…no…”

“I use it and it shortens everything. You know that.”

“Then stop using it!” He screamed at her and I finally had enough.

Getting up, I put my hand on his shoulder. “Calm down, Noah.”

“Fuck off, Silas. This doesn’t include you.”

I growled at him. “It does when your Alpha looks like she’s gonna drop where she stands and you’re screaming at her.” Looking back at Nate, I motioned him forward. “Can you…”

“I’m fine. Really. I decided to ride straight through the night. I’m just tired. I’m going to head up if you need me.” She nodded to everyone and tried to give another smile but turned to a grimace as she trudged up the stairs.

Once she shut the door, I let go of Noah’s shoulder. “That’s not how you treat your mate. Chosen or not.”

“How would you know, Alpha?”

Noah stormed off, slamming the back door behind him. Finn sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re right. It’s just we’ve been dealing with this a long time.”

I nodded and sat back down at the bar. At least, it will elevate some of what was stifling the air in the room. Finn’s movements even seemed more fluid than they were a minute ago.

“I gotta go. Shift starts soon.” Charles nodded to us and downed his glass of ice water before heading out.

It left Sam, Nate and I sitting at the bar with our alcoholic drinks with Finn behind the bar. Sam though, was little worse for wear. I knew he only had one drink but apparently he couldn’t even handle that. He kept widening and narrowing his eyes as he stared forward. Nate was watching him, chuckling.

“How do you two mate…?”

Both Nate and I’s eyes widened and Finn chuckled. “Man, you really are an Omega. But if you’re an Omega, shouldn’t your parents have taught you?”

“Sam isn’t an omega.” I chimed in.

Finn raised his eyebrow. “Could have fooled me. Did you have him checked?”

Shaking my head, I looked over at the very flushed Sam. “Never thought about it. My pack is pretty open about Omegas and we have no issues with them. Men or woman. I wouldn’t see why anyone would hide being an Omega. He’s never gone into heat. So I just figured he was just close just not quite enough.”

Finn nodded and narrowed his eyes. “Well, to answer your answer young man, usually when an Alpha, Beta, or Gamma is mated to same sex, it’s with an Omega. Omega’s can bare children no matter their gender. However, there are rare instances, like Noah and I, where we are two very strong Beta’s still mated together.”

“So you guys can’t have pups?” With the word pup, Sam hiccuped. He picked up his drink and took another sip. It spilled over him more than I think he even got down his throat.

I sighed. “Nate, take it away from him.”

Nate shook his head. “Hell no. Have you ever seen him this chill? This is fascinating! I’m here for the whole thing. Finn, you got popcorn?”

Finn chuckled and shook his head. He bent down though and procured a bowl, pouring some pretzels in it. Immediately, Nate started to snack and I rolled my eyes.

“Usually, if a strong pair are mated, that the weaker of the pair goes through a transition.”

“Like they become an Omega?”

Finn shook his head. “Not quite. You still have your strength and your Beta blood. Your body just changes to where you have the ability to have pups. Like I said, it’s rare but it happens.”

It was rare enough that I hadn’t actually heard of it before. I didn’t realize same sex mates went through that much of a change. For a while, I focused my search for my mate solely in women but after a while, I didn’t give a shit. I just needed and wanted someone by my side. Someone to fill the hole that was deepening inside of me.

“So that means No…No…Noah.” Sam hiccuped. “Noah must be ready to have kids.”

Finn blushed red and Nate looked up at him, wide-eyed. “Wait, no way. Noah has stronger Beta blood than you?”

Finn nodded shyly and chuckled. “I get the size from my genes, not my blood.”

I chuckled and shook my head, motioning to Nate and Sam. “Sorry about them.”

He shrugged. “Honestly, you should have him checked. He could actually have changed. It happens.”

I nodded and looked down at Sam. He was drawing pictures in the condensation on the table.

“What if I end up like Alpha and Beta? No mate in sight?”

Nate and I looked at each other. Then, leaning over, Nate took the drink from him.

“Alright, I think that’s enough, Gamma.”

Finn chuckled. “I mean, he’s not wrong. Both of you are pretty old to not have found your mates.”

Sighing, Nate picked up his drink and downed it, hissing slightly. “I did have a mate. It was Silas’ sister.”

“You mean the sister that was taken by rogues?”

He nodded solemnly. “Yeah. She had a power that allowed her to see the fate lines between people. People who were fated for each other. She could even break or forge bonds.”

I stayed quiet. This was the most Nate spoke about Aelia in a long time. At least to anyone other than me or his wolf.

Nate chuckled. “You know, the memory of when I six is still so fresh. I was being taken to the pack house because my parents had died. Alpha was taking me in and we just pulled up. Both Silas and Aelia were standing out on the doorstep waiting for us. Their father introduced me and said that I was going to be staying with them and they should see me as a new brother.”

Nate elbowed me. “Silas almost completely ignored me. His father had to clear his throat and he waved with a quiet ‘hey’. But Aelia, with her bright sunflower dress, her black hair braided in two, smiled at me. She thrust her hand out and when I took it, she said ‘Nice to meet you, fated mate’.” He chuckled but I soon realized he was chuckling through tears that were streaming down his face.

His fingers splayed across the table before he closed them in a fist. “She was four and she acted like she was sixteen. At first, I didn’t believe her and I think her father almost keeled over right there. But over time, I realized she was right. I had this pull to her, this want and need to not just protect her but to be near her. We had a connection that few realize at such a young age.”

“Nate…” I went to grab his shoulder but he shied away from the touch.

Finn looked from me to Nate, with a face wondering if he should be hearing any of this. I wondered too but I was glad Sam at least seemed to be knocked out next to us.

“The day she was taken, we fought to protect her. Eventually though, she stepped up and put her little arms out, her hair blowing in the breeze right along with her strawberry print sundress she wore. She told them to stop, told them that they could have her, Alpha blood, if they left the both of us alone.” He laughed hollowly. “Who wouldn’t want that deal? So they took her. Knocked her out and tossed her over their shoulder. They knocked us out too and we didn’t come to till hours later. She had fucking protected us. Our 8 year old little princess, gave herself up for us.”

“Nate, stop.” I finally growled out. “That’s enough.”