Book 1: Chapter 78

I sat at the kitchen island with my phone out. Sam was leaning against the island on the far end, with paperwork spread out before him.

“I think if we adjust the patrols to double, we will still be okay to hold full trainings. I just think it would be best to split into two trainings, one in the morning and one in the evening. It would allow a better option.”

“Yes, but who is running the two sessions? You offering to take up the night training, Sam?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

He stammered. “You know I can’t. I can’t even be in the same area with them without sinking to the floor. How the hell am I supposed to run an entire training session?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Then who do you suppose should run the training? Huh? Nate already takes care of the morning.”

“I was hoping…you would…”

My eyes narrowed. “Because I don’t have enough on my plate. Sam, you give me my plate every day. You think I can handle a night training too?”

“I mean…I could take care of some of that paperwork. Try and open up some of your time.”

I sighed and leaned back in the chair. “We could have one of the other boys step up. Lex or Wyatt, they both have been doing well.”

Sam tapped the papers with his pen. “Sure, but neither of them have leadership skills. They also aren’t as well liked. We would need to start them I think as leaders of patrols before throwing them into the training lead.”

Sam had a point and I grimaced. “I don’t really want to run a training group.”

He chuckled. “I mean, if you want the morning one…”

“Oh hell no. Nice try. Put me down for the night training then until I can find a decent replacement.”

Sam nodded and started scribbling on the paper. “I think we should pull some of the younger pups into the training too. They won’t be able to go to the morning one, but they can go to the evening one after school.”

“Sam…”

He looked up from the page. “I mean it Alpha. I don’t expect them to be on the front lines, but I don’t want everyone left behind to be defenseless. Most of those boys can fight. Especially the ones who are doing soccer, football and baseball. I think it’s worth getting them started early in case…”

“In case we can’t hold the line.”

He nodded solemnly. “I don’t like the idea as much as you do but it’s better than them using karate moves they have watched from Kung-Fu Panda.”

My eyebrow rose. “Of all the kung-fu movies you choose Kung-Fu Panda?”

“What? I don’t really watch any other kung-fu movies. You got the idea.”

“Yeah, the idea that your movie knowledge needs to be expanded. Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Donny Yen, are just scratching the surface of kung-fu movie masters.”

Sam shook his head. “Anyways.”

We both looked up as a car pulled into the driveway. Looking at the clock, it was already three p.m. Meredith got to the door and opened it. Charles walked in and I saw Sam stand up straight. Charles nodded to Meredith before heading into the kitchen where we were.

“Afternoon.”

Charles nodded to me. “Afternoon.”

He wasn’t wearing his uniform, nor had he come in the cruiser, so I assumed he had the day off. I knew he didn’t go in until the afternoon lately but his off days were so all over the place, I didn’t even bother asking anymore. He sometimes would take the morning shift as well. It had been three days since they spoke and I knew Sam was starting to be on edge. Sam was rarely ever short or snippy but he not only snipped at Nate but also Meredith who rightly put him in place.

I had texted Charles that he needed to come over. At the very least, the two needed to have a chat. There was no way I was going to let this go for a week. My normally level headed Gamma would end up exploding on some poor sap. Sam may be an Omega but he could be a force when he wanted to be.

“We are finishing up some pack business before I’ll head into to the office.”

Sam shifted and I saw the pen in his hand slightly shaking. “You…don’t have to go, Alpha.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “I don’t think…”

“Silas, it’s okay. If Sam needs someone else here, it’s fine. I don’t mind.” Charles smiled but I’m not sure he caught the shiver that ran through Sam when he said his name.

“If you say so.” I looked back at Sam. “Right, kids training. Make it optional. I don’t want to force anyone into it. Also, I want a permission form to be passed around. Parents need to sign off of it.”

Charles had gotten a glass of water but he choked on the water. “You’re training kids?”

“Only as a precautionary backup. In case we lose and the Hunters decide to go after the woman and children. There are quite a few of our she-wolves that know how to fight but the more numbers they have, the better chance they survive.” Sam in work mode was very different than Sam in regular mode. That seemed to shock Charles a little.

“That seems…”

I cleared my throat. “Charles, I don’t ask your opinion on how you run your station. Things are done differently here. Please hold your judgement.”

Charles nodded and took another sip of water, leaning against the opposite end of the island Sam was standing in front of.

“I also think we would only have the Seniors and Juniors. Sophomores and Freshman shouldn’t be included.”

“Agreed. Have a permission form and an announcement for the school. We will have them announce it on Monday.” I tapped my nail on the table.

Sam made some more notes on a different paper and pulled out another paper. “Last thing is what we are going to do with the First Alpha Prince’s force.”

I nodded. “From what I understand, all they are asking for is a place for their tents on territory. They will provide their own food and water. As well as whatever portion of the forest they have will be covered with patrols.”

“Do we know the level of their power?”

“You remember when Aelia took out four of our boys?”

Sam nodded.

“Expect that level of expertise from all of them.”

Sam swore and nodded, making notes. He moved a map over to me. There were three different ovals in different colors. “I was thinking these would be the three most beneficial places for them to be posted. It’s easy to take into account their position for our patrols and it gives them a front row to the action, which is what they requested.”

I looked at the options. “What do you think?” I passed the paper back to Sam.

“Truthfully, all three are pretty damn good for us but I think the red position will be best. We can handle the rest of the forest because it will be easier for us to fight in our home turf.”

“Handle it them. I trust your judgment.” My eyes caught the look on Charles’ face. Pride, maybe? Definitely admiration at the very least. Yeah, I had nothing to worry about with these two.

“That’s it then. I don’t have anything else.” Sam put down his pen but I could tell he still kept his business mode up. Most likely for the sake of not wanting to fall apart in front of Charles.

I reached out for my glass of water. “You sure you want me…”

“It’s fine, Alpha.” Sam snapped and I just took the glass of water.

The room filled with silence and Sam stared down at the pages in front of him while Charles nervously continued to turn his glass on the marble countertop. I rolled my eyes.

“For fucks sake, the two of you are grown ass men.”

They jumped and their eyes met. Sam blushed and Charles smirked. I just shook my head. If this is what it was going to be like for me, someone kick me in the ass now.

“Look…”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind.” Sam interrupted Charles and there was a confused look on his face. Sam continued. “I know it’s a lot to be mated to someone like me. I don’t expect you to be happy or even excited about this. I just…”

I sighed and rested my head in my hand, shaking it slightly. Sam was making the same damn mistake he did the other night. Charles caught it too and his eyes narrowed.

“Sam, stop. Jesus. I’m here aren’t I? I could have told Silas no. I couldn’t have made excuses till I was blue in the face but I didn’t. I’m here to talk to you…with you. Not about the type of shit you think I’m thinking. Because I promise you; you’re wrong.”

Sam seemed a little shocked but recovered a lot better than I thought he would. “Okay. So, outside our feelings…”

I rolled my eyes. “Sam, stop digging yourself into holes you’re not going to get out of.”

Charles chuckled. “How does this work? The…mate bond. I’ll be honest, I know we spoke a lot about what happens after but I’m not completely solid on the whole mate bond itself. Like does it make me love you?”

My eyes widened and Sam paled. “No…no. Um…how do I…” Sam glanced at me for help. Sighing, I was not really the person to be here. Aelia would be a lot better. She had a ridiculous amount of knowledge when it came to bonds.

“A mate bond isn’t like some love potion or magic spell. Those don’t exist. A fated mate bond basically is a purely superficial connection. It’s something that…” I closed one eye, trying to think of how Aelia explained it to us when we were little. “…it’s almost purely physical. It makes you want to be near that person. You want to be with them, touch them, and…well…mate them. It does nothing to influence your emotions towards that person. That relationship still needs to be built between two people.”

Charles relaxed a little. “So the feeling like I was itching to be somewhere else other than where I was…”

“That was the mate bond.”

“But wanting to be with that person…” Charles looked at Sam.

Sam got another shade of red darker. “That’s solely your feelings.”

Charles hummed for a moment before taking a drink of water. “But you feel it worse that I do?”

The courage to speak seemed to fill Sam, going into his intellectual mode. I smiled, his back straightening, eyes sparkling with knowledge he had consumed. Honestly, Charles was going to have his hands full.

“Not that it’s worse. In a way it is because it effects our wolves. They are creatures of instinct and so when they know their mate, they want to immediately take them. However, me as Sam, I’m not effected any more or less than you. It’s just that we are raised on knowing and understanding the bond. Humans, even those who say they believe in soul mates, don’t actually believe in it. So it’s hard to differentiate when you have a bond or not.”

I snorted. “It’s easier when you have been friends for a while and suddenly you have an inexplicable feeling towards each other.”

Sam chuckled and nodded.

Looking at Charles, I thought for a moment before I spoke. “Charles, Marlene was a fated mate for you.”

His eyes widened and he looked at me. “What do you mean?”

“Aelia said that you had a broken fated bond. It was Marlene, she was actually a fated mate for you. It’s rare for humans to have it, even more rare that two humans have it, but here you are.”

Sam shrunk back a little but I know that Charles would be able to understand what he felt for Marlene and for Sam. What love it could turn into and what he could have again.

Charles chewed on this information for a moment bit before chuckling. “I have a dumb question.”

I leaned back. “This should be good.”

“Does that mean…I become an Omega?”

Biting my lip, I held back my laughter. Sam also snorted but I watched him absently play with the edge of his shirt.

“No. A human can’t become an Omega. That’s solely a werewolf thing.”

“So that means you will stop being an Omega, being pared with a human, right?”

More red filled Sam’s face and I shook my head. “Sam, answer his question. He needs to know.”

Sam swallowed. “I…no. You…are still far more dominate than I am. So…my classification has not changed. I will continue to be a changed Omega.”

Charles’ eyes widened and walked around the kitchen counter. He stood next to Sam who had his hands grasping the edge of the marble countertop for dear life. Taking his hand, Charles brushed the side of Sam’s cheek and Sam closed his eyes. I assumed for both not wanting to cry and also not melting into a puddle on the floor.

“Are you okay with that?” Charles asked quietly.

Sam looked at him, surprised. “Of course. I mean, why wouldn’t I be?”

“You weren’t one to begin with and so I thought…just that you might not have wanted it with your other mate and now with me.”

Sam looked down for a moment. “I was shocked at first but I accepted it. Knowing I would actually have a role to play in our relationship. That feeling hasn’t changed.”

Charles smiled and I hated what I was about to do. Taking a breath, I didn’t look up from the glass of water on the table.

“Charles, what are you going to do about your parents?”

He froze and dragged his eyes over to me. “Silas…why would you…”

I growled. “You may be my best friend but Sam is my Gamma, my brother. As much as I condone this relationship, I’m not going to allow my Gamma to go through what Marlene did at the hands of your parents. She even was closer to their ideal than Sam is.”

Sam look confused but when Charles stepped away, he realized just how much of a big deal this is. “Alpha, I’m not…”

I put my hand up. “I’m not saying this for you, Sam. I know you’re not weak. But I will not put you in the position that Charles put Marlene in. He needs to choose.”

Charles was pissed but he could be pissed at me all he wanted. It wouldn’t change my feelings. I agreed with Solaris that they were meant for one another but so were Charles and Marlene. He allowed his parents to torture the poor girl. I would not allow that to fly with my brother.

“You’re a real fucking asshole, Silas.”

“I may be an asshole, but at least I’m not willingly allowing people I love to be tortured.”

Sam turned and growled at me. “Alpha, stop.”

“Gamma, this doesn’t include you right now.” I snapped back at him.

“It does! Charles is my mate! Stop!”

I didn’t reply but kept my eyes on Charles. His hands were in fists and he was staring down at the floor. He started to shake his head. Turning without a word, Sam and I watched as he left out the front door. Slamming it shut behind him, his car roared to life and pulled away from the pack house.