In The Beginning, Chapter 19
“What does everyone think about making Robert Holt our new Epsilon?” I asked, causing everyone to pause their eating again. I saw my father smirk, before regaining control of his face quickly.
“You can’t be serious!” My mother exclaimed. “He may be a talented warrior, but do you really think he is worthy of such a distinction?”
“Robert is loyal, diligent, and strong, despite his age he still regularly beats the warriors in training, and he is smart. He often sat in on meetings involving the warriors, and his thoughts on whatever was discussed, were rarely wrong. I think he would make a fine Epsilon; he was a close contender for Delta.” My father countered, knowing full well the issue she had with Robert was less to do with his abilities, and more the lack of prestige in his lineage.
“What about Trevor?” My mother asked enthusiastically. “He is just as loyal, and he’s strong? Plus, he has the gravitas the position requires.”
“Trevor will be our Epsilon over my dead body.” Ben snapped, pushing his chair back and leaving the table, Maria scurried after him, holding back tears.
“What was that about?” My mother enquired after we heard the front door slam shut behind the couple.
“Trevor...” My father began wearily, he took a deep breath. “He...”
“What?” my mother demanded getting frustrated.
“He tried his luck with Maria, after she and Ben mated.” My father finally admitted. “He was punished accordingly, but Ben was never able to forgive him.”
“What do you mean, tried his luck?” My mother snapped angrily, after all it was her role as Luna to punish any male who would put his hands on a mated female, and the fact my father had kept it from her spoke volumes.
“He declared himself, and asked her to reject Ben, it’s not an excuse, but he was drunk at the time. Ben came to me the same night, Maria was obviously upset, Ben was outraged, and barely hanging on. He had walked in on the whole thing and beaten him to a pulp. You were away, securing our alliance with your nephew, after he became Alpha of the Maple Leaf Pack." My father explained. “Trevor spent three nights in the hospital, and I ordered him to never to speak to Maria again, I considered that punishment enough. Considering he also lost the respect of his squad, and was passed over for Zeta training that year. He had to work twice as hard to achieve his rank, and recover from his idiocy.” Charlie looked confused, but also pained for Maria and Ben as she looked towards the door.
“It’s a egregious offence to go after a mated female, if I had been Alpha at the time, he would have been banished, made rogue.” I said through gritted teeth, my displeasure at the situation obvious to everyone.
“Did you know?” She asked me, without any anger, she sounded worried.
“No, I’m sure Ben would rather not talk about. The fact that he left him alive, might be a source of shame for him, although, I’m sure Maria was the one that intervened. I know if a wolf said that to you? You would be the only one who could talk me down.” I said grimly, she smiled and squeezed my hand.
“I’d break his nose before you got the chance.” She muttered, I nearly did a spit take with my wine in surprise, and amusement.
“Now that would be a show!” I chuckled, and I noticed my mother was also chuckling.
“Are Ben and Maria going to be alright?” She asked, and I could tell she was concerned.
“I’m sure she is calming him down as we speak.” I replied, with a soft smile.
“I can understand why Ben is so upset, but I don’t understand why it’s a crime.” She said, her brow furrowed.
“When you reject your mate, you tear apart your soul, so to ask someone to do that, is disgusting. It also goes against our religion, the moon goddess paired you with your mate, to go against her is an affront, you are questioning her judgement. Not to mention, even when you reject your mate, if you’ve been marked and mated, they would feel it every time you were unfaithful. It would feel like they are ripping your soul apart further, worse if they don’t accept the rejection. I’ve never met anyone who has rejected their mate, for this very reason.” I explained, she looked thoughtful, and I could tell she had more questions, but she remained silent. The front door opening caught our attention, and Ben and Maria returned.
“You know?” Was all Ben asked, we nodded in reply, as no one knew what to say. “Then I would like this discussion to be over. I agree, Robert is the best candidate for the Epsilon position.” He said as he took his seat. I watched Charlie reach for Maria, and held her hand, as my father placed his own hand on her shoulder, and gave it a small squeeze. He loved Maria, she was the daughter he never had, and despite how things appeared, he always defended her to my mother, and reprimanded her for her attitude towards Maria. I was away at college, but I could hear when we spoke, his affection for my brother’s mate, and his frustration at my mother.
“Then it is settled, I will announce it tonight, at the pack meeting.” I said decisively, allowing everyone to finish their meal.
After dinner, Maria and Charlie disappeared upstairs to find a dress, my parents left to ready themselves, and Ben and I cleared the table.
“Have you, Landers and Kasa agreed on a date when the warriors will arrive?” Ben asked as he put the last of the leftovers in the refrigerator.
“Kasa is closer, so his men will arrive Monday morning, Landers men will be here by the afternoon.” I replied.
“And our men?” He asked.
“Will leave the same day, at dawn. You will leave in the evening, after welcoming the visiting warriors.” I stated bluntly, as I stacked the dishes in the sink.
“Will the temporary accommodations be ready by then?” Ben asked.
“We should be alright, there are several houses free close to the training grounds, they just need a few repairs.” I reminded him, he nodded once, but our conversation was interrupted by Maria returning.
“Okay, I left Charlie to get ready, and we will meet you at the meeting hall.” She said to me with a smile. “You ready babe?” She asked Ben, without waiting for my response.
“Yeah, we are done here, right?” Ben asked me.
“Yeah, but before you go, I gotta ask, you okay?” I asked Ben, it wasn’t like him to be so quiet and forgetful.
“Every time I see him, or hear his name, I’m reminded of what he did, and that I didn’t kill him for it.” Ben explained with a growl.
“You were the better man, still are.” Maria interjected, placing a soft peck on his lips with a smile.
“Showing mercy isn’t a sign of weakness... I don’t know that I would’ve had your restraint, and it would cost me Charlie. You put your mate before your pride, that’s never a bad thing.” I offered, as I saw them to the door. “Say the word and I will ask Kasa or Landers to take him in.” I offered to Ben via the link before I closed the door.
“Thanks.” Ben replied with a small smile. As soon as they were gone, I raced up the stairs to join my mate in the shower.
Kyle entered the house with a scowl, seeing the strange man still seated on their couch and the inhumanity he witnessed on his mission had left him in a foul mood. He stormed past the man to his room without a backwards glance, upsetting his mother, but she remained silent until he returned, having changed for the pack meeting.
“Kyle?” She tentatively called him, but he scoffed in reply. “We need to talk. Protectus has agreed to go to the Alpha and Charlie, explain what is happening, and what he knows.” Evie continued, despite her son’s attitude.
“You realise I will be stripped of my rank, and we could both be made rogue?” He asked through gritted teeth. Evie sighed in exhaustion and resignation.
“Yes, I know. Which is why I am telling them that I was the only one who knew, that I hid it from you.” Kyle slammed his hand down on the kitchen counter.
“You think the Alpha won’t force you to tell him everyone who knew?” Kyle snapped angrily.
“I thought you wanted us to go to the Alpha?” Evie cried indignantly.
“I want him to go, and leave us out of it. We did our part, our family saved him, twice now, and took him in. We’ve done what was asked, now we should be left alone!” Kyle growled at his mother, before directing his last statement to the man.
“You are right, the family of Nikolaos has helped me, and I release you from your oath.” He said with a smile, and Evie and Kyle felt a weight lifted.
“There is a pack meeting tonight, you will have to wait until tomorrow.” Kyle replied, before leaving the man and his mother, storming out of the house and slamming the door behind him.
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