Fate or Destiny

Chapter 2 - Greyson's Father

Scarlett sat quietly in the back seat of her mother's car, staring out the window as the familiar landscape of the town passed by. The day had been like any other at school, a mix of new faces and overwhelming routines. "So, how was school? Have you made some friends yet?" It was her mother's attempt to break the silence that had settled between them. Scarlett's thoughts momentarily wandered back to the conversation she had with Linda earlier. It had left her with an unsettling feeling, a subtle undercurrent of ambiguity that made her question the true intentions behind Linda's words. The memory lingered in her mind, like a puzzle she couldn't quite solve. She was hoping it wasn't the case since she felt that she could trust Allison not to mention she was the only friend she made.

She hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Her relationship with her mother had changed after the incident. The incident had taken a toll on her spirit, leaving her more reserved and guarded. "Yes." she finally replied. It was a simple affirmation, a way to appease her mother's concern without delving into the complexities. Scarlett could feel her mother's gaze on her from the review mirror. Her mother's attempt to create a sense of comfort continued, this time with a mention of the girl's favourite food. "We're having spaghetti today. Your favourite." The words were spoken with a hint of hope, an effort to reconnect with the daughter she had known before everything changed.

"Great." Scarlett replied, dryly as her mother sighed at the lack of information given by her daughter. The car journey continued in silence, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. As they pulled into the driveway, Scarlett's gaze shifted to the house that held familiar comforts. The prospect of a meal that used to bring joy felt bittersweet, a reminder of the innocence she had lost. She unbuckled her seatbelt, her movements slow and deliberate, and followed her mother into the house, getting ready to climb up to her room and comfortable bed. 

Scarlett retreated to her room and sought solace in the pages of her book. She'd told her mother she needed to read the book that Mr. Rustle, her teacher, had assigned. The rhythmic rustle of pages turning and the occasional hum were bringing her peace that she really felt she needed. Meanwhile, in a different part of the house, a sense of restlessness pervaded the atmosphere. Greyson, the usually composed Alpha, paced the floor of his office with a sense of unease that was rare for him. His movements were agitated, betraying the storm of emotions swirling within him. In the room with him stood his trusted confidantes: Connor, his second in command; Kai, his beta and Trainer, the loyal third in command. They watched Greyson's uncharacteristic pacing with various looks of amusement and curiosity. Trainer, broke the silence with a genuine question. "So, what are you worried about again?" He swirled around in the office chair, his eyes fixed on Greyson as if trying to decipher the enigma before them.

Greyson paused in his steps, his gaze shifting to Trainer. His reply carried a hint of impatience, because of the situation at hand. He felt like he was explaining a complex concept to a child. Everyone in the pack should know the consequences of having a human being as a mate. "I found my human mate at school today." he said slowly, allowing the weight of his words to sink in for Trainer, although if he was being honest, neither he could process this revelation. He looked at each of his companions, his expression serious yet tinged with a touch of vulnerability. Trainer furrowed his brows, as he struggled to grasp the implications of Greyson's statement. But then, a smile crept across his face. "Congrats, bro." he exclaimed, his voice carrying genuine happiness. "Sooo... who's the new Luna?" The word 'Luna' hung in the air, signifying the Alpha's destined mate, the one who would stand by his side and share in the leadership of their pack. A human leader...

At the word 'Luna', Greyson angrily punched the wall. When he was just a child, he would pray to the Moon Goddess to have what his parents had: a mate who loved and cared for him, and vice versa. He just didn't expect that the mate he'd prayed for would turn out to be a human, let alone, a human Luna. "Dude, calm down." Connor told him, his hand reaching out to pat Greyson's shoulder in a gesture of comfort. "Yeah, that's my favorite wall." Kai muttered, a tinge of sadness in his voice as he glanced at the now dented surface. Connor shifted his attention to Trainer, his expression a mixture of frustration and concern. "A human. His mate is a weak, useless human." he stated with a hint of exasperation. 

Trainer remained silent. He hoped that with time, his pack would come to understand that humans weren't all bad. However, voicing his thoughts might risk alienating his companions, even though his Alpha was his closest friend. "If my dad finds out she's human he'll flip and—" Greyson's voice trailed off, his concern palpable. "—Probably shit his pants." Connor interjected in a matter-of-fact tone, a hint of humor in his words. Kai locked eyes with Trainer, both of them sharing a silent exchange of understanding. Kai knew that Trainer believed that the human hatred within their pack was baseless and needed to change. "Look Grey, how are you gonna solve this problem? Face it, you can't. What's fate is fate, man." Kai's words were a mixture of pragmatism.  

Greyson scoffed. He toyed with the idea of rejecting his human mate, but the consequences weighed heavily on his mind. The prospect of potentially causing himself immense pain was not a decision he could make lightly. The longer he took to decide, the stronger the mate bond would become, leading to even more pain.

"Okay, you know what? For now, we won't tell my father so he won't flip and I'll have more time to figure out what to do." The others were about to voice their doubts about this plan, but Greyson's sense of authority in his voice silenced them. They nodded, bowing their heads in a promise to keep his secret. As they turned to leave the room, the soon-to-be Alpha grabbed Kai by the shirt, halting him. "Kai, do not tell anyone." Greyson's tone was firm, his concern evident. "Dude, I know how to keep a secret." Kai replied, his words laced with a hint of offense. "Oh, yeah? Like the time you told my crush that I used to sleep with my stuffed toy puppy?" Greyson's accusation was met with laughter from Kai, Connor, and Trainer. "Come on. That was one time, and we were twelve." Kai defended himself, a smile playing on his lips at the fond memory.

Unbeknownst to them, Christian Vargas, had been standing on the other side of the room, eavesdropping on their conversation.