Wolves of the West

Chapter Ten

Her family was in chaos.

By her family, she meant Hunter and Selene. Remus was silent, a small smile on his face as he observed them, like they were the best soap opera he had ever watched.

She used to think he was sweet and cute. She didn't know why she ever thought so. He was an imp. A mischievous imp who thrived on drama.

"What do you mean 'He's my mate'?!" Hunter yelled, slamming the dining table in front of them. The wood splintered beneath his knuckles, leaving him to yell even louder, but this time in pain.

Selene's fork had clattered onto the table before bubbles of hysterical laughter was torn from her.

So, what happened was this...

Being the best oldest sister and alpha in the world, she had decided to come clean to her three siblings during dinner on the very same day as the... threat? Altercation? She didn't know what to call the strange meeting with Alpha Derek.

Some may argue that Remus was way too young, or that she should have dealt with it on her own. Whoever those people were, she would tell them to mind their own business. In the words of her father, "there should be no secret among family."

It was hilarious to see her parents then attempt to explain the incoming arrival of a baby brother to six-year-old Selene. The explanations ranged from a stork bringing them a baby to the Moon Goddess giving them a gift. They even tried to factor in Selene's good behaviour, "Since our darling daughter has been such a good girl," her mother had started off, "Our Goddess has decided to fulfill her wish of-"

"Stop Mommy," The girl had said, folding her arms as she looked at her siblings for reaffirmation. Hunter gave her a thumbs up then, biting his lips to stifle a laugh, while Diana dimpled at her, unable to hide the mirth in her eyes.

"I know that you had sex."

Her mom choked at that, spluttering and coughing as her husband thumped on her back. Their father was not amused, especially when his two older kids roared in laughter, grabbing their stomachs, and falling to the floor.

"And who told you that, Sunshine?" Her father had asked. Diana and Hunter had immediately stiffened at his tone, scrambling to stand upright and prepared to escape in a moment's notice.

The girl, being so young herself, was honest only in a way children could be, and pointed in their vague direction.

Hunter and Diana bolted, their father's shouts echoing throughout the house.

And that set a precedent in their family. No secrets, her father had told them. No secrets, Diana had reminded herself when she took over.

So, the moment they had settled down at the dining table to have their routine family dinner, she told them about the impromptu meeting at the coffee shop.

She gave them the cliff-notes version. She told them that she was having coffee when a (rather handsome) dude, who happened to be the Alpha they had fought with the day before, had sat opposite her and announced himself as her mate.

"Well, not your mate," she told Hunter, ignoring his exasperated groan in response, "Mine."

Selene's laughter slowly subsided, and a frown took its place instead.

"Wait," Her younger sister cut in. "You're not joking?"

"Please, if I were joking, you would all be laughing."

"No, we wouldn't," the youngest sibling muttered, his eyes were focused on his plate as he pushed his broccoli and baby carrots around with his fork. His smile had faded once he, like Selene, had concluded that she was being absolutely serious.

Diana opened her mouth in mock anger. "Excuse me?" The boy stuck his tongue out in return. Apparently, age is really just a number to him, and he had no problem acting like a six-year-old.

"Enough," Hunter had cut in, face serious.

And he turned towards the oldest of the lot, only his eyes betraying his worry. "What are we going to do?"

She reached out to grasp his fist in reassurance. "What we always do." Alpha Dory might or might not be mistaken about her being his mate, and with an absent wolf, there was no way for her to actually know.

If he were her mate and she did accept him, she would either have to give up her position to Hunter or both of their pack would be merged. He wouldn't allow her equal status, not with his mentality and his obvious need for power.

Yes, giving the position to her brother did not sit well with her, but even if she were willing to, she was sure that she would be forced to do the latter and all but offer her pack up to the Alpha, what with his quest of becoming the next Genghis Khan of werewolves. Either way, she would be expected to be the type of Luna he wanted. Subservient, motherly, and relegated to the pack house with ten pups of her own to take care of, while the men went out to fight. The decisions revolving around her siblings and pack members would no longer be hers to make and Selene would probably be a trophy, paraded around as a sign of the Alpha's prowess. Heck, she wouldn't even be able to make decisions about herself.

She hated it. She hated that her pack was thought to be inferior merely based of the sex of some of her warriors. She hated that everything she had worked so hard for, that her six years of blood, sweat and tears, could disappear just like that. She hated that it didn't matter how hard she worked, how apt a fighter she was, or how good a leader she was.

Don't get her wrong. She respected Lunas. Her mother herself was a Luna. A human Luna who gave her father a run for his money. But everyone should have a choice. And everyone, male or female, should definitely be trained. Not knowing how to defend yourself in a pack, where violence and brawls were abundant, was plainly stupid.

And it was her choice to lead her pack. Her choice to be the first line of defense.

No. In the worst-case scenario, even if she were his mate, she'll reject him. Plain and simple. She had already thought this through.

Mates could be rejected. It was frowned upon, rejecting such a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself, but it was possible. If both parties were unable to accept each other, the bond will gradually fade, like a deep scar. With the situation right now, that would be the best option. Of course, she could string him along and exploit his soft spot, but she didn't feel comfortable or confident with that option.

"We fight."