Heat

VII.

"How did you pick your Beta and Gamma" I ask Ethan as we got situated in his truck to head out for training. It was after school again and today was day three for our training. Ethan had found me in the hallway walking out and we had left together.

"Usually they are picked by the Alpha, it's the closest members to the next Alpha. Most often it ends up being the Beta's son and the Gamma's som. We grew up together and I trust them the most so it's an easy pick" he explains following the route to the pack house.

"How are you an Alpha? Is it like royalty and just passed down?" It seemed like succession was like normal royalty, royals marry and have kids and then their kids. Wolfs probably aren't so different.

"My pack respects my family line and our loyalty to the pack, so my family has been leading for many generations but in unstable packs a challenger presents themselves and winner is pack leader. For us that hasn't happened for years but either way my family has still never lost" he says smirking with pride at the last sentence and looking over at me.

"Oh so you're tough" I said teasing him. He scowls at that word but rolls his eyes and we laugh it off. We simmer down and I gear up for the next question I want to ask. Mates. I can't just go and look this up, Ethan is my source of information.

"So... what are mates" I didn't bother checking his face for a reaction, I was too scared to if I hit a wrong nerve again. I hear him sigh, he knew this was coming though.

"Mates are what humans fantasize about with their 'soulmate'" Ethan said air quoting 'soulmate', "they're someone you are destined to be with, your wolf searches for each other every day of existence until you find one another" I glanced at him and watched him speak about it. He was tender and caring about the subject.

"How will you know when you find a mate?" I ask picking at the loose string on my sleeve. I could tell Ethan stiffened when I asked this. Had he found his already? What was the big deal in hiding it.

"You'll know. Their smell is the strongest, their touch is the warmest and you would do anything to protect and be with her- I mean them" he fumbled over the word her and replaced it with them. I eye him curious, I think he already found his mate but something was stopping him. Should I ask? Would that make things awkward today?

"Did you find yours?" I ask without hesitation. What was I thinking. This could be the worst day of my life asking this question, put me out of my misery already. His hands tighten on the steering wheel before answer.

"Kind of" he said releasing his tight grip of the wheel. Kind of? What does that even mean.

"Am I allowed to ask questions about your mate?" I ask timidly.

"No specifics just general questions about knowing if someone is your mate" I furrow my brows, why's he being so secretive about this. Not that I would pry to see who Ethan Mahoney is dating.

"That's fine, I just wanted to ask what she smelled like for you, so I would know kind of what to expect when I meet my mate" we were quickly approaching the house which would then end this slightly awkward conversation. He visibly relaxed at hearing me say this.

"She smells like fresh rain on grass but the freshest rain and the most fragrant fresh picked pine needles" he mused inhaling like he could smell her right here. He must really enjoy those smells for him to be fantasizing about it right now.

"So it's earthy smells but like there's a candle with that specific scent right under your nose" I tried comparing something human and normal to this supernatural conversation. He knew how it would work because he grew up with this stuff and it was second nature, me, no way there was something comparable. Maybe the boys locker room wafting into the hallway kind of strong is also comparable.

"More or less" he muses. He still seems slightly distracted about the mate thing. He must enjoy her.

"She must be something to get you to act all lovey dovey like this" I tease as we park in the usual spot. I quickly hop out so he doesn't need to reply, to which he looks thankful for. I laugh a little and lead the way to the front door to leave our bags and head into the woods for training.

Authors note:
Just wanted to say thank you for the support so far on this story 🫶 I am enjoying myself writing this again and I hope that shows in the chapters. This chapter was a bit shorter but I needed to get some things out of the way for the story to pick up. Next chapters are going to be exciting and fun to write and hopefully coming out by the end of the week!