Tailspin Anthology

River Bend Pack 4

Continuation of River Bend Pack 3.

Christian cautiously followed the guard down the hall where troupe members whispered among themselves as he walked by. The guard stopped in front of a door and tapped on it. "Come in." Dean's voice emanated through the thick wood. The guard turned the knob and pushed the door open and gestured for Christian to enter. "Leave us." Dean commanded, and the guard obeyed.

"Hey." Christian greeted Dean awkwardly. "About earlier."

"Why did you do it?"

"Huh?"

"Why did you take that beast's side?"

"He's not a beast." Christian corrected Dean. "He's, my mate. I mean, when I saw him being injured, I couldn't bear the thought of losing him."

Dean rushed over and held Christian's hands. "But I see myself spending the rest of my life with you."

Christian began to blush. "Are you sure you're not just trying to marry me to relieve the pressure of finding a mate?"

"I've never been surer in my life." Dean adamantly said. "And after that stunt you pulled, I've never wanted another so badly before."

Christian's cheeks turned redder as he began to feel his body heat rising. "That's very flattering but." Christian stared at Dean sadly. "Jason is my one true love. And you need to find yours and be sure who they are." Dean pulled away and turned his back to him. "Dean? Look, I'm very sorry." Much to his surprise, Dean began laughing hysterically. "Um, Dean?" He froze in fear when the crowned alpha turned back to show tears falling down his face.

"D-did you h-hear that?" Dean asked aloud. "He refused my advances."

The bookcase mysteriously opened to reveal a grandpa wolf standing behind it with his arms crossed.

"Grandpa?!" Christian squeaked out. "What are you doing back there?!"

"How else would he judge your loyalty to your mate?" Dean asked Christian.

"My loyalty?"

Dean looked amused. "You had no idea, did you?"

"No." Christian vehemently spoke. "Mind telling me what the heck is going on here?"

"Maybe you should tell him." Dean told grandpa wolf. "Since it's a family and Long-tail pack situation."

That's when the door busted open. "My baby!" Christian found himself in a bear hug.

"Mom?"

"Tracy." Grandpa Wolf said. "I thought I told you to stay out of this."

Tracy gave her father a look. "When I told you about the wedding, I wanted you to attend it. Not test my son and his fiancé on behalf of the pack."

"Mom?" Christian's siblings were peering from the doorway with Jason tagging along.

"Jason!" Christian wiggled out of his mother's grip and rushed to his fiancé's side. "You shouldn't be up. You should be resting."

"We heard a commotion out here and had to check on you."

"So." Grandpa Wolf approached Jason. "This is the zombie who shall soon become a member of our clan."

"I don't want anything to do with you nor, your pack." Jason said in a menacing voice. "No offence to the rest of you guys."

"Non-taken."

"We understand."

Grandpa Wolf stared at Jason. "It's just a formality." Dean explained for him. "Even with a member that was banned from the pack, your loyalty to one another must be tested before getting married."