Mine. Mate

11: Dying?

Thank you everyone whose been with me so far. If you have read this story before I've made some new changes to the story line. If what you read now is redundant or new you may want to read chapters 1-10 again. I plan on finishing this story.

Mahalo (thank you) again for reading

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Tristan: 

Steam follows Rain out of the bathroom. She has a large black Bob Marley shirt and blue boxers. She spots the bed, plops down, and falls asleep. 

I walk over to cover her with a blanket when I hear a knock on the door. 

"Alpha," Ron says. 

"Come  in," I respond. He enters and then glances at Rain. 

"It's okay," I tell him. 

"There was a breech in the northwest perimeter an hour after your arrival. Two males. No sign of them. Nothing was taken or left behind. It appears they crossed the perimeter ventured a few blocks into the neighborhood and retreated. 

As a precaution we have added two patrol wolves to each shift. 

"Good. Please inform the three pack elders to meet me in my council chambers. You are dismissed," I tell him. 

Ron gives me a bow and leaves the room. 

I sit next to my Luna on the bed. She shifts a little towards me and I run my hand over her soft hair . I breathe in her scent.  Her distress is like a stone in my chest. 

"Rest my Luna," I kiss her forehead. I get up with a sigh and leave the room. 

I walk downstairs to my council chambers. When I enter the three pack elders are already seated. Elder Mary, Elder Jacob, and Elder Herb. 

I take a seat and Elder Mary speaks. 

"Alpha," she starts. 

I hold up my hand. 

"Who authorized the Luna ceremony?" I ask. The three elders look at each other. 

"I did," Elder Mary responds. 

"I gave an order not to perform the ceremony until she was ready. You directly disobeyed me. The perimeter was breached an hour after our arrival. With our defenses down the consequences could have been catastrophic," I tell her.  

"I apologize Alpha, but I believed it necessary. Those who attacked her pack may have followed to attack her here. If anything were to happen to her before the ceremony our pack would have no clear claim to protect her," she said. 

I clench my fist. 

"I know she is your true mate, but without her as official Luna the council would reject any pack retaliation attempts. This risk was also necessary to secure our packs future," she informs me. 

Elder Jacob spoke, "Our numbers have dwindled this past three generations. Only 8 births in the last 3 years. There is only 137 of us and no true mates in the pack. 

Elder Tom shifted in his seat and said," We believe that might have been a reason Luna Rain's parents were attacked."

He pauses. 

"Explain," I tell him, lost. 

"Her parents were Alpha and Luna true mates. Their pack has seen steady growth with at least 3-6 births each year since their coupling. They alone have 4 children, the last two twins. There have been reports of 2 true mate couples in Luna Rain's generation alone, which research says should be impossible," he continues. 

I think back to the wedding. There were many children. I didn't even give it much thought.

"As a whole our kind is dying," he states. 

"Dying?" I ask. 

"With less wolves being able to conceive, the council has been aware each pack has seen steady decline of cubs, except the Shadow Pack. They were the only pair of true mates who were also Alpha and Luna alive since your great grandfathers time. This pairing is rare, for our pack this has happened only 6 times after the Moon Goddess and first Alpha. According to the research you shouldn't have a true mate," he says. 

"How long have you been researching this?" I ask. 

"5 years after the attack that wiped out more than half of us. We noticed wolves were having a harder time to conceive. We looked at our genealogy and noticed births spiked when Alpha and Luna were true mates. Our research also showed there were more true mates in a pack when Alpha and Luna were true mates. And those born or descended from true mates have higher chances of finding true mates," Elder Herb says. 

"We took our findings to the Shadow Pack to ask if we could research with them. They agreed to help and we've been cooperating since," Elder Mary says. 

She continues,"The day they were attached they were going to a meeting with the council to show their findings. They wanted to promote peace between the packs and start annual gatherings to increase the chances of true mate meetings. Thus increasing our kinds survival as a whole." 

I lean back in my chair and try to assess the information. 

"Do you know or think you know who attacked the Shadow Packs Alpha and Luna?" I ask. 

"No," they respond.

"Do you have any ideas who would benefit from their deaths?" I ask them. 

They all shake their heads. 

"Who else knows this information?" I ask.

"As far as I know the three of us, Shadow Packs Alpha and Luna, and Luna Rain's brother," Elder Herbs says. 

"And when were you going to tell me this information?" I ask. 

They all shift in their seats. 

Elder Mary says,"When you found and settled with a mate."

I see my wolf pacing with irritation. The elders wolves bow in submission. 

"Let's not inform Luna Rain about this yet," I tell them. 

"Is there any information you are keeping from me you've decided to let me know at a later date?" I add. 

They again look at each other. I growl. 

"We aren't sure but if Luna Rain keeps denying you she could be putting herself at risk.