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Early morning.
Suncity: Lonya forest.
Bloodclaw pack.
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"Clang, Clash" the sound of metal eating metal, resonated in the forest.
"Getting weak already, huh?" Kyle said, his voice taunting as he stared at his soon-to-be beta, Axel.
" I'm not a machine we've been training for 5 hours now", Axel said, his shirtless self dripping with sweat.
"We're not leaving here until the next two hours," Kyle replied in turn, flexing his muscles shirtless as well.
"Oh, come on" Axel whined.
"Get ready!" Kyle said as he raised his sword to attack. Axel tries to block, but being distracted, the sword grazes his skin. His injured arm healed within a few minutes, and he continued speaking.
"The Luna selection is in two weeks, Kyle, ready to pick your future Luna", Axel said, swinging his sword at Kyle. Kyle dodges splendidly before replying.
"I wish I could avoid the goddamned Luna selection"
"You can't continue to run from it. You are long overdue for a Luna. At 18, most Alphas meet their mate but you are 23 and lunaless.
"I can manage the affairs of the pack alone without a Luna or a mate", Kyle said, dodging another sword attack.
"A Luna brings balance and harmony to a pack. A pack without a Luna is half rotten"
"The only reason you believe that is because there is no single Alpha who has ever been lunaless"
"Still, a Luna is needed in a pack, especially a pack as strong as ours"
"I can only hope that my mate would be among the candidates selected this year, or else I would finally lose all hope", Kyle finally conceded.
"Kyle, have you ever considered the possibility of your mate being human...again?"
Kyle's brows furrowed at Axel's question, and his eyes flashed with pain and resentment, past memories clouding his thinking. "I will reject her immediately "
Axel uses Kyle's distraction to swing his sword heavily at him. Kyle blocks in time with a powerful defence, showing the skill of a skilled swordsman, making his sword crack at the edge.
"You underestimate the power of the matebond" Axel continued after his failed attack.
"I do not, but for the sake of the bloodclaw pack, a weak human Luna would make us appear weak, like an easy target to other packs and the Vampire kingdom in particular. An Alpha with no mate is better than one with a weak human mate" Kyle concluded, scrutinising his cracked sword.
Axel chuckled at Kyle's last statement. Kyle really didn't fully understand what this mate bond meant. "You did be surprised Kyle" His tone hinted at something deeper and stronger.
"Where is the venue for the meeting with Alpha Lucas Simeon?" Kyle asked, intending to change the direction the conversation was headed. He drops his sword and rests his back against a tree.
"Pasteline burgers"
"It sounds unpopular, why would he choose such a place?"
"Well, according to rumours, although he is a tyrannical Alpha, he seems to hate attention. And Pasteline burgers is a stone's throw away from Arianna's new college"
"Well, if that's the case, arrange the cars, we leave by early noon"
"Already done"
"Good"
An omega maid walks in their direction, her face flushed a deep red, and she bows slightly, seeing Kyle and Axel shirtless and sweating.
"Alpha Kyle, your mother, Luna Selene requests that you and Beta Axel must be present at today's morning breakfast"
"Inform her we will be there"
"Yes, Alpha, " the maid replies, turning away as she takes hurried steps back to the pack house.
"We should go now, Axel"
"You complied easily this time" Axel says in a statement form.
"I don't want her to come here, nagging at me again", Kyle replied as he ran his hand through his wet, brown hair.
"And when did you begin to care about your mother, the Luna's nagging?"
"Today" Kyle responded, evidently uninterested in the conversation. They both progressed into the pack, where they were handed a towel to clean their sweating bodies.
"I think we should wear a shirt", Axel said, noticing the blushing maids staring.
"Why?"
"Well we are making certain people uncomfortable "
"They don't seem uncomfortable, they clearly like the view of my body on display" Kyle responded, grinning.
"Well, save it for your future mate" Axel said, throwing a shirt at Kyle and wearing one himself.
Two pack warriors walked forward towards the dining area with Axel and Kyle ahead, swords strapped by their waists. Swords were an essential aspect of the blood claw pack; they spoke of dominance, supremacy and power. "Where guns may fail, swords will listen" Swords were an ancient part of blood claw tradition because werewolves like them rely on instinct and primal rage. They struck a perfect balance between modernity and tradition.
The double doors to the breakfast room gave way, revealing a table filled with dishes of different kinds.
"I thought you would never join us, " a woman in a long flowing white gown spoke. She looked ethereal and dominant, her reddish-brown hair held by silver hairpins which matched her clothes perfectly. She stood by a man who looked equally regal. The man is dressed in a deep, navy blue long wool coat with silver embroidery at the centre. His presence was dominant and overwhelming with hints of subtle tenderness.
"Alpha Logan, Luna Selene, good morning ", Axel acknowledged, bowing deeply.
"Good morning, I hope Kyle didn't wear you out with his endless training", Selens asked her voice full of tenderness.
"Well, only I can withstand it", Axel replied, grinning while Kyle shot him a deadly look.
"You may sit" Alpha Logan instructed. He is seated on the shorter side of the large table, Luna Selene, now seated at the right-hand side next to him, with Arianna seated next to her. Jean, Axel's mate is next to Arianna. On the left-hand side of the table, Kyle, Axel and Maddox, the present Gamma pack warrior, are seated. He is a sturdy man aged 45; the current Beta is out on an expedition.
[10/7, 9:39 PM] Mummy Mtn 🐰🐰: They eat in silence for a while before Alpha Logan speaks.
"Arianna be good and respectful at your new college and don't go about saying the wrong things "
"Dad, firstly, I am not a talkative person, but I will make sure to always zip my mouth shut", Arianna replied, imitating a gesture of zipping her mouth shut. Kyle snorted at her reply and Arianna eyed him in response as if challenging him.
"Arianna dear, I will make sure Kyle looks after you", Selene said, as she turned to her daughter, stroking her hair fondly.
"Mom, Arianna can do well to look after herself"
"Yes Mom, let Kyle continue is boring Alpha work while I enjoy my twenties"
Selene chuckled before turning to Kyle. "Accompany me for tea this afternoon Kyle"
"I'm sorry, mother, but I have to finalise a deal with Alpha Lucas this afternoon.
"Be back in time for the pack meeting" Logan reminded.
"Sure Father, I will be there "
"And don't forget the Luna selection ceremony, whether to hold it this year or not will be raised.
"I know that" Kyle replied, clearly uninterested. He would again have to face a group of elders pressuring him to get a Luna. Selene notices Kyle's slightly pissed look but keeps silent.
"You are to head today's pack meeting also, so be prepared " Logan informed, rising.
"Yes Father"