He's an Alpha: She doesn't Care

CH 6

Jared

He stood in his penthouse apartment listening to his father tell him that Lance had found his Goddess-Gifted Mate, his band had lit up blue and when they put one on the she-wolf Raelynn, it had lit up as well. She’d not rejected Lance, and they were marked and mated. His father was very happy that finally one of his sons had found their Mate.

Jared pinched the bridge of his nose at the thought that it was likely Lance who would be the first to have an heir, and then, when he turned 100, the pack would belong to his youngest brother. It wasn’t like Jared wasn’t looking for his Mate. He’d just simply moved countries to do so, he’d exhausted a lot of packs in the US looking for his Mate.

Either she wasn’t born yet or lived in another country. He knew there were just as many packs here in Europe as there were in America, so he’d opted to move here and branch the pack’s business out at the same time. He’d made quite a few business allies over here in France, and there were many of their European allies, wolves, working in this building that he lived in. His penthouse was on the top floor like all of his units were.

He was 82 years old and had not only searched in the US but in the Wolfen Realm as well back in his younger days. Now he was just simply here in Europe was all. His father had many rules on them all, about taking over the pack, and he and his siblings had to abide by them.

He didn’t mind the rules at all, it stopped in-house fighting for the seat of Alpha, something he’d seen inside many packs over his lifetime, one sibling screwing over the other all in order to get the pack for themselves. Usually, it involved a lot of subterfuge, and the pack was actually left weaker in the end, because there were less Alpha-blooded wolves inside the pack to help defend it when they were attacked.

“So, Jared, you’ll be coming home for Raelynn’s Luna Ceremony on the next full moon. Invites will be sent for you and your unit via email. Those here in the states will get one in person, though your mother will send you pictures of the actual invitations as well.”

“Why would she need to do that?” he frowned.

“Son, it’s so you can see what to expect when you find your own Mate, of course. She has been planning these events for many decades and allocated different colors to each of you. Well, actually her words were according from first to last mated. So where I know you, being the eldest would expect pack colors, Lance is getting that because he was the first to find his Mate. Sorry son.”

“It’s fine.” He murmured. “I don’t think it really matters anyway… Isn’t it usually up to the Luna being celebrated?” he asked and turned to see his unit all walking into his apartment. He knew why they were here, it maybe 9pm in San Francisco, but it was only 6am here in France, and it was likely they’d all gotten a call from their fathers. Just like he was getting.

"Normally, it is son. It’s not yet discussed, but I know Lance wants that. So, it’s likely Raelynn will also agree.”

Did it surprise him that his brother was going to want pack colors? No, the importance of him choosing and his mother agreeing to give him those colors; a full formal event in pack colors. It was a bold statement from Lance to his three brothers, himself, Ethan and Colby. That he was going to be the next Alpha to Cedar Rapids.

"Father, when I find a Mate I will allow her to choose whatever color she wants. Mother won’t get a say. Please remind her of that.” He told him simply, “She may plan for all her other heirs Luna Ceremonies, but I will follow wolfen tradition of letting the Luna that is being celebrated choose the color of the event.”

“That is fine, son. So you’ll be coming home when exactly, how many days prior to the next full moon? There are a few people I want you to meet and talk with while you're here, so please plan to stay a week to a month would be good.”

“A month?” he questioned right back.

“Yes, like I said, I’ve got people I want you to meet.”

“Goddess father, it’s not some bloody she-wolf of your choosing, is it? You know I won’t settle. Can’t if I want a chance to be the next Alpha.”

“I’m aware of that Jared. I need your help with one very stubborn she-wolf on something; we’ll discuss it when you come home. Drives me a bit batty she does, so very resistant to all offers to come and live within the pack.”

“Why do you need her to? If she’s allied she likely has a nice pack and likes it.”

“A brilliant marketing mind. I’ve made many offers.” His father huffed at him, “I'm stuck, as are my unit and I need someone to charm her, so to speak.”

He rolled his eyes and his entire unit snorted, fully amused. They all knew it was his father’s way of trying to get him to date someone he thought would be good for him. He let it go. “Just put Ethan or Colby to the task. They are right there.”

“Hmm, she’s not interested in either of them, kind of dismissive of all ranked members.” His father sighed once more, a little on the heavy side. “Not even Chester is having any luck… seems to be immune to even a Gamma’s charm. Help your old man out, won’t you?”

That was a curiosity to him. Though he wondered if it was true at all, not many could get past a Gamma. “I’ll have Dwane do it,” he stated, “I’ll get back to you on the date I’ll be arriving. I’ll have to look at flights and see what’s available.”

His father sighed at the comment about him having his Beta charm the girl, but he let it go and stated, “I could send the Jet over.”

“No need, Wolf Airline branched out into Europe this year, so we’ll travel safely and in wolfen comfort.” Jared stated simply, “Tell Lance congratulations, I’m looking forward to meeting Raelynn, that I’ll bring something from France as a Luna Gift. Get mother to find out what the woman likes and email me.”

“Alright, but a few days prior to the full moon son, is what I expect and at least a week after as well. Business reasons, of course. I will not be meddling in your love life; I learned my lesson when you opted to move halfway around the world.”

Jared smiled “Well done, father. I see old wolves can be taught.” He chuckled and clicked the line closed to his father's shocked gasp at hearing his words.

He shook his head and turned to his unit, “I guess we’re finally going home, Dwane, you’ll be seeing to that she-wolf.” He shook his head. “It’s your department anyway.”

“Hmm, I don’t think things are going to go your way, Jared. Your father can be underhanded and tricky. Sometimes what he says isn’t actually what he means,” Dwane stated.

“I’m fully aware of how he goes about getting what he wants.” He nodded and looked at the time. It was barely a quarter past six. Why don’t we go for a morning run, say 35 kilometers?” He smiled at them. “Let's take a drive out to the state forest of Ermenonville.” It had taken a little time for them to get used to going from miles to kilometers. They’d been used to running 20 miles every other day back home and this was the equivalent here.

He spent the next few weeks leading up to going back to the pack, attending business as usual, and reorganizing his schedule to fit in with his father’s request of a week to a month-long stay. He’d split that to make two weeks. A compromise that he was happy with, and he’d managed to get a flight that would see him arrive the day of the ceremony, but he needed that for himself, due to business meetings here and the rearranging of his schedule to fit in around others. His father had to deal with it. Though the boys were all headed back before he was, arriving a few days before the ceremony.

His flight, however, couldn’t be helped, though he took a very unhappy call from both his parents about it because Lance was of the opinion it was disrespectful, and that he was trying to weasel his way out of being there at all. That he was going to claim that something came up, and so he couldn’t catch his flight. All because he was ticked off that Lance had found his Mate before him.

Jared had rolled his eyes, “I’ve bought the ticket, I simply had to rearrange things here to suit others that I had scheduled meetings with over the period you insist I'm there and so have to be away from here. Not everyone fits around your schedule. They're not all wolfen so don't understand. It has nothing to do with my not being happy for Lance. I’m actually very happy for him. Lessens the pressure on me to find my Mate.”

Both his parents had gone quiet with his words, and he’d smiled to himself, “Mother, father, I am one to abide by the rules you set out. I will not object to whoever is mated and has an heir first by the time they are 100. Lance has nothing to fear from me. My life is currently very busy anyway, as you both know.”

“Well son, Lance has asked that a new stipulation be added to the invitation about attendance,” his father told him.

“Oh, has he.” Jared leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Pray tell, father, what is it?”

“That no one turns up late and interrupts the ceremony. So, everyone must have arrived and be seated a full 1-hour prior to the event starting, or on the shaming post and a lashing they will receive for disrespect.”

“That is fine. I believe my flight will get in around one thirtyish, and the ceremony is at 7pm. I’m certain father, it won’t take me 4 hours to get through customs, hire a car and drive the one hour to the pack.”

“Good. That is what I want to hear. Now I have one thing to ask of you. A favor, so to speak.”

Here we go he thought to himself, “And that would be?”

“I just need you to stop and pick up a new pack member. She doesn’t drive and has no way to get out to the pack, it’ll be on your way, and take but a moment of your time.” He could hear the smile in his father’s voice and just knew this was part of his plotting.

“Fine, send me the address,” he stated, “And make sure she is ready and waiting for me to pick her up. I’m not one for standing around waiting on people, especially she-wolves that are just putting on make-up.”

“I’ll make sure she is aware of your attitude and request. Though I don’t see it being a problem, she’s not one to wear a great deal of make-up. A natural beauty, wouldn’t you say Marian?” his father asked his mother.

“Oh, yes, pretty as a picture.”

He was betting she was, and willing to climb right into his bed at his father's request as well, just like all the others.