Landon

Bullseye.

Our plan for revenge worked out exactly as planned. I just feel bad for the innocent children who got caught in the crossfire. I mean, I do feel bad for all the people that died. I don’t wish death upon anyone, much less someone else’s father, sibling or mother.

I hate that this had to happen, I really do. I don’t condone violence of any kind but sometimes it’s the only language that people understand. If I could have my father back and forget about this whole business, I would trade all that in a heartbeat.

I wasn’t raised to display violent behavior, I only train in fighting because I have to be at the top of my game and be able to lead the warriors should the need arise. I even regretted punching that guy last month, though he touched a nerve.

I know five thousand lives for one is a hard pill to swallow and difficult to comprehend. I don’t pretend this was a fair tradeoff, but I needed to send a definitive message.

We are not to be fucked with.

We have never been one to be fucked with, in reality.

My father followed the rules of engagement like a Genebra Convention of sorts. We don’t attack family, we don’t attack mates, we don’t attack children. He kept things civil and so did the former Alpha of the Blood Moon pack.

My dad was even considering calling a truce as Beta Carillon pointed out. And I would be fine with it, should I one day inherit a peaceful pack. I’m sure my sweet brother would be fine too, since he stands to ascend as Alpha of Regency Falls.

My point being none of these things happened and they needed to be taught a hard lesson. And the lesson has certainly been learned now. I know nothing can replace my dad’s life, but that is not what this is about.

It’s about the fact that no child should be left without their father needlessly.

I know that in the human world not every father is worth starting a war over.

Except we weren’t the ones who started this war, but we are sure as hell the ones who finished it, for good. For that reason alone, I’m very damn proud of myself. I truly wished we could do this without all the lives taken, I really do. But this is not the time to pull punches.

Though I can’t take credit for the plan of attack, nor do I want to, it achieved the result intended. There’s something to be said about striking once to strike no more. I think they got the message. *smiles boastfully*

Actually, I stand corrected.

The strike did NOT work as planned. If it did, their Alpha should be dead, not his mate. That was an unfortunate miscalculation, but we can’t predict human behavior to a fault. We planned for the poison to hit him, not her.

I don’t feel good about this, but now he knows exactly how my mom feels. She didn’t deserve to lose her mate either, especially the way she did. I’m told his father is now back as Alpha of their pack since his son is devastated by the loss of his mate.

I bet he regrets killing my father now. *evil smirk*

I don’t mean to be petty, but I would have begged him on my knees for my father’s life. I would have offered him the world if he only had the foresight of kidnapping my dad instead of having him killed.

Anyway, it is what it is. There is no use dwelling over it. What’s done is done and I have no regrets. I can’t afford to. I needed to show to the werewolf world the might of our pack. It all comes down to this. People need to know we are not to be messed with.

After the news traveled the world and back, I’m sure by now every wolf pack in the country knows what happened. Though the humans treated this as a terrorist attack, werewolf packs know the truth.

A truth every single werewolf should know by heart.

Outside of a challenge, you don’t kill an Alpha. Especially not from another pack. Not if you know what is good for you. Honestly, I don’t know what Alpha Staedler was thinking…

“Good morning, mom. Morning, brats.” I greeted my family as I walked inside the dining hall for breakfast.

“Good morning, son. I know you got what you wanted, but you don’t need to sound so chipper. People died.” My mom reprimanded me for my sunny disposition.

“So did my dad.” I shot back, not wanting to feel bad about the successful attack.

My mom glared daggers at me but stayed quiet. Her silent judgment was already speaking volumes.

“Is it true that Alpha Staedler is sending his own son here? Why?” Mom asked me after a while of uncomfortable silence.

“You know it is true, mom. You are better informed than I am.” I snickered. Both my siblings also laughed at this comment.

“I don’t know why. He didn’t specify, he only asked that his son be granted passage into our territory along with Beta Willmont.” I explained, puzzled myself as to what the hell is he supposed to do here.

“Maybe he is a spy.” My sister chimed in, playfully.

My mom and I laughed at her innocence, but then she glared at us for mocking her.

“Sweetie, if he were to spy on us he can’t be announced. It needs to be done incognito.” My mom explained. Then she had to explain what ‘incognito’ meant.

“Good morning, Barnetts. How are you doing this fine morning?” Gustavo greeted us, entering the dining hall in jeans and a dark blue shirt. My friend has the rare ability to look good no matter what he wears. I, on the other hand, have to invest in fine clothing.

“Morning, Stavo. Right now we are baffled as to why your mate’s roommate is coming here to Regency Falls.” I told him, intrigued by this event. Though I had no reason to deny passage to him at this moment, I am very curious about his upcoming presence here.

Gustavo took a seat at the table, but not before kissing my sister on the cheek, caressing my brother’s hair and winking at my mom in a playful greeting.

“Oh yeah, my dad told me about that. Maybe he is searching for his mate here.” He conjectured, causing both my mother and I to get wide eyed at this unexpected visit.

“Wait, he is unmated too?” I gasped in shock. I didn’t see that coming…

“Yeah, haven’t I told you that already?” Gustavo said, absentmindedly.

“No, you haven’t. I think I’d remember it if you did.” I glared at him, sounding annoyed.

“Wait, that’s not actually a bad idea. What if your mate is from their pack?” Mom speculated, looking at me like a lightbulb went on in her head.

“With my luck, then he died on the day of the attack. It would be punishment from the Goddess to me.” I said, feeling terribly saddened all of the sudden.

I lowered my head and contemplated being mateless forever. Can you imagine the cruel twist of fate? To be responsible for killing my own mate? Honestly, it would be horrible for me. Of all the things I had to survive in life so far, being left mateless would be the worst.

I do miss my father every single day, but I was put on Earth to be mated according to our Goddess. It is the way of our people and almost every adult I know is already mated and marked. And here I am, wondering. Worried about the worst possible outcome.

“Hey, you don’t know that.” Gustavo reached out to lift my head and look at him.

“Your mother is right. Your mate could be from that pack. But there is nothing to suggest he is already dead. Have faith.” He spoke in an uplifting tone.

“Even if you are right, I can’t go to their pack and look for him. I’d be murdered as soon as I stepped foot in there. Forget about it!” I muttered, feeling discouraged.

Gustavo and my mom grimaced as they both knew that to be true. If my mate is in fact from that pack, I’ll never find him. I can’t go to their territory even if I bring my whole warrior army with me.

“I refuse to believe your mate is less than 50 miles from here and you’d never meet him. The Goddess has to create a way for you two to meet each other. Maybe stipulate an exchange, have them send their unmated people here to seek out their mates and vice versa.” My mom suggested and it was time for a lightbulb to go on in my head.

“Mom, you’re a genius!” I celebrated the idea, getting up to kiss her cheek enthusiastically.

“Hey, I’m not just a pretty face, you know?” Mom snickered, laughing at her own silliness.

“I love you, mom. You are the best!” I melted and she caressed my head softly across the table.

“I will always be here for you, Lan. No matter what.” She smiled at me with her nurturing gaze.

“Also, you can’t let that Staedler kid loose in our territory. Have someone accompany his stay here.” Mom continued, wisely.

“I already have the perfect person in mind.” I pondered, mischievously. Gustavo looked at me with a worried frown.

AN HOUR LATER.

"No! No! No!" Grayson was denying my request vehemently.

"But you're the only person who already knows him." I insisted with puppy dog eyes.

We are in his home. Gustavo and I came here straight from the pack house to talk to him. Though Gustavo came only as a buffer, of sorts. He already knew the task would be difficult considering the roommates’ relationship.

"I don't care! You need a babysitter. You have 150 warriors at your beck and call. Not me." He rebuked, sounding annoyed at me.

"I am aware of that. But I don't need to make the kid feel uncomfortable with a warrior escorting him like some sort of criminal." I argued in a meek tone.

"First of all, he is not a kid. He's 20 years old. Also, why don't you accompany him?" He shot back, revolted.

"Because I need to meet with their Beta for negotiations." I explained, humbly.

"I understand, I do. But I am on vacation from seeing his ugly face. I wish you the best of luck." He shot it down definitively.

I breathed out a defeated sigh. It was a long shot, I guess… *eye roll*

"Sorry, Stavo. You are the next best thing." I looked at my friend, who pouted like a baby.

"I knew it! Thanks, mate." He glared daggers at Grayson, annoyed at him.

"Sorry, not sorry. You don't have to see him next Fall. Good luck finding him a mate that'll put up with his loud nightmares." Gray said in a snarky tone.

"If I can put up with your farting, I'm sure putting up with a little nightmare should be a walk in the park." Gustavo snapped at him, receiving a death glare from his mate.

I snorted out loud at this. I know what he’s talking about. Not that I'm adding fuel to this particular fire.

"Anyway, I just had to ask. Always nice seeing you, Gray." I said after an uncomfortable glaring match between the mates.

"It was nice seeing you too, Lan. Good luck with the negotiations." He smiled at me, despite being at odds with my best friend.

I left the lovebirds to kiss and make up and returned to my house. Despite everything, at least something good can come out of this whole mess between their pack and ours.

If we can start a collaboration to get more people mated, better for the unmated people involved. Ours and theirs.

It's not actually a novelty. People have been doing it for centuries. Hell, I did it when I was 18. I traveled around the state to try to find my mate.

The only inaccessible pack to us was the Blood Moon, so now maybe we can get the entire state integrated in a network of mating possibilities.

I know I certainly look forward to that day, though I’d much prefer if we could have reached this decision before their pack was reduced in half.

There is a devil inside of me that thinks I had my own mate killed as a punishment from the Goddess for taking such action [against her people]. That would be the mother of cruel ironies.

But there is not a single drop of regret in me for the decision that I've made. No matter the cost. And yes, I do mean even if I'd never become Alpha.

I would be devastated, but I'm not exactly swimming in hope right now. So… *sigh*

"Good morning, Regent. You are late for your appointment with Beta Carillon." Lourdes greeted me with a disapproving frown.

"I was handling pack business, Lourdes. It's not like I decided to sleep in." I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

"Good. Because leaders don't sleep in unless it's their day off." She shot back at me with a smirk.

"Thank you, Lourdes." I said before heading to my office where Javier was waiting for me.

"Good morning, Beta. Sorry to keep you waiting. I was trying to get Gray to chaperone Staedler when he arrives in our territory." I explained myself, taking my seat behind the desk while Javier sat on a chair across from it.

"Morning, Regent. How did that go?" He asked, intrigued.

"No dice. He refused, so your son is gonna have to do it." I responded, getting a laugh from him.

"I bet he loved the idea." He smiled mischievously.

"Well, at least he hated less than Gray." I observed in a neutral tone.

"Good. I wanted to go over with you the terms we are gonna demand at the negotiations tomorrow.” He stated, taking out a notebook that he was carrying.

“About that, Stavo thinks that the reason why Staedler is sending his son here is because he is still unmated and–”

“He thinks you’re his mate?” He cut me off, gobsmacked.

I laughed at his proposition.

“No, Beta. I was going to say he thinks there is a possibility that his mate belongs to our pack, which got me thinking…” I clarified, building up to something.

“There is also a chance that your mate belongs to their pack.” He said, shaking his head in realization.

“Exactly. Staedler can’t be my mate because I can only be mated to an omega and I don’t think he is one. I mean, I never heard of an Alpha having omega children.” I opined in a serious tone.

“Yeah, you’re right. But what does this have to do with the negotiations?” He inquired, quizzically.

“My mom suggested we arrange for their unmated to travel here in search of their mates and vice versa. So I thought about adding this term to the negotiations.” I elaborated, getting a smile from him.

“It’s a great idea. This way in case your mate belongs to their pack you can find him when he comes here.” He spoke, finally getting my point.

“Exactly!” I raised my voice, enthusiastically.

“Your mom is a genius.” He spoke with admiration for the woman he has known for decades.

“Yes, she is.” I agreed. My mom is the best. Though I don’t like when she’s on my case just like any other young adult, there’s no questioning her wisdom.

“I have some notes for our meeting. Now we can add that to what I had already planned.” He proposed, showing me his ideas in the notebook.

We spent a good time hashing out the terms of the capitulation for tomorrow. Afterwards, I had lunch in a much better mood than I was this morning. I loved the idea of having another chance at finding my mate.

I know it’s a long shot, I’m not delusional. I even know there is the off chance I had my own mate killed. I’m aware of all the odds stacked against me.

At this point, there’s nothing else for me to look forward to. I have no idea where else to search for him. I exhausted all the outlets I could think of. So, unless I start searching out of state, I ran out of ideas at the moment.

Literally, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Though if he is in fact from that pack, there’s a good chance he lost a family member or a friend on my order. That’s gonna make for an interesting mate pairing.

By interesting, I mean it’s gonna be hell for me.

But even if I have to beg his forgiveness for the rest of my life, it’s better than to not have any mate at all.