Since he had no Luna tying the pack together they relied on him to maintain the pack bonds. While loyalty and trust were powerful it didn’t quite make up for the natural strength of a Luna’s care and love.
“I’m sorry, dear. I know you were counting on this trip.”
“It’s all right, mom…I found her.”
“…You did? Is she there with you? Can I talk to her? What’s her name? What’s she like?” the questions spilled out of his eager mother like a river.
“No, she’s not with me at the moment. I just scented her last night. Her name is Phoebe. Mom she’s…she’s gorgeous. You should have seen how she interacts with her pack’s pups.”
Just the mention of it had Lobo wagging his tail.
“Oh, sweetie. She sounds wonderful. I’m so happy for you,” his mother gushed. “But you haven’t spoken to her yet?”
“No, not yet. This pack…the Alpha and Luna are…strange.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m pretty sure they are chosen mates but their bond…it almost seems, well, repressed,” Jason sighed. He couldn’t think of a better word to describe it. “It’s not like yours and dad’s bond and how strained it became. It’s like they are doing everything they can to deliberately weaken it.”
“…If that’s true it means the alpha most likely met his fated mate and rejected her before taking his chosen mate.”
“You think so? He had to know it would be risky.”
Aside from the advantages of a fated mate there was another danger when it came to rejecting them and that was the possibility of losing one’s wolf entirely. Their wolf spirits hungered for their fated mates. If their human counterpart rejected that mate it could drive their wolf insane. Their spirits became unpredictable or depressed refusing to even communicate with their human half. Sometimes they completely lost the ability to shift. Other times they went feral and became a crazed rogue.
For an alpha the risks were far too great. Why take such a gamble? Just what could the Rimrock alpha have been thinking when he rejected his mate for another?
“You’re right to be cautious,” his mother intoned. “If he finds out your fated mate is a member of his pack it could send his wolf over the edge. There’s no telling how it could react.”
‘Must protect Mate!’ Lobo growled.
“Cam guarded her place last night,” Jason said. “I’ll talk to her today and wrap up my visit as soon as I can.”
“Take your time and don’t rush the bond. Your mate deserves some romance before you sweep her away. Once I tell the pack you’ve found your Luna they’ll settle down and prepare to welcome her.”
Jason grimaced. His pack had been waiting over thirty years for their Luna. Though his parents were fated mates their pairing had been strained by his father’s previous indiscretions and his mother was never able to properly bond with the pack. Perhaps that was why it was so easy for Jason to assume control even though his father was still in his prime. Most alphas handed down leadership only after years of training and preparation.
Jason had taken over his pack when he was twenty-one. He had been through warrior training and alpha training since he was twelve but he was hardly ready for such responsibility. Yet the moment Lobo awakened it was clear he was no ordinary wolf and almost immediately eclipsed his father.
His father tried to deny it but there was no hiding how even his wolf bowed to his son. Once Jason turned eighteen his father finally accepted the truth and started preparing to officially hand over control of the pack even though Jason had yet to find his fated Luna.
For years Jason managed his pack on his own building their confidence and loyalty in stages until they were united under his leadership. Their bonds were strong but still lacking. The final piece was finally within his grasp: his Luna.
“Good luck, sweetheart,” his mother’s voice broke through his thoughts.
“Thanks. I’ll call you later.”
“You do that but don’t interrupt your time with your Luna. Use this time to establish and strengthen your bond. When you come back it is sure to be hectic and it will be more difficult to spend time together.”
“Right.”
“See you soon. And I can’t wait to meet her!”
“Bye mom.”
Jason hung up the phone. Running a hand through his hair he headed to the bathroom. His mother said to use this time to establish his bond but how? He had only given this pack a total of three days for a security assessment so his schedule was tight and it would look suspicious if he extended it without reason. After breakfast he was supposed to evaluate their warriors and observe their training methods.
The full schedule hadn’t bothered him at the other packs but now he realized how little time he had to simply mingle with the rest of the pack. He had to find time to meet his mate and speak with her. Lobo prowled the back of his mind growling softly. They were both anxious to see their mate again. Which reminded him…
“Cam.”
“I’m here, Alpha.”
“How was last night?”
“Uneventful. Luna was up early though. She’s been awake for an hour already.”
“Is she…And what is she doing now?”
“Right now she’s sitting on her porch swing with a cup of herbal tea reading. I can’t see the book title from here though. Should I get closer?”
“No. Don’t disturb her. I suppose she’ll head to breakfast soon.”
“I don’t think so, Alpha. I smelled eggs and bacon earlier so I’m pretty sure she made her own.”
Jason frowned. Made her own? It certainly wasn’t out of the ordinary for wolves to enjoy a private meal from time to time especially if they lived away from the packhouse. However, wolves were social by nature. So far the only ones his Luna spent time with were the pack’s pups. He wondered why.
Not to mention her scent in the packhouse was virtually non-existent. It seemed she avoided it as much as possible but why would she do that? Wolves were not solitary by nature. Lobo whimpered at the thought of their mate being lonely. They should be with her.
“All right, Cam. Keep watch. I’ll send Luke to relieve you so you can eat.”
“Actually if you just send him out with food I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I already know my mate isn’t here and after last night’s party I got a sense my kind wasn’t appreciated.”
Jason grimaced. Wolves generally didn’t hold the same prejudices as humans when it came to s****l orientation. Wolves judged others by their aura and ability rather than their bed partners but some younger packs did harbor such views especially if they associated closely with human settlements.
Such prejudice made it difficult for wolves like Cam though he was more than capable of putting others in their place. For those who lacked pack status or physical strength to defend themselves staying with their pack could be impossible and sometimes they were even driven out, forced to become rogues which was truly cruel.
Packs like Blue Moon worked to help such wolves transfer to other packs. In the day in age of computers and internet helping wolves forced out by such circumstances was even easier. In fact the Strawberry Moon Pack in California made helping such wolves its mission establishing a network of safe havens ensuring they could find a permanent home and their mates. Though Cam probably never thought about it visiting the Rimrock Pack was a stark reminder he was lucky to be born in a pack like Blue Moon.
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