Chapter 19

Alpha Ceyden

-Xabien-

“Ugh, who’s this ugly mutt? Your kind isn’t welcome here,” a wolf with long black hair and a fierce scowl intercepts me before I can enter alpha Ceyden’s office. I frown at the woman, giving her a once over with my eyes.

“Says the only bitch for miles around.”

She stares back at me, before breaking into a massive grin and leaping into my arms for a hug. “God you bloody wanker you haven’t visited in so long!” She says excitedly as she pulls back, and I smile sheepishly.

“I mean, we’re seeing each other in like a week and a half anyway,” I begin, before she cuts me off with a playful shove. Except, she’s incredibly strong, one of the best fighters in Ceyden’s pack, and she almost knocks me over.

“Of course though, you’re not actually here to see little old me, nobody ever is,” she grumbles, knocking on Ceyden’s office door before just barging straight in. Ceyden sits up straighter, a massive grin breaking over his features as he sees me.

He springs from his chair, breezing past Riya and wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug. “Xabien! I knew you were coming, but still, it’s been too long!” My best friend says enthusiastically, and I smile.

“Yeah, things have been a little busy…although Atticus probably already told you about that,” I say nervously - I mean, they must know about Rat, right?

Ceyden just looks at me quizzically, whilst Riya shifts awkwardly from foot to foot. “Well…I sort of, never told Cey what Atti told me,” she begins, and Ceyden whips round to stare at his mate.

“Oh my God, now you’re keeping secrets from me with my own brother?” He asks in disbelief, and Riya just shrugs nonchalantly. “Babe, I’ve been doing that since the day I knew who you were. I just don’t tell people secrets that I’ve been told.”

Ceyden smiles fondly at his mate, snaking an arm around her waist. “Wish the same could be said for Atti, but he’ll tell anyone anything if he wants to. So, what’s this all about then?” He asks, glancing between me and Riya.

Clearing my throat, I reach a hand up to my neck, before pulling back my shirt a little to reveal my mating mark. Riya squeals- that’s something you don’t want to be subjected to, her and Atticus squealing at the same time. Those two are a force to be reckoned with.

Ceyden’s jaw drops as he takes a step towards me, reaching out to touch the mark before he can stop himself. That’s normally considered a very rude gesture, and very offensive, like if someone just pulled your shirt open. But, this is my best friend, and I can see the incredulity on his face.

He and Riya have been mated for 10 years, since way before I met them, but I’d never even had the mate dream, so hearing nothing and then suddenly I’m mated, must be a lot to them. “Is she- is she your fated one, or someone else? It doesn’t even matter, so long as you’re happy,” he says gently, and I smile at him.

I know how traditional this pack is when it comes to fated mates, and I don’t think there’s ever been a wolf from this pack who hasn’t ended up with their fated one. Still, Ceyden knows I’ve been in relationships before with people who weren’t my mate, and I know he’d never judge me.

Clearing my throat, I address the first thing which Ceyden has wrong. “Oh, by the way, my mate is a man.”

Both Ceyden and Riya’s eyes go wide, before Riya cackles with laughter. “Oh my God seriously?! Oh my- Atti told me you asked him a really awkward question because you wanted to mate with someone, and I was like ‘huh ok, so Xabien has a mate now, that’s great and all’, but I didn’t realise- you totally asked him about gay sex didn’t you?!”

I cover my face with my hands, I knew that phone call would come back to bite me, and of course Atticus would find it too funny to not say something to Riya, his best friend. I’m surprised he didn’t tell Caro too- oh no.

I swear to God, if Atticus told Caro, and Caro told Myles, and my beta knows I had to ask Atticus about that- I might as well just go live in a cave right now.

“You seriously asked my little brother? Why didn’t you just ask anyone from your own pack?” Ceyden asks with a laugh, and I groan. “I couldn’t think of anyone who was gay who wouldn’t mind telling me and whom I wouldn’t mind asking.”

Both Riya and Ceyden give me a look, and I nod in exasperation. “I know, Atticus is the most likely to make fun of me- I know I dug my own grave by asking him, but he’s gay! And I didn’t think he’d tell people, not really.”

“I mean, he only told me you wanted to shag someone,” Riya begins before she starts laughing at my expression again. “Stop it! This was supposed to be a serious conversation, not you just laughing at me!” I complain, but I’m already laughing too.

“Oh come on, stop being such a big baby. Blake puts up with all our teasing 24/7, and he’s not any worse for wear!” I stare at the woman, thinking that she’s evil incarnate, whilst also sending my regards out to Atticus’s poor mate, who has to deal with both Atticus and Riya on a regular occurrence.

Still laughing slightly, Ceyden pulls me into another hug. “How about you tell us about this mate of yours then?” I nod, before chewing on my lip slightly.

“There’s one other thing - the reason why I’m actually here. I need to ask a favour of you, and it’s a rather big one,” I explain, and Ceyden’s expression immediately goes serious. “Is everything ok? Did something happen?” He asks worriedly, and I shake my head, before nodding slowly.

“Well…how would you feel about taking in two rogues?”