Felix

It's the last week of Summer.

I am Felix Underwood Huntington, 17 years old, eldest son of the first female Alpha of the Rutherford Falls pack, the biggest, strongest, most revered werewolf pack of the entire East Coast.

Naturally, werewolves live hidden from society, only the humans who are mated to us know about it. Contrary to popular belief, we don't need to shift at the full Moon. We can choose when and if we want to and only start shifting in our teenage years, so no child accidentally shifts in daycare.

Unfortunately, werewolves don't get to pick their mates, the Moon Goddess does. And she doesn't care if your mate is human, what gender they are, or even where they live. She'll make your paths cross, but the rest is up to you. You decide whether or not to pursue them.

Of course, it's not that easy. Those who don't accept the bond spend the rest of their lives trying to get past the worst breakup they could possibly go through, even though they were never together in the first place, and eventually become suicidal.

So, yeah. It's not that much of a choice indeed.

But that is especially the case for me.

See, Alphas can't ascend, that is to succeed their parents, without a mate. It's impossible. For any pack known to exist.

To a werewolf, a mate means you're complete. It's the calm before the storm. It's the smile that makes your day. Not to mention, in most cases, they give you the offspring that one day will succeed you. A child outside of the mate bond can't succeed anyone. That's why underage sex is such a taboo in our community.

Which is not to say it doesn't happen. But smart parents lecture their kids well on contraceptive measures, less they want a scandal on their hands.

But that is not my concern. And no, I don't mean because I'm a guy. Come on, guys are responsible for it too.

But no, I'm not concerned about it because I've never been that intimate with a girl before. Let's just say my proclivities lay elsewhere.

So this is me, 6 months before my ascension, waiting. I've trained, I've studied, I've done everything I could to prepare myself for it. But the next part is in the Goddess' hands.

Like it has been since the beginning of time for werewolves.

But at least I have it better than my mom. She had to compete with her brother for who'd succeed my granddad. Whoever got mated first would ascend, and let's just say it was a battle till the very end.

Alphas in all packs are dynasties, after all. Sure, one could lose the challenge at any full moon and not be the Alpha anymore. But that hasn't happened to any Huntington in the last 140 years since the pack was founded.

In other words, it's a lot of pressure on me, the heir.

A lot of giant shoulders and history to live up to. But then again, I was born for it.

So no, I don't envy my siblings who don't have to care about knowing who their mates are before they turn 18. Or if they'd feel prepared enough to continue our family business, that is to lead a pack as strong and feared as ours.

The only person I kind of envy is my best friend Micah. His name's Michael Carl Johnson II, but when I was a kid I called him Micah and it stuck.

He's the son of the Beta of the pack, Paul Johnson. And he turned 18 almost 3 months ago. He still hasn't found his mate yet, but at least he's ready for it. He can smell them half a mile away. I can't scent mine until I'm 18. The best I can hope for is to dream about them.

And yes, it can take several years to find your mate. Some find them in their early 30s. But I can't think like that otherwise, I'd go crazy. Neither can Micah, he is as anxious as his dad was at his age to find his mate. Or so we were told.

His mom works as a nurse at the same hospital my grandma does. My granddad was the former Beta. But since his son turned out to be the Luna, my mom had to pick someone else to be the Beta, so she picked Paul, her brother's best friend, who actually trained to be the Beta of my uncle when they thought HE would succeed my grandfather. It's a great story.

Now, back to my story, at this point in time, I should have already dreamed about my mate. Like the ascending Alphas have before me. Still, nothing. I hope our return to school next week will jog something in the Moon Goddess.

I know I have time. But it takes work to convince someone to be mated to an Alpha. They'd have to drop everything and live here with me. Of course, that wouldn't happen if I were to be mated to another werewolf. They already know the deal.

But let's not count the chickens just yet. Or something like that. I'm a little fuzzy on how the saying goes.

Right now, I'm waking up to another dreamless sleep in my room at the pack house.

The pack house is the last home inside a compound in our territory. We live in a massive land walled all around us with just one gate to either enter or leave. Several houses also make up a good portion of the compound. Naturally, only werewolves are allowed to live or enter here, humans only if mated to one of us.

It is guarded by 50 trained warriors who patrol our territory to protect us from rogues, lone wolves who travel through our town sometimes, even though they shouldn't. Wolves are super territorial. Any trespasser gets killed.

If they are adults, of course. Nobody would kill children, which is why when they found a young wolf alone in the woods after his guardian was killed, warriors brought him to the pack, not knowing what to do with him.

My mom ordered him to be delivered to the authorities but said she was available to care for the child in case they didn't have anyone equipped to deal with him. They didn't.

So, she and my dad have been taking care of him ever since. It's been 4 years. No one could inform where he came from or even what his last name was. He only knew his first name: Gregory.

I go downstairs to the dining hall. Everyone was already there except for my mom and dad.

"Good morning, everyone. Good morning, Carol. Nate. Greg. Slept well?" - I asked as I took my seat. Everyone had a seat charted at the table. My parents are at the head. Followed by their children, other family members including my uncle Matt Underwood's family, then unmated pack members and warriors who live in the house with us. We all eat together.

There's even a seat for the Beta family when they visit us. They live in a house inside the compound, but Beta Johnson is here all the time since this house is where his office is located. As is my mom's.

"Good morning, Felix. I did. And you?" - Carol, my younger sister, replied. The others did too.

"I did, yes. Excited for the last week of summer." - I answered in a chipper tone. I'm hungry, but no one can eat before the Alpha does. It's a pesky rule that I'll only come to appreciate when I succeed her.

My parents entered the dining hall. All the warriors and pack members arise and greet them, after bowing their heads. The rest of the family just bowed and greeted them.

"Good morning, children. Excited for the last week of summer?" - Mom asked as she and dad took their seats.

"Very much, mom." - Nate, my younger brother, replied with a smile.

"Me too. I can't wait to return to school. Go figure, right?" - I spoke in an ironic tone.

"Yes, maybe you should take this opportunity and raise your grades a little. I was valedictorian, you know?" - Mom poked me. She never misses an opportunity to remind us of that fact.

"I know, mom. I'll try." - I replied with a weak smile.

"Suppose your brother is running and encounters a human. He gets scared and bites him. What would you do as Alpha?" - Mom questioned me.

Because of the Alpha challenges, ever since I was little my mom has been quizzing me on potential questions. When her dad was Alpha, he changed the law so that there was no more fight to the death in case of a challenge. Now, it's a debate. And mom has never lost once. Never got one question wrong - or at least worse than her opponent.

"Why would I be scared of a human? They should be frightened of ME!" - Nate argued. Mom glared at him.

I had to answer the question to her satisfaction. Every single day. Honestly, I think I preferred the fights. *nervous laughter*

"Gregory, are you okay? What are your plans for today?" - Dad asked him, raising a concerned eyebrow.

"Yes Luna, I am. I'm going on a run with Micah and Felix after breakfast. Then, to the waterfalls." - He answered with a modest smile.

"I want to go on a run too!" - Nate interjected, annoyed.

"Really, Nate? Can't you go tomorrow?" - I asked him with a faint smile.

"Why? Why can't I run with you?" - Nate insisted, clearly bothered by my resistance.

"I didn't say you can't go. I just wanted to spend some time with my friends today." - I replied, sincerely. He was not happy about it.

"Why can't I be your friend too?" - He rebuked. Greg gives me a pity glance.

"Because you're more than my friend. You're my brother. And if you want to, you can come. I guess." - I conceded. Damn, Greg. You had to open your big mouth.

"Yes! I will." - Nate shouted with unflinching happiness.

"But I can't promise to wait for you, okay? It's a run, not a walk." - I teased him.

"Felix, please, I can outrun any of you guys." - He snickered. We all looked at him shocked.

"If you want to run too, we can, Carol. Just so you know. It's not boys only." - Mom told her with a sympathetic glance.

"I know, mom, thanks. But I'm good. Plus, I can run with my friends. I don't need these dorks." - She smirked, looking at the boys and me.

"I would invite you, but we're not bringing any clothes." - I told her, but she already got the implication before I said anything.

"What?! No clothes? In that case, I'm not coming either." - Nate said, looking mildly disgusted.

"Suit yourself, buddy. But you can bring a bathing suit if you want to. It's not mandatory to be nude." - I snickered.

"No, it's okay, Felix. I'm good." - He replied, displeased.

"I loved running with my brother after he shifted. And my dad too. If you want, I can..." - Dad reminisced.

"Thanks, dad. But not this time. Plus, it would be a little weird for Micah... You know, with you there." - I interrupted him. He looked disappointed.

"But that doesn't mean we can't tomorrow. Just us Underwoods. How about it?" - I asked him and saw a smile light up his face.

"I mean, tomorrow is Monday. But I can move some things around if you'd like. Of course, I'll run with you. And Nate too." - He said with a wide grin. Nate looked happy at the prospect.

"So, son..."

"No, mom, I'm sorry. Don't ask, okay? I promise I'll tell you!" - I cut her off looking really annoyed. She asks me every other day if I had a dream about my mate. It's really triggering my anxiety.

In some packs, the passing of the title takes place AFTER the ascending Alpha turns 18. But not ours. I become Alpha on the day of my 18th birthday, but not if I don't have a mate. This is why the mate dreams are so important, they can help us get our Luna ready to assume their role.

"Sorry, son. I didn't mean to pressure you. Trust me, if anyone can relate to the lack of dreams it is me." - Mom comforted me in a soothing tone.

"That's because you were already making out with your mate in secret. That doesn't apply to me." - I teased her, jokingly.

"I don't know, son. There's been some awfully strong scents coming from your room sometimes." - She stated and we all looked at her disgusted. Even dad.

"Mom, if that's his secret affair then he's been having it since he was 13." - Carol snickered. All present laughed at this. I grimaced.

Later, I went to Micah's house with Greg and we went to the woods. We hung our clothes at a tree at the beginning of the trail before shifting. Very few people passed that spot except for pack wolves and they could catch our scent in it. Plus, there's not much stealing in an 11k people town.

We ran for almost an hour. It's exhilarating. Me, Micah, and Greg. We ran till we reached the beautiful waterfalls at the end of a trail in the woods that named our city. The water was nice. The climate was warm. It's also a great spot for a date, as history would tell us.

We shifted back into humans and jumped into the water, splashing all around us. It was a nice fun time, not like we had many options in a small town such as this.

Later, we lay down on the ground to catch some sun.

"So Felix, have you..."

"Goddess, not you too, Micah! My mom already asks me that each morning. Please, not you too. I promise that when I do, you'll be my first text." - I shouted at him. I know he was just curious, but I'm upset.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just find it so unfair that you get to dream about them. And here I am 18 for 3 months and still nothing." - He whined. Greg giggled.

"I know, but it'll happen, Micah. Trust me. Plus, your mate can be waiting for you right now. You turned 18 just after school was over." - I consoled him.

"I know, don't remind me." - He covered his face with his hands. He turned his head away from me.

"Speaking of which, Greg, how will you know? I mean, we don't even know when your birthday is." - I pointed it out, uncomfortably.

"I was thinking just about the same thing. But yeah, I don't know. I guess we'll have to wait and see it." - He spoke with a sad voice.

"Yeah. I'm sorry, buddy. I didn't mean to bring it up." - I regretted it.

"That's okay. It's not like I have a dynasty waiting for me to find my mate." - He snickered. Micah laughed.

"Tell me about it. My granddad had already dreamed about my namesake at this point. So did my uncle Emmett." - I realized in a gloomy tone.

"It'll happen, bro. At least you don't have to compete with your brother and sister for it." - Micah smirked.

"Yeah, thank Goddess for that. Because I'd totally lose to Nate. He's so precocious that one. Can you believe he said he was faster than all of us?" - I joked.

"Let's make a run for our clothes and prove him wrong. The last one to arrive mates last." - Micah said as he stood up. Greg and I geared up for a sprint.

"You're so going down!" - I looked at him menacingly.

"Stop wishful thinking! Let's go!" - He joked. By the time I stopped laughing, I had lost the race. Bastard!

Whoever they are, I need this mate. I'll be damned if I let anything or anyone come between me and my ascension!

I'm becoming Alpha in 6 months. Come hell or high water. No one is standing in my way. Or so I hope. That is nothing else that I want for my life.

A|N: Welcome back, everyone!

For those of you who have never read "The Twins Dilemma", there's a prelude to this book that is available here:

https://tapas.io/episode/2532538

It's not mandatory for understanding the plot, but it'll give you some context to the story. I highly recommend it.

Love,

Léo.