Chapter Four
1383 Words
***Present day*******
"He needs to have a mate soon!" Alexei said to his wife he was growing impatient over the fact that their only son still hasn't found his mate.
"I know, dear," Tatyana said soothingly to her husband. She was just as upset over the fact that Bardik still hasn't found his mate as her husband, but there was nothing she could do.
"If he doesn't find one and soon we will have to force our hand and give him a chosen mate," Alexei said almost sadly. He didn't want to force his son to marry someone, not of the moon goddess's choosing but an alpha wolf needs his luna. It balances them it gives them the other half of their heart. He was sure that his son would grow to love the one that was chosen, but it wasn't the same.
"But dear, you aren't in such a hurry for your daughters?" Tatyana said, smiling over the fact that Alexei was completely content to keep the girls here and not marry them off anytime soon. They had that when Irina's mate had found her, but he was abusive and out for power. Alexei was having none of that and took 'care of him'. Alexei made Sergei reject Irina, then he had left her a note saying how much he was sorry and that he would love her forever but he was leaving to better himself. He hasn't been seen or heard from since. Tatyana was sure there was more to it than that, but she knew better than to question Alexei over those things. The less she knew the happier she was. She was just thankful that Alexei handled Sergei and she wasn't the one to get her hands on him. She would have torn him to shreds in the middle of the pack lands and not thought twice about it.
Just then Bardik walked in, "Hello matushka, " he greeted his mother, planting a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Father," he said giving his father a short greeting, but one that was filled with respect and love.
"Bardik, we were just speaking about you," Tatyana said warmly to her son, wrapping him in a hug.
"Oh yeah?" he said, "Should I be worried?" he joked.
Tatyana looked down, and Bardik looked at his father, his eyebrow raised. Alexei cleared his throat nervously. "Uh, son, you really need to think about maybe going with a chosen mate," he said, trying hard to soften the blow.
Bardik's expression changed from light-hearted to angry, "You know my feelings on this mother, father."
"We know dear, but you're getting older and so are we," Tatyana said trying to soothe her son. "And you need a luna."
"We have a few packs that have approached us, they need our protection and some are willing to offer their daughters in exchange," Alexei said.
Bardik turned his nose up in disgust at the thought of the weaker packs trying to sell off their daughters in exchange for protection from the Dragonmoon pack. They were the strongest pack on this side of the country and they all knew it.
"Hell, even Orin has offered," Alexei said, referring to the Alpha of the strongest pack on the other side of the country, the Bloodmoon pack.
"I will not be bought off, and neither will these women. They are not cattle and neither am I. As a matter of fact, I came here to tell you that I think I found her." Bardik said honestly. He couldn't be sure just yet as he only caught a glimpse of her and the faintest of scents, but he wanted to find out a few things first.
"Oh, really son?" Tatyana said excitedly.
"Yes, but I can't be sure just yet," he added. He didn't want to get his mother's hopes up only to have them dashed.
Alexei was looking at his son, he was both happy for him and confused at the same time. "What do you mean you think you found her?"
"I didn't get a good look at her, and she has just come home," Bardik began.
"Oh, I didn't realize we had pack members that were out of town?" Tatyana said her curiosity was now raised at her son's statement.
"She's not from this pack, momma," Bardik said.
"Oh, what pack is she from then?" This question came from Alexei.
"I'm not sure," Bardik said trying to buy himself some time.
"Well, then you must bring her here. So we can meet her and her family," Tatyana said smiling.
"She's been away from her family for quite some time and I will have to be heading back out on another assignment. I don't know when that will happen," Bardik said.
"Oh, yes, that reminds me," Alexei said, "How is that young lady firefighter, Freya, I think is her name?"
Bardik smiled, his father really did care about other people, well, in this case, mythics. "She is rescued and home, but we will be in mourning as Aislinn was killed," he said referring to the member of the elder council. He hated talking about his work in front of his mother, she worried way too much.
"Oh, dear, does this mean you are going back to that dreadful isle?" she asked, concerned about her son's wellbeing.
"No, momma we will be going to Dracini Island, " Bardik said casually.
"Dracini Island?" Alexei asked curiously. He had heard they were planning on building a resort there soon for the mythics.
"Yes, remember, we go there every few years to help them with the dragons that are coming of age," Bardik reminded his father. Bardik filled his parents in on the events that happened, careful to leave out the elder council for now. If he told his parents they were involved, they may want to try to seek a visit with them to convince him to take the chosen mate. That was the last thing he wanted, not when he was this close to finding out if that young woman claiming to be Alev's sister is who he thinks she is.
"I will be leaving shortly. I have to find and speak with Justin. I'll need him to hold down the station and when I get back, we have to find a replacement for Abigor," Bardik said, spitting out the name of the demon with such distaste his mother tsked him.
"Now, you know better than to speak like that, son," she corrected him.
"Sorry, momma. Father, I do have a question for you. If I may, in private?" Bardik asked.
His mother smiled, "I will see you before I leave, dear," she said more of a demand than a reassurance.
"Of course, matushka," he said hugging her and walking her to the door.
Once she was out the door and down the hallway, heading to the girls' room, Bardik turned to his father.
"Now, what was your question, son?" Alexei asked, rubbing his bearded chin thoughtfully. He almost knew what his son was going to ask.
"I need to know the history of our pack, " Bardik said, calmly.
"What do you mean?" Alexei asked, almost nervously.
"Well, most of the other packs in the world are named, Bloodmoon, Silvermoon, Blackmoon things like that. Yet we are the Dragonmoon pack, why?"
Alexei stood and walked to the bookshelf behind his desk, he reached for a small simple book and handed it to Bardik.
Bardik looked at the book and laughed outright, "The Dragon's Tale?" Bardik scoffed, "This is a fairy tale, father. We read it as children and the girls just loved it. What does it have to do with our pack?"
Alexei looked at Bardik, " I think you need to read it again, son. With adult eyes," was all he said. He put his hand on his son's shoulder, patting it. "I think it will answer more than you know," he said and left his son holding the book with a puzzled look on his face.
- Writer
