Alpha's Solace (Black Moon Saga Book 1)

Graduation - Part 2

Adam makes his way back to where he left Marc with his mate and her family. The new plan is for Marc to visit Britney at her family’s home pack for a couple weeks before bringing her back to Spirit Moon for good as he had originally planned. Marc was not wrong about her parents’ excitement, though. They are thrilled to discover the identity of her mate and seem to be looking forward to and already planning the upcoming bonding ceremony and nuptials.

Though humans would likely find this pacing for a relationship to be far too rushed, it is quite typical for two werewolves to waste no time joining their lives and families together once they discover they are mates. There isn’t the uncertainty and unfamiliarity that humans experience when entering a new pairing. Once the mate bond is recognized and accepted by both parties, it quickly intensifies and becomes increasingly difficult for the two mates to be separated for any substantial length of time. They also know that as fated mates they will be bonded for life, so they have their whole lives to get to know every little detail about each other.

Adam and Marc drove to the school together, but now Adam offers Marc the keys to his car to take with him to visit his mate.

“Dad, are you sure?” Marc questions as he takes the keys. “How will you get home?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. I could really use a run right now to be honest. It’s been a bit since I’ve let Kieran out and he’s been restless,” Adam assures his son. “Besides, then you’ll have your own ride while you’re away.”

“Okay. Be safe. See you in a couple weeks.”

Marc gives his father one last hug before turning to head toward the car and his mate, but then he pauses as a thought pops into his head.

“Hug Kylie for me and tell her I’m sorry," he says when he turns back around. "I didn’t mean to ditch her, but you know. Things got away from me.”

“Yeah, I know. You’re going to have some more explaining and apologizing to do with that one.”

Adam waves to his son one last time before heading on foot across the parking lot toward the wooded area nearby, brooding over the fact that he has some apologizing to do with Kylie himself. His behavior before in the parking lot was unacceptable, and quite frankly, embarrassing.

Well actually, it was you, he scolds Kieran, but it’s not like I can tell her that.

Hey, I couldn’t help it, Kieran defends his earlier actions. We’re supposed to protect her. What was I supposed to think when I saw that fox with his paws all over her?

Maybe something rational like she and her friend were acting like normal kids making out?

There was nothing normal about it, Kieran insists. I don’t even like him let alone trust him.

Well as it turns out, she’s not for Marc. You’re going to have to get used to the idea that she’ll eventually end up with someone else. I don’t know what your problem is but you’re going to have to control yourself or you’ll scare her away.

Adam can feel Kieran sulking in his mind and shifts tactics to consoling him. Hey cheer up. We’re almost out of sight and then it’s your turn.

It’s about time! Kieran celebrates impatiently. It’s been a couple weeks since he’s been let out for a run.

Shortly after, Adam leaves the parking lot and walks across the narrow strip of grass and into the woods. Once he is far enough away from the outer line of trees, he starts to strip off his clothes and bundles them together inside of his shirt. Then he lets Kieran take over the shift. Once he’s on four paws and ready to go, Kieran picks up the bundle of clothes with his mouth and dashes off through the forest headed in the direction of home.

It wouldn’t take long to get back to the pack territory if he were to run straight there, but Kieran is enjoying the freedom and the feel of the wind whipping past and rustling through his fur, so he takes his sweet time. He isn’t in the mood for hunting, but that doesn’t stop him from chasing some of the smaller prey to remind them whose territory they are frolicking around in and that they are still breathing because he decided to let them.

A couple hours later, he is still traipsing around in the woods near the edge of the forest that butts up to the Logans’ backyard and decides to make his exit there and maybe visit. Once he gets closer, though, Kieran smells that Kylie is near, likely in the backyard. Slowing his approach and taking care not to be noticed by her, he settles into some low foliage where he can watch her for a moment.

Kylie is sitting on the old swing set where she and Marc used to play when they were younger, not full-on swinging but just gently pushing with her feet on the ground to wiggle the swing back and forth, staring at a spot on the ground and seeming to be lost in thought.

Kieran whimpers softly when he realizes she might be feeling sad. When she looks up, her eyes dart right to the spot where he is hidden behind some tall grass and bushes. Standing up from the swing, she begins cautiously making her way over to him as if she isn’t quite sure what’s in the bushes. Kieran steps out and reveals himself so that she doesn’t get anxious about what might be hiding there.

Shortly after Kylie came to live with the Logans and first spotted a wolf slinking around in the woods behind their house, Nate appealed to The Council to allow him to tell her a partial truth about the wolves around the area so that she didn’t have to live in fear of what might be lurking in the woods right behind their home. He explained to her that the wolves in this area were tamed and trained by some of the neighbors and are basically large, only slightly wild guard dogs that watch over the town and keep everyone safe. Now Kylie is used to seeing oversized wolves roaming the area and is even familiar with a few of them.

Once she spots Kieran, she smiles in recognition and calls out to him. This is far from his first time meeting her in his wolf form. She got used to seeing him around whenever she and Marc were in the backyard playing when they were younger, and it was Marc who told her Kieran’s name and that this wolf was specially selected by his father to watch out for them.

“Hey, Kieran!” she greets him as he runs over wagging his tail.

He truly is happy to see her and be able to interact with her in this form. She reaches out to pet him, and he nuzzles his snout into her hand to encourage her to rub his face and ears. She gladly obliges.

Dropping down to sit on the ground, she pats her leg so that Kieran will sit with her. He flops down next to her and puts his head in her lap to give her better access for petting him. She relishes the sensation as she runs her fingers slowly through the long, silky, black fur and admires his bright, gold-rimmed green eyes.

Kylie has always found this wolf to be especially stunning to look at. He is not only the largest she has seen, but he also has the softest fur of all of them, and those eyes really stand out. A part of her is a little jealous that her eyes don’t look like that.

“You know, sometimes I feel like you should be charging me treats when you come to visit because it’s like therapy,” she giggles as she strokes him.

She doesn’t say anything more, but Kieran does eventually feel her release some of the tension she has been holding in her body.

The thing he doesn’t like about being in this form is that he can’t talk to her to find out what is going on in her head. And yet, when he comes to her in his human form, she always puts her guard up and doesn’t tell him what’s going on anyway. He is just her friend’s father, and there is that barrier of formality between them. He knows she trusts him, but not with her feelings and secrets like she always has with Marc.

What she’s feeling is a little depressed and morose, the way she has been since returning from dinner with her family. This was supposed to be a day to celebrate, but somehow, she is left feeling a little empty after it all.

Not only is she missing her real parents more than ever, but she is starting to realize that she will soon be leaving her childhood behind. Part of that means that the relationships she has come to treasure and rely on are changing. Marc is already pulling away from her and acting distant, and soon she will leave this town, which will mean not seeing her family as much anymore.

She has become so used to the familiar routine – going to school and seeing the same people every day, coming home and being with the same people as always – and now it is all changing. This next phase of her life feels both exciting and terrifying, but part of her wishes she didn’t have to wait a couple months to leave like being trapped in some sort of almost independent limbo. Everything is already different and yet here she is still in the same place. She kind of wants to just leave now and rip off the band-aid.

Once her brooding and lamenting over her situation is finished, finally reaching a decision about what she should do, she exhales a cleansing sigh and speaks to Kieran one last time.

“Hey boy, I’m going in the house now so you should probably run along home or wherever it is you go,” she tells him, leaning down to kiss the top of his head as he nuzzles her cheek.

The feel of his fur against her skin makes her giggle, and then she stands and starts walking toward the house.

Kieran waits and watches until the door closes behind her before heading back into the woods to shift and let Adam take over so they can finally head home as well.

*************************  

As Kieran did earlier, Adam takes his time making the walk back home. He feels much calmer and more at peace after his run and time with Kylie and hopes that a good session of pets and cuddles also helped her with whatever she was feeling or whatever burdens she was carrying. Neither he nor Kieran have ever minded that she treats them like a beloved family pet. It is the beloved part that matters, anyway.

Entering through the back of the dining hall, Adam notices that his ex-wife, Melissa, is sitting there finishing a meal at one of the long dining tables. She and Richard, her fated mate and new husband, came to see Marc’s high school graduation and plan to stay for a few extra days. Since Rich is the Beta and younger brother of the Alpha for the Stillwater Pack of northern California, they can't leave their pack to visit very often and want to make the most of this opportunity for extra time with her son.

Though their marriage ended amicably, and he has remained friends with her, Adam always finds it a bit painful and uncomfortable to have Melissa around, especially when she brings Rich. He was never in love with her, but they have always been friends and she does represent something he has always wanted – someone to fill the role of his life partner and keep the loneliness at bay. The part of him that hurts for what he has lost not once, but twice now almost hopes that she will decide to leave sooner once he tells her that their son has found his mate and isn’t planning to return until after she and Rich plan to leave.

Making his way over to where Melissa is sitting, he gestures for an omega to bring him some food and sits across from her, putting his smile on.

“Well hello, Alpha Adam,” she begins playfully, knowing full well that when it is just the two of them, he doesn’t expect formal titles. “How was graduation number two in as many days?”

He snickers at her, appreciating that she is still the same with him as she always has been.

“Interesting, and eventful,” he summarizes. “Your son found his mate and ran off with her, and Kylie looked beautiful. That girl collected a whole list of honors and scholarships.”

“That’s good, but I’m sorry, did I hear you correctly? Marc found his mate? And ran off? And you’re just sitting there smirking at me?”

She tears off a corner of a piece of bread from her plate and tosses it at him in mock outrage.

He easily catches the bread, laughing as he tosses it back to her.

“Don’t worry, he’ll be back in a week or two,” he assures her. “He just wanted to meet her family and give her a chance to pack and prepare to move here with him. But yes, he found his mate. She seems like a nice girl, though I didn’t get much of a chance to really talk to her. He was too excited.”

“Understandable. It’s a big deal. I guess that means Rich and I are in the wrong place if we want to visit with him before we return home, though. Do you think you could call over to their Alpha and arrange for us to stay there with Marc for a few days?”

“Absolutely. Shouldn’t be a problem,” Adam agrees, relieved that she is leaving despite currently enjoying her company.

“That’s not to say that we’re overly eager to get away from you or anything,” she says with a teasing glint in her eyes. Playful has always been the dominant tone of their relationship, probably because they grew up almost like siblings.

“That Kylie though,” she adds a moment later. “She seems sweet. From what I understand about her relationship with Marc, she might have some feelings about him finding his mate. How’d that revelation go?”

Adam considers what he observed from Kylie throughout the day before answering, “Honestly, I think the only thing she was upset about was that Marc just kind of disappeared on her. I think she might even have made the introduction and didn’t seem to be jealous, if that’s what you’re wondering. I think she might actually be interested in someone else.”

“Interesting,” Melissa chews over what Adam said and studies his reaction. The way he clenched and unclenched his fist as he spoke about the other guy Kylie likes did not evade her notice.

“And how do you feel about that then?” she questions pointedly.

He meets her gaze with confusion and wonders, “What do you mean?”

“You don’t seem to like that she’s got a crush on someone whose last name is not Brentwood,” she chuckles.

“Well yeah, of course. It’s something I have to adjust to. For nine years I was so certain that she would be the one joining our family right about now. She already feels like family, and I don’t really know how to feel about any of it not turning out how I thought it would,” he admits.

“Well, you know, Marc is not the only Alpha here, and one of them is currently unmated. Have you considered that you were right, but had the wrong Brentwood in mind?”

“I don’t even understand what you could possibly be insinuating with that, Melissa.”

She rolls her eyes before clarifying, “I’m saying what if she’s your mate, you daft oaf.”

The possibility of what she is saying hits him with a force that seems to paralyze his brain for a moment, but once he recovers his wits, he reasons, “She’s too young, and I’m too old. I already produced an heir. I’ve led this pack, secured its future, and served my purpose. Besides, I had both a fated and a chosen mate, not to mention a wife. Second chances are too rare for that to make any sense, and I doubt the Moon Goddess even cares whether I’m mated at this point. She probably thinks I’m a lost cause. And then there’s the fact that Kylie is of age now. If she’s my mate, I’d know it.”

“Alright, I’m sure you’re right,” she concedes, putting her hands up as though she is surrendering. “You’re more knowledgeable about these things than I am anyway. I’m just saying it’s worth considering. It’s always worth trusting your gut and figuring out what pieces of the puzzle could be missing that would make it all make sense when you really, truly feel something with that kind of certainty.”

“It’s not crazy, what you’re saying. I’m not trying to be dismissive, even if that is what it seems like,” Adam’s features soften as he tries to convey his appreciation of her input. “But I already talked to Gertie about it, and she thinks I might be the victim of some pretty powerful wishful thinking, and passed it on to Marc. I’m just glad that he found his true mate so he didn’t have to suffer long from the disappointment of me being so wrong and getting his hopes up like that. I think her explanation makes the most sense, and I just need to distance myself from Kylie and let time take care of the rest. That connection I feel to her should fade, and she can go and live the life she deserves without her best friend’s overprotective father interfering every chance he gets.”

“That actually makes a lot of sense,” Melissa agrees. “I’m sure you’ll sort it all out eventually. For now, let’s celebrate Marc, his mate, and your impending retirement, old man,” she teases as she stands from her chair and comes around the table to give Adam a reassuring hug.

Adam groans at her age comment, but he smiles at her and returns the hug. Melissa leaves him to go upstairs to find Rich and fill him in on the change in plans.

As Adam finishes his meal, quietly reflecting on their conversation, he decides that accepting the possibility of what she suggested is just another way for him to feed his tendency to hope and wish for things that aren’t meant to be. It is tempting to go visit the Logans again in the morning for one last chance to figure out what has always pulled him to Kylie, but he decides against it. He needs to focus on preparing his son and his pack for the change in leadership once Marc is fully mated and ready to take on the responsibility he was born to.

*************************  

That night before she goes to bed, Kylie is in the living room of her family’s home sitting with her parents. Jonah won’t be back from his friend’s house for a little while, and it seems like the perfect time to tell them about a surprising decision she has made.

“Mom? Dad?” she begins nervously.

Nate looks up from the book he has been reading, giving her an expectant look.

“What is it, honey?” Betsy responds as she moves to sit beside Kylie on the couch. Her brow is furrowed with concern because of how distant her daughter has seemed since she got back from her school’s graduation earlier in the day.

“I’ve been thinking,” Kylie begins to explain, “and I think I would like to leave home sooner than we planned. I think it might be good for me to get out and experience more people and places and learn what it is like to be on my own before I have to settle into the college experience, so I have decided I want to go on a road trip.”

Her parents are quiet for a moment, exchanging glances and almost seeming to have a silent conversation with each other.

“How soon?” Betsy wonders, her worry evident.

“Maybe as soon as tomorrow if I can gather together everything I need. With your help of course.”

“Is everything okay? Is this about Marc? Or are you having second thoughts about school?” Nate interjects, cutting straight to the heart of what he and her mother are most concerned about.

Kylie scoffs and rolls her eyes, not from annoyance but more from her resistance to the implication that she is trying to run away from her problems.

“Yeah, everything is fine. I’ve just been going over things in my head and realizing that there is no point in sticking around here all summer worrying about what is to come when I could be out there experiencing life and the world outside this town. Do you realize I have never been further than a couple hours away from here? I’ve never even left the state!”

Betsy pats her daughter’s hand and gazes at her face, admiring how much Kylie has grown and changed since she first came to them. Realization sets in that their little girl is all grown up, and this conversation is essentially her asking them for permission to “fly the nest,” but on her own terms. How perfectly Kylie for her to want to do things her own way.

After another silent discussion with his wife over mind-link, Nate returns his attention to his daughter, who is still awaiting a response with an expectant albeit somewhat frustrated look on her face. She is used to these moments her parents seem to share whenever something important is going on, admires them even because they show what a strong bond the pair have that they can communicate so much with just looks and subtle gestures, but the exclusion does start to wear on her nerves.

“So, what do you think?” Kylie cuts in finally, impatient with waiting for her parents to respond to her request.

“Honestly, Kylie,” Betsy begins, “I think it will be good for you to get out and explore a bit. There will be guidelines, of course, but we approve and will help you.”

“What sort of guidelines?” Kylie asks.

“Well, for instance, we will finance your trip, but you have to be sure that it doesn’t interfere with your college plans. We expect you to check into your dorm in August as planned,” Nate insists.

“And we have a cell phone for you that we planned to give you at your graduation party, which I am assuming will be cancelled. But that’s okay, as long as you keep it on you, keep it charged, and use it to check in with us at least once a day,” Betsy continues.

“And take lots of pictures!” Nate adds.

“Deal!” Kylie agrees with enthusiasm, laughing as she holds out her hand to her mother to seal it with a handshake.

Her parents agree to her new plan partially because it does sound like it will be good for her, but mostly because they heard about Marc finding his mate and know that some changes will be taking place soon that will be difficult to hide from or explain to a human. It might be best if she does go sooner than planned.

They help her pack her things and make sure she has all the money and supplies she will need, and then make a list for her of some places across various states where she will be able to stay with friends of theirs if she needs to. Finally, Betsy tucks the box with the cell phone into the side pocket of her luggage, so that she will always have a way to call home if she needs help or just to check in and hear a familiar voice.

The next morning, following some tearful goodbyes complete with hugs and kisses from her little brother and her parents, Kylie backs her car out of the driveway of the house she has called home for nearly a decade. Though she has done this same maneuver almost every morning for two years now, this time it feels different. It is weighted with the gravity of knowing that when she comes back, she might feel like a totally different person. She also can’t help wondering if when she does return, it will even still feel like home.