Under the Crescent Moon

Chapter four

Devon’s POV

I had all these expectations that kissing my mate for the first time would be some magical experience. That somehow we’d just come together and naturally know what to do. Or that Tara at least would have enough experience in the matter to guide me. But apparently not. I’ve had better kisses from my aunt Lydia!

I have to laugh over the situation, as we had both made assumptions that had proved to be false. In truth, I was almost giddy to learn that Tara had never had a boyfriend, and that she was just as inexperienced as I was. Which was good as well as bad in some respects. I guess we would be learning and growing together as a couple, even if Tara doesn’t realize it just yet.

Troy was giving me a hard time on our drive home, offering to buy me a blow up plastic s*x doll to practice on. I punched him in the shoulder from the backseat while he was driving, and he nearly ended up driving the car into the ditch.

“Ouch!” Troy complained, rubbing his shoulder while he continued to drive. “I guess that’s a no. Touchy bastard. What about a book or some videos for some pointers?”

“That is a hard no!” I let Troy know in no uncertain terms. I don’t feel that my current love life or lack thereof should end up being a source of amusement to my future officers. I’d like to be on friendly terms with them, but I won’t allow disrespect towards me or my future mate.

“Well don’t blame me if the two of you end up childless!” Troy warned me.

I was about ready to explode on my future beta when Lucas joins the conversation.

“Leave him alone, Troy. I’d like this car and everyone in it to arrive back home in one piece!” Lucas cautions, always the most diplomatic and sensible one of our team. I’m starting to think the role of gamma in a team of officers is a highly underrated one.

Once we get back to the Crescent Lake pack house, I head straight to my room. I lay down on my bed, and stare at the ceiling.

I had been trying my best to remain calm all day, despite the excitement I felt in spending time with my mate, and fear that I’d somehow screw things up and we’d never see each other again. I guess my calming aura had nearly put Tara to sleep at one point when she was sitting on my lap in the car, and she was downright giddy when we were in the hot springs. Until I kissed her. Then it all went wrong. And now I’ve only got tomorrow with Tara before she heads back home to Seattle. Then I won’t see her for several weeks, not until I head back to college.

My one hope is to make enough of an impression on her tomorrow, that she will want to continue to know me. To text with me for the next month before I start my second year of college, and then maybe start dating like humans do. This is too important to leave up to chance, and I better do things right.

I suddenly realize I need to do something very important. So I send a mind link message to Troy and Lucas to join me in my room.

Lucas arrives first, and takes my desk chair. A few minutes later Troy arrives, obviously having come straight from getting ready for bed. He smelled minty from his toothpaste, and had donned some loose fitting shorts. He sits on the end of my bed.

“What is this all about?” Troy asks.

I sit up, and take a deep breath.

“I appreciate everything you guys did today,” I tell them both, and looking them each in the eye while I speak to them. This is how a future Alpha should behave. “Running interference with the Masons, so I could spend time alone with Tara and hopefully win over my mate. Coming up with ideas. Eating those nasty veggie burgers. You guys truly went above and beyond to help me today, and I want you to know how grateful I am.”

We all kind of make a face of disgust when we recall eating what essentially tasted like cardboard on a bun.

“So I’m sorry if I seemed less than appreciative earlier,” I continue. “This whole thing has me stressed out so bad. I really need things to work out with Tara! Otherwise I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“We want things to work out too, you know,” Lucas replies. “This gift the moon goddess has given you will affect more than just your own life. A Luna becomes almost like the beating heart of the pack!”

“Yeah,” Troy agrees. “We’ll do whatever we can to help you get your Luna!”

“Thanks,” I say, appreciative of their help. And then we spend more than an hour planning the next day, hoping that we can impress my mate, as well as her family. Then we decide we need a good nights sleep, and I end up sleeping reasonably well with the knowledge that we had a solid plan ready.

***The next day***

I head downstairs earlier than usual, ready to get our plans in motion. My parents are already in the breakfast room, great! I need to talk with them. So I grab a plate from the sideboard, and fill it with some eggs, sausage, biscuits, and fresh cantaloupe and blueberries, then sit down across from them at the table. My parents, Alpha Liam and Luna Charlotte had been chatting with dads beta Joe Jamison. They look up in surprise. I guess I don’t usually show up this early, since I tend to prefer roaming our territory late at night.

“To what do we owe the honor of your presence before noon, son?” My dad asks, with a twinkle in his eye.

“A certain future beta told me to expect some big news soon,” beta Joe says slyly. Aha. I’ll need to have a chat with Troy concerning discretion. Joe sees my suddenly unhappy face, and backtracks just a little. “He didn’t say what it was though.”

I nod. Fine.

“I found my fated mate yesterday,” I say, and suddenly everyone in the room is congratulatory and asking for all the details.

“Alright, alright,” I say, motioning for everyone to calm down.

“So where is the young she wolf?” Dad asks, looking around as if I had somehow hidden her in plain sight.

“We want to meet her!” Mom adds.

“So I found my mate, but there are a few issues.” I say cautiously.

“She didn’t reject you, did she?” Mom gasps, looking shocked and horrified. “My poor darling boy!”

“A future alpha isn’t good enough for her? Or is it a him?” My father looks unhappy at that idea, getting worked up as well. “I sometimes wonder what the moon goddess was thinking with some of the pairings I’ve seen in my lifetime. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course. But it does make the issue of future heirs problematic. But modern medicine can help in cases like that, using a surrogate. Or adoption. Perhaps your sister Gabby might be willing to help in some manner…?”

I take a deep, calming breath. This is turning out to be harder than I thought it would be, with everyone constantly interrupting.

“Will you let me tell you the story, or shall I sit here all morning listening to one bizarre theory after another?” I ask, sounding a little more peeved than I had intended to.

“Certainly, darling!” Mom says, then pretends to zip her lips.

“We are all ears!” Dad says, and indicates that I have the floor.

“I’m not helping you with any future heirs!” Gabby, my 16 year old sister says, as she sets her breakfast plate next to mine and sits down. “That’s gross!”

“I have no plans of asking you to,” I say, and Gabby seems satisfied. I look around and make sure everyone is done interrupting. “So, as I said, I found my mate yesterday. But there are issues.”

“The first issue is that she is underage. She won’t be 18 until September 30 she told me.”

“Oh, is that all?”mom says, sounding relieved. “That’s only 5 weeks away!”

“No, that isn’t all.” I say, and watch as mom pretends to zip her lips again. What is she, five? “She lives in Seattle, and she is a human.”

“Oh, damn!” Beta Joe sums it up neatly.

I spend the next thirty five minutes explaining my plans for the day and getting everyone involved to help.