My Mate, My enemy

CH 2

Karsyn POV

12 years of service within the Royal army for the Wolfen King. It had not been easy, but got better once the new king, Christian, had taken over a few years back. He weeded out some of the real sick twisted wolves that had been there for decades under his father’s rule.

Who didn’t seem to care about the actual goings on inside the military camps. Only that they were beating back and defeating the enemy, whether it be wolfen or otherwise.

He and his unit had all served. It was a requirement of their pack, for the future Alpha to serve a term of no less than eight years, to make you better at battle and attack and defence of the pack when you came home and took over.

But he’d wanted to see what the new king was like, so he had opted to stay on for another four years. He’d given his unit Rick, Harvey and Mario the option to return to the pack. They did not need to do more than was necessary. They’d all just looked at him like he was stupid, and stayed as long as he did.

Now they were all packed up and headed home for the first time in over a year. They’d been home here and there, for pack requirements. Which included his half-brother Danny getting his wolf. He was a good kid as far as Karsyn could tell, attended training and got good grades in school. Was bright too, it seemed, though his wolf had been only half the size everyone had been expecting. Karsyn put that down to him having an omega for a mother.

Though he’d not returned home to see his stepsister Demi getting her wolf. She was not his kin and had nothing to do with the actual lineage of the pack, was a spoiled, selfish brat, as far as he recalled.

Hadn’t seen anything different during their weekend stop overs. All she’d done was order the packhouse omegas to get her this or that and sat around doing her nails pretty much. It looked as though she thought she was better than everyone else, because she lived on the Alpha floor, was a 22-year-old un-mated female, and he could see why.

Though his father had never let her off pack territory, and she was only allowed to attend mating balls here inside the pack, she’d schooled here in the pack and was or should be attending to a degree of some sort online. Not that he’d ever seen her study.

Though his stepmother, Renee, was lovely and always smiled at him, she’d met his father when he was 12, and had Danny a year later. She was a sweet-natured Omega, and the pack liked her. Seemed to be fair and open, made his father happy as well. Though she didn’t get involved in the running of the pack herself. Attended Luna duties but stayed out of everything else. He didn’t think, she thought, she was capable of doing it. Karsyn figured she was more than capable, though she was rarely ever stern with anyone.

Raised an eyebrow when she didn’t like things or sighed heavily, but that was about it. They were her two tells that she wanted something done about what she heard or saw. She’d been good to him, and he’d come to like her after a few months of being a brat about having a stepmother. He had only been 12 and didn’t want someone replacing his mother. Had gone about avoiding her and his new stepsister who was just three and was a bit of a cry-baby.

It had been hard losing his own mother at just 9. She’d gotten bit by some rabid wolf, and it had sent her insane and then she’d become rabid herself. She had the occasional lucid day while chained up in the cells to protect the pack, then one day when completely lucid, she’d begged to be put down.

He’d understood, hating seeing her like that, his father had been distraught at first, refused to do so. But then he’d not been able to handle seeing her so rabid and trying to injure herself all the time. In the end, she’d been sedated, and the pack doctor had put her down, with a lethal dose of silver. At least she’d not felt anything. Slipped away peacefully in her sleep. Had looked like his actual mother for the first time in a year that day, he’d also gotten to hold her hand for the first time in a year.

But Renee, she was sweet and understanding, never pushed him to like her, just smiled at him, never tried to replace his mother either. She was just kind to him all the time and he’d come to like her on his own. Which his father was happy about.

He’d called ahead to let his father know they would be coming back today, and there were two pack cars waiting for them. Karsyn heard Rick laugh and watched him wave at his dad, Rickford, who he was named after, a family named passed on down the Beta line to the eldest son. He was leaning on the car waiting on them with a smile and chatting to Mario’s father, Gordon, the current Delta.

They did not ask to be picked up. It was only a half a day’s casual stroll through the woods to their pack. The four of them were used to that sort of thing now. There were no vehicles in the Kingdom. Transport around the Kingdom was still in the dark ages. Everyone got about on foot, using portals for long-distance trips or travelled in their wolf form or on horseback. That had been an experience for all of them. Learning to ride a horse, which they all had and could do with ease now. Might have to get himself a few for the pack, would likely enjoy going for a ride every now and then.

Both men hugged all of them and they were off back to the pack, he was expecting to take his rightful place as the Alpha come the next full moon. He’d served his time and so had the boys, was old enough at 31 to take over. Was certainly capable of doing so, he thought.

Life was going to change in the pack. He had some nice plans for the pack, though he’d been away a very long time, his first priority would be to attend mating balls and seek out his Mate, find his Luna. He hadn’t found that in the Kingdom, and had been there 12 years; no Mate.

She, whoever she was, was going to be here in one of the packs in the human realm . He didn’t mind, he was currently young and free to do as he pleased. Did, though there wasn’t much opportunity for that in the kingdom.

Too much fighting going on for him to want to be distracted and who knew if the one you were naked with was an enemy spy ready to do you in. He’d seen it happen, had heard about it as well, on many occasions.

Arrived home to be greeted by his father, Alpha Steffen, the Luna, Renee and his younger brother Danny. No Demi he noticed, glanced passed them all looking for her and heard Renee state, “Sorry Karsyn, she’s at the spa, getting a wrap.” Shook her head.

Prima donna, he'd thought absently, it also showed her lack of respect for the future Heir to the pack. He could reprimand her, he supposed, but knew it would incur his own father’s anger, while he was the Heir. That would change when he was in charge. If she continued to be disrespectful to him as the Alpha, he’d move her out of the packhouse and into omega accommodations until she learned her place.

“Son, it’s good to have you home.” His father smiled at him.

“It’s good to be home.” He nodded and clasped the man’s hand in his, and was pulled in for a hug a moment later.

“There will be a celebration tonight for all of you. A welcome back shindig just for the four of you. Go up and rest. I know it’s a long walk from the encampment to the portal. The festivities will start at six.”

Karsyn strolled out the back of the packhouse to where he could hear the festivities had already started, there was music and wolves were already drinking and dancing, a massive marque was set up with table after table of foods. Hot foods and cold. A whole table of just desserts and a massive spit roast was underway. His father, it seemed, was indeed putting on a show for the pack.

He got himself a drink from the bar that was set up and smiled at the wolfen strength beer he was drinking. One of the things he did miss from here was the alcohol; out in the barracks you were lucky to see a watered-down drink. And if you did get your hands on one, it was horrid.

Karsyn walked around and mingled with the pack, chatting away to the wolves he’d gone to school with and known growing up. Most were Mated off and had pups of their own now.

He saw Demi, swanning about in a very inappropriate dress that barely covered her backside. Yes, she was small and petite, but not everyone needed to see her ass hanging out when she bent over, which she did quite a lot, he noticed with a shake of his head. He didn’t need to see that. She made eye contact with him just once, then walked off dismissively.

Karsyn watched her stroll on over to Rick and slide a hand up his arm. Saw his Beta frown right down at the girl and remove her hand gently. Watched Demi glare up at him snap, “What, I’m not good enough?”

“You’re the Alpha’s daughter, I will show respect.” Rick had stated calmly. “Please go and find someone else, Demi. It will not be me.”

She’d stalked off and Rick had looked right at him, Karsyn shrugged. He’d not been around either, but it did look from how she was dressed and the way the males were all eyeing her off that perhaps she wasn’t so innocent anymore. Not his business. Surely his father or her own mother would pull her into line at some point.

Stood as did his unit when asked to, so his father could make that all-important speech about him returning to the pack, though Karsyn frowned when he didn’t announce that he would be taking over. Didn’t even bring it up, or make mention of it, he should have. Was going to have to discuss it with him, it seemed.

Though he would not do it here in front of the entire pack, perhaps his father just wanted to discuss it with him privately first. Ask him when he would like to do that, how he’d like it done. That was probably it, a discussion first before the announcement.

So, tonight was just good old-fashioned drinking and celebrating for all. He had missed the food that the pack chef served, the delicious flavours of a well-cooked meal. Also, not something you got out in the barracks. He and his unit ate and drank till they were all hammered. He laughed, and stumbled with the help of Danny back to his room, where he flopped down in his big comfortable bed, something else he’d also missed.

Clapped his little brother on the face, “You’re a good brother Danny.”

“You’re drunk.”

“First time in years,” he’d yawned, “you’ll understand when you’ve served.”

“Sleep it off Kar.” He’d chuckled before leaving the room.

Mm, sleep it off, he thought as the room started to spin. Wow, he’d not been this drunk in near on a decade. Nope, rolled out of bed, grabbed a pillow and headed for the bathroom, best sleep in there just in case he needed to throw up. Was not going to throw up in his bed. Nope. Liked his bed.