The Forgotten Wolf Kin

Chapter 8 – Surprise

Malachi’s POV

I had enough time to shower and get changed out of the ridiculous clothes I forgot I was wearing and suddenly found myself wondering why none of my siblings had ridiculed me for wearing them!

Before I had managed to successfully sneak into my room, I was greeted by Mum. “Where have you been?” she sounded a little frantic.

“Showing our guest around, like a good Alpha”

“Oh, right, yes, well, you need to get ready.”

“For dinner?” I couldn’t help but tease her.

“Yes!”

“It’s just dinner Mum.”

“Well, the entire pack hasn’t seen you for a year. It’s a special occasion. Wear something nice” she looked me up and down in disapproval of my current outfit like it was something I had chosen to wear!

“I thought I looked alright”. I was having difficulty keeping a straight face.

“Stop teasing you Mother Malachi and get washed up and find something nice to wear that actually fits!” Dad’s voice boomed from down the hall.

“Yes Dad!” I called back equally, if not more, authoritatively.

“You’re not Alpha yet Son, tone down that attitude.”

“It was unintentional”, which it was. I had always had a deep and naturally loud voice, but occasionally I forgot! Having been away for so long, with so many large and loud personalities, it seems I needed to remember where I was.

“Go and get ready”, mum ushered me into my room, which if she hadn’t stopped me, I would already be in. However, I knew when to keep my mouth shut when it came to Mum. Years of practice.

“On it!”

I went into my room and took in my surroundings. I had missed this place, my large and accommodating bed, and, more than that, my own space! I breathed in the silence and looked at my bed, considering my options.

'I can’t hear the shower Malachi' my Dad's voice radiated into my head. I had almost forgotten we could do that! We can only mind link official pack members, and only in a certain radius, so being away meant no communication with the pack via link.

Being away from the pack for a year has messed with my head. How could I forget we can mind-link?

'Because you haven’t done it in so long.'

'Thanks for the insight! Eero. Glad to be home?'

'Yes. When are we going for a run?'

'Tomorrow morning, before we take Avery home, I can give you an hour, two max!'

'I’ll take two.'

'You’ll take what I give you. It depends on what time I go to bed and get up!'

'Skip the party and we can go now.'

'I would love nothing more, but do you really want to get on the wrong side of Mum?'

'No. Hurry up and get ready. I can feel her pacing anxiously and it’s making me nervous.'

'For a big lumbering beast, you are a chicken.'

'Wanna go out there now and see her?'

'No'

'Then shut up, stop procrastinating, and get ready!'

I jumped in the shower and got ready in record time. Although I never usually take long to get ready, my clothing choices have always been limited, and the clothes that went with me to training never came back. I had little left to pick from.

I went with some smart charcoal grey slacks, brown dress shoes, a white button-down, and no tie! I teamed it with a charcoal blazer, a suit jacket was too much! I put a little gel in my hair and slapped on some aftershave, not that it would make any difference, because if my mate was out there, she would only smell my scent.

Each wolf had its own unique scent. It was heightened and intoxicating for your mate. Each wolf was made specifically for another by the moon goddess. This was our fated mate. Our soul mate. If you were unlucky not to find your fated mate, you could take a chosen mate, but this was not ideal. Particularly if your fated mate then came along!

As a chosen mate, the bond wasn’t nearly as strong. A fated mate was exactly that, fated to you, therefore the bond was binding. It was unusual for someone not to accept their fated mate. The desire to be with that person was strong. However, it wasn’t unheard of. Even the Moon Goddess herself got it wrong on occasion. A rejection was as uncommon as a chosen mate, but it did happen.

Although the longing to be with that person was intense, it was only solidified when the bonding process started and cemented when it was completed with the mating and marking. The bonding process was not only a physical act of mating and marking, but also the emotional connection developed between the two people.

This was as equally, if not more important, than the act of mating and marking. The emotional connection, ensuring the two people were compatible, in tune, and harmonious were the makings of a solid and lasting union. Two people’s souls entwining and becoming one. One has to come before the other. Without both, the bond is not complete and can be broken by rejection.

Once mated, you are bound for life. In death, part of you died too, and while it was rare for a wolf to die from a broken heart, although it was known. Some wolves went insane, but usually, a wolf would feel immense and immeasurable pain and loss, but eventually would learn to go on.

I looked in the mirror briefly, I was ready, it was ten to seven and just as I opened my bedroom door, mum nearly fell into me, arm raised, ready to knock. “Whoa there Mother dearest, are you okay?”

I caught her before she knocked herself out on my chest. “Yes, thank you dear” she pursed her lips, but then composed herself and looked me up and down, a wry smile forming on her now upturning lips. “Very handsome”

“You approve?”

“Yes”

“Thank the Goddess, shall we go?” I smiled tightly.

“That smart mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble with your mate one of these days, and let me tell you something for free, I will be on her side!”

“How do you know it’s a ‘her’?” I gave her a side glance and raised my brow, wiggling it a little.

“Oh Malachi! Don’t joke”, she slapped me playfully on the arm.

“Come on, let’s go!”

Mattie followed quietly behind us; it seemed everyone else was already at ‘Dinner’.

I opened the door to the large dining hall and, just as expected, everyone shouted 'surprise'. I made my best 'surprised’ face, which I am sure was pathetic, and thanked everyone for their hard work in making such a lovely, welcoming, homecoming event.

Sarcasm aside, a lot of effort had gone into making this happen, and everything looked amazing. I really was touched by how much effort everyone had made too; I knew it would have taken hours. The room was decorated in cream, gold, and blue, banners, table and chair covers, and decorations and the food smelled amazing! More than anything, I was looking forward to the food.

As I walked over to the head table, the young Omega Freya came up to me. “I am so sorry, Alpha Malachi, but we were here before you and so I sat, Alpha Aldine, with your brother. I hope that’s okay”. The poor girl was terrified. I needed to do something about that. I had worked hard to be calm, approachable, and considerate, but even that didn’t detract from my size sometimes.

“Freya, you were perfect. Thank you for taking care of him.”

“Thank you, Alpha Malachi,” she bowed her head and kept her eyes down as she walked away, poor kid.

I made my way over to Marley and Avery. “I am guessing by the distinct lack of a female attached to your faces that you haven’t found your mates?” I questioned.

“Nope”

“And nope”

“Great, well then that’s three of us, because all I can smell is that food, and I am starving.”

Mum looked disappointed, but I had decided, even though I was leaving at ten, I was going to make her glad she threw this party, even if I didn’t find my mate.

Chatter and laughter filled the air, Mum seemed to relax and accept the fact that none of us were going to find our mate tonight and just recognised the party for what it was, a welcome home. It was good to be home, and it was easy to forget everything that had happened only a few days ago at the Council.

When everyone had finished eating, we all helped move the tables and set the floor up for dancing. I was no dancer, and I had no intention of getting up and giving it a go, but I did want everyone else to have fun.

“Mykah, go show them how it’s done?” I goaded, hoping she would get the party started. She loved to dance but wasn’t overly keen on being the centre of attention.

“f**k off am I getting up there” she muttered, so mum couldn’t hear.

“Come on… for me? Please” I fluttered my eyelashes and pouted teasingly, while she laughed at me!

“Only if Maxxim and Maddox come with me” she grinned. Both of them were not overly keen on dancing, but they defiantly liked to be the centre of attention.

“What about Mattie and Mylee?” I asked innocently, knowing where this was going.

Mykah Scoffed “Yeah, right!”

“I can dance!” Mylee protested.

“I can’t and I won’t” Mattie mumbled.

“Come on then Sis, pick a brother, let’s go!” Mykah jibed.

Mylee grabbed Maxxim’s unwilling hand and dragged him to the centre of the hall, closely followed by Mykah and Maddox.

“I’m going to go find Freya,” Avery said as he stood up, watching the others head for the dance floor.

“She’s a little young for you, don’t you think Avery,” I scolded. I knew it had been a year since he had seen an unmated female, but I was not having him being a man w***e with an innocent and vulnerable girl in my pack.

“It’s a kind and honourable gesture you d**k. Not an attempt for a sleazy hookup!” he shot back.

“Jeez, calm down, I was only messing.” I wasn’t, but I am glad he clarified.

By the time half my family was in the centre of the hall dancing, and Avery had convinced an embarrassed and blushing Freya to dance (as friends), the rest of the pack started to fill the floor and within 30 minutes the room was lively and heaving with young people having fun.

“Success, I think, Mum,” I said as I turned towards her.

“Yes, I think so” she seemed pleased, my work here is done. “I think me, and your father will leave you all to it!” she shouted over the din, the noise levels had increased, and the dance music filled the air.

“Goodnight, Mum,” I said, kissing her on the cheek before she and Dad scurried out of the room.

“Nicely done, Alpha Malachi”, Mattie smirked, knowing the real reason I needed this party to get going and Mum and Dad to leave, was so we could sneak out soon.

“Stick with me Kid, and you’ll learn from the best”, I gave him my cheesiest grin while he shook his head in mild feigned irritancy.

It was almost 10m, and I was hoping in a very short time, I would get some answers.