The Alpha Hunter

Chapter Eight - Seeking Advice

✺Darion✺

Getting off from work was a lot easier than I had expected. Neither Kurt nor Linda had batted an eyelid when I told them I needed a few days off. Now, here I was about ten minutes away from my home pack, The Night Moon Pack. I was both excited and nervous. When I had called my mother, asking if I could see them, she hurriedly told me to come to the pack. But how, I was supposed to still be banished, well, apparently when your whole pack is murdered it excuses all past crimes and the banishment was lifted. I stopped at the large gate and quickly mind-linked my mother to let her know I had arrived. It didn’t take long for the guards to come into view and open the gate. I didn’t bother throwing them a wave as I drove past. Everyone in this pack had turned their back on me, I wasn’t here for a reunion, I was just here for some advice on what to do. I drove through the village and when the packhouse came into view, I couldn’t help but smile. The house I had grown up in stood tall and proud, just the way I remembered it. Both of my parents were standing in front, waiting for me and I parked the car before rushing out to greet them. It had been far too long. My mother, Gwen, grabbed onto me for dear life and I welcomed her embrace.

“Too long,” she whispered, and I pushed down my emotions. When I released her, I glanced over at my father, Richard but he didn’t wait for me as he pulled me into his arms for a big bear hug. “Come on, let’s go inside,” Gwen suggested as she tugged on my arm. I happily followed my parents inside and I was not at all surprised to see half, if not more, of the pack waiting for me. Everyone cheered and I knew we would be celebrating my return. I glanced over at my parents and smiled. They both stood proud before their pack and I realized that they must have missed me, despite being the ones to have banished me.

“Welcome home,” they chorused, and I chuckled as one by one they came up to me, welcoming me back. My face was starting to hurt but I was too happy to care. When I was finally left on my own, I turned to my mother.

“I met my mate,” I blurted out. The whole room suddenly fell quiet as everyone turned to face me, curiously and with excitement. I felt myself blush as my mother threw herself at me, hugging me tightly.

“Well, where is she?” she whispered as everyone went back to chatting, eating, and even dancing.

“Not she,” I said softly as I smiled down at her. Gwen smiled and nodded as she grabbed my hand and led me past the partying pack members into my father’s office. she closed the door and turned to me.

“Ok, so, where is he?” she then asked excitedly, and I shrugged. “Oh, no, where is he, Darion?” she pushed, and I sat down on one of the chairs. “Did he reject you?” she questioned as she came over to me and placed her hand on my shoulder.

“No,”

“Well, then?”

“He is human,” I admitted, and I heard her sigh.

“Oh Darion,” she said, and I glanced up at her. “Just because he is human doesn’t mean you can’t be together,”

“I know,” I replied before telling her everything. During my storytelling, my father came in and joined us. The two of them were sitting on the loveseat sofa, listening intently to my story.

“You infiltrated their group?” Richard asked curiously when I was done. He missed the beginning of the story. My mother quickly filled him in, and he nodded in understanding. “Well done my boy,” he said proudly, and I felt myself blush for the second time today. “And your mate is the leader’s son?” he asked to confirm, and I nodded. “I see you’ve gotten yourself into quite a predicament,”

“So, what do I do?” I asked desperately. “I’ve been told many stories about mates meeting but never about a shifter and a human,” my mother and father looked at each other and I sighed in frustration. “Just tell me already,” I demanded. I could see they knew something, and I wanted to know what it was.

“Darion, a human doesn’t need to stay a human,” Gwen informed me, and my mouth fell open. I didn’t consider myself an unknowledgeable wolf, but I certainly felt silly right now.

“When I met your mother, she wasn’t a wolf,” Richard shocked me with his declaration, and I stared at my mother in utter shock. “Close your mouth, boy, it’s fly season,” he teased, and I slammed my mouth shut, but continued to stare at her in disbelief.

“But…I thought…I mean, you told me you met at a river,” I said, suddenly accusing them of telling me lies.

“We did,” Gwen said as she pushed her thick brown hair over her shoulder. “What we didn’t tell you was that I was very much a human at the time,”

“How is this possible?” I stood up, angry at being lied to. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We didn’t think it mattered, to be honest,” Richard said as he watched me. “Your mother was having a picnic with her family when we met,”

“So that part is true,” I said, remembering their stories. “And where you still in wolf form?” I questioned my father.

“Yes, I had been on a run with my friends, and I stopped to take a drink…don’t you remember the story?” he then asked, and I nodded but urged him to go on. I wanted to hear the story correctly. “Well, Gwen was playing in the river with Aunt Cindy,”

“Oh! Is that why we never see mom's family?!” suddenly things became a lot clearer as I stared at my mother.

“Yes, exactly,” she said with a sad smile. I couldn’t imagine what she must have gone through and now I wasn’t sure if I wanted to drag Cooper into this or this life.

“Our eyes met, as I told you before, time stood still as I realized that the young human girl was my mate,”

“I was so intrigued while my sister ran back to my parents, screaming, wolf, wolf!” Gwen giggled as she leaned against my father and I smiled. Regardless of how they met or even, under those circumstances, I knew just how in love my parents are and that made it all seem worthwhile. Doesn’t it?

“I took a chance, I shifted back into my human form and the rest is history,” Richard said before leaning over to kiss my mother’s cheek.

“No! No, the rest is not history, how did you become a wolf?” I directed the question to my mother, who sighed and stood up.

“Your father changed me,” she answered simply, and yet, I had even more questions.

“We can do that? Does that mean I am half-human?” my question sounded stupid, and it was. I was already half-human, just because I had a mother that was once human, didn’t change anything nor did it change the fact that I am still me. “Don’t answer that last question,” I hurriedly said as they laughed.

“Yes, your father told me everything and I was so excited. When I turned eighteen, I ran away from home to be with him. He got permission to change me and yes, Darion, the rest is history,” and just like that, I knew that no matter what, I would try to have a relationship with Cooper. My parents met when she was sixteen. So that meant my father dated my mother for two years before anything really happened.

“Ok, that is all good and well, but I still have one big problem,”

“What is it, Darion?” Gwen questioned and I ran my fingers through my hair with frustration. Why did I have to be fated with a human mate?

“Don’t forget, Cooper is Kurt’s son,” I reminded them, and they nodded. “Yeah, a future hunter in the making,” I joked without humor.

“Ah, the plot thickens,” Richard drawled out and I wanted to slap him and tell him to pay attention. Now was not the time for jokes. “Look, son, all you can do is spend time with him. Get to know him, he may surprise you,”

“I agree, Darion, give him a chance,” and with that, I nodded. I would give Cooper a chance. I knew that it would be different for him, especially since he didn’t seem gay. I had never had to think about s****l preferences before now and I wasn’t even sure how Cooper would receive me. All I could do now was hope he would give me a chance.

✺Cooper✺

I paced the driveway as I waited for Amy to arrive. According to her text message, fifteen minutes ago, she was close by. Close by, but she had yet to get here. I desperately needed to talk to someone about this new situation I had gotten myself into. From what I had overheard, Darion had taken a few days off work and that had made me feel extremely disappointed. I wanted to see him again. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to get to know him. I needed to know if this was a physical thing or an emotional thing. I spotted the small red car driving towards me and I squealed in delight. She had finally made it. Amy pulled into the driveway and I pulled open her door.

“You made it!” I yelled out as I reached in and grabbed her arm, pulling for her to get out faster.

“Relax, Coop, my ass is still asleep,” she said, and I saw her rub her behind. “What is the rush?” she asked as I pulled open the boot of her car and removed her luggage.

“The rush has a name,” I said dramatically as I led her into the house and into the guest bedroom. I was lucky today, as my father had left work and had informed me, he wouldn’t be home for dinner. Of course, I knew that meant he would be visiting his lady friend.

“What is her name?” Amy asked as she sat down on the edge of the bed. I stared at my ex-girlfriend and smiled with fond memories of our time together. I knew that this was going to be a shock and so I took a deep breath and lunged forward with the truth.

“Darion Kolby,” we stared at each other and I watched her closely. She kept her face blank as the small piece of information sunk in. I was silently preparing myself for a fight I was quite sure would come, but when Amy fell back onto the bed and started laughing, I frowned. “Why are you laughing?”

“Are you…are you telling me…Coop, are you telling me…that you…you like…another guy?” she was having trouble getting the question out and I moaned out in annoyance. She stopped laughing and sat back up to look at me. She had calmed down even though her face was still alight with amusement. “Coop, tell me all about him,” she said, and I nodded as I told her everything, I had managed to find out about him. It wasn’t a lot, and I could tell that she was now confused and no longer amused. “Is that it? That’s all you know?”

“Affirmative,”

“Wait…Coop, you barely know the guy, you’ve seen him once and you’ve got this big of a crush on him?”

“Yes,” I agreed as I leaned back against the wall and slid down until my behind hit the floor.

“How?” she asked, and I shook my head.

“I have no idea how to explain it, Amy, all I know is not only am I confused but I need your help,” I gazed over at her with hope in my eyes. I needed her help. Badly.