Their Simple Kind of Love

Failed Proposal

  James's POV

My alarm went off, making the wonderful dream I was having about Katie disappear. She was lying on my bed completely naked while my tongue explored her delicious body. I was getting ready to take things further when the alarm went off. I smacked the curses appliance and stared at it for a minute. My mind, of course, went right back to thinking about my beloved Katie.

She was running towards me again while I had my arms out. I wanted to hold her forever and never let go. I imagined that scene for a few minutes before I was interrupted by har knocking on my door. "James!" My father's deep voice bellowed. "Are you up?!"

I sighed and rolled off my bed and trudged to the door, and opened it. My father stood there with his disapproving look while dressed in a black tank top and black shorts. "I'm awake."

"You need to get yourself to training this morning. Devin and Malachi have new things to teach to Tim, Tony, and you."

"Sorry, Dad."

"Don't be sorry. Get dressed and get your ass down to the training field." He patted my shoulder and moved away.

I hurried to put on a pair of shorts and a tank top. I rushed out of my room and stopped in the kitchen on the Alpha floor, and grabbed a banana and a bottle of Gatorade. My mother was sitting at the counter sipping coffee. "Good morning, Mom," I said, and she smiled at me.

"Were you dreaming about Katie again?" She smirked while sipping her coffee.

"Maybe," I returned the smirk and rushed out of the kitchen and downstairs. I ran to the training field. Tim and Tony were already there warming up while my father watched while standing next to our head trainer Devin and head warrior Malachi. "Good morning, everyone."

Malachi gave me one of his hard stares with his yellow feline eyes. "You are late, young alpha."

My father glanced at me with his hard stare. "Start warming up, James."

I sighed and walked over to my friends, and started warming up.

"Why are you so late?" Tim asked.

"I uh overslept," I mumbled to him. We finished our warm-up and then ran a few laps around the field. "Hey Timmy, was there anything wrong with Katie last night?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. She was in her room all night."

"Oh, she was going to veg with me and watch TV and never showed." I sighed.

"I just assumed she had a lot of work to do and then went to sleep after." He replied.

I sighed. I had gone to be a little upset that I didn't get to sit on the couch and watch TV with Katie. I was becoming a sap for my mate. Missing the small things was starting to bother me. Even the thought of just sitting on a couch with her made me happy.

'We are so whipped, and she doesn't even know we are her mates,' Poe snickered in my head.

'No s**t, dude.' I snickered back at him. We finished our run and lined up in front of Malachi and Devin. Devin Cosby is a bulky older male of Apache origin. He has coppery tan skin with long thick black hair and brown eyes. He comes from one of the oldest lines of werewolves in the southwest of the United States.

Malachi clapped his large hands. "Listen up. You three are the future of this pack. Alpha Nathan here asked that I teach you some new fighting techniques that we will also teach to the warriors in the coming weeks. These moves are werecat in origin and thus harder for wolves to learn. I trust that you three can learn these moves and utilize them. Let's get started."

Malachi and Devin then put us to our paces. The moves were complex because werecat Malachi is much more lithe than we are. But I watched as Tony seemed to catch on the fastest and almost managed to flip Malachi. I was sparring with Tim using the moves, and we were evenly matched.

We went at it for a few hours until breakfast. "Okay, let's stop for now. Go have some breakfast," Malachi ordered. "We'll resume tomorrow."

We all nodded.

"Good job, though," Malachi told us with what he calls a smile.

The three of us jogged back to the packhouse. I needed a shower before going to breakfast. Katie's scent lingered in the stairwell. She must have gone down to breakfast, and I almost followed the scent. But I didn't want to approach her while still sweaty and bloody.

Tim clapped me on the back when he saw me in a dilemma. "She'll still be down there when you are done showering, dude. Michelle and Ashley are in there too," He chuckled.

"Thanks, bud," I mumbled and ran up to my room. I quickly stripped and took a quick shower. Hoping it was sufficient to rid myself of the smell of sweat and blood. I put on a pair of black jeans and a button-up blue shirt. I combed my long hair and pulled it into a ponytail. I sprayed a little cologne. A little went a long way with werewolves. I then headed downstairs. Unfortunately, I ran into Marilyn and Wendy. They were both dressed in tight cocktail dresses. I felt terrible for Wendy because her face told me that she hated what she was wearing. Marilyn had her daughter's face caked in makeup that made Wendy look much older than she is. Marilyn had on so much perfume I almost couldn't breathe.

"Good morning, James," Marilyn purred at me.

I stepped back from her and had to restrain myself from covering my nose to avoid her heavy perfume stench. "Morning."

"Isn't Wendy just lovely this morning?" She indicated her daughter.

The pink cocktail dress was so tight it looked hard to breathe in. "She's a bit over-dressed for breakfast. Don't you think?"

"A Luna needs to present herself at all times," Marilyn responded.

I shook my head. "Dressing is in tight ass slutty dresses is not something I would want to see in my luna. No offense Wendy."

She gave me a faint smile. I knew she agreed with me. I liked Wendy as a person. I would even call her my friend as she hung out with Katie and the rest of our friend's group. But I was not the least bit interested in her. Besides, Wendy is a lesbian, so she isn't interested in me.

"You are too young to know what you want, James." Marilyn scoffed. "Besides, I wanted to tell you that I don't think it's a good idea to be kissing and flirting with Katherine Ford in front of my poor daughter. Seeing her mate with another woman is heartbreaking."

Wendy rolled her eyes behind her mother's back, and I had to stifle my laugh. "Marilyn, Wendy is not my mate. I need you to quit pushing her on me. Also, it's not your place to tell me who I can kiss and flirt with." I snarled and walked away.

I reached the dining room just as Katie was waking out with my sister and two other females Ashley and Renee. "Where are you going?" I asked her.

Katie chuckled. "School."

"Oh right. Can I talk to you real quick?" I lightly touched her arm and felt the sparks. I knew she didn't feel them yet.

"Michelle, I'll meet you guys outside in a few," Katie told my sister. "Just a minute James. I don't want to be late or make the others late."

I clasped her arm and pulled her to the side. "You never came to watch TV with me last night. I was a little sad."

She cringed and looked past me. The stench of perfume told me who she was looking at. She shuddered and looked at me. "I uh just had more work than I thought, and it took a long time to complete. Then I was sleepy. I should have texted you, sorry." She frowned.

I touched her shoulder. "Don't be sorry. Is everything okay with you, though?" I leaned down to her ear. "Is the witch bothering you again?" I nearly whispered.

"Just the same old s**t," She replied with a whisper. "James, I gotta go."

I sighed with disappointment. My lips were still hovering next to her ear. I ran my hand down her cheek and looked into her ice-blue eyes, and kissed her lips. She gasped, and it made my c**k twitch. I pulled back and smiled at her. "It seems you liked that."

She just stared at me with her mouth hanging open. I had to touch her arm to get her out of the trance. "Yeah," She mumbled, and I chuckled. She was too damn cute.

"Katie!" My sister spoke up behind me. "Come on." She urged. "Quit smooching, my brother. It's gross."

Katie's mouth fell open again. "I wasn't smooching him." She protested.

Michelle snorted. "Right," She pulled on Katie's arm. "Sorry, bro. We gotta go." She winked at me.

"Bye, James," Katie said softly as my sister pulled her out of the dining room.

I watched them leave. Tim walked over to me. "Damn, she has you whipped already."

I looked at my best friend with a smirk. "You have no idea, dude." I glanced at Marilyn, who was glaring at me. I gave her a thumbs-up before walking over to the buffet with Tim. We piled our plates with lots of food and sat with Tony and a few warriors to devour our breakfast.

After breakfast, I hung out with Tim and Tony while we waited for Alpha Hank Hudson to arrive with his dumbass son. I was dreading the meeting. I knew he had some sort of scheme he wanted my father to involve our pack in. I seriously thought about severing the alliance when I became Alpha. But my father said it would be detrimental to us.

'Alpha Hudson and his entourage have arrived,' My father mind linked me. 'Meet us out front.'

I looked at Tim and Tony. "It's showtime."

"Aw, but we didn't finish this episode," Tim whined as we were watching Grimm.

"Tim, we have seen this episode like ten times. Now let's go," I told them as I stood up. We all walked to the front of the packhouse. My father was standing out front with my mother. Then there was Beta Jonathan with his i***t wife Marilyn, and Gamma Michael was standing beside Lisa, his mate. I stood by my parents while Tony and Tim stood by theirs.

Marilyn shot me a look, but I ignored her. She looked at Jonathan and said something to him. He looked back at me but said nothing. My father noticed the look.

'The witch be plotting something,' He mindlinked me, and I snickered.

'Tell me about it,' I replied.

Three black Range Rovers pulled up in front of us. Omega opened the doors to let the occupants out. Alpha Hank Hudson emerged dressed in a million-dollar suit. He smiled at my father as others filed out of the car. Hank's mate Fiona grabbed his arm while their son Ben stood behind them. Two other males that I assumed to be his Beta and gamma stood beside him.

My father descended the steps with his arm out. "Welcome to Whispering Pines Pack, Alpha Hudson."

Hank shook my father's hand. "Oh, do we need the formalities, Nathan. We are old friends, aren't we?" He gestured to his men. "You know Frank and Steven, my beta and gamma."

"Of course," My father shook their hands. "And you know Jonathan and Michael."

After handshaking and greetings, my father leads us all into the packhouse to the large meeting room. We all filed in, and the omegas had set up coffee and pastries. I got myself a cup of coffee and filled it with vanilla creamer before sitting between Tim and Tony. Ben sat directly across from us with a smirk. It took everything I had to not leap over the table and tear his face off.

The adults all sat towards the front. My parents were at the head of the table. I couldn't help but imagine Katie at my side when we met with other packs. She was going to be the perfect luna.

"Alpha Hudson, please tell us the reason for your visit here today," My father said to the other Alpha.

Alpha Hudson stood up. "Nathan, I am here with a proposal that will benefit us all. My son Ben has taken quite a liking to your Beta's daughter."

I repressed a growl, but my father still glanced at me.

"Ben would like to make Katherine his chosen mate. She will be well cared for, and I believe she would make an excellent Luna." Alpha Hudson continued.

Tim and Tony had to hold me back from attacking the visiting Alpha. A growl escaped my chest as I glared at Hank.

Beta Jonathan stood up. "I accept your proposal." He glanced at Marilyn, who had a broad smile on her face.

"Jon, Katie deserves to find her fated mate," My father also stood up. He shot me a glance with a slight nod. I calmed a little bit. Hoping my father had my back.

"With all due respect, Nathan. Katie is my daughter, and if I say she will be Ben Hudson's chosen mate, then she will," Jonathan looked at Hank. "When do you wish for her to go?"

My father growled and cut them both off. "I am the Alpha of this pack, Beta. I have the final say on when members can leave. Katie is your daughter, but she is also a member of my pack. And I say no, she will not go."

Beta Jonathan growled at my father. "How can you do that to Katie?"

"How can you do that to Katie? She deserves the chance to find her fated mate and not be forced into a mating she may not want," My father growled to assert his dominance over Jonathan. I couldn't help but smile.

"Alpha Nathan. I assure you that Katherine will be well cared for," Alpha Hudson pushed.

"My answer is still no. Perhaps in a few years after Katie is of age and hasn't found her mate, we will revisit this proposal. But right now, the matter is closed."

I smirked at Ben, who looked furious. 'That bastard is not taking my mate,' Poe snarled in my head.

"Alpha, I believe the union will strengthen our alliance." Hank pushed again.

"I don't believe forcing a young female to mate with someone she may not want is how I like to strengthen alliances." My father replied calmly.

Marilyn tugged on Jonathan's shirt and then whispered something to him. Jonathan looked at my father. "Nate, I insist you accept Hank's proposal."

"No," My father replied. "Is there anything else you wish to discuss, Hank?"

The other Alpha shook his head and snapped his fingers, and his people all stood up, including Ben. "No, there is nothing else. Nathan. I am sorry we could not agree. We will be leaving now." He snarled.

"Sorry you came all this way for nothing," My father smirked at him. "Have a good day. My men will escort you out."

Alpha Hudson glared at my father, and then he and his people walked out of the room.

"Jonathan, I need to speak with you in my office." My father gave his Beta a hard look before walking towards the door. "You too, James." He said to me. Marilyn tried to follow, and my father turned to her. "Just Jonathan," He nearly snarled at her.

"But-" She spoke.

My father growled at her. "Just Jonathan," He repeated and walked out of the room. I followed him silently and entered the office, and sat on one of the chairs in front of the desk. A moment later, Beta Jonathan walked into the office.

"Marilyn isn't happy that you are not including her." He snarled.

My father sat in his chair and leaned back. "I honestly don't care how Marilyn feels, Jon."

"Nathan, what makes you think you can make decisions about my daughter?" Jonathan snarled.

"Someone has to look out for her, Jon. I know you won't, so I will." My father replied while glaring at his Beta.

"I look out for my daughter," Jonathan folded his arms.

My father snorted. "You haven't looked out for either one of your children since you married Marilyn."

Jonathan growled. "It always comes back to Marilyn. She is a good stepmother to my kids, Nate. And you need to stay out of my family affairs."

My father leaned forward in his chair. "Jonathan, I don't know what spell that woman has you under, but she is not a good stepmother. If you were looking out for Tim and Katie, then you would notice the garbage she spews at them, especially Katie."

Jonathan scoffed. "I love my daughter, but she can be a bit hard to handle sometimes, and Marilyn is merely correcting her behavior."

"Katie, hard to handle?" My father countered. "You don't know your children at all."

"Nate, I am saying to stay out of my family affairs. Katie is going to be Ben Hudson's mate. If I have to resign and leave this pack and take my family, I will," He stood up.

"You will not take Katie, "I launched out of my chair with a growl. "If you take Katie from me, you will regret it." I got into the Beta's face.

"James!" My father barked. He was just behind me and had to pull me back. "Jonathan, I have never forced a member of this pack to mate with someone else. And I am not about to start now." He looked his Beta in the eye. "I have a very strong feeling that Katie's mate is in this pack. She deserves to have to opportunity to be with her fated mate and not be forced into something she doesn't want."

"I will be taking my daughter then." Jonathan snarled and started to walk out of the door.

I launched myself at him. "YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER!" I punched him, knocking him into the wall.

My father's large hand pulled me back. "James Lucas Brody, you will stand down," He growled. I growled back but obeyed my father.

"Why are you so concerned if Katie leaves?" Jonathan asked me. "Wendy is your mate."

"Wendy is not my f*****g mate, "I snarled. "Your dumbfuck wife is only pretending she is."

Jonathan lunged at me, and my father had to put himself between us. "Do not disrespect my wife!"

"Both of you, stop!" My father said in his alpha tone. Jonathan submitted, but it did not affect me. I took a step back anyways.

"Wendy is not my mate, Beta. Katie is." I told him,

Jonathan's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

My father and I nodded. "I have known for sure since my birthday. But I have suspected she was for years." I explained to him. "I love Katie. If you take her from me-"

Jonathan held up his hands. "I am sorry, James. I didn't know."

"If you had noticed the way those two were acting towards each other, then you would know," My father chuckled. "Did Marilyn influence your decision?"

The Beta sighed and looked away from us but said nothing.

"Jonathan, did Marilyn influence your decision?" My father asked in his tone. Jonathan had no choice but to reply.

"Yes," He turned to us. "She wants Katie gone so Wendy can be the next luna."

I growled entirely too loud as Poe tried pushing himself forward. "Wendy is a lesbian." I blurted out. "Look, I like Wendy as a friend. She is a good person despite having a f****d up mother," I told the Beta, who glared at me.

"James, will you leave us now. My Beta and I need to have a serious discussion." My father interjected.

I sighed. "He won't tell Marilyn about Katie being my mate? I have a feeling Marilyn will try to do something to Katie."

"No, son," My father reassured me. He looked at his Beta. "Jonathan, you will not tell Marilyn that Katie is James's mate," He ordered in his tone.

Jonathan stiffened but nodded. "Yes, Alpha."

I smiled and mouthed thank you to my father before walking out of the office. I wanted to take Katie out again tonight. But I had to wait until after she was out of school. So I went and played video games with Tim for a few hours.