Life Before Him

We're Going Hunting

"Xavier!" my dad yells from the end of the hallway, and i quickly scatter to shove the dirty magazine i snuck from the convenient store under my bed. I'm only 17, so i haven't found my mate, i also haven't felt someone like my mate, so i'm relying on help from these to relieve the Alpha tension building. 

The door opens and i quickly turn and look at my dad, who rests on the door frame with his arms crossed. "What did you hide?"

"Did you see me hide anything?"

He says nothing, narrowing his eyes at me and i smile. 

"I didn't hide anything, and you can't prove it."

"Right." He snorts and i grin. "What's up dad?"

"We're going hunting, you and I. Deer. I want to see how good you are at sneaking up and attacking. Deer are very easy to be spooked and you are future Alpha." 

"So, killing deer will prove that?"

"No. That just gives us food. Your hunting and sneaking will prove to me if you will be ready to be Alpha at 18."

"I'm ready."

"Then prove it to me on this hunt."

"Fine. Will mom join?"

He shakes his head. "No. Not this time. Though we all will go running together sometime soon. She does miss running with us."

I smirk. "That's because we race."

"Yes, immature."

I laugh. "You're just jealous."

He smirks. "Let's go Xavy."

Ugh, that stupid nickname. I hate that nickname. My mom called me that when i first turned and my dad just clicked with it, mainly calls me it to piss me off. I can never live it down. 

I follow him out of my bedroom and outside, i strip down to my underwear because i'm not comfortable enough to strip naked yet. Most do, even siblings, parents, we're so used to it, not one person here pays attention. But i haven't gained that confidence yet.

I shift and run through the woods, he's not following right next to me, which means he's observing more. Which makes me anxious. He's never gone easy on me, even though i'm his son, in fact, he's much more a drill sergeant than a father sometimes. 

I've always wanted to impress him. The White Moon pact has a reputation to uphold. I've heard of the white wolves, the ones stronger than any wolf alive, well black wolves are about twenty steps behind him. I need to make sure I can be as strong as my dad. 

After fives minutes of running, we're far enough away from the clearing and any roadway, i stop. I can hear the deers. It's mating season for them, so a lot are trying to find basically a baby maker. Everything i gather enough courage to pretend like my father doesn't exist. I have to do this right. 

One wrong step, one broken branch, one growl will set the deer off and i've lost dinner and my father's respect. Slowly i stalk it, never letting it leave my sights. I make sure every step is carefully calculated and like walking on water. 

I'm twenty feet away and it still hasn't spotted me. 

Fifteen feet. 

Ten feet. 

Five feet. 

I take off. 

It runs from me, but i'm faster, i cross behind it and come to his right, and jump, sinking my teeth into his neck and not letting go. I feel it's heart beat on the end of my tongue, and I let it go, staring at it's lifeless body. 

Well, there's dinner. 

It's sad in a way. All it was doing was eating, and now it's dead. Huh. I don't like that feeling. 

A branch breaks behind me and still in my hunting mode, i turn and tackle the animal to the ground, bearing my teeth before i freeze. It's my dad. I've made a mistake. I scatter off him, panicking. 

Oh he's going to be so mad. 

"I'm sorry dad. I forgot you were there." i mind link him, admitting my mistake. 

"Don't apologize. You did what your wolf would do. I am very proud of you."

"Thank you." 

I sigh in relief. 

But, I am so glad i am in my wolf form. He can't see that my face is bursting with joy. He's never said he was proud of me, and hearing it makes me the happiest person ever. And i don't want him to see that; it would make him feel weird. 

"Bring it back, that's dinner for the pact."

I nod and bite the back of it's neck. It bled out, so i no longer feel the depressing heartbeat of this animal. I drag it in between my legs back to the clearing. Once there, the two omegas who cook for the pact grab them and carry it into the house. I shift back to my human form and yank on my jeans and shirt, looking at my dad.

"Good job kid. Knew you could do it."

"Thanks dad."

"Go look at what you were hiding?

What? He knows? How? 

"C'mon. I was a teenager too waiting for my mate. I didn't find my mate until i was 20. I didn't sleep with anyone. I had those and they were used often."

Oh God. "Did anyone tell you less is more?"

"Oh yeah. But i like to see the disgust on your face when i say that. What else is entertainment here? I don't watch TV."

"And whose fault it that?"

"My father's."

"Anyone but yours huh?" I smirk, and he smiles, nodding. "Yep. Go. I'll mind link you if i need you."

I nod and head into the house and upstairs. I debate whether or not to grab it. But knowing my mom, since she knows i'm back, she'll come searching for me. Oh well. 

I lock the door and fall on my bed, opening it to the page i left off and staring at the naked woman before me. 

For some reason none of them really do anything for me. I think i only look at them to figure out why they don't. None of the girls here do either. I find no interest in anyone. My dad says that's becuase no one here is my mate, which isn't uncommon. But, everyone here has slept with someone before they me their mate, we're teenagers after all. 

And I have had girls flirt with me, but nothing happens. I don't understand why, i've wondered if i was gay, one of the omegas was, and left the pact with his mate. No one here understand. And no man here interests me. And any other pact i've been too. I don't know why, I haven't told anyone to find out, i'm sort of embarrassed. 

Who wouldn't be? Not attracted to anyone. That's not hear of. Especially since during mating season for us, the women and men who have a sweet smell don't bug me. And it's worse for an unmated alpha. Sometimes it bugs mated wolves. 

After ten minutes, I get bored and shove the magazine underneath my pillow, staring at the ceiling. I want my mate. I've always wanted to meet mine. I want to be with someone who will love me through anything. I've been told by many women who i've rejected, even men, that I will never find someone who will love me. It's depressing but I don't let it affect me out loud. 

"Xavy!"

I move my head up and look at my mom who walks in, smiling at me. "What's up mom?"

"Ready for a run?"

I smile wide. "Hell yeah."

Author's Note:

Every chapter that has a name for the title is about Xavier's past. Just to clear that up.