VERBOTEN MATES

CHAPTER 6* WE MEET AGAIN*

"Son?"

Aztec turns his head towards the door of his room as he hears his father calling him.

"I'm here dad, you can come in."

The soon to be Alpha says to his dad who was currently standing outside the room.

"I can see you are ready for tonight's haze?"

Alpha Kane says walking into his son's room with a proud smile on his face as he stared at the soon to be Alpha. 

"As ready as I'll ever be, father, I can't wait to claim my luna and my place as Alpha."

Aztec responds, sending a wink towards his father as he bends to tie his shoelace. 

"I am proud to see how matured you have grown over the years. It would be an honor for me as your father to pass the seat to you as Alpha. There is no greater joy than seeing your child do you proud and carry on the family legacy. I am proud of you, son."

Alpha Kane says, patting Aztec's back and the young Alpha smiled.

"Thank you father, I am glad that I have you here as my father and that you've done your best to make sure I thread on the right path. I know I would make mistakes as I grow, but I promise, father, to do my best and never go astray from the path you've laid down for me."

Aztec says, turning to face his father, who had that parental doting love in his eyes as he looked at his son. 

 "I trust you, boy, and even when you make mistakes, know that you have your father here and I would listen to you, whatever the case may be."

"I believe you, father."

Aztec says, and the father smiled. 

"I know you are aware of this already, but it is only traditional, if I remind you. The haze is a sacred season for all werewolves. It's a tradition practised for so many millenniums, one that is respected amongst our kind. It was the goddess second chance to us, a sign to show that she still loves us. I know you have a lover whom you intend to claim tonight, right?"

Alpha Kane asks, and Aztec nods, wondering where his father was going with the question. 

"That's a good thing. I am most proud that you've kept her around this long compared to how you used to be. That shows you love her. But I want you to know is this; on rare occasions, we don't always get what we want, especially during the haze. I know you have your eyes on someone already, and you would want to go after that person during the chase of the haze. Sometimes the goddess directs us on a different path, on most occasions we end up claiming a different wolf. It's just the goddess' way of testing our loyalty. What I'm saying is, tonight you might get lucky to haze and claim your lover or the goddess might decide to test your loyalty. Whoever your claim ends up as tomorrow don't for any reason hate on them or try to retract your claim. Talk to them first, get to know them before you do anything rash."

Alpha Kane says to his son who listened with rapt attention, he knows there is the slightest chance, of him claiming another she wolf who isn't his lover, and that can only happen if another wolf has eyes on his lover or if he has eyes on another she-wolf. 

Currently Leisha is the only she-wolf he has eyes on, in the pack, and he knows no other male wolf would dare go for his woman. Aztec wanted to quote this to his father, but he chose not to. 

"I understand you father, if I and my wolf end up claiming a different she -wolf other than Leisha, I would accept them. It doesn't really matter to me father, what matters is claiming my luna. Whoever the haze blesses me with, it is my duty as their Alpha to love her and I would do just that."

Aztec replies, and Alpha Kane nods, smiling brightly at his son. 

"Thank you son, now I need to excuse you. It's almost sundown, I'm sure there are a few places you want to go before going to the haze ground. Remember, do not miss the ritual before the haze. It's customary right the most crucial part."

Alpha Kane says, standing up as he readies to exit the room.

"I won't miss it father, I know how important it is, one must receive the blessings of the ritual before the haze for thus the goddess bless thee with off springs from your bosom."

Aztec replies, reciting one of the many guidelines that comes with learning about customary rites of the haze. His father nods at Aztec cleverness, patting him one last time before bidding him goodbye and exits the room. 

Aztec sighs as the door closes behind his father, slumping back on his bed, as he pondered the possibility of him hazing another woman. 

The Alpha heaved, wishing for something impossible, yet he couldn't help but wonder how different that would feel and good too. 

If only the laws of the land weren't one that exiled same-s*x partners or executes them, Aztec would have at least hope his claim ends up being one of the many cute boys he's craved to f**k in the pack. 

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"Do you have you eyes on anyone you want to claim during the haze?"

Jamal asks Torak as they walk to the garage of the Alpha's suit together to get the car and Torak halts, giving his friend a quick once over.

"Did you forget that I have a lover?"

Torak questions, as he begins on his walk missing the face Jamal made at his response. Either Torak doesn't know or choses to ignore that his friend and majority of the pack do not approve of his love affair with Crina. 

"Oh yes, you have a lover, I didn't think you would want to claim her or have her as your Luna."

Jamal says, opening the car door as he enters after Torak.

"What gave you that impression?"

Torak asks after the starting the car and he slowly drives out of the garage.

"You both are opposites, besides don't you hear the rumors that fly around in the pack about her and how frivolous she is with other men. I don't really know you still keep her around knowing she is like that."

Jamal comments, and Torak rolls his eyes at his friend's statement.

"I am glad you said rumour. They are rumours Jam, which means they aren't true and unconfirmed. Besides, I don't have to be with someone who is like me. Crina is a good girl. She might have her bad days, but she is good and I love her, well a little. Still, I think she would make a good luna and she listens to me quite, well. That's all I need to claim her."

Torak explains, and Jamal scoffs. 

"You think she would make a good luna, the pack thinks otherwise and you're just being blatantly blind to the truth all because you want to keep your perfect image of a modest gentleman. We both know you are far from being a gentleman also putting you and modest in the same sentence is blasphemy. FOR THE BILLIONTH TIME STOP FVCKING CALL ME JAM."

Jamal screams out the last part and Torak had to take his hand away from the car wheel to cover his eyes at the high pitch over. 

"Tell me you are jealous of me, without telling me you are jealous of me."

Torak scoffs, handling the wheel again as they drive out of their pack lands and the guards didn't need to be told to let their future Alpha through. 

"I am not jealous of you, friend, just telling you the truth. Crina doesn't deserve to be luna."

Jamal says and Torak sighs as they draw closer to the only road that leads to the haze grounds which runs through wolf's claw pack lands. 

Every werewolf from southern Rome who is old enough to take part in the haze has no choice but to journey through Wolf claw pack to get to their destination. 

The land on which the haze takes place belongs to the great Romulus ancestors, one major reason that earned the pack the respect it got over the centuries. 

For the wolves, they saw it as a great honour for the mother goddess that have chosen their lands as most holy for such sacred ceremony. 

Over the years, rival packs have waged war against the Wolf Claw pack only to have a claim over the haze ground, to horn their respect to their name, but Romulus descendants have fought with every ounce of blood to keep their legacy. 

"Okay dear friend, as you seem to know what's best for me, whom would you suggest I claim at the haze tonight? Do you have anyone fitted to be luna in mind for me?"

Torak asks, each word dripping with sarcasm, and Jamal glares at the Alpha, choosing not to entertain the question.

"I am waiting to hear your suggestion, oh wise one. Crina won't make a good luna I agree but who will? Do I claim one from the neighbouring packs? or from our rival pack? Women who do not know how we do things in Shadow Blade, nor do they have the slightest idea of who I really am besides knowing me as Alpha Torak. Perhaps they would make a great luna over people they don't know."

Torak says, and Jamal sighs, shaking his head, and he gestures his hands for his friend to stop. 

"Fine, I get it. I get your point, no need to shove it up my ass."

Jamal says, giving up on the argument before Torak lectures him about the culture and custom tradition of their pack that women from these other packs don't know nor understand. 

Jamal can't deny that Torak didn't speak facts, though. The Alpha was right about the females from other packs not knowing who he really is underneath the title of being Alpha heir of the most brutal pack in all of Rome. 

Nor do those women know, the custom traditions practiced by members of the Shadow Blade pack known only to them. 

Traditional rites that began long before Torak or his father was born, or the rules that governs their pack and its members, Torak knows he cannot bring any woman home as luna, his father would have enough reasons to take his seat from him forever. 

"I'm not trying to shove anything up your ass, just making you see reasons with me. In all honesty, if I have a better option than Crina I won't claim her tonight, but she is the only woman close enough to know little about me and our tradition is no news to her. Silver doesn't like her either. If I claim her now, it doesn't mean I cannot give up my claim in the future. I have tried going to the haze with the mindset that the goddess would choose for me and that didn't work out. I cannot go blindly again this year. All I need Crina for is Ascending as Alpha once we complete the ascension rites and I am pronounced as Alpha of Shadow Blade pack one little mistake and she is out of the picture."

Torak explains to his friends, who listened in astonishment, not expecting his ever so self acclaimed righteous best friend to harbour such thoughts. 

"Well, you could have just said this all along, and I support Silver on this one, but what happens when you forfeit your claim on her?"

Jamal asks, and Torak sighs, shaking his head.

"I don't know yet. When that time comes, I'll find a solution for now. Lets just get tonight's haze over with and I get my seat as Alpha."

Torak responds as he the guard at the entrance of the Wolf Claw pack grants them passage through the land, the haze season being the only time the pack law allows anyone to journey through the land without being apprehended for questioning. 

"Shouldn't we pay our respect to Alpha Kane before going to the haze ground?"

Jamal asks as he sees Torak cuts through the path that leads to the haze ground.

"Is it really necessary? Father already caused a ruckus with them two days ago, it's better not to aggravate the situation of things right now."

Torak replies, slowing down the car acceleration as he tried to reason with Jamal. 

"I'm glad you said your father and not you. You would be Alpha in a few days and you can correct whatever issue you father caused. Now if you don't want to lead an unnecessary war few days after your ascension, I think it's best if you get on a good rapport with Alpha Kane and his son. Let them know you are not your father and you do not do things like your father."

Jamal advises and Torak nods, seeing sense in what his future beta and best friend just said. Torak steps on the break of the car, turns the vehicle around drive towards Alpha Kane office. 

"I guess you're right. You would make a good beta. At least you are smart enough and can actually tell me the truth when I need to it."

"Having me as your beta should be your biggest flex honestly, what until you become Alpha of Shadow Blade and I unleash my hidden prowess."

Jamal brags as they got nearer to the Alpha's suite.

"Remind me never to praise you again, even though you deserve the praise. Măgar."

"I don't get why you're calling me a jackass for speaking facts, but it's whatever."

Jamal says, rolling his eyes as he gets off the car after Torak, who adjusts the waist of his trousers before walking their way to the door, which instantly opens, catching both men by surprise as they were just preparing to knock on the door. 

"Fancy seeing you again, Torak."

Aztec greets with a sly grin on his face, totally disregarding the other man standing beside Torak.

"It's Alpha Torak to you, Băieţaş."

Torak reprimands, holding back the snarl that threatens to leave his throat.

"And it's Alpha Aztec to you. I am no one's little boy. I prefer when I am called Tati. Not by the likes of you anyway, but if you want to, I can show you what that this Alpha is, no little boy but someone's Daddy."

Aztec replies arrogantly, cursing in his head, because he knows how badly he wishes he could have Torak, but the consequences aren't worth the risk. 

Torak balled his fist in anger, his wolf crawling deep inside him with an unfamiliar emotion that neither Torak nor Silver could explain. How dare this child say to call him Daddy, the height of his disrespect? 

"Alpha Aztec, we are here to pay our respects to your father. If you don't mind, we have to get going on our way soon. Is he in?"

Jamal asks, clearing his throat as he breaks the glaring contest going on between the two Alphas for reasons different from what Jamal thinks.

Torak is livid that a young Alpha such as Aztec has the guts to disrespect him, while Aztec simply can't get the image of seeing Torak without clothes out of his head.

"Father is not in."

Aztec replies, turning to face Jamal with a hardened expression and the beta nods.

"We shall get going then, thank you."

Jamal says, offering Aztec a polite smile as he drags a fuming Torak away from the young Alpha. Even when the door to their car slams shut, Jamal knows better than to utter any word. 

"I hate him, goddess, I want to rip his lung out of his fvcking body, that kid infuriates me."

Torak snarls, driving out of the Alpha space, and Jamal nods in agreement. 

"Yeah, I won't blame you. If you end up ripping out his lungs, the kid is annoying and arrogant. I've only heard rumors about him, thought Alpha camp would reshape him or something."

Jamal responds and Torak sighs.

"Alpha camp only inflated the Rahat's ego, and this is your fault." (dipshit)

Torak cursed, glaring at Jamal who quickly raised his hands up as a gesture to show his innocence.

"No, you are not putting the blame on me. I wanted to go there for a good reason, now don't blame me for the kids' lack of manners. I don't know the deal you have together, I'll very much like to stay out of it."

Jamal says, waving his hands in surrender. 

"I don't have any business with him."

Torak growls, slamming his palm on the steering.

"Good, then calm down. You are getting too worked up. You can't haze with such anger."

Jamal advises his friend and Torak snarls, swerving the car to an abrupt stop by the side of the road to calm himself before continuing on their journey.