A Mother Before A Mate
Chapter 7

Jack Lavard Point of View

We've been driving for the last two hours, and we'll be at Cold Moon's packhouse in two more. I'm in the passenger seat of an SUV while my Beta Zac drives. My parents are in the back seat, and my mom is driving me nuts. We have three more SUVs full of top warriors from my pack in our little convoy as well. I had Zac drive, so I could get some work done, but I didn't take into account my mother... she won't stop talking.

"Are you even listening to me, Jack?" I hear my Mom ask loudly. No, I wasn't.

"Of course!" I respond, but my cover is soon blown when she asks me to repeat what she said. "Sorry I was thinking about something," I admit.

"I was saying, you're 23, and you still haven't found your mate. Maybe you should think about starting to look for a strong match. Someone that can give you strong pups?" I've only heard this conversation one hundred times in the last six months or so. "I know, Mom. You want me to mate with Alpha Maximus' daughter. I've heard this before. Many times. I'm not going to agree to an arrangement without meeting her. I'm not going to make a match with someone I can't stand, just for her bloodline. If I'm going to give up on my mate, she needs to be a strong fighter, and I need to like her. That's not negotiable." I tell my Mom for the hundredth time, and it's starting to get on my nerves. "And you know what? You and Dad are fated mates. I don't appreciate you guys trying to force a fate on me that you wouldn't accept for yourself. If bloodlines were so important, why didn't Dad replace the strongest she-wolf he could, and make pups with her?" I ask, as I turn around to look at them.

My Mom is weak, and can't fight at all. Their faces have shock and guilt written all over them. Good. I'm so tired of the pressure they have been trying to put on me.

"We don't want you to forget about your mate for power. We're just concerned that you haven't found her yet. We just don't want you bearing the burden of a pack without a mate. I don't want you to pick a she-wolf you can't stand just for power either. I just heard that Alpha's daughter, Sophie, is very beautiful. She has a strong bloodline, and she would be open to looking for a match," my Mom explains.

"I've been doing just fine with the Alpha duties on my own. I don't need a Luna to be an Alpha to our pack. I don't want to talk about it anymore. I'll meet her soon enough and I'll form an opinion. I won't be forced into anything." I say firmly. My parents are the only people that can annoy me this much and get away with it.

Lexi's Point of View

Today is the big day. Everyone has been so busy, and as Gamma, Lev has been extra busy the last few days. If my Dad wouldn't have died, today would be the day that Lev would become Gamma. It's hard to imagine how our lives would look today, had my parents survived. Possibly completely different.

I met up with Cora and Jos to go for a good run. We all want to be as strong as we can for games tomorrow. After our run, I spent the afternoon with Molly. The Alpha ceremony starts at 6 pm, which will take about 15 minutes, and then dinner is served at 6:30. By 7:30 the ball starts, and dancing and music will be in full effect.

The girls show up at my place to get ready beforehand. I got Cora to add a little more curl to my hair and side part it, with some pins holding back one side. I curl Jos's hair, and add a few braids, like she asked me to. Cora normally has really tight natural curls, and she wants sleek and straight tonight. I straightened her dirty blonde hair poker straight for her.

We help each other with our makeup. I have a cat eye, with a little glitter on top. Some blush, and mascara, and a classic red lipstick. I put my navy blue dress on, and I slip on some sparkly silver heels. Cora does a smokey eye, and pink lipstick, to match her knee- length glittery pink dress. Jos goes for a pretty glittery gold on her eyes, with a red lip, with her floor-length gold sequin dress. We're all ready at 5:30, and that's when Stella shows up to watch Molly.

"I've ordered a pizza, it's on the kitchen counter," I tell Stella.

"Sounds good, now get out of here and have a good time," she orders.

I give Molly a kiss goodnight and we walk up to the banquet hall near the packhouse. We get there a little early, and head to the bar to get a few shots. Alpha has a special reserve of moonshine, so it works a little faster than anything else, but we steer clear of it tonight because we can't be hungover tomorrow. We take a few shots of Vodka, while there's barely anyone in here, just to ease some of the jitters.

Jack Lavard Point of View

"Let's go, we're going to be late, Jack," my father growls at me.

It's finally the night I meet this wonderful Sophie I've heard so much about. I'm kind of dreading it. Even if she's cute and strong, and I like her, I'd still be giving up on my mate. I'm not looking forward to that, and I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to closing that door yet. Plus, if I'm not interested in her, I'm going to be listening to my mom b***h about it for Moon Goddess only knows how long.

I grab my navy suit jacket and head out of the cottage we're staying in, on Cold Moon packlands. The banquet hall is just a 2-minute walk. When we get there, someone at the door is there to instruct us where we're seated. It's packed in here. We're told we are sitting with Alpha Maximus and his wife, and their daughter Sophie. Yay! Ugh.

"I'm going to go to the bar first," I tell my parents.

"Well, why don't you come with us, and then take Sophie to the bar with you. We can't show up at the table without you," my mom tries to bargain.

"Come with me then, and we can still make it to the table together," I offer as I start walking to the bar. My parents follow me with a huff of frustration. I get a double whiskey neat. I drink it quickly and order one more. I smell a faint delicious floral vanilla scent. Someone is wearing a nice perfume, it's too sweet to be a wolf's natural scent.

My parents are glaring at me, so we make our way to the Alpha's table. As we get closer, I see Sophie. Her parents are sitting at the table talking, and she's standing talking to a guy I recognize. Jett. She's pretty. She has light brown hair, and it's up in a high ponytail. She's wearing a purple silky dress, and it's quite revealing. Her body seems very slim. Kinda scrawny. Not much meat on her, which is disappointing.

We make it to the table, and my parents introduce me to Alpha Maximus and Luna Camilla, and their daughter Sophie. I shake everyone's hand, including Jett's, and congratulate him. We both were at a few Alpha training seminars over the years. I always liked Jett, he was a cool guy, and very strong. Maybe Sophie's a nice girl. We stand and talk for a minute just catching up.

"You have to meet my wife Grace," Jeff says, and then motions her.

She sees us and then makes her way over. She looks beautiful, and her dress is fit for a Luna. She smells like that floral vanilla scent. It must be her perfume I smelt earlier.

"I lost you for a minute," Jett smiles as he pulls her closer to him.

"I had to tell Lexi, she can't replace out with everyone else," she smiles ear to ear at her mate.

"Of course you did," he says with a chuckle.

"Grace, this is Jack Lavard, Alpha of the Black Moon," Jett introduces us.

"Black Moon? Wow. It's nice to meet you, thank you for making the trip to be here tonight," Grace says warmly. I look at Jett and he's just beaming with pride looking at his mate. He's a lucky man.

"Find what out, with everyone else?" Sophie asks.

"You'll replace out soon," Jett tells her and Sophie rolls her eyes.

Alpha Maximus stands on what will be the dance floor later. Everyone sits, and everything is quiet.

"Thank you all for being here tonight. As a father, this is such a proud moment for me. I know that Jett is going to be a great Alpha. I know all of you will be in great hands. Before I get started, I'd just like to say Thank you. Thank you to my wonderful mate, and your Luna. Without her, I wouldn't have been able to serve you all for all of these years. She carried my burdens with me and helped all of us throughout the years. Camilla, baby. Thank you." The crowd breaks into cheers and applause, including Alpha. After a moment, the clapping dies down. "Thank you to all of the members of my pack who have served me, sacrificed for me, and stood with me. For my warriors, you've sacrificed more and served harder and gave more than you should have sometimes. I can't thank you enough for your loyalty, the blood, sweat and tears," he's cut off by loud cheers and clapping, and chants of "ALPHA, ALPHA, ALPHA."

More than half the room is standing. It must be all of his pack. Alpha Maximus is smiling from ear to ear, he's loved and respected. But I'm surprised to see that Sophie isn't standing. Luna, Jett, and Grace are. I wonder if Sophie has an issue with her Dad. It seems pretty disrespectful. After a few seconds, Alpha puts a hand up to quiet everyone. Everyone quiets, and he takes a second to start again. When he starts, his voice is shaky. That display of affection must have got him choked up.

"It's been an honour to be your Alpha. Thank you all so much. I hope that you all give the same respect and loyalty to my son and his mate. They are both well suited to the role of Alpha and Luna. Jett, please join me up here." Jett stands up and stands beside his father.

"Jett, do you accept the position of Alpha of Cold Moon pack?" Jett looks at his father and smiles.

"I do."

"Will you promise to always act in the best interest of Cold Moon?" Alpha asks.

"I promise, always."

"I, Alpha Maximus Clarke, transfer my title of Alpha to you, Jett Clarke. May Moon Goddess watch over and guide you," Maximus says, and bows his head to Jett. "For the first time, Alpha Jett Clarke!" Maximus adds, and the crowd erupts into applause. He must be very loved, too. Everyone's clapping, and you can feel the energy. Everyone's clapping... except Sophie. Does she have a problem with everyone?

"Thank you so much, Dad. It's such an honour to be following in your footsteps. I have always looked up to you and admired you. Everyone does. That won't change. You have led us with strength, humility, kindness and wisdom. I will strive to be like you, and lead like you have. It's evident when you listen to the cheers of the people that you have led, that you are loved. I feel honoured and grateful that you are my father. To my mother, and our Luna. You have shown so much kindness and strength to those around you over the years. I know that you were a strength for not only all of us but my father. I know you bore the weight of many of his decisions, and you were a constant support system for him, and everyone around you that needed you. Thank you for being the strength behind the scenes. You weren't seeking credit for the ways you impacted the pack, in ways people couldn't see. Thank you for your quiet strength and humility. I'm so proud to call you my mother," he says with pride and emotion. The crowd erupts into applause again. I think about the way he describes his parents. They seem amazing, and the relationship they have seems solid, and it makes me realize more than ever, I want a Luna I can love. Not just one to make strong pups with. "Now, I would like to appoint my lovely wife as our Luna. Grace..." He motions her up, and she stands by his side.

"Grace Clarke, do you accept the position of Luna to Cold Moon?" he asks.

"I do!" She beams, as she looks up at him lovingly.

"Will you promise to always try to act in the best interest of our pack?" he asks, smiling with adoration.

"I promise."

"I am honoured to introduce my lovely mate, my wife, and your new Luna: Luna Grace Clarke." The crowd erupts into cheers, and I notice one woman on the other side of the room is standing and cheering louder than the rest.

I can see her side profile and from what I can see... fk, she looks good. Really f***g good. She has a nice round a*s, and I can see her toned leg poking out the slit on the side of her dark blue dress.

"They're like best friends," Sophie says, and it pulls me out of my thoughts. I nod and smile. I smell Grace's perfume again. It smells so good.

"Thank you all so much for the warm welcome. I feel so honoured to be the Luna to such an amazing pack. I promise I'll always do the best I can for all of you. The first order of business... Jett?" Grace says. She's excited too. "Yes. We have an announcement to make. Grace.." Jett says, and he's beaming. I don't know what the hell is going on.

"We want to announce... I'M PREGNANT!" Gracie bursts with excitement.

The whole hall is screaming. Instinctively, I look over at the blue-dressed girl, and she's standing with the rest of the women at her table clapping and cheering.

"Do you know her?" Sophie asks me.

"Hmm?" I furrow my brows confused, as I look at Sophie.

"Lexi?" Sophie asks as she points to the blue-dressed girl. I shake my head no. Lexi, hmm. I like that. The crowd is still clapping and I notice again Sophie isn't. She looks bored too. This whole time she has looked bored.