Benjamin

I'm scared.

We were finally in a good place, perhaps. My mate wanted me - for the time being, at least - and his family was cleared to move into the pack (house).

It was a short lived happiness as his brother had taken ill and was admitted to the hospital the day before yesterday.

And he's not doing so well. Now Ali's family is worried sick about him and we don't know if the little boy is going to recover or not.

I'm terrified of this. If he doesn't survive, his mother is gonna be wrecked and it'll derail everything, including our mating.

I have some experience with losing one's brother and let's just say: I don't wish this on anyone. Not to any parent, not to any surviving relative.

It nearly destroyed my mom and dad and they had zero guilt over the incident - which didn't stop them from blaming themselves anyway - so you can imagine what would happen to a parent with some part in it, though I don't think she's to blame at all.

Anyway, my point is I'm afraid. I'm already on thin ice as it is with Alistair, not knowing if he decided to accept me or not. Not only I don't know, I can't ask him right now.

I can't make any requests with his brother in the hospital. He's too busy worrying if his mom ate or not to care about anyone else. As he should.

It's no secret his family means everything to him. We country people are already family oriented folk. Werewolves are deeply loyal and family oriented.

Basically, I have no standing at the moment. No footing in or out of our relationship, if we have one to begin with. I really don't know. I can't measure anything by a one night stand.

Maybe he just needed to get laid and I was easy. Well, no complaints here. If by any chance I only had one night with him, I have absolutely no regrets.

But I'm hoping this wasn't just teenage biology. I'm striving for more than just to satisfy his (our) horny needs. Which is why I'm so scared about this whole ordeal.

Now it's Christmas' Eve and all his extended family are here at last. And I'm so glad for that. He needs his people now more than ever. They all do.

Our house is beautifully ornamented with Christmas decorations. From the front door to the offices, everything has a seasonal touch.

Our Christmas tree has a ton of presents ready to be unwrapped. Though we have many boarders living with us, they have their own families all over town. Therefore, none of them spend Christmas with us.

Usually it's just us and the Babcocks, who take advantage of our kitchen staff who prepare the entire Christmas dinner.

However, this year our house is full with families that will spend the holiday with us, since mom invited them. She's very happy with this, especially because of the children who brighten any day.

It's been a while since she had contact with children outside of her duties as Luna, so mom is excited at the prospect.

Since my mate will be home for Christmas, I'm excited too. I just hope he spends it here and not at the hospital with his family. Fingers crossed.

"Happy Christmas, bitch!" - Lex greeted me as I left the dining room after having lunch. He also greets the rest of my family and bows his head to the Alpha.

"Merry Christmas, Lex. Are you here to see me or your boo?" - I asked in a suspicious tone.

"Tristan is here?" - He played coy, as if he didn't already know mom had invited his family over. I rolled my eyes.

"He is, Alexander. And you're welcomed to see him in the living room. You're forbidden from going to the guest wing unless you want to be banned from the pack house altogether." - My dad spoke in a stern tone. Both Lex and I gulped at this, but mainly him.

"Yes, Alpha. I'm aware of the house rules." - He replied, embarrassed.

"But you're still welcome to go to my son's room to talk if you want. That hasn't changed." - Dad tried to lighten up the mood. Though now it's too late.

"Thank you, Alpha." - Lex muttered, still embarrassed at the implication.

We quickly made our way into my room, where I went straight to the bathroom to brush while Lex spoke.

"How was the night with your mate, I've been meaning to ask." - His tone was curious and inflection a tad salacious.

I finished brushing my teeth, then left the bathroom to reenter the bedroom.

"Bitch, you have no idea!" - I started, still gobsmacked at the turn of events.

"Do tell." - He's drooling in curiosity.

"I told him he had a free pass to do anything he wanted to me, back at the party because he was getting self conscious about kissing me in front of Teddy and I wanted to put him at ease." - I explained, wide-eyed as I spoke.

"But he took it to heart and bitch... first he blew me and then he fucked me." - I continued, watching Lex's jaw drop to the floor.

"What?" - He gasped in shock, mouth agape.

"Exactly. I was surprised too." - I confirmed, still reeling from that night.

"The omega topped the Alpha. What the fuck!?" - Lex is utterly shocked at this. I am too. I thought omegas only bottomed. I know Lex isn't topping Tristan.

"I know, right? Here I thought omegas were all bottoms like you." - I snickered.

"Bitch, I'm gagged, gooped, beguiled, bewitched, bothered and bewildered." - He is very surprised by this.

"Me too, frankly. I didn't expect it at all. Especially with the whole rejection." - I said, mildly concerned.

"Do you think he regrets rejecting you?" - He asked me in a serious tone.

"I have no idea. But I certainly hope so." - I replied, genuinely in the dark about Ali's intentions.

"What about your night with Tristan?" - I inquired and watched his face open the widest smile.

"Bitch, it was so wonderful." - He replied, swooning at the recent memory.

Lex spent a good time telling me all about his dalliances with his boyfriend. And there was a lot to talk about. I'm so glad we have this time to catch up.

I need my best friend and I'm so happy that we're normal again and stopped fighting over rogues. He left my room a quarter to three and as he sought to talk to Tristan, I went to the guest wing forthwith.

I knocked at the boy's room and Christian opened the door, surprised to see me there.

"Hi, Ben. You can't be here. No guests allowed." - He informed me and I rolled my eyes.

"The rule doesn't apply to mates. Can I speak to mine?" - I countered, annoyed.

"He's not here. He's at the hospital with his parents." - He informed me, keeping the door ajar as if I was going to invade.

"OK, thanks. Please inform Tristan that Lex is waiting for him in the living room." - I said and walked away.

I took my car and went straight to the hospital. From there, it was easy to find him. His scent is unmistakable to me.

"Hi there. How is he doing?" - I asked, once I greeted everyone.

"He's finally getting discharged from the hospital." - Ali replied as his mom and pappa talked to the doctors. He had his sister in his arms. And his brother was looking better without anything attached to him.

"Oh thank Goddess!" - I breathed out a sigh in relief, genuinely relieved.

"Tell me about it! It was so touch and go for a while. I was really worried." - He spoke, sounding relieved as well.

"I noticed. I'm so glad he's doing better." - I commented, noticing his brighter mood as he spoke.

"Yeah, he finally started responding to his treatment yesterday evening and now they're ready to let him spend Christmas' Eve with his family." - He announced it, proudly.

I took a big inhale of his scent and breathed out a sigh, feeling so good. His brother is only 9 years old, for Goddess' sake.

After a while, I took his family back to the pack house. Laura got settled with Elodie and Mark stayed with his parents for the time being.

I followed my mate back into his room and Christian practically had a syncope at my sight.

"Christian, I am allowed to be in the same room as my mate. And no one cares that you're here too since you're straight. The rule is meant to keep Lisa and Lex away from here, not me." - I explained to him as he looked at me panicking.

"Fine, Ben. But I'll leave just in case." - He muttered, walking away from his room. I sighed at the over nervous boy.

"Anyway, now that you're here. Do you have any plans?" - I asked him as he lay on his bed, tired.

"Not really. My plan is to take a shower and get downstairs for Christmas." - He replied in a matter of fact tone. I laughed at his answer.

"I know that. I meant a long term plan." - I elaborated, still laughing.

"Not right now. I need to see how this goes for my family. Only time will tell." - He said, not knowing or purposefully being vague.

"I understand. I guess you're right. I'll let you rest and see you later." - I bid farewell to him, moments before leaving his room.

I don't know why I expected a different response, really. Of course, he's contingent on how his family will fare. That should be obvious to me by now.

Anyway, I'm just glad his brother is safe and sound.

I plopped down on my bed, though not before cruising past the living room on my way there and seeing Lex sucking face with Tristan. Lucky bitch!

I ended up taking a nap and being awakened by my mom calling me on the intercom. All rooms of the pack house contain a phone attached to the wall, which is used both for communications between rooms and to receive and make calls.

It comes in handy since all rooms are soundproof and sometimes we need to call someone. Or in an emergency.

After she berated me for being late, I took a quick shower and got dressed in a flash. Then I went downstairs for the Christmas dinner.

Like I said, there's a schedule for every meal at the pack house. And the tardy wolf doesn't get fed.

Because of the occasion, everyone sat at the main dining room together with my family and the Babcocks. We had to set up extra chairs, but the table is large anyway. It's set to host dinner parties with distinguished guests.

Literally, they were all waiting for me to start eating. I apologized to everyone and greeted the presents. I took my place opposite my sister near the head of the table where my dad and mom sat.

"Now that we're all here, I wanna start the evening by celebrating the good health of Markus Masterson, may the Goddess keep her blessings upon him." - Dad started, surprising the young boy.

We all raised a glass to him, cheering him on. He looked pleased though a bit overwhelmed at the sudden attention.

We enjoyed a four course Christmas dinner that was delicious. We finished off with a pudding and then left the dining room towards the living room.

The families cozied up together around the spacious place. We needed to rest after that hefty dinner. My mom thanked everyone present for gracing us with their company.

She said it warms her heart to see the house so filled with other families. Then, she grabbed one of the presents from the Christmas tree and looked at Mark.

"Markus, Santa told me you were a very nice boy this year and left this for you." - She handed him the gift and he looked at his mom to see what to do.

"Say thank you, Luna." - Marta told him. He repeated back to mom and then he opened to discover a remote control car that had his head spinning.

"Laura, Santa dropped this off for you." - Mom continued, dazzling the girl with a fancy doll. The girl's eyes shined at the present.

"So, this may seem a little odd. But I hope all of you take it as a small token of my welcome into the pack." - Mom stated, looking at the rest of the rogue families. She distributed gift certificates to every single one of them, who were all pleasantly surprised by the gesture.

They looked at the papers mom gave them curiously.

"Tristan, Christian and Alistair, these are coupons for you all to go to the barbershop and have your hair cut professionally. You are all already handsome young men. This way you'll be dazzling." - Mom spoke, getting wide-eyed surprised stares from the boys.

"Elodie, Isabella, Elizabeth, you also could use a little touch to become even more beautiful young ladies. The coupons are for haircuts as well." - Mom continued, as their eyes twinkled. Though I think Lizzie would've preferred a doll.

"To the women, I see you. You are all hard working ladies, so you deserve a day for yourself too to get beautified. So I gave you hair salon certificates to get your hair and nails done."

All the women thanked my mom for the kind gesture and they were all pleased.

"Now gentlemen, don't think I forgot about you. You too deserve a little TLC. So I also got you coupons for haircuts. You need to look presentable before you start at the new jobs my mate secured for you." - Mom surprised them all with the announcement.

Dad found jobs at wolf owned farms for the three men, who were all gobsmacked by the news.

"Thank you so much, Luna. I really appreciate this." - Martha said, teary eyed. She looked really emotional, next to her family.

My mom distributed more gifts to the Babcocks and of course, to her children and mate. Lisa and Christian were happy not far from each other, but they avoided getting too close on account of their parents, who are all present.

"Damn, your mom is the best! I've never had my hair cut professionally." - Ali is marveling at the thought.

"She really is. And I'm sure you'll be even more handsome." - I said, causing him to blush. He laughed awkwardly.

"And what did you ask Santa this year?" - He inquired, smiling at me.

"Well, there's only one thing I want. One thing I need badly." - I replied, my heart fluttering. He gasped when he got the innuendo.

"I see what you did there." - He blushed as he smiled. I'm smitten by him.

As the night went on, eggnogs were served and people celebrated Christmas cheerfully. Not much later than midnight, Martha stepped out to put her children to bed.

Chris and Lisa got a little bolder and shared a kiss or two when their parents were distracted. I'd do the same if I was allowed.😳

Two warriors entered the pack house and looked for my parents.

"Luna, you asked to speak to us?" - One of them said to my mom.

"Right. Yes, I got you these presents for you to take back to your children since you are stuck here on duty." - She told them, who thanked her. She handed them two gift wrapped boxes.

"Excuse me, Alpha. Who's that boy talking over there?" - He pointed at Alistair.

"He's my son's mate, Alistair Young. Why?" - Dad replied, instantly getting his and mine attention.

"Oh my Goddess!" - The warrior was gobsmacked, looking at Ali, who frowned at this. He came closer to them.

"What? Do I know you?" - He asked, frowning in confusion. I came closer to him as I'm puzzled as to what's happening.

"I... I..." - He stuttered, nervously staring at Alistair as if seeing a ghost.

"That's not your name." - He declared and all of us were looking baffled at him. What the hell is happening? Who's this guy and how does he know Ali? What's my mate's real name?

https://youtu.be/yXQViqx6GMY

A|N: TWIST, honey!

Some gag worthy drama is about to happen in the next chapter.

There'll be blood, sweat and tears. You can hardly wait!

Love,

Léo.