Benjamin

I'm glad for it to be over.

Since my brother died, I have been training with Delta Johnson to ascend in his place as Alpha. For the longest time, I thought he was a hardass to me because I was totally inexperienced and barely knew how to throw a punch.

He has been coming at me hard every single weekday for two years. No rest. No quarrel. No reprieve.

And to me it was the hell I had to make myself acquainted with. There was nothing for me to do. I can't exactly go crying to my dad because the Delta of the pack was mean to me.

And so, I survived and got used to his rhythm of trainment.

I got better, stronger, harder. Which was the whole point of it all.

But then there was Gladstone. He brought a whole new level to training that I've never experienced before in my life. He was ruthless. And he doesn't care that I am the son of the Alpha. He'd kill me in the process just the same as he would any other warrior.

At least, no one can accuse him of playing favorites. He was horrible to everyone equally. Though he only trained me for one week, it was one of the hardest learning experiences of my whole life.

Never could I have predicted I'd feel so relieved for Johnson to have returned.

Literally, I hugged him. Yes, I hugged the guy like he was my father or a friend.

He looked at me a little weird, but it wasn't an inappropriate hug. I just felt very happy to see him back at training me.

Speaking of weird, Gladstone keeps on showing up everywhere Martha is.

After she dropped him to the ground the other day, he was even more mesmerized by her. Not only did he show up at the pack house, he also discovered where she works and showed up at her job too.

Let me tell, she WAS not pleased with him showing up at her shop. Though she had to play it cool to not spook her employers, inside she was fulminating him. Though to be fair, he didn't compromise her work either. That would be way worse for him, he just pretended to be a customer.

I wish I could judge him for it, but I did the exact same thing with my mate.

And honestly I would do it all over again if it meant Alistair would end up with me. We have been doing so great together now that everything is back on track.

Everyone we know and care about is mated - even the one we didn't think it would be - and they all look happy together. Also, as we're entering the final days of April, school is almost one month away from being over.

Considering my double journey of school and warrior training, I can't wait for graduation to come. I'm freaking exhausted, especially the week where I trained under Gladstone.

I never thought I'd say this: compared to him, Johnson is a walk in the park.

Side note: Tristan is also hard at training. Despite everything, he never wavered in his resolve to become a warrior. Which is a good thing, because his journey to college can be a tricky one with summer school ahead of all the (former) rogues.

"Are you okay, son?" - Dad asked me during breakfast on a Tuesday morning.

"I am fine, dad. Just tired. This double journey every day is not easy to endure." - I replied, feeling the weight of my duties, even though the week has only begun.

"Stop completing the bond until midnight, freak!" - Sasha provoked me.

"Who stays awake until midnight, brat? I could barely hold on to dinner time lately." - I snapped at her, revolted at the implication.

Ali and I are in a nice groove where we don't over exert ourselves in bed. We play around with each other when we want, but respect each other's time and disposition.

"Grandpa!" - Sasha teased me.

"Leave your brother alone, Sasha. He has a lot on his plate!" - Dad intervened, glaring at her.

"Thanks, dad. I really do. After I survived the apocalypse Gladstone, I still have to face Johnson." - I mumbled, sounding tired.

"Hang in there, son. It's gonna be worth it afterwards. You'll see." - He smiled at me.

"I know, dad." - I agreed. I know it's a requirement for me to become Alpha. This is not an easy position to achieve and the pressure is on for the second born.

"How is the mate soap opera? What's the latest Gladstone pulled? Did he bring her flowers?" - Sasha asked me as we finished up.

Of course by now everyone in the pack knows about Martha being mated to the under Delta. The news spread faster than wildfire around town and people love gossip, especially after she rejected him.

"After he went to her workplace and it didn't work, I think he's taking his time strategizing now." - I mused, not knowing what's on his mind.

"Well, I hope he wins. I never liked that Billy dude." - Sasha spoke, cheerfully.

"It's not a competition, sweetheart." - Mom interjected, frowning.

"As long as he stops taking it out on the warriors, I'm good either way." - I muttered, mildly uncomfortable. Though I don't get him training me anymore, it doesn't mean I wish any of my fellow warriors to face his bad side.

"Let's hope he calms down." - Dad agreed, sounding a bit concerned. Both of my parents saw my injuries from that week, but dad doesn't interject himself in my training, except by asking Delta to go harder on me. Yes, really.

Truth is no one was prepared for the stunt he was about to pull.

And that was the stunt to end all stunts. No one saw this coming. And I do mean nobody, much less Martha.

"Good morning, bitch. Are you trying to one up Evan before graduation?" - I asked my best friend who's tied with him to be valedictorian.

"Oh I'm on top of it, rest assured. I even signed myself up for tutoring." - He replied, enthusiastically.

"Who needs tutoring this late in the semester? We're practically graduating already!" - I commented, baffled.

"I don't know, bitch. I needed to do something! Who knows what kinda stunt that dweeb can pull?" - Lex raised his voice, apprehensive.

"No idea. Good luck, bitch." - I didn't know what else to say, frankly.

There's nothing I'd put it past Evan to be honest. Even if he has to use his parents' connections somehow.

"How is the mate war? I heard she dropped him in the middle of the dining room in front of everyone." - Teddy questioned, next to his mate. They are always together now, except during lunch break.

"Gladstone seems surprisingly quiet these days. He hasn't been coming to the pack house so much lately. I think he's onto something." - I replied, suspiciously.

"Well, he better pull a fast one because that woman does not play." - Lex pondered.

"I don't know what he could pull, to be honest. Momma seems dead set on rejecting him." - Ali said, by my side.

"Like mother, like son." - Lex snickered. Ali glared at him. Teddy and I laughed uncomfortably.

Inside the classroom, we settle down in our seats while the teacher doesn't enter.

"You never told me about your interview with Mr. Houser." - Chris said to his mate.

"That's because he asked me if I'm the principal's daughter, why would I need a scholarship to begin with? I think he forgets how educators get paid in this country. I think Mr. Houser thought my dad was a C.E.O. or something." - She replied in a snarky tone.

"Oh, I see. Well, best of luck, beautiful." - He winked at her.

"At this rate, it's easier for Lex to win than me." - She rolled her eyes.

"He's ineligible." - Chris winked at her. For a smart boy, he's not so good at picking up sarcasm.

"Has your grandfather told you anything about who he's picking?" - I asked Lex, intrigued.

"No and I have no intention of asking. The only thing he asked me was which one of the nomads who broke my heart." - Lex replied, sincerely.

"Oh come on!" - Tristan cried out, revolted.

"I didn't say it was you, not that you deserved that. I told him that he shouldn't make this decision for personal reasons and to give the scholarship to the one he feels deserves the most." - Lex snapped at him, angrily.

"Thanks, Lex. I know you could have dragged me through the mud." - He muttered, embarrassed.

"You can thank me by never breathing a word to me again." - Lex rolled his eyes.

This got uncomfortable fast.

Later at the training center, Gladstone didn't seem so affected any more. He was acting like his normal self again, which is great.

"I heard there was a wolf war in my absence." - Delta Johnson said in a humorous tone.

"There was and if you see a large medical expense bill on your paperwork, ask your under about it." - I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

Every pack dime spent is scrutinized and reviewed as if it was government funds. Because it's the pack members who pay for it with their monthly contributions. As they pay for every pack member salary and benefits.

"I have already talked to him, but I can't control what he does in my absence. He's next in line for Delta. Only Babcock can deal with him now, I'm not gonna change my 'under' less than 6 months away from my retirement. Plus, he didn't do anything wrong. Technically." - He stated, serenely.

"I know that, sir. I wouldn't want him replaced either. In fact, don't tell this to anyone, but I'm rooting for him in the mating war." - I admitted, surprising him.

"Me too. But I always side with the mate bond. Even when my son gets mated to a white boy." - He snickered.

"Hey, Lex is great regardless of his ethnicity." - I frowned at him.

"I'm sure he is. I heard he's up for valedictorian of the class." - He commented, proudly.

"He is. Fingers crossed." - I crossed my fingers in one hand as I said that.

Later at night, we eat dinner just like any other day. I'm at the guest dining hall today.

"Is it better now with Johnson?" - Ali asked me as we ate.

"Way better. I'm used to him, he doesn't make me face three wolves at the same time." - I replied, feeling some PTSD at the memory.

"Three?!" - Elodie gasped in shock.

"It was the same amount his brother faced when he died." - Tristan 'enlightened' her.

"Thanks for bringing that up, Tristan." - I, Ali, Joe, Sophia all glared at him, who gets uncomfortable.

"Sorry." - He muttered under his breath, remorsefully.

"Yes, three. He wanted me to become aware that the odds do not always work in my favor, but I can turn them around anyway." - I told her with some enthusiasm.

"Geez, that guy." - She rolled her eyes.

"I know, right? Leave it to Ali's mom to be mated to the future Delta." - I commented, getting a rise from her.

Martha glared daggers at me, but said nothing. Billy looks uncomfortable, but what else is new?

A warrior enters the room and quietly approaches Martha.

"Ms. Young, you have visitors." - He told her in a low tone.

"I don't wanna see Gladstone. Tell him to go home." - She snapped at him, peeved.

"It's not the under Delta, ma'am." - He explained, mildly uncomfortable.

"No? Then who is it? I don't know anyone in this town!" - She exclaimed, baffled by the surprise.

"There is a Mr. and Mrs. Young here for you in the living room." - He informed her and she nearly had a syncope.

"What?!" - She gasped in shock, wide-eyed.

"Wait, my grandparents are here?" - Ali is gobsmacked. We all are.

Martha got up from the table and left for the living room in a rush.

Ali wanted to go too, but I kept him from going by saying:

"Give your mother a minute with her parents first. I'm sure she'll call you later to see your grandparents." - I advised him, seeing this is an incredibly delicate situation.

Inside the living room...

Martha is shell shocked at seeing her parents who she hasn't laid eyes on in almost two decades since she left home. Both of the seniors hug her for a good while.

They told her they had always missed her and never intended for her to live her life as a rogue. Her dad apologized for not having fought harder when she was rejected at the warrior try out and that he regrets it till this day.

Martha cried seeing her parents and hearing her dad say that. It brought back several memories from the time back in her old pack. They sat down and talked about all sorts of subjects for a long time.

Until my mate couldn't help himself anymore and decided to crash their reunion.

"I'm sorry to intrude, I heard my grandparents were here." - He pushed the door open and entered the living room.

"Momma, pappa, this is Alistair, my oldest son." - Martha introduced her to them.

Another round of tears, hugs and some kisses.

"I also have two other children. Mark, who is 9 and Laura, who is 7 years old." - She informed them, who seemed eager to meet them too.

"I can't believe you have such a beautiful family, Martha. Congratulations!" - Mr. Young told his daughter.

"Thanks, pappa. I'm blessed, but it wasn't always easy. I was abandoned by Ali's father when he was just five years old. Not that I wanna talk about that now." - She croaked, blushing. Ali got uncomfortable with the topic.

"It's fine. We'll talk about it some other day. I'm sure it wasn't easy being unmated all this time. I'm sorry for all your hardships, my dear." - Mrs. Young said, feeling sad for her daughter.

"Thanks, momma. It was a struggle, but I'm fine now." - Martha smiled.

"Yes, you are. And where is he?" - Her mother asked her.

"Where is who?" - Martha sounded confused at her question.

"Your mate, dear! When he called us after all this time-"

"What?!" - Martha screamed, beside herself.

"Wait, you didn't know we were coming?" - Her dad asked her, confused.

"No, I didn't know! I thought you heard I was here because Beta Laramie told you, after I got settled down here." - She raised her tone, referencing the old Beta from the Hacksaw pack.

"First of all, he's not Beta anymore. No, we didn't find out through our Beta. A man called saying that he was your long lost mate and that you wanted to be reunited with your family after all these years. He informed us where you were and told us to come." - Her father explained, shocked but not as much as her.

"What the fu-. How did he even know how to call you? How did he figure out which pack I..." - And then it hit her. He knows from what pack she was because he's been there before 20 years ago.

"I can't believe this!" - Martha shouted, incredulously.

"So, he lied and he isn't your mate?" - Her father asked, cautiously.

"He is, but I told him I don't want a mate. I have a partner of ten years who is the father of my younger children." - She explained after a moment to catch her breath.

"I see..." - Her parents glanced at each other with knowing expressions.

"I cannot believe he pulled this!" - She is beyond baffled, shocked and stunned.

"Well, I'm sure he had the best intentions when he set this up. It's so nice to see you, my dear." - Her mother said, glancing over at Martha with a sweet gaze.

"It's really nice to see you too, momma. It is. I can't wait for you to meet my younger ones. And I'm glad you came." - Martha told her mother and father.

It was a festive occasion and the Youngs promised to continue on tomorrow.

Back at my room, Ali filled me in on the latest news and I'm baffled by Gladstone's cunning. Calling her long lost parents? That's a ballsy move!

Honestly, I'm impressed with him. He's playing mating warfare.

May the best person win!

https://youtu.be/Bu3OQFCsKXQ

A|N: I didn't think of this idea of reuniting them until after I started writing the chapter. I love a good last minute inspiration.

I do love a man with confidence. It's on, Gladstone!

PS: It was impossible to pick another song. Reunited and it feels so good.

Next is NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP.

Love,

Léo.