Alistair

It's not looking good.

My tough acting momma is having a troubled time lately.

It was easy to use the 'hate' she had for Gladstone antagonizing her in the beginning and all the stunts he pulled.

She had a lot going for her in the early stages of the mate bond and momma is a strong, confident woman.

But no one is above the mate bond.

Not me, not Chris or Lisa, not Tris and not even my momma. She put up a good fight, though. She really did.

But as the days of May passed by, it became more difficult for her to function. She took every measure she could to defuse the situation, avoiding seeing her mate.

But in a twist of fate, as soon as Gladstone said he was giving up on her, the bond hit her the hardest.

It was impossible to circumvent, impossible to ignore and impossible to overcome it.

As cliché as it is, you (really) can't fight the moonlight. And if anyone can, it's not gonna be any of us werewolves.

Good luck trying though.

We always said may the best mate win, but the truth is it's not up to either of them. It never was indeed.

There's only one person that matters in this case. And she is as powerful as she is relentless.

And now momma fell the latest victim to her incredible power. She can't be ignored. She won't. That's why werewolves are taught to accept their mates, not choose them.

That's why a long time ago in the late nineties, a white boy from the South, descendant from one of the most powerful werewolf dynasties of the country, had no choice but to accept his Goddess given mate.

A black girl, daughter of a city counselor, raised on black pride and values. She thought she would be mated to a strong black man and raise their family together.

Instead, she got the white boy son of the Alpha. This mate pairing sent shock waves throughout the whole pack at the time.

For over one hundred years, no Livingstone Alpha was mated to any person of color. Ever.

Legend has it there was a female Alpha once. And when her pack members tried to challenge her for the position, she shifted and bit their ears off. Yes, really.

It's all in the history books of the pack library.

But even then, her mate was caucasian.

Now, twenty something years later, it's an anecdote the Alpha couple tell sometimes. And you can't find a happier couple than them.

I mean, aside from the fact that they lost a son. But my point is they're the happiest together and no one can argue against their union.

The moral of the story is: you can't stand a chance against fate. Not them, not me and certainly not my mother.

When I got downstairs for breakfast today, momma was tearing up inside the dining room. Pappa wasn't beside her and everyone was looking worried for her.

"Are you alright, momma? What happened?" - I inquired, troubled.

"I can't stand it anymore, Ali. I really tried, but I can't ignore the mate bond any longer. Billy and I have separated, but he will always be there for you and your siblings." - She replied and I think deep down I saw that coming. We all did.

"I'm sorry, momma. I can only imagine how much you're hurting right now." - I said, feeling sad for her.

"I'm sad for thinking I could beat the odds. I really thought I'd outgrow this pesky mate bond, but it is impossible to ignore it. It's torture. I can't live this way." - She said, dreadfully.

Billy cries at this and he is consoled by Joe.

"I'm sorry, pappa. I was really rooting for you." - I told him, sorrowful.

"It's fine, Ali. There's a reason we're taught to accept our mates. If it was easy to reject them, no one would accept them in the first place. But it hurts." - He said, weeping.

"What are you going to do now, momma?" - I inquired, curiously.

"I'm gonna take down the restraining order and visit my mate. There's nothing else for me to do. I need to scent him to calm my wolf." - She replied, sincerely.

Pappa cried some more and it was difficult to watch the scene. Both my siblings also cried at the table and they hugged their dad. It was a difficult morning and the day has only just begun.

When I arrived at school, our friends noticed my saddened frown and asked me about it. I wasn't in the mood to talk, so Ben explained to them what had happened.

Naturally, they comforted me and offered some solace in the wake of an arguably predictable breakup. But right now that isn't much consolation. My wholesome family is no more.

I watch the classes on autopilot as I must to finish out the semester, but I'm too distraught to care about anything else right now. I may have had my issues with Billy in the past, but he was some sort of father figure to me when I had none. Plus, he and momma had been together for a decade.

That's a long time and for almost my entire childhood he's been there by her side.

"Lena, my sister is throwing me a baby shower next month. I hope you can come." - Mrs. Carrera was talking to my cousin at the beginning of the class.

"Of course, tia. I wouldn't miss it. I already have the perfect gift for Alberto." - She smiled at her.

"It's a boy?" - I gasped in shock at the revelation.

"Yes, it is. You're gonna have another brother." - Sandra smiled at me, rubbing her belly proudly.

"Congratulations, ma'am." - I said, trying very hard not to cry but failing.

"Don't need to cry, Ali. He's not going to replace you. I told you that already." - She comforted me with a saddened expression on her face.

"I know that. It's just today has been one of those days, you know? There's a situation at home and I'm emotional. It has nothing to do with your baby." - I admitted, painstakingly.

She walked up to me inside the classroom and offered me a supportive hug, which I welcomed.

"I'm sure everything is gonna be fine. Your mother is a very strong woman." - She said with a soothing voice.

"Thank you. I really appreciate it." - I smiled weakly at her.

She carried on with one of our last times together. Bruno really lucked out on the mate department. Sandra is a precious human being.

At the end of the class, we were gathering our stuff to leave when we heard a scream.

Sandra was holding her belly looking distraught in pain and there was some blood dripping down her legs.

"Oh my... Someone call the nurse fast!" - I yelled, worried for her.

Some students tried to help her but she was yelling in so much pain.

Quickly, the school nurse came with Principal Carrera and they took her to be attended, probably she needs to go to the hospital as soon as possible.

All of us are looking at the scene very disturbed. She was just fine a moment ago, what could possibly have happened?

I was already having a tough time concentrating on school today and now all I could think of was Sandra, her health and the baby's.

During lunch break, I tried to text Bruno for some news but he only replied she was being seen by doctors.

I am really worried for her. I know blood is not a good sign for her pregnancy. I can only hope and pray it was a situation that can be remedied.

After the classes ended, I asked Ben to drop me off at the hospital before he went to his training. Fortunately, given the circumstances he was more than willing to be a little late today.

I arrived at the hospital and immediately sought any information about her, but the hospital wouldn't give any to non relatives. But they were nice enough to tell me what room she was in once I told them of my birth father connection.

I walked inside the hospital looking for her and found a brunette woman outside of her room, next to her was an older woman and Bruno was inside with her.

"Good afternoon. I'm Alistair, I came to see Sandra." - I introduced myself as the women glanced at me.

"Nice to meet you, Alistair. I'm Clara and this is my mother Dolores. Sandra is inside with her husband." - She told me with a weak smile.

I approached them slowly and saw a crying Bruno inside next to his mate lying on a hospital bed. She seemed to be asleep, so I wasn't sure what was going on.

"Hi, Bruno. I'm sorry to disturb you, but I was worried for Mrs. Carrera." - I said in a low tone, trying not to wake her.

"Hi, Ali. So nice of you to come." - He smiled at me, though I could see the tracks of his tears.

"How is she? Is everything alright?" - I asked, fearful of his response.

"No, it isn't. Let's go to the lounge for a minute. We'll talk there while her sister and mother stay here." - He proposed, clearly disturbed.

I followed him to the hospital cafeteria where he bought some water and drank it. He offered me some but I declined politely.

Bruno told me that unfortunately Sandra had a complication from the pregnancy and was unable to sustain it. He cried as he said that and I could feel his devastation as if it were mine.

I cried as he told me his mate had been admitted hemorrhaging and was in risk of dying. Fortunately, the doctors were able to stop the bleeding and operate on her. But they sadly couldn't save their baby.

I offered my deepest condolences to him, saying it was a terrible situation and she seemed so happy and well this morning. It really came out of the blue.

Bruno thanked me for visiting her, telling me it meant a lot to him that I cared. I told him I liked her very much and was incredibly saddened to hear about her miscarriage.

We hugged each other and Ben showed up to take me back to the pack house. I said goodbye to her sister and mother before I left the hospital and wished her a speedy recovery.

When I arrived home for dinner, I had the unfortunate task of informing everyone of the news. We were already sad about my parents' separation, now this.

What a day.

Everyone was saddened to hear about the unfortunate news. Momma comforted me the best way she could and the others offered their sympathy.

I slept awfully tonight, tossing and turning with this heavy day behind me.

I woke up early in the morning and walked around the house half asleep, seeing the first workers arrive and start their day. Maids, cooks, even the warriors changing shifts. It's funny how there's always warriors present in the pack house twenty four seven.

But they need to protect their Alpha in case of an emergency. You never know...

After an hour, I went back to Ben's room and took a shower. He woke up too and we got ready to start our day. I was in my feelings yet over what happened yesterday, but he respected that and didn't pry into my state of mind.

We quietly made our way into the main dining hall for breakfast with his family, which is a welcome respite right about now. Ben told his family about what happened yesterday, but Luna Alicia already knew about Sandra's situation.

"It's really terrible what happened to her, I feel so bad. And she was so happy about her pregnancy this late in the game. I'm visiting her later today." - She said, feeling sorry for Bruno's mate.

"I'm deeply sorry for your mom and Billy's breakup, Alistair." - Quincy told me, politely.

"Thank you, Alpha. It's a bad situation all around." - I muttered, deeply saddened.

Sasha hugged me from her chair across the table and I smiled at her, though she almost knocked the milk jar along the way. I love how welcoming Ben's family is to me.

I accompanied my mate to his car and we drove to school with his sister, Chris and El. When we arrived, students were buzzing about what happened to Mrs. Carrera.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your father's wife. She is a great teacher and didn't deserve that." - Lex offered his condolences. I thanked his kindness.

Lisa hugged me when I got to the classroom.

"I'm sorry for everything. I've heard about your mother and I'm so sorry." - She empathized.

"Thanks, Lisa. My mother will be okay eventually, but I worry for pappa alone." - I said, sincerely distraught at the whole situation.

Nothing could lift my spirits today. I just can't seem to smile at all. I just sat through my classes as I must.

"Good morning, students. As we send our best wishes to our beloved faculty member and my sister in law, please know that she is on the mend and is being comforted by her family. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers in this hour of need." - Principal Carrera announced it over the speaker system.

"We couldn't get a substitute yet, so for those who were supposed to have her class today, enjoy your free period. Have a good day." - He concluded in a sorrowed tone.

Lena hugged me and we comforted each other like family.

It's funny. I didn't think this would affect me this hard, but I really feel for her. And for Bruno, of course. He looked devastated yesterday.

"I think Alistair gave his father's wife the evil eye, that's why she lost the baby." - A male student "joked" inside the classroom and I lost it completely.

"Motherfucker!" - I shouted and darted for the attack with a raging anger that it was bottled up. I threw so many punches at the boy that by the time people managed to separate us he was already bleeding.

I'm mad as hell. I'll show him the evil eye, you son of a bitch.

Both of us were sent to the principal's office. Our parents were called, it was a whole ordeal.

"Really Ali, fighting with one week of school left? What the hell?" - Momma reprimanded me as we were going back to the pack house.

"He said Mrs. Carrera lost the baby because of me!" - I shouted, angrily.

"Are you God? Because last time I checked you don't have that kind of power!" - She chastised me, irritated.

"It was a terrible thing to say, momma. Incredibly disrespectful." - I cried out, revolted.

"I agree, it was. But that doesn't give you the right to hit anyone. Didn't you hear when Beta Babcock said we're not supposed to fight humans?" - She called me out, frowning in disappointment.

"I did, momma. But I got so mad." - I breathed out, impossibly bothered.

"Congratulations. Now you may not graduate and all your work this semester may have gone for nothing. I hope you're feeling proud of yourself." - She barked at me.

"I'm not feeling proud of anything. I'm mad." - I mumbled, angered.

"Join the club. Now I lost a day's work because I had to pick up my son from school." - She mouthed off, as we got in a car she borrowed from Sarah to come here.

"I'm sorry, momma. I didn't mean to ruin your day. I just got so mad I couldn't see straight." - I said, feeling the weight of remorse sinking in.

"It's fine, Ali. We'll deal with it as we always do. It was a horrible thing to say." - She agreed after a while.

I smiled at her as she drove off.

I'm not proud of myself, not at all. But I was already feeling a plethora of emotions before I heard that and it really bugged me.

I mean, who says that?

Though now I know Bruno will no doubt hear about it and I hope he's not too disappointed in me. I didn't mean to fight, but I never claimed to be a saint.

I have feelings too. And I can only apologize for my thoughtless actions.

I would never purposefully get involved with humans, but there's only so much I can take before I explode. I'm just deeply sorry for the blow back to my mother, who's blameless in the whole situation.

https://youtu.be/3D0nMzHjMR8

A|N: Damn, what a chapter!

The drama is unfolding. The tears are flowing. And I'm not done yet.

It's the final countdown to the end of the book. But not before a twist or two.

Love,

Léo.