Mate!

UNKNOWN

This summer afternoon, little Gia and her friend, Lia, are playing with Gia’s wooden sword.

Recently, there has been a commotion in the pack, and on this specific day, several groups of warriors have left early.

This worries several members of the pack, as they have had threats from their enemies, the bloody warlocks.

“Gia, look!” her friend says, catching her attention. “It’s the alpha, your father. Run, before he sees us!”

Both girls run away from the park at full speed. Gia, who has developed impressive speed since she was very young, is the first to reach her house, followed by Lia, who heads next door.

With her toy sword in her hands, her dress made of thick brown cloth, and her hair twisted into a long braid by her mother, she hides in the living room closet.

Through the crack, she peeks out at what is going on.

This day, the alpha has gone out with several men from the pack, and they all arrive as upset as they left.

Gia watches silently while hiding her scent so that no one notices her presence.

She is the only lycanthrope in the entire pack capable of doing this, but no one knows her gift, as she keeps it a secret because she is afraid that the others will see her as a threat.

She notices a child crying inconsolably, and for some strange reason unknown to her, she feels his pain and a feeling of helplessness that causes salty drops to fall from her eyes.

Who is that child? she thinks. Suddenly she perceives that he is looking at her, and, indeed, his golden eyes connect with hers, as if he knows she is there.

Gia hugs herself as she feels discovered, but more because of the strange electric current that runs through her body.

Her heart beats intensely, and her gray gaze can’t tear herself away from his, no matter how hard she tries.

Before anyone else notices his scrutiny, resulting in her being given away, the boy takes his attention away from the closet.

At that moment, his icy feeling of helplessness and the aching emptiness of hopelessness subsides and is replaced by the need to protect the girl.

***

The days go by, and as time goes on, Gia’s curiosity about the strange boy increases. His origin and the reason the alpha has brought him to the pack are still unknown.

“Won’t you tell me who this boy is and why Dad brought him here?” Gia asks, intrigued.

The pack’s luna looks at her with a frown, as if she also doesn’t know about this matter that the alpha has kept mysterious.

“All I know is that the Golden Moon Pack was attacked by bloody witches, and the alpha and the luna died. Well, actually, all the wolves in that pack were killed.”

“Did Dad participate in that battle?” she asks curiously.

“He happened to be passing by with the warriors of our pack. You know that these days we have been within the sights of the wild wolves.

“Also, it is said that the bloody witches are breaking the energy protections that repel them. I think they have developed a spell to be able to remove the protection.

“That was the reason Mateus and the warriors have gone out to inspect our barriers. Mateus has not explained to me how they came to that territory or how they found the child.

“Much less do I know his plan for the little boy.”

Gia grabs one of the cookies her mother had put out to cool and takes a bite. Her mother looks at her, smiling, and reaches for the chocolate syrup to decorate the cookies.

At that moment, the alpha, Mateus, enters the kitchen with the boy they had not seen since the day the alpha brought him. Along with them, two warriors also enter.

The two children look at each other nervously and shyly, then Gia blushes and avoids his gaze.

“Katrina”—he turns to his wife, Gia’s mother—“tell the servants to prepare a room for Gael, who from today will live with us and be part of our family,” informs the alpha.

His wife’s face is transformed by surprise, and mistrust clouds her expression.

“I know what you are thinking, and no, this child is not mine,” says the alpha with amusement.

“We found him hiding in the rubble. He told us he doesn’t remember anything but his name, which is why we had him in the pack hospital for a few days.

“According to the doctor, his amnesia is due to the trauma he experienced, and his memory can come back at any time, although it may take years.”

Gia looks at her mother, who has relaxed her countenance.

“Hi, I’m Gia,” greets the alpha’s daughter as she approaches the boy with nervous steps.

“Hello, Gia. My name is Gael,” he answers her kindly.

“How old are you?” she asks him, but he wrinkles his face as he tries to remember.

“About twelve years old. I can tell by your tone of voice,” answers the alpha.

It is normal for alphas to know that kind of information since it is part of their ability as a leader.

“I’m ten. I’m younger than you.”

The boy smiles at her, and she feels her heart pounding.

“Do you want a cookie?” Katrina asks the boy with a gentle smile.

He nods sheepishly, and she passes him a piece of the floury dessert.

“Will you prepare him to be a warrior?” asks the luna, who still doesn’t understand why the little boy must live with them.

“More than that, Gael will be raised to be my right-hand man and that son I never had. He will inherit my leadership and marry a she-wolf from an influential pack that will make us more powerful,” he answers.

Katrina nods sadly, disappointed because her daughter should inherit the position of alpha, not an adopted son. However, she knows he has made this decision because of his machismo.

“Why doesn’t he just marry me?” Gia suddenly blurts out, capturing the attention of all of them.

“If he marries me, we could both lead this pack, and that way, your leadership will remain with your offspring.”

No one is surprised that she speaks as if she were an adult since she has shown that intelligence since she was very young, but to Gael, what she has said is shocking.

“No way!” the alpha exclaims. You and Gael will never see each other that way because from now on, you will be like siblings,” he says, leaving his daughter confused and heartbroken.