Xander and I spent the night in my room. There was A TON of sex, but also a lot of talking and getting to know each other. Xander is a recent transfer to our pack. His mother was human and had recently been diagnosed with leukemia. Though she lived with the pack, she still needed to see a human doctor and one of the best was in the city about 20 miles from our pack borders.  They moved here from the coast to get better care for her when the time came.  Zak had readily agreed to the transfer, as had Xander’s old Alpha, Brett.

            His father had died in a rogue attack when he was five. It was what prompted him to become a warrior.

            Xander is 24 and one of the top warriors of his previous pack. He had been in charge of his own platoon in the pack and hoped to work his way up in the ranks here. He loves junk food and trashy TV, surfing and swimming.  His favorite food is Snickers candy bars and he is obsessed with 90s music, even though the 90s ended before he was born.

            His scent of cinnamon and pine makes me think of Thanksgiving and his chocolate eyes draw me into their depths whenever we look at each other.  I’m a goner. There is no doubt in my mind that he is my mate. Which means, in a little over 24 hours, I will no longer be the Gamma of our pack.  I refuse to let him go, no matter what tradition, the elders, or my family thinks.  I can already feel the bond and, now that I’ve seen Xander from a variety of angles, I could tell that he was the man in my dreams.  He is mine and I am his.

 Around 2:00, Xander fell asleep in my arms, but I can’t sleep.  I just can’t take my eyes off of him.  His beautiful face is even more angelic in his sleep.  He is so relaxed, so content.  His arms are wrapped around my torso and his head lays  on my chest.

 I push his hair back away from his face and kiss the top of his head.  Xander purrs under my touch and snuggles closer to me in the bed.  I’m afraid that I had woken him, but his breathing evens out quickly.

 Xander was exhausted and rightfully so.  Not only from the physical aspect of finding his mate, but also from the emotions that slammed into both of us at finding each other.  I was dead tired, too, but I was also restless.  I had this overwhelming urge to go outside, into the light of the coming full moon.  Finally, I couldn’t fight the urge anymore.

 Slowly, I pull away from Xander, careful not to wake him.  I pull on shorts, a t-shirt, and shoes.  I was about to walk out of the door, but I go back to the bed, kissing Xander on the cheek before I walk out.  He doesn’t move this time and I feel comfortable leaving, figuring that he won’t wake.

 Closing the door quietly behind me, I hurry to the front door of the barracks and step outside.  The air is still warm from the day, as it’s now June, and the moon is bright in the sky.  With the help of my enhanced senses, I can see a grasshopper trip from 25 feet away.  I have no trouble seeing the landscape around me.  I still feel the pull, tugging me towards the training grounds behind the barracks.

 Unintentionally, I begin jogging to the grounds.  Not only do I want to see what I’m being tugged towards, but I also want to get back to my mate.  Is it crazy that I miss his touch already?  We haven’t even been apart for two minutes, yet.  What is going to happen when I can feel the full effects of the mate bond?

 I quickly reach the training grounds and see the Oracle sitting cross-legged in the middle of the main training circle, her hands resting lightly on her knees.  Her back is to me and her long silvery hair blows slightly in the breeze.  What is she doing here?

 “Ahhhh, Gamma.  You are finally here,” she says, not turning to face me.

 “My apologies, Oracle.  I didn’t know that we had a meeting planned,” I say, trying to keep the sarcasm from my voice.  I think I succeeded.  I walk around to the Oracle’s front and see that her eyes are closed, her face serene.

 “No need to apologize, Gamma.  You would have been brought here sooner or later,” the Oracle says, her eyes opening.  The sight of her eyes shocks me.  They are completely black.  Selene is currently speaking through the Oracle!  

 I immediately kneel in front of her on both knees, my face nearly touching the ground.  “Goddess, please forgive my impertinence.  I had no idea- “

 “Hush, child.  You had no way of knowing.  Please rise.  I only have a limited time before Lucille’s body can no longer sustain my presence and I have important things to share,” Selene said through the mouth of the Oracle.  

It was only now that I noticed that her voice held two distinct and different voices.  One was the typical voice of our Oracle, heard at many feast and holy days, describing the history and will of the sacred Goddess.  But the second voice was higher pitched, melodious, almost like a song on the breeze.  It sounded like the night wind given life.  And I knew that was the voice of Selene.

Slowly sitting up, I keep my gaze averted from the Goddess’s, baring my neck in a sign of submission.

“Though I appreciate the reverence, Gamma, it is not necessary and counterproductive to what I want to talk to you about tonight,” the Goddess chuckles.

“Yes, Goddess,” I say.  I straighten my posture and slowly look into the Goddess’s eyes.

“That’s better,” Selene says, smiling beautifically.  Her presence in the body of the Oracle seemed to change her.  The Oracle appeared years younger, wrinkles smoothing and age spots disappearing.  Her skin and hair glowed in the moonlight.  The Goddess’s aura was soothing and she exuded the scent of dewed grass.  “Now, my child, I know that you got some exciting and shocking news today.”

“Xander…” I breathe out, not able to stop the smile that crosses my face.

“Yes, child.  You have found your mate.  And early at that,” her black eyes appear to twinkle and she smiles kindly at me.  “You and Xander play an important role in my plans, as do your Alpha, Luna, and Beta.  And, if I must say, your mating is one of my favorites.  I couldn’t bear to keep you away from each other any longer.”

“Thank you, Goddess.  He is so amazing...Xander is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” I say, tears suddenly standing in my eyes.

“You are welcome, my dear.  It does my heart good to see you and Xander so happy.  But there are more blessings, and hardships, coming your way.”

“What do you mean?”  My eyebrows scrunch in confusion.

“As you know, it is very difficult for my wolves to accept a homosexual relationship in someone with power in the pack.  Power can only be passed through bloodlines, force, or abdicating the position.”

“I know, my Goddess.  I plan to abdicate my position as Gamma on the morning of my birthday.”  I cannot help the pain that wracks my body.  Though I am willingly giving up my title and position in my pack for my mate, it still hurts.  Taking over the role of Gamma is what I was born to do.  I was raised to take this position in my pack.  It is my identity.  But Xander is my soul.  I will not reject him.  I would rather be rouge than live without him.

“No,” she says.

I am shocked, but it is quickly taken over by anger.  “I will not reject Xander, Goddess, not even for you.  You made him the other half of my soul.  I would rather die than live without him.”

“Gamma, you misunderstand.  I don’t want you to reject your mate or abdicate your position.  You will be both a Gamma and mated to Xander.”

Shock again overtakes my emotions.  “What - why - How is that possible?” I stutter.  “I have to have a child to be a Gamma.”

“And you will.  You will have a second mate, just as your Alpha and Luna will.  This mate will be a woman who will bear the gamma heir.”

And in the height of composure and reverence, I scream at the Goddess “WHAT?!”

The Goddess chuckles.  “Oh, sweet child, there is so much that you don’t know.  But you will soon.  I had to come to you in person so that you wouldn’t do anything rash.  I had to give you instructions.  Are you ready?  I have so little time left before I must leave poor Lucille to recover from my presence.”

Numbly, I nod to the Goddess.

“Listen carefully.  You and Xander are to go see the Alpha and Luna tomorrow.  Give them until after lunch before you interrupt them.  They are having a...busy night.”  Here I see the Goddess give me a knowing smirk, but I have no time to process that.  “You are to tell them that you are mates and that they must not accept any talk from the elders or the pack that you are to be removed from the position.  On the morning of your birthday, do not let on to anyone else that Xander is your mate until the Gamma Ceremony is complete.  At that point, they can no longer remove you from your position without killing you, which they will not do.”

At that, I audibly gulp.  “You have a lot of faith in these men, my Goddess.”

She quirks her lips at that.  “Let’s just say, there are several that have a vested interest in this going well.  Your Beta should do the same when he realizes who his mates are.”

“Mates?  Do you mean that Brandon is mated to Charlie and Zak?” I screech out.

“Ahhh, you always were a quick one, Gamma.  Don’t say anything, but yes.  There are two mate trios in prominence in this pack,” the Goddess giggles.  Actually freaking giggles.

“Now, for the hardships that are to come,” the Goddess sobers quickly.  “Your second mate will soon be approaching your territory and will arrive the day after the Beta ceremony.”

“Wait, that’s when the Blue Crescent Pack is set to arrive.  Is she a part of their pack?”

“Quite so.  In fact, she is the Delta of the pack.”

“So we will be a mating of warriors?”

“I thought that was quite fitting when I engineered it.  Especially with what is to come.”

“What is coming, Goddess?” 

“War.  Bloody and ferocious war.”

“Why?  We have no enemies.”

“Not now, but you will.  Because of the mate trios, those who only have single mates will be jealous.  The Alpha of the Blue Crescent Pack will start it, bringing many others to his side.”

“But, our mate!” I cry.  Even though I don’t know who she is, I am already fiercely protective of her.  “Will she be ok?”
 “She will get to you and Xander.  Once the Alpha of the Blue Crescent Pack realizes what is happening, he will take her.  There is nothing that you will be able to do to stop it.  But she will get back to you.  You will have your mate trio complete within two days of your first meeting.”  The Goddess looks unbearably sad as she provides this news.

“You didn’t answer the question, Goddess,” I say through gritted teeth.  “Will she be ok?”

“You cannot change this part of the future, Gamma,” she warns.  “If you do, you will not get your mate.  She will reject you and Xander.  You have to let her go through this for her to come and accept you.”

“Go through what?!” I scream into the Goddess’s face, spit flying from my mouth.  Without realizing it, I am standing over her, my claws extended and my fangs descended.

“Peace, Devin,” the Goddess says, raising a calming hand towards me.  Instantly, I sit, retracting my claws and my fangs.  The boiling anger is still there, but it is in the background.  “I know that this is hard to hear, but I need you to listen.  Your mate will be beaten badly.  She will fight admirably, but it will be several warriors against one.  She will have no chance.  But, her special ability from me is an even quicker than normal werewolf healing rate.  And, like the smart woman that she is, she has kept it a secret.  She will be able to get away from her captors and make it back to you safely.  This, I promise.”

I’m still angry and petrified for my mate.  “Will they...will they…” I can’t even get it out of my mouth.  Tears stand in my eyes and it is hard to breathe

“No, Devin.  They will not touch her in that way.  She will...render several of them incapable of performing sexually.”

I huff out a strangled laugh at that.  Even though I don’t know her, my mate is already making me proud.

“You may tell Xander and your Alpha and Luna about what we’ve talked about, but no one else.  Not even Brandon should know until the morning of his birthday.  He has too much guilt to be a reliable secret keeper.  His path in this, unless it is kept from him, is too hazy for me to see.  Do you understand?”

“Yes, Goddess,” I say, bending my head in acknowledgement, submission, and fear for my mate.

“Thank you, my child,” she smiles softly.  “And to prove that my favor lies with you and your pack, Xander’s mother will be healed on the same day that your mate arrives back in your arms.  She has done me a great service in raising a worthy mate for you.”

“Thank you, my Goddess,” I say, tears streaming from my eyes.

Reaching out, the Goddess places a hand on my cheek.  “My highly favored son, I wish that I could take these burdens from you and your mates.  But I cannot.  Not without jeopardizing everything that you are meant to become.  Just know that I am always here for you.”  The Goddess leans down and kisses my forehead.

Warm sensations of peace and comfort fill me.  I smile at her.  “Thank you, Mother.”  For that is what she felt like to me in that moment.  I don’t know if I would ever refer to her in any other way from now on.

She smiles warmly at me and stands.  “And now, I must go.  I must get Lucille’s body back to bed.”

“Mother, do you want help?” I ask, moving to take her arm.

“No, sweet child.  I have missed the feeling of my feet on the earth.  The walk will do me good.  Go back to your mate,” she says, shooing me away.

Before I turn away, I ask, “Mother...may I hug you?”

Her eyes immediately fill with tears.  “I would love that, Devin.”

She holds her arms out to me and I hurry into her embrace.  The scent of dewed grass and her gentle warmth fill me to my soul and I smile into her hair.

“I love you, Devin.  You, your mates, and your Alpha, Luna, and Beta.  Your lives are very precious to me.  Don’t do anything stupid with them.”

I chuckle.  “Yes, Mother.  I love you, too.”

She slowly pulls away from the embrace and I let her go, even though I’m not ready.

The Goddess smiles at me and turns away, walking into the forest towards the Oracle’s house.

Tears are freely falling from my eyes as I watch the Goddess walk away.  Once she is completely out of sight, I wipe my eyes.  Taking a deep breath, I straighten my shoulders.  Suddenly, I am completely exhausted.  I head back to my room and my mate to sleep.  Tomorrow is going to be one hell of a day.