They were able to petition the council to allow them to have the curfew extended for Erion's birthday. The way their duty rotations worked out, the pack alphas could go to celebrate. The subs had left earlier in the morning to assist with the decoration and set up of a park on pack territory. With so many hands chipping in, everything was set by the time the party started at five.
Dom and Ari arrived at the same time and walked in together with Natelly and Cisero right after. Raven and Midori came carrying a large package they were instructed to bring by Talon. A last minute accident caused Snow to come later then he planned.
Chevy was sitting beneath a tree, cross legged, stuffing his face. Erion was playing the good host and the others were off helping out here and there. He waved Dom over when he saw him. He held up a rib and licked his fingers. "Dom, this is soooo good."
Dom squatted down in front of him and smiled. His beta was always eating. "I thought you were a vegetarian."
Chevy shrugged and frowned. "I just have this craving for meat. I blame the baby."
"Lookit my baby. So messy," he leaned forward and licked the sauce off Chevy's lips then kissed him. Chevy moaned as Dom invaded his mouth.
"Thank you, alpha."
Dom smirked. "You're right, it's good."
"See?"
A throat clearing made them turn their heads. Chevy raised an eyebrow. Dom stood to make introductions.
"Chevy, this is Aurina. My ex-mate now wife of Gamma Monahan."
Chevy smiled politely and waved. "Nice to meet you." He really didn't want to talk. Especially to anyone's ex-mate so he inhaled another rib.
She smiled sweetly. "You too. So how did you meet?"
"We're second chance mates," he replied chewing.
Her eyes widened. A wolf that rejects their mate can never get a second chance mate from the goddess. They can only have a mate of choice. Her mate of choice was an abusive, alcoholic, low rank. She felt a pang of jealousy. This giant of a beta was living it up with the alpha the goddess gave her.
"That's lovely. Have you fully mated?"
"Yes and expecting," Chevy said happily.
Her eyes widened. "Expecting?"
Dom helped Chevy to his feet then pulled him close and rubbed his noticeable bump. "Say hi, pumpkin."
Chevy giggled.
"Cute."
Chevy looked around. "How bout you? Children?"
"We've been having trouble conceiving."
He put his hand over Dom's. What does one say? "Oh. That's unfortunate."
>That's what happens when you reject your goddess chosen mate. That which you really want is denied you.<
>Now, now. Be nice.< Chevy chastised his wolf.
His wolf snickered. >Not a chance, kid. Let me have my moment.<
Chevy spotted Rico and Erion by the drinks. "I'll be right back."
Dom grabbed his hand pulling him back. "Where you going?"
He kissed Dom's cheek. "I'm thirsty. I'll be right back."
Erion and Rico met him at the drink table.
The giant beta embraced the now sixteen year old. "Great gathering, Erion."
He squeezed Chevy's hand and smiled. "Thanks. I'm so glad you all came."
"We wouldn't miss it."
Rico kissed Chevy's bump. "You see all the exes coming out the woodwork?"
Chevy snorted. "No kidding."
"Hey, who is that with Dom?" Erion asked frowning. Aurina was standing less than a foot from Dom.
The beta sipped his drink and watched over the top of his cup. "His ex mate."
"Isn't she too close?"
Rico started to take off his atrocious white button down with pastel ice cream cones printed all over it. "I'll cut a bitch if she doesn't back up."
Chevy put his hand on his cousin's shoulder and turned him slightly so they weren't blatantly staring at Dom and his ex. "Relax. Just listen."
They looked at each other then followed Chevy's lead. The pregnant beta put his hand on his stomach as he sipped his iced tea and watched from the corner of his eye.
"You know, Dom. I never stopped caring," Aurina said softly.
He nodded.
"Is that really your luna?"
He smiled with pride. "Alpha-spouse or alpha-sub. And yes."
She touched his chest. "But he's so...manly and big. I'd make a much better luna."
He raised his eyebrows. "How so?"
"Packs need a soft gentle presence that only a woman can bring. Compassion and love and warmth."
He shook his head. "Those things aren't limited by your gender. Chevy is all those things and I don't have to worry about his safety or those of my pack because he can fend for himself and others. Plus he's one helluva baker."
"But-"
He smiled and shook her hand. "I have to go find my babies. Good talking to you." He looked around and hurriedly walked off as he spotted them.
Rico covered his mouth. "Burn!"
Erion chuckled into his cup. "That was harsh."
Chevy smiled smugly. "See? No worries."
********************************************************
Bunny, Talon, and Verde were helping Lady Sylvia, Erion's mother and luna of Whitebeard pack, to set out some dishes on the dessert table. They stood back talking and laughing as people helped themselves to the cupcakes and cookies. He smiled as he assisted a few children.
"Momma, I've never seen a person like that," a small child said pointing at Bunny.
The mother smiled. "He's an albino."
"What's an albino?"
Bunny smiled down at the child. "Someone who didn't get all their coloring." The child giggled as Bunny pinched her cheek and skipped off with her mom.
"Albino?"
Bunny's eye twitched and he grit his teeth. He knew that voice anywhere. Geof Foxworthy stood in front of him in all his old man glory. The once handsome delta was wrinkled and overly tanned. His long hair was greasy and unkempt. His clothes were baggy and ill fitting on his slender frame.
"Aren't you Leveret Neige?" He asked.
Bunny put his hand on Verde's arm as he moved forward. "I am."
Geof looked him up and down and scoffed. "Looks like you're still the same ugly creature. My mate is ten times hotter than you."
>Has he looked in the mirror lately? He better be nice. This sn't going to be like last time.< His wolf warned. Since the pregnancy his wolf had been more aggressive.
>Nope. Sure isn't.<
>Let me out.< His wolf demanded.
>I got this.< Bunny smiled politely. He didn't want to make a scene in front of the children. Besides, he had Snow who looked ten times hotter than this man-were before him. He had no reason to feel insecure. "Good for you."
Talon, however, was not above being petty. "Really? Is that her? The scantily clad woman over there trying to give away her goodies?" He pointed at a model perfect brunette with highlights wearing a short dress with half her cleavage showing and flirting with two of Whitebeard's younger more muscular warriors.
Bunny leaned forward a bit and dropped his voice to a whisper. He kept a straight face. "I didn't know you were a cuckold."
Geof bared his teeth and growled lowly taking a threatening step towards Bunny. Suddenly, there was a snarl and flash of white fur and he was on the ground. A butt naked and pissed off Snow shifted in front of them. Geof got to his feet.
"What the hell?" the delta yelled.
"This is your only warning. Stay away from them," Snow growled.
"Who are you, kid?"
There were several screams and Bunny covered his mouth as Snow's hand lashed out. The delta stumbled back holding his face. Blood seeped through his fingers.
Snow's eyes were blood red and his voice almost demonic. "I let you disrespect me once, it won't happen again. I am a pack alpha, you shitty delta. It's pathetic in twelve years your pack rank nor your personality have improved."
Geof half bowed in respect and submission. "N-no offense, alpha. Th-this has nothing to do with you."
Snow took a step forward making him take one back. "Is something wrong with you? How do you not smell me all over him?"
He sniffed and his eyes widened. "Pregnant?" Attacking a pregnant were was instant banishment.
"Come near them again and I'll kill you. Ally or not."
Sloan walked by with Erion's father, Henry Whitebeard. "Is there a problem here, Alpha Frost?"
Snow's eyes never left Geof's face but they did return to their blue color. "Some lowly pack members don't know their place. Disrespecting alphas because they're pregnant."
Geof's eyes shot to Bunny. "He's an alpha? How?"
Talon rolled his eyes. "Bunny has always hidden his powers."
"Regardless. You have no business with my mate nor my child so stay away."
Sloan crossed his arms. "That won't be a problem. You, let's go."
Snow watched them walk off then walked up and hugged his mate. Bunny giggled as he started sniffing and kissing his neck. Such an overprotective alpha.
"That's your ex?" Verde asked.
Bunny nodded.
Talon shook his head. "Baby, no. You should have rejected his ass."
They watched as his wife jogged after him, her boobs nearly falling out of her top.
"They say the goddess doesn't make mistakes but I think this was the exception," Verde giggled.
Bunny rolled his eyes as Snow's hard on pressed against his back. "Whatever. Can we please get some pants on this guy?"
*******************************************
The party was still going after nine but the subs were cleaning up so they could return home. Erion, despite it being his birthday, was helping his friends.
"We're sorry about your birthday, Eri," Verde apologized.
Erion's eyes lit up as he smiled . "Are you kidding?! This is the best birthday ever! I have all these new exciting friends. I'm gonna be an uncle. Not to mention I've never seen so much shade, tasted so much salt, or drank so much tea in my life! Wow!"
Bunny sighed and rubbed his stomach. "Young people."
"So much drama. It was so exciting." Erion continued as he folded a tablecloth.
Chevy shook his head. "Especially with Bunny's ex-mate. Was he crazy?"
Rico frowned. "But, Bunny. I thought you were an omega."
Talon rolled his eyes. "Bunny's an alpha. He was born an alpha. I don't know what he and Raven got up to with this omega business or why he continues to suppress his power, but if he took a rank test right now, he'd very much present as a high ranking alpha."
"Speaking of rank tests, aren't you two up soon?" Bunny asked pointing at Rico and Erion.
They nodded.
"I bet you'll be gammas," Talon smirked.
Rico snorted. "You have high hopes." Rank tests were administered at sixteen. Rico had been kidnapped so he missed his test. After years of his wolf being suppressed and being on drugs, his mind was clear enough to study and his body was finally strong enough to take the test.
Erion chuckled. "We're gonna just skip Epsilon and Delta and go straight to Gamma?"
"Bunny and Chevy are kick ass trainers for their ages," Talon said confidently.
Erion sighed and looked longingly at his mate. The alphas were standing by a fire talking pack alpha stuff.
Rico wrapped his arm around his waist and kissed his cheek. "What's wrong, young Padawan?"
"I feel like the odd man out."
"Why so?"
Erion shrugged. "Everyone's older and mated. I'm the age of consent but my mate still won't touch me. Afraid he'll taint my innocence or some shit."
Rico gasped and clutched his pearls. "Such language."
He stuck out his tongue.
"Chevy's only a few years older than you," Bunny pointed out.
"But he's mated and pregnant." The youngest looked over to where the alphas were and sighed again. "I just want to be fully connected to my mate. I mean what if something happens to me?"
"You could always drug him." Rico pulled Chevy down into a chair and put his swollen feet on his lap. "I mean...you're legal now. He shouldn't keep holding back."
"I must commend him on his strength to do so," Talon handed Bunny a water as he sat down. "Alpha's feel that need to mate stronger than the rest of us."
"Did you stop the suppressants?" Bunny asked letting his golden curls fall freely from their hair tye.
Erion rubbed his neck. "Yes. Maybe it's his libido."
The others laughed. A young alpha, no way.
Talon rubbed his chin. "Maca."
Erion frowned in confusion. Wasn't that some musical instrument? "What?"
"Maca," he repeated. "It's an aphrodisiac. Known to increase libido."
Erion rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "He'll just lock himself in the cellar."
Rico wiggled his dark eyebrows. "Not if you bind him to the bed."
Everyone looked at him with a mix of shock and amusement.
He shrugged. "What? Ari likes to tie me up sometimes with cuffs. It's a thought."
"Aren't we corrupting him a little too much?" Bunny asked shyly.
Erion wrapped his arm around Rico's shoulders. "Master, won't you share your wisdom with me?" One way or another he was gonna get his man.
Verde laughed softly. "Who would have thought Erion was a power bottom?"
Talon pinched the younger's cheek. "So feisty."
"I almost feel sorry for Sloan," Chevy chuckled. "He doesn't know what a demon his little angel really is."