~ Ethan ~
I had a long chat with Red last night in my room. I was about to leave for Crescent Island today.
“Alpha King, let me accompany you to Crescent Island tomorrow.”
“No, I need you and some of our people to check Helena and her mother. I don’t want something bad to happen to them while I’m leaving.”
“But Alpha, I’m your Beta. So, wherever you go, I should be beside you.”
I nodded a little. “I know you mean well, Red. Yet, I can handle this myself.” I sighed and looked away. “It’s been bad that Ernie and a few she-wolves know about the situation. I don’t want it to spread further.”
“I don’t think Ernie nor other she-wolves will talk to others, Alpha.”
“I hope so since Ernie is also Helena’s maid. It’s funny how fate brings her as my Luna’s maid.” Ethan rubbed his stiff neck. “I have tried to select another she-wolf to be Helena’s maid, but it turned out that Ernie came to my room and took care of Helena.”
“No worries, Alpha. Ernie won’t bring any harm. I would be the first person who gave her a lesson if she did.”
I let out a long sigh. Since I could still smell Helena’s fragrance in my room, it recalled my memory of our intimate moments and sparked my lust. I moved uncomfortably in my seat. “Even being away from her for only a while has brought me such discomfort. How can I go far from Helena?”
“It’s for her goodness too, Alpha. You have thought the best for her. If you didn’t, we would have known what would happen today.”
“Yes, but still. I’m wrong to mark Helena. Yet, the bond between us is too strong.”
“The mate-bond,” Red added.
“Yes. I wish to tell Helena about my secret, but at the same time, I want to protect her too. I want to make her safe, but on the other hand, I want her too much until it hurts.”
“What if you take a concubine, Alpha?”
I immediately shook my head. “Bad suggestion, Red. It’ll hurt Helena a lot. No, I will bear this suffering as long as Helena is safe.”
“But how far can you handle it? You know how the mate-bond works.” Red stared at me. “You have even marked her. How long do you think you can control yourself not to mate with her completely?”
“I don’t know. But this suffering is still bearable than to experience the agony I must feel like before.”
“Alpha, I know how much suffering you should have after Lynnette.”
“Then you know that I must go to Crescent Island tomorrow.”
“Let me go with you. At least, you have me as a backup.”
I shook my head. “Red, I can handle everything by myself. But Helena and Freya are human. They need me to protect them. Since I won’t be around them for a while, I need you to do that.”
Red opened his mouth, but he stopped himself. Then, after a while, he finally said, “You know, having a human as a mate is a bad idea.”
“Maybe, but it’s the Highest One’s plan for me. How can I refuse? My wolf inside confirmed it too the moment I met Helena.” I stared at Red. “How can I deny my true self?”
The wolf inside each werewolf is our inner conscience. As humans, the wolf inside each werewolf serves as our id, ego, and super id (the human’s psyche/soul). So, denying the wolf inside us means we are against our soul.
Inside the wolf (werewolves’ soul), the Highest One, the werewolves’ deity, planted the recognition and sensitivity of His plan for each of us, especially about our mates. Choosing mates is one of the most critical decisions in werewolves’ lives.
Red couldn’t say anything. So instead, he walked to the window and looked outside. It was a cloudy sky. “I’ll follow your order since you are my Alpha. But I’m unhappy with this order.”
“Red—”
“Alpha, between us, we have not only superior and subordinate relationships but also friendship. I want the best for you.”
“I know, Red.”
“Can you hear my suggestion?”
“Sure.”
“Go to Crescent Island. If you can find the remedy for the situation, then yes, all is well. Yet, if you can’t get one, I think my first suggestion is the most reasonable one.”
“To have a concubine?”
“Yes. You can’t have a mate and do nothing toward her. Your lust will blind you in no time.”
“You may be right.”
Red grinned. His face was a bit lighter to hear my comment. “Of course, I am right.”
“But, I have another option.”
“Which is?”
“Take pleasure in Helena as often as I can, but not fully mate her.”
“You’re walking on a thin thread, Alpha. Are you sure you want to do that?”
I nodded with no doubt. “Yes! I have promised Freya, Helena’s mother, that I’ll take care of and protect Helena. I won’t break my words. Not now, not ever. I couldn’t be an Alpha anymore if my promise couldn’t be trusted.”
“I-I …. I’m sorry, Alpha.” Red bent his head and didn’t dare to look at me.
“I know you meant well. You considered my welfare. For that, I thank you, Red. Yet, in life, there is more than that. Honoring my words and promises is one of those. Being loyal and honoring my mate is another.”
Red bent his head lower. I read his mind. He felt ashamed for suggesting an easy way out, but it would taint and harm my reputation and life.
“In life, we won’t always have easy decisions. Yet, I will choose death rather than denying my heart and principles.”
“I’m learning a lot from you, Alpha King. Thank you so much.” Red knelt and kissed my feet, a pledge of respect and surrender.
I smiled and touched Red’s shoulder. “I’m glad that you can learn something from me. Please promise me to protect Helena and Freya with your life.”
“I promise. Though I’m unhappy that I can’t accompany you tomorrow, I’ll follow your order.” Then Red bowed his head again. “You can go to Crescent Island with a peaceful mind, Alpha. I’ll guard Helena and Freya with all my strength.” Then Red walked to the door. “I will leave you now so you can rest.”
Red was about to reach the door when I called him again. “Red?”
“Yes, Alpha?”
“Will you start considering and treating Helena as our Luna?”
Red said nothing at first. He sighed. “Though I don’t want to disappoint you, I can’t lie to you. Alpha, I don’t think she is suitable for being our Luna. She is weak.” He sighed again. “I know she is human. So, yes, it can’t be helped. Yet, her judgment is poor too. I have heard how she drowned in the Moon river and how her ex-boyfriend cheated on her. Human or she-wolf, I don’t like females with weak characters like that.”
“She is still young. She needs time to learn.” I smiled as I recalled how sweet Helena was. “I will train her later and protect her my entire life.”
Red shrugged. “Since you have said so, I can’t say anything.” Then he left the room.