The Hybrid’s Second Chance
Chapter 13

Alexander's POV

I was currently training with my Beta Elijah, something we try to do every day. Elijah liked to think he could beat me, but in all the years he had been my Beta, it had never happened. I threw him down on the mat, where he decided to stay, spread eagle in defeat.

"I thought you said you were going to have the one up on me this time?" I joked.

"I thought I did for a second, my Lycan was almost certain we were going to win." He got to his feet, and we walked back to the bench where our shirts and towels were sitting. I was just about to ask him if we wanted to go again when an omega, Oliver, who worked in the pack house came running up to us.

"Alpha Alexander," he said, bowing his head to me. "Your mother is looking for you. She said..." He couldn't finish, because we all heard my mother's booming voice coming from behind him.

"No need to run and get to him before me, Oliver. My so doesn't find me that scary." Oliver looked at the ground and backed away.

"Thank you, Oliver, you can go back to your work." Without looking up, he retreated. My mother was dressed in a red pencil skirt, white short sleave blouse, and high heels to match. Her long silver hair pulled back into a tight bun, making her blue eyes stand out against her bright red lipstick.

"Mother, to what do I owe the pleasure?" She never usually came to find me when I was training unless she wanted something.

"Why do you sound like I'm here to deliver bad news?"

"I'll just be over there, umm lifting," Elijah said uncomfortably. She waited for a second as he walked away.

"Now, what's going on?" I asked her.

"It has come to my attention that you're planning to go to the Alpha ceremony of a werewolf pack. Is that correct or do I have my information wrong?"

"No, you're not wrong. I think it's high time we stopped this ridiculous idea that our kinds shouldn't mix. I think going to this ceremony is the first step in that." I pulled my shirt over my head as she surveyed me through narrow eyes.

"I would assume there's no talking you out of this?"

"No, there's not," I said firmly. She folded her arms across her chest.

"I see. Well, I think you can tell my thoughts on the matter. Especially since we have a guest coming in a few hours."

"What are you talking about?" This was clearly her attempt to get me to avoid the October Moon ceremony.

"Yes, the elders and I have been talking and we think it's high time you take a chosen mate." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Elijah freeze with his weights halfway up. He had been listening to this entire conversation, which was exactly like him. "And no one thought to include me in this conversation?" Now I was the one folding my arms across my chest as my Lycan growled threateningly.

"We all know how you feel about waiting for your mate. But darling, you're now 27 and the Lycan King. It's high time you stopped waiting and started thinking about taking a chosen mate and producing an heir." They had been trying to push this idea of taking a chosen mate for a couple of years now, but I never thought they would go behind my pack and invite someone here. I took a deep breath to calm myself and my Lycan.

"Are you going to tell me who's going to be here in a few hours?"

"The daughter of Alpha Samuel, Cecilia, from the Lycan pack in New York. Her father is also coming, and they've agreed to stay for three days."

"You realize we're supposed to be leaving the day after tomorrow for the Alpha ceremony?"

"You'll just have to cancel. You can't invite someone here and then just vanish."

"I didn't invite them, mother, you did."

"It doesn't matter who invited them. All that matters is they're on their way and, since you're the king, you must be here to greet them and show Cecilia around. Get to know her, she's a smart and strong Lycan who would make a perfect Queen for you." I shook my head as she smiled at me sweetly. I knew my mother was used to getting what she wanted as the former Queen, but this was going too far. Since my father died five years ago, there was no one to reel her in except me, and clearly, I wasn't doing a very good job. "Mother, this is unacceptable. You can't start meddling in my life and making decisions for me I don't want and know nothing about."

"You can be upset with me if you like, but Alpha Samuel and Cecilia will be here soon. So, I suggest you go and get yourself cleaned up and presentable." Without another word, she turned and started walking away from me. Elijah was now beside me, watching her walk away as well.

"She can't be serious! She really doesn't want you to go that badly?"

"Apparently, I don't think there's much I can do at this point. They're on their way here. She's right, I have to be here to greet them, even if I had no idea they were coming."

"Should we go and get ready then?" he asked, looking at me.

"Yeah, we might as well." We began walking back to our pack house. I headed for my apartment on the west side, and Elijah went inside the pack house to his apartment. I had chosen to build a new Alpha apartment attached to the pack house, but not accessible from inside. It had its own entrance, which gave me more privacy. My office had remained in the pack house like my father and the other Alpha's before me. Of course, my mother never approved of me living outside the pack house. Attaching my living quarters to the pack house was the compromise we came to when I first took over after my father's death.

I showered and got dressed in some navy-blue dress pants, and a light blue button-up shirt. I ran some product through my sandy blonde hair, making sure it stayed in place. I rolled the sleeves of my button-up, revealing my forearm tattoo, another thing my mother didn't approve of. After taking one last look in my bathroom mirror, I headed for my office, but before I got there, my mom sent me a mind link.

"Alexander, Samuel and Cecilia will be here in thirty minutes. We should meet them outside the pack house. The omegas should be getting the guest rooms ready."

"Elijah?" I said to him through a new link.

"What's up?"

"Are you ready to go?"

"Just about. I told Hannah what's happening. Your mom didn't tell her anything either."

"I'm sure she knew if she did, Hannah would have warned me. Meet me in my office when you're finished. They'll be here in thirty minutes."

"Got it." I opened the door to my office and walked inside. Everything in here was an antique, from the ornately carved desk to the bookshelves that housed books about our pack from the beginning. It was customary to keep the king's office the same for the next one. I did make a few changes. I had the carpet replaced with hardwood; the drapes were now navy blue instead of the black they had once been. The couch and chairs in the lounge area had been replaced with dark gray fabric, instead of leather ones. A large family portrait of my mom, father, sister Hannah, and I hung above the fireplace. My father had put it up in his last year as king and Alpha, and I couldn't bring myself to take it down.

Sitting down behind my desk, I pulled a few papers towards me I needed to sign. I owned an architectural design company that worked a lot with cities around the United States. There was a knock on my door, and Elijah came in, followed by my sister and his mate Hannah.

"Did you hear what mom did?" she asked straight away.

"I did, Elijah said she didn't tell you anything either."

"No, because she knew I would have told her she was crazy. It's a ridiculous idea to bring a random Lycan here and expect you to take her as your mate."

"Why is she pushing you so hard to find a mate? You're only 27." Elijah asked.

"I don't know, but now we have to deal with what she's done. They'll be here soon, and we will be welcoming and polite." I eyed Hannah when I said this. She had a hard time not letting her feelings show all over her face.

"I'll try my best, but if she's rude I make no promises."

"Elijah, could you send word to the October Moon pack that I will no longer be attending the Alpha Ceremony?"

"Sure, do you want me to tell them why?"

"Just tell them we had a sudden and unexpected commitment come up."

"Sure thing, I'll do it after we meet these people. What are their names again?"

"Alpha Samuel and Cecilia."

"They're here!" I heard my mom's voice ring in my head.

"They're here, we've gotta go meet them outside." I got up, and they followed me out of my office and outside. We got to the bottom of the stairs just as a black SUV was pulling up the driveway. My mom came down the stairs and stood next to me. When the car stopped, two of our warriors went and opened the door for them.

Alpha Samuel came out first. He was a very large man, dressed in a suit. His black hair was cut very short, and his brown eyes looked around judgingly. His daughter followed him, dressed in a tight bodycon dress and heels higher than my mom's. She had her father's same midnight black hair, but hers was curled and fell just past her shoulders. Her eyes were also a piercing blue, but they held the same judging look as her father.

"This should be interesting." Hannah said in my mind.

"Remember, be nice," I warned. She was right; this was going to be a long three days.