Brandon's Mate

The conference ended on better terms. All the clashing opinions disappeared after everyone had agreed to battle one common enemy instead of arguing against another pack.

Most packs had settled on the new bylaws while the other would want to change portions of it that will only apply to their pack.

I rested my back on my mates' chests behind me. We sat on the cold sand as we watched the sun settle down the horizon, splashing magnificent colors in the air.

"This is so beautiful," I whispered. "I wish we could go back here soon."

"After the Witch is hunted, we will relax here for a week," Aaron said.

"Maybe we've already had our kids by then, who knows?" Stephen cheered which made me smile.

We're all excited to see our pups. I could feel them inside me, growing and living. And I will do my very best to protect them. Even if it meant I'll put my life on the line.

'Too dramatic, babe,' Stephen teased from the link that earned him a light punch in the thigh from me.

"Must be the pregnancy," I said and chuckled.

"Yeah," Aaron whispered. "Must be."

–

"Welcome back!"

"Brandon?" we all chorused as we saw the muscular man on the front porch. Brandon waved his hands at us.

"You're back!" I said and gave him a hug. "Welcome back."

"I came back a day ago. The other races were cool with the new bylaws," he said. "How about you guys? How was the Conference?"

"Good," I said. "But Olivia paid us a visit in the middle of it so, I guess not good?"

"He's pregnant, so he might be confusing at times," Stephen joked.

I scoffed and elbowed him, wrapping my arms around Brandon to make them jealous. I know it's going to backfire but I really love it when they go rough on me.

'You're riling up the wrong people, babe,' Aaron said through the link.

I winked at him and dragged Brandon inside his suite inside the house. I have never known how big this place is. Each high-ranking wolf had their own suit, like a modern apartment. But the overall design and theme maintained woodlands and cabin-in-the-woods vibe.

We sat in the kitchen when a taller and more muscular man walked inside.

"Babe, your alphas… are here…" he trailed off after seeing us. He gave us an awkward smile and a wave, "Hi?"

Everyone stood and assumed an offensive stance. There's a warlock inside the packhouse and we didn't even sense him. And he's only wearing a shirt and boxer briefs!

"Who are you?!" Aaron growled.

Brandon instantly walked in front of the man and raised his hands in surrender.

"Guys, this is Bryce," Brandon introduced. "My mate."

Bryce bowed and waved his hands. Purple glitters flowed from his hands and through his body. His casual attire was now replaced with a suit.

"Good morning, Alphas, Luna. My name is Bryce Wizenflaw, an Arch Warlock of the Lucid Nightmare Coven."

While the wolves have packs, the vampires have royalties, the witches and warlocks have covens. Each coven functions like a pack but unlike wolves that are ruled by several alphas, the witches and warlocks have their emperor or empress.

Each coven is ruled by an Arch Witch or Warlock while they battle to earn the right of the emperor or empress. It was rather complicated since they do not follow a certain line of descent. Their strengths are what they chose for their leadership.

"H-Hi," I greeted. "Please sit down."

"Thank you, Luna," he said and sat next to Brandon. The room was filled with silence as my mates bore their eyes towards Bryce who looked nervous and very uncomfortable.

"You two, stop," I said and sighed. "I'm sorry Bryce. Brandon is my mates' trusty friend and they do not want him to get hurt."

"I would never hurt Brandon, Luna," he said, his eyes looked offended. "I will offer– I offered my life to–"

Brandon covered his mate's lips before he could continue. "Err, that was nothing."

I narrowed my eyes and saw familiar markings on his wrist. "Brandon!"

I hurried to his side and grabbed his right wrist. He was about to pull it back when I growled. "You sly Brandon. You have already mated through the Wiccan Ceremony."

This made my mates even more furious. Bryce was sweating heavily. To be mated through a Wiccan Ceremony, they didn't a witness, only the witch or warlock who will marry them and the light of the moon. I knew Wiccan tradition through the books Olivia had before.

"Forgive me Alphas, Luna," Bryce muttered and bowed. "I mated with your Gamma without your consent."

Before he could even look up, my mates had already left in a hurry. Bryce's face fell in despair after seeing that the alphas left him, thinking they were mad.

"Don't worry," I told him. "They're mad because they didn't have any gifts for your mating. Such sentimental fools."

"Really?" Bryce asked.

I could hear their conversation through my head.

'What does Brandon like?' Aaron asked

'I think he likes military stuff,' Stephen replied. 'What about Bryce?'

'Hey, buy something from me too,' I reminded them and they agreed.

"Don't worry about it," I told them. "It's okay."

Brandon teared up and sobbed happily on Bryce's chest. They look good together. Both muscled men but are softies.

"So..." I lowered my cup of coffee and leaned in. "As your Luna, I should be the first to know. How did you guys meet?"

וו