Perplexed

Cain woke up 4 hours later after he passed out. He ignored everyone's greetings and went straight to the pack library. He needed answers, so he tried looking up to see if there had been similar cases before.

He wouldn't mind rejecting his mate all those times but he wasn't allowed to take over the alpha position until he brings his own mate before his father and the council. His efforts on making a name for himself didn't really help him out. Not entirely, but in a way it helped him to secure himself the ceremony to become the next alpha; but he had to wait another five years from the current year.

After an hour later he felt hopeless, not finding anything to help him clear his confusion. Just then Nathan, his close friend came and brought food along with him.

"How did you know I was here?" Cain asked. "Do I even have to explain?" Nathan asked in return, grinning as he sat down. Cain just shook his head, the answer already clear to him.

Nathan had a gift that enabled him to find out where others were in the vicinity. It was never fair to play hide and seek with him if it was his turn to seek.

Food wasn't allowed inside the library. But his rumbling stomach seemed to protest about the rules. Besides Cain was never the kind to care much about rules.

"Hungry?" Nathan asked and Cain just nodded and started eating. "What were you doing here anyway? Something came up?" he continued and Cain wasn't sure how to respond. He knew he could trust his best friend, but it wasn't that easy for him to explain. He feared about what Nathan would think of the situation. Clearly it wasn't something you would see or experience in any normal basis.

It most certainly would not go well to try finding the white haired guy and bringing him to the council. Now that he thought about it, the guy seemed to know that they were mates. Was that the reason he looked angry?

There was no other explanation. It was clear as day, that his mate did not want him. He felt a pang of pain inside his chest. Now what happened to the rejection plan? He had decided so firmly that he would reject his mate because of all the hopelessness from being unable to find them sooner. Why did he have to run away?

There were so many questions he wanted to ask, so many possible answers he feared to seek. He sighed deeply while Nathan coughed, bringing him back to reality.

"I'm sorry Nate, I will tell you everything. Just, not right now," Cain told him. "Tell me tomorrow then," Nathan replied. Cain made a face that showed he definitely wasn't ready to tell him the next day either.

Before he could say anything, Nathan asked, "So should I be asking your dad then?" Cain's face distorted even further, to which Nathan laughed out loud and reassured him that he was just kidding.

"You can trust me buddy, you know that. I'll give you until tomorrow evening to clear up your head. Why don't we meet up again here at the same time I arrived today? I'll help you in any way I can!" Nathan said and Cain nodded.

"Now let's clean up to not leave any evidence about these," he continued as he smiled and cleaned up the table.

"No one would know though," Cain muttered, but cleared the table and put back the books too.

They left the library afterwards, and separated near the pack Assembly Hall.

Morning arrived, and it's the same routine for the members in the different sub-classes. Cain also trained a few pack fighters and was done by late noon. He had thought about talking to Nathan again all night, and was certain about how he'd approach the subject.

He went back to his home, showered and went straight to the library. He was a bit early, and realised he hadn't eaten anything since morning. Since he had time, he decided to go out to get some food, but met Nathan at the library door.

"You weren't trying to bail, were you?" Nathan asked and motioned for Cain to go back inside. "I wasn't, I was just.." Cain replied and stared at the food brought once again by Nathan.

"Yes, this is food. You want it? Go sit on the spot from yesterday. Let's eat."

"Has your gift enabled you to detect whether your tracked target is hungry or not?"

"Haha. Of course not. Have you cleared up your thoughts by now?"

Cain took a big bite, and after he swallowed it he took a deep breath and said, "Say, Nate, what if I-" he trailed off as at that moment he heard a soft chuckle coming from the library door.

It was him.

Cecil just arrived with Lily. "Bro what?" Nathan asked, but Cain looked extremely pale, with his eyes wide open and his mouth slightly gaping. Looking at the direction he was fixated at Nathan noticed two people coming in. A guy with white hair and a girl with brown hair. Confused, he said, "Could they be a couple? Maybe newer members, since I don't seem to know them. They look good together don't they? Maybe they're here for a date." For those words Cain frowned at him. He looked a bit angry and sad at the same time.

He clenched his fists and growled out, "I hope you both know, that the library is not a place for couples to have quality time."

Cecil and Lily stopped dead at their tracks, and as Lily opened her mouth to answer, Cecil talked instead.

"So what were you both doing then? There's traces of food too. Just because you're the Alpha doesn't mean you can bypass the rules. Oh wait, you aren't one yet," Cecil said mockingly with a smirk.

Cain nearly lost it. He was trembling with rage and gritted his teeth. Just then Lily spoke out, "Hey Cecil, don't be such a jerk! Guys we're sorry! We're here for a task, we're workers. And we're siblings, no quality time here," she laughed slightly at the end, hoping to ease the tension.

"So his name is Cecil, and they were siblings, they don't look much alike," Cain thought to himself. He was somehow a bit relieved, but also still mad at the mockery and disrespect coming from Cecil.

"Whatever reason you're here for, do not think I will tolerate that amount of disrespect." Cain said and glared at Cecil, "Perhaps a punishment will be acceptable don't you think?"

At this Lily calmly took two steps forward, and she stared at Cain with glowing eyes. She's always had Cecil's back, and even though she knew what she was about to say could get her into trouble, she wasn't going to let anyone try to harm Cecil.

"So what are you implying? He spoke the truth, even if it wasn't with respect. The truth hurts, doesn't it? I suppose we can take this to the council then? Let's see if they will tolerate the rules you broke, or care more about just some words that were spoken to you," she said, while pointing at the table with food traces and trays at the end.

They were taken aback. One moment she was friendly and all smiles, and the next she looked deadly and dangerous.

Without another word they went on with their tasks as if nothing happened, and left again silently. Nathan asked, "Are you okay buddy?" Cain didn't answer. "Do you guys know each other?" Again he didn't answer and just shook his head as a reply.

Usually pack members know each other well. Especially for the heads and leaders it is necessary to know everyone in the pack. But for Blue Moon there's always people coming, and also people leaving. They're hospitable towards guests and newcomers. They're therefore larger than the usual packs and it isn't strange to meet new people all year round.

"Shall we look into them?" Nathan suggested and Cain perked up. He knew for a fact that Cain was never the kind to act out the way he did. He's ruthless in his conquest of battles but he'd never scold anyone in the pack so suddenly and unprovoked because of such silly reasons. He knew there was something more to it, from how much he was affected from the moment he saw them.

Afterwards they looked into the file databases of the workers. They couldn't find out much - only that it hadn't been long since their arrival and that they came together. It was a hindrance to put in too much details about new members until they stayed for at least a year. Confrontation would be the last choice, and before that it would be to ask the workers. But that might become too suspicious.

They sighed at the same time. "Let's call it a day shall we?" Cain suggested. "Yea let's do that," Nathan replied.