The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 10

BLAKE

The homecoming party was in full swing. Everyone looked like they were having a good time.

My mother had outdone herself. I was only away for two months to train the Red Moon pack members as they were dealing with rogues. When I told her I was returning, she wanted to throw me this ceremony, as she called it, a welcome home party. I thought being her only son was why she did it, and she missed me, but now everything made sense, especially since Izzy came back and learned what happened to her best friend. She needed to do something. When I came home, I knew she wasn’t happy. I could tell, and now I knew why. She was grieving for her best friend, Lucy.

I look around the room and see all the pack members having a good time.

Dale is dancing with Katie, a she-wolf from our pack. My mum is walking around, making sure everyone is enjoying themselves and making small talk. Kacey left a few minutes ago to get us some drinks.

I look around at all the happy faces as I lean against a wall. I am enjoying myself, but all I can think about is Izzy. I know she needs time, but the mate bond is strong, which I think might have to do with me being an alpha.

“It could be to do with her being a powerful panther,” says Axel as he looks through my eyes to see what’s happening.

“You might be right,” I say. “I just wish we could see her.”

Axel sighs. “I want to see mate”

I couldn’t agree with him more, so I pushed off the wall and headed outside. It’s getting stuffy here.

The cool night air hits me as I open the door to go outside. It’s nice, it is so refreshing. I look and see couples sitting down, holding hands or kissing.

“You know we could do that,” says a voice behind me, I shudder at it. She was a mistake. I never should have gotten with her. Since I have been back, all she has been trying to do is get with me.

Where is Kacey when I need her?

I look over my shoulder and see Kelly. She wasn’t leaving anything to the imagination with the dress she was wearing if you can call it a dress.

“I don’t think so,” I said, letting a low growl slip through.

“Come on now, Blake, I was only joking, but I was hoping we could pick up where we left off before you left to train the Red Moon pack. We had so much fun,” she says, trying to sound sexy while trying to lean in on me, but it is definitely not doing it for me. I want Izzy, not her.

“Enough, Kelly, leave me alone,” I say through gritted teeth, pulling away from her. “We weren’t even a thing. We just had some fun. I’m not looking for that. I will be looking for my mate once things settle down.”

She looks at me, startled but recovers quickly. “You know we could be mates. I could be your chosen mate.”

“Not in this lifetime is that happening,” growls Axel. “I want our mate. I want her NOW.”

“Listen, Kelly, leave it alone, or I won’t be sorry for my actions,” I say with a growl slipping through.

She bows her head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest anything. Look as a peace offering. I’ll get you a drink. You can’t be standing around without one. It is your party, after all,” she says.

I looked at her. I had to get her away from me. So I agreed.

“Okay, a beer, please,” I say. I will have to get rid of her when she returns, but hopefully, Kacey will return soon.

She smiles and walks away.

“You are a stupid human for getting with her. I wanted to replace my mate, but you were so horny that you couldn’t wait, could you?” Says Axel with a low growl.

He blocks me.

Great now, my wolf is having a bitch fit.

I look around and head toward the nearby tree to lean against just to collect my thoughts before returning to the party. I love my mum, but I didn’t need this party tonight.

I look around, and most people outside have gone in.

I sigh.

It wasn’t that bad. I did wait to lose my virginity. I was 16, but I turned into a horny teenager after that.

I only took human girls as they never knew who or what I was, but not only that, I only kept them as one-night stands, only when I needed a release. But one drunken night, I slept with Kelly. The first ever she-wolf I slept with. It was a week before I left, and it was a night with the boys. I didn’t drink much beer when I was out, but I was on every shot known to man when we returned to the pack house. I was hammered. I couldn’t remember how I got so wasted or even had Kelly in my bed. I woke up with her on top of me. Riding my cock hard. Afterward, she was around me all the time. I was glad to leave.

I sigh. I need to make sure Kelly keeps to her word that she will leave me alone. I want Izzy, I want to show her that I am completely interested in her, only her.

I lean off the tree and head back in.

The music was still playing loud, and everything was in full swing. I spot Kacey.

I walked over to her. “Where the hell did you go? I had your beer in my hand but couldn’t replace you,” she says. “Dale took it now.”

“I went outside for fresh air,” I say. “Axel was getting restless”

“I was not,” he says as loud as he can, “I was pissed at you. Also, I want mate”

“Welcome back, big guy,” I say, “and I’m sorry”

Before he can say anything, Dale staggers over. “Mum has been watching you too all night. She seems happy,” he says with a smirk.

I look over his shoulder and see his mum looking back at us with a big smile. She was standing next to Graham, but Graham did not look happy. He looks like he wants to kill someone. But there is an old guy with them, “Who is that with your parents?” I asked him.

Dale looked over and smiled. “Ah, that’s, grandad. He is the elder here. Everyone knows him as Elder Johnson,” He says. “He is visiting; he only comes back now and then. He mainly deals with some pack business, but he hasn’t been here in years”

I glance back at the guy. He is the one who made Graham choose between his two mates. I look towards Graham. Both Linda and he are having a heated conversation, and Elder Johnson looks like he is being a mediator for them.

Elder Johnson looks up at me and smiles. He leaves the pair arguing and comes over to us.

“Hello, Dale, Kacey. How are you both? And this must be the young alpha Blake that Linda has told me so much about?” He says while extending his hand to me.

I force a smile and nod at him, taking his hand to shake.

Axel is on all paws growling in my head; I’m pissed, also remembering what my father and Graham told me about this guy earlier, the part he had in the whole situation with Graham and Lucy.

“Nice to see you, grandad. How long are you here for?” Asks Kacey with a smile.

“Well, I don’t know yet, but your mother told me that you and Blake here are mates,” he says.

I gritted my teeth and pulled my face into a hard line. “No, we not mates,” Kacey and I said together, taking Elder Johnson by surprise.

“But your mother said.....” he starts saying, but Dale cuts him off, “Our mother is wrong. They are not mates. They are best friends. Blake has...” he says, but I slap my hand over his mouth before he can finish that sentence.

“No, Linda was mistaken. Kacey and I are friends, nothing more. I am still looking for my mate,” I said as pleasantly as I could to him.

He looks at me, “You know you are getting older now, Blake. If you can not replace your mate soon, you might want to choose a mate for yourself,” he says. “I did, the best choice I made. My mate was a bear shifter.”

“Not happening,” growls Axel in my head. “I am going to rip his throat out.” I am trying to hold it together, but it’s hard.

“What was wrong with her being a bear shifter?” Asks Kacey; she looks at him with caution. Dale is staring at him too. I think I know why.

“Nothing wrong with a bear shifter, but what would our pups be like? I wanted all my pups wolves,” he says.

“What if I found my mate and she was a.....let’s say, a cat shifter? What would happen?” Asks Dale.

What the hell is he playing at, even I am more curious about this question.

Elder Johnson looks at him. “Have you found a mate then, son?” he says, but Dale shakes his head. “No, I am just wondering as I wouldn’t mind what shifter my mate is. I would love her no matter what,” he says. “I would love my pups too”

“We would be the same with Izzy too,” says Axel. I’m guessing he wants to know the answer to his question.

“Well, I would suggest you bring her forward in front of the elders and introduce her as your mate. Then they will decide whether she is suitable for the pack. But you would be fine, but Blake here would not,” he says, looking at me. “You would have to have a wolf mate, and you have to lead by example. Other shifters are no match for an alpha wolf.”

Axel is about to lose his shit. “HE IS NOT TELLING ME WHO I CAN HAVE AS A MATE,” he roars, letting his alpha aura come out, which makes everyone stop what they are doing.

The music comes to a complete stop. I know everyone is staring at us.

My eyes are glowing with Axel joining forward with me. “YOU WILL NEVER TELL ME WHO I CAN TAKE AS A MATE,” he growls, using my voice.

Elder Johnson looks about to shit his pants, but he recovers quickly, “I am sorry alpha, I thought you knew the laws. When you replace your mate, we will work something out,” he says, trying to sound like he is in charge.

A hand lands on my shoulder. “Son, you need to calm down. You are scaring everyone,” says my father in my ear. “What’s wrong?” I look around and notice my mother’s face. She looks like she wants to kill someone.

I try to calm myself down and try to calm Axel at the same time. “Axe, please, we need to keep calm. We can’t tell them about Izzy,” I tell him. He looks through my eyes and stares at the elder. But he backs away into my mind.

I close my eyes and take a few breaths.

When I open them, I look back at them all. “Just a misunderstanding. Axel doesn’t like being told what to do, especially when it comes to his mate,” I say, “I think I will look for my drink now.”

I turn to leave.

I need to get out of here, and I need to cool off.