6. Ryan

The faint brightness of the moon was seeping through the window of my study. The flickering of the dried leaves could be heard as the strong chilly winds had started to blow. I pondered upon Ardia's words as she and Andy waited patiently for my answer and I shook my head.

"No, I'm not sure. Witches can help us but that is when they are actually trying to help. You know how fickle minded witches are. Werewolves almost lost to the Vampires, most of them got killed just because the witches couldn't act on their words.", I said and moved to stand in front of the window.

The tall oak tree stood, resembling a dark silhouette in the moonlight. I rememebered the swing my father had fixed on the tree for me and how he would push me and laugh when I asked him that I wanted to go higher. My father died because the witches, at the very last moment, decided that they didn't want to help us anymore. The warfare plan that involved withches on our side crumbled and took a toll on us all.

"It wasn't totally their fault, Ryan. One of the Witch Supreme died. You know that.", Andy said to me. No doubt he was with Ardia on this one.

"But they couldn't keep the promise. Anyone who couldn't keep a promise is a coward, and most importantly, untrustworthy.", I continued, "Also, the witches blamed us."

Both of them were quiet. I knew I placed a great point but at the same time I knew that witches could come to great help. The Elemental Witches as they are called have the ability to control an element and have one other special power besides other stuff they do with the creepy spells they can caste.

The Witch Supereme of Fire had died in the Vampire War. And the witches blamed us for poor handling of the situation. What was even worse was that only the daughter of a Supreme Witch could become the successor as she only she would be as powerful, but as Supreme Witch of Fire didn't have a child, the Fire witches couldn't have a successor. Which was a great deal for the witches. And even though it was legit for them, I still believed that my father could have been alive, if they helped the werewolves.

My mind drifted to Celestia and her pretty eyes. A water witch can have visions about the past and I could know about Celestia's past and what she is. But that was not an option, at least for now. Because most importantly I have to find out the reason, why a Northerner was lurking in my territory. And also, a witch can never be trusted. Especially, if you're a werewolf.

"What about the border security? ", I ask Andy.

"All check, the warriors have been assigned. I also put up some novice warriors in training, for security. They help in patrol after their school.", he said.

My eyes gaze Ardia, "And what about the trackers?"

"I've spread them all around the town. They are on red alert.", she said as she smelled some specimens in my office.

Trackers were trained to enhance their stealth and their sense of smell such that they can take a light whiff and just know which creature it belongs to. They can even sense the age and sex of almost anything that resides on the earth. Ardia can recognise if a female is pregnant, or if a person had sex or even if someone is nervous.

"Well this wasn't so unproductive then. I think I'll go home today.", I told them and this made me get their full attention.

"That's good, Ryan. You need to tell your mom a lot of things. I'll stay here. I need to know about Celestia's scent so I'll stay and just take a whiff of all the specimens and everything here and in the training arena.", Ardia said.

"Ardi, it's late. Take some rest."

"No, Ryan. I've to find this. What's my worth if I can't do one thing I'm supposed to do.", she said desperately filling a small box with specimens. Andy helped her hold the box and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It's fine, Ardia. You don't have to prove your worth every time. We know your worthy enough ", he said.

She said nothing. We knew it was a touchy topic for Ardia. Being a female beta was not a piece of cake and she always felt the need to keep proving herself worthy for her position.

"I'll help her out Ryan. You go.", Andy said and I gave him a nod.

"Bye, Ryan.", Ardia gave me a fist bump. And I walked out of the pack house to my car.

My house wasn't so far so it took me around ten minutes to reach there. I parked my car in the garage and noticed that my mother had planted purple geraniums along the little way from the front gate to the house door. They were my father's favourite flowers and I knew my mother was missing him. I was glad I came to home today.

I knocked the door and it opened almost instantly. My mother was standing in front me. She was wearing a blue sweater and her silky brown hair were put up in a bun.

She gave me her beautiful warm smile, "I heard your car.", she hugged me for a long time.

"You're in for a treat. I was actually going to call you. I made burritos, your favorite.", she said as she went to the kitchen and took the plates out. I smiled at her but there was something even more important than burritos. For now.

I took her hand and led her to the couch. I gently made her take a seat at the couch while I sat cross legged on the floor in front of her and looked in her pretty blue eyes. They looked at me with so much gentleness and care that I couldn't speak at all.

"What is it Ryan?", she asked as she stroked my hair. Her motherly instincts were on and her face had confusion spread all over it.

I just looked at her. She asked again, "Tell me, Ryan. What's the matter?"

"I found my mate.", I told her. A smile broke down on her face and and she laughed.

"This is amazing! Do I know her? Is she of our pack? I might know her parents if she is or is she...", she was rambling but I cut her off.

"She's not a werewolf mom. Not a human too. She's the new girl in the school.", I told her.

Her eyes knotted, "Ryan, are you sure she's your mate?"

"I felt it mom. It was like something hit me so hard and that I was complete. But now I feel...broken?", I told her.

"Oh, Ryan. Did you not recognise her scent?"

"No, even Ardia is confused. But that's not it. I messed up even more.", I told her.

"What did you do, Ryan?"

"I couldn't help it. I kissed her. She obviously, didn't like it. And now she hates me."

My mom smiled at me, "You are so much like your father. That's what he did too. He just kissed me straight away. I was baffled too, but I knew he was mine. It felt magical."

"Yeah but she doesn't know I'm her mate. And she's quite upset with me. And also the fact that she's...weird.", I layed my head on her lap I imagined her satisfying scent it was different but it was amazing.

"Ryan, she's your mate. And she might not know it, but she'll always feel a pull towards you, even if she's not a werewolf. You need to prove to her that you'll always be there for her. That you can love and protect her.", she said. I understood her. Her words gave me a sudden will power to make Celestia mine.

"Now let's have some burritos. They would have become cold by now.", my mom said as she sat up. I follwed her as I helped her set up the table.

The burritos were amazing, or maybe it was just her company. We talked about everything. She asked me about school and she told me about her work. My mom started working as a cook in one of the most popular, classy restaurant in town. She wasn't qualified for a chef but she was an amazing cook. It was me who encouraged her to take up the job after my father had died.

We then watched TV for a while until she said she was sleepy and we called it a night.

I, on the other hand, found myself in my father's study. It was a small room with book shelves on two of the walls with a table and a chair in the corner. I always thought that the room still smelt like him. One of the reasons I didn't spend all my nights in my home was that it reminded me of him. And I wanted to be strong for the pack but it made me feel weak.

I closed the door and moved out. Strolling in the hallway, I took a peek inside my mom's bedroom. She was sleeping peacefully but the thing that pained me was that even though she was lying on a king sized bed, she had taken the left side. Her side, while the right end of the bed was empty. Truly empty.

No matter how much I wished my mother to finally sleep in the centre, to move on from dad's death, I myself was stuck with it.

And the Northerner's words were ringing in my head again and again.

That it was never over.