Chapter 27: Black Wolf Pack of Colorado

**Luna Loren**

I believed in the goddess. In everything there was a purpose. Of course, Krig was sometimes very hard on Mateo, but he needed to grow up strong. Being an alpha isn’t easy, but for me, it was never just about power. Happiness and peace were important too. And seeing my husband and son hate each other showed me that somewhere along the way we had lost our way.

That’s why I was eager to see Mat again and tell him this. And I was making Krig see it. It was time for us to pass the power to our son and go traveling, see friends and relatives, do everything we had once dreamed of doing, before we had so many responsibilities.

Mat didn't know, but I had a destined mate before I met his father who was a chosen mate. Maybe because I had never had a destined mate, Krig didn't know how to understand and was even jealous that his son had something he could never experience and, therefore, didn't believe.

I didn't doubt that he loved me, I loved my destined mate, but he died in battle. Only the goddess knows why I survived, and if I had forgotten what it was like to have a soul mate it was so as not to make Krig suffer or not believe in my true love for him. Now, seeing my son return from alpha training, sad and cold like his father, I could no longer ignore or keep quiet.

**Mateo**

I asked John to pick me up at the airport. When I saw him I felt genuine joy. He was an excellent friend, I would make him a great beta. His loyalty was unquestionable.

"Dude, you've doubled in size, what do they do in this alpha training?"

"Lots of training, man, a fat guy like you wouldn't be able to handle it."

We both laughed.

"Good to see you, friend. And know that I'm going to push the training and get everyone in the pack in shape."

"Look who's talking, this is Krig Jr."

"John! Don't do that."

"What do I call you Krig Jr., so I can't say Krig Jr., Krig Jr.?"

"You don't grow up! — I put him in an armlock and showed him who was boss now."

"Seriously, that hurts. Forgive me, Alpha Mateo."

"Come on, brother, tell me, did anything important happen while I was away?"

"No, well... Just your mother asked about Natsuke. If she was nice, a good girl, that sort of thing...

"A little late now, isn't it?

"Well, better late than never.

"John. I don't want to mess with the past anymore. I don't want to change her life, I don't... Damn it! Let's go home.

…

**Mateo**

I arrived at the pack and everyone was celebrating. I put on a smile and greeted everyone. My father reached out his hand and pulled me into a hug. I knew it was his way of apologizing. I went to kiss and hug my mother.

We had a small dinner and I was immensely happy that there were no possible suitors for Luna as guests. Only John and my father's Beta, Mike and his partner Any.

My father quickly said that business was going well, debts were paid off, but we needed to know how to invest. I mentioned my interest in working with technology and that was what was hot in the market right now.

John had gone to take a course in China and was full of news. We were going to start talking early tomorrow morning. I asked to take charge of the training and Mike loved the idea. My father agreed and my mother was happy that we had a first dinner without indirectness or arguments.

But that was just the first day. The next day, my father wanted me to stop traveling to play and start working with him. I tried to gain a little more time. But I felt like my time was running out. However, the emptiness I felt in my chest was not just about my departure from ice hockey; it had a name, and it was called Natsuke.

I tried several times to bring up the subject of companions chosen by the goddess with my mother, but she slipped like wet soap.

I started reading books that were in my father's library.

I saw that many alphas were paired with humans; it wasn't uncommon. John mentioned that in other packs, mating with humans, as long as they were companions, wasn't forbidden. So my question was, why didn't I see right away that she was my companion and why didn't she feel this connection too?

It was my cousin Robert who told me that the connection isn't always immediate, that it can develop with proximity and coexistence. I was almost certain that if Nat and I spent more time together or when she turned 21, she would be able to feel it too and then I would have to talk to her, show her who I really was and see if she would give up everything for me or if she would think I was a real monster.