Chapter 29: There are times you should just Shut Up

**Coal**

I read the report that the Alpha of the largest pack in Russia, Dimitri, sent me. He'd mentioned it after the meeting before we left to the training grounds for Cris to get absolutely whooped by Raegan. He told me he'd gotten a message from his son, who he left in charge in his stead, that there were sudden attacks from rogues sprouting all across Russia. I asked him what information they had, and he had his son send me this email. The file was well detailed, and consisted of over fifty pages. It went over every minute detail of the attacks, and every pattern that could be spotted. I loved it when Alphas took their jobs seriously.

I sighed, and scrolled through to the next page, trying not to let my irritation with the matter get the best of me. It was easier for Rogues to attack when Alphas were away, as they wouldn't have to contend with the unparelled senses that being a Pack Alpha granted. We knew that the attacks would increase when the conference took place, so every pack was advised to get their affairs in order before departing, and amp up the security. What we didn't know, was that the Rogues in the Eastern chunk of the world were waiting patiently for the right oppurtunity to attack our most crucial packs. Dimitri's pack had suffered a small blow, but the ones neighboring his took on critical damage, and the trade routes that had been established for decades were now infested with Rogues ensuring that nothing got in or out of his area. The report he'd sent my way also detailed that the same issue was happening to the other heavy hitters in Russia. Not every Pack Alpha could attend the conference, which made it even more confusing that they had attacked some of these other large packs. Not to mention that the packs in Russia were hard to attack. Russia, Canada, and strangely enough, Australia, were the locations with the harshest conditions for our packs to survive, let alone Rogues to any severe quantity. It didn't make sense that enough rogues were stationed there to attack much less do significant damage.

Something was amiss, and I emailed Dimitri as well as the other Pack Alphas who'd been attacked to say as much. I let them know that should they need aid, the Crown will gladly step in. Be it soldiers, or rations. We would take care of those who needed it, and as for the packs that suffered critical damage, I suggested that they all relocate to their largest neighboring packs to keep safety in numbers as well as get as far away from the wrecked towns and cities as they could without crossing into human territory. I started typing my response to Dimitri carefully. I would send it to Hannah before it got sent out to the Pack Alphas. I needed her confirmation that this wasn't going to make them mad or distrust me. I didn't want to strain any already tenuous relationships I had with any packs at all. Especially not ones that were so far away from me. I believed that Dimitri only mentioned it to me after seeing how close Raegan was with me. He didn't care much for the old King, but he didn't care much for me either. He was a tough cookie to sway, and when he approached me after the meeting earlier, I'd all but gaped at him like I'd seen a ghost. But Raegan winked at him from where she stood watching us in the corner, and I knew she'd convinced him I was trustworthy. At least trustworthy enough to believe I wouldn't hurt his pack or neglect his warnings.

When I'd drafted it well enough, I sent it to Hannah, who responded within minutes with her suggestions. I revised it, and sent it back, and she sent back a thumbs up. So off it went to Dimitri.

I spun in my chair for a moment, and then picked up my phone. I dialed my parent's number quickly, and held it to my ear as it started to ring.

They answered on the third ring.

"Hello?" My father's voice rang through clearly.

"Hey, dad, it's Coal," I spun in my chair again.

"Coal! How are you, my boy? How has the conference been? Is it working out as well as you wished it would.

"Yeah, yeah, it's going great. Lots of new oppurtunities and connections. But uh, I called cause I wanted to ask you something."

"Is this the 'dad, I messed up' sort of question, or the 'dad, I'm dying' sort of question?"

I pursed my lips, "neither."

"Ah. So it's the 'dad, I didn't use protection' kind."

"What?! No! Goddess!" I yelped.

He laughed loudly on the other end, and I frowned deeply.

"That's so not funny, dad."

"I thought it was."

"I'm going to hang up now. Bye."

"Wait! No. No. I'm sorry, I won't do it again. I'll behave. Tell me what's on your mind, son."

I sighed, and leaned forward against my desk, "what I'm about to tell you can go nowhere. Understood?"

"Are you swearing me to secrecy?" He sounded... excited.

I furrowed my brows, "yeah, dad. Secrecy. Can you promise you won't tell a soul?"

"Your mother doesn't count."

"Of course not. She's family. I trust her to keep it quiet too."

"Then of course I can promise I won't say a word to anyone else."

I took in a deep breath, "I found my mate, dad."

The line went silent, and then there was a thud, followed by my father yelling for my mother. Panic settled into my bones, but before I could react on it, I heard him shout happily that they were going to get more grandchildren.

I frowned deeply, rolling my eyes at his theatrics as he explained to my mother that I had found my true mate and was going to be giving them more grandbabies to love. They didn't have any grandbabies to love thus far. Bridgette and Finn hadn't made the decision to start trying for pups yet. They were both fully engrossed in their careers and wanted to wait until they were ready to bring more life into our pack and family.

"What's her name?!" My mother shouted on the other end.

"You're on speaker now, son," my father sounded giddy. Like a kid on Christmas.

"Her name is Raegan. She's..." I took in a deep breath as I pictured my beautiful mate. Her olive skin, and dark raven curls that flowed down her back. Her deep brown eyes. Dark and rich with layers I wanted so desperately to peel back and analyze every small fleck of. "Goddess, she's perfect. She's funny, and strong, and her smile could restart my heart if it stopped. I swear, I've never met anyone as wonderful and amazing as her. All I think about is her, and we haven't even known each other for a full week." I sighed, lost in the thought of her.

"You've known her for a *week* and you haven't said anything to us?!" My mother screeched, taking me from my daydream.

I yanked the phone away from my ear and hissed, "Goddess, ma! A little warning! Please!"

"Honey, he's telling us now," my father consoled her, "there is a reason for his delay, and his call this late into knowing her."

"Right, yes, that," I nodded, remembering my purpose for calling them in the first place, "now that that is over with... have, are, have either of you ever questioned your faith in the bond or the Goddess' will for you?"

They both gasped. And then started muttering inaudibly to one another.

Then my mother spoke, "you listen up, and you listen good, Nicholas. You were raised *devout*. You are a faithful and dilligent follower of the Goddess and her will. If I find out you're thinking of turning--"

"Mom, I'm not losing my faith. I promise," I rolled my eyes.

"Then what *are* you doing?" My father asked quietly.

Judging by my mother's reaction to the question, I had a feeling my purpose for calling wasn't going to come out fruitfull. "Raegan is. Questioning her faith, that is. She doesn't... she doesn't want the Goddess meddling with her life. From what she's been through, I can't say I blame her either," I muttered.

I heard my mother's sharp inhale, then a soft pur that I knew was coming from my father in his attempt to soothe his mate. "Is she planning on rejecting you?" He asked.

"No!" I said quickly, and rose to my feet. My wolf started to pace the back of my mind, and he snarled at the idea of her ever rejecting us like that.

"Are you certain?"

"I am." I said, though, I didn't feel it.

"How does this play into you calling us, son?" My father continued.

"I just... I don't know how to get her to accept the bond. I want her. Badly. She's consumed me, and I can't imagine what it would feel like if she didn't accept it at some point. What would you say to each other if one of you were questioning your faith and the reliability of the bond?"

"I would have rejected your father," my mother said quickly.

My father gasped.

"The bond is sacred," my mother plowed forward, "any wolf who dares to desecrate it isn't worthy of it in the first place. Tell me, Coal, has she been with another before meeting you?"

"I don't see how that is *any* of your business," I growled, my wolf surfacing a little, his anger evident.

My mother sighed, "so that's a 'yes'. She doesn't deserve the bond. No matter how you may wish she will accept it, she never will. It is better you cut ties now than end up hurting further down the road after you've fallen for her."