Chapter 63: Their Cursed

Calder

My brother was letting his anger get the better of him which wasn’t a good look for us in front of the other packs and their leadership. I needed to get him under control now before we were expected at the reception. Remi stood in front of him, holding his gaze.

I cleared my throat, but it was Cullen to speak. “He isn’t good enough for Pip,” he said in quiet but dark tone.

“Cullen, why?” Remi implored.

“He just isn’t,” he said, not explaining himself.

“We have always had a tenuous relationship with Zeus,” I told her. I knew she was listening, but she didn’t take her eyes off Cullen, probably trying to keep him calm. “There was always a lot of comparison between us and him as we all grew up, being the future Alphas of the two largest packs.”

“He is an incompetent fool and doesn’t deserve the title of Alpha, much less to be Pip’s mate,” Cullen said.

Remi finally looked at me. “There is something else here,” she said.

“Do you want to tell her or should I?” I said looking at him. Remi looked between us. Cullen squinted his eyes. I sighed. “When we were 16, Cullen thought he knew the girl that was going to be his mate. They were dating and he was adamant when we turned 17, she would be it. Alpha Zane came to visit our father, bringing Zeus with him,” I started to explain.

“I walked in on him with her shortly after they had been introduced,” Cullen said in a deadly voice. I knew he had hated Zeus ever since. I wasn’t fond of him either, always finding him missing. Remi gasped, her hand coming to her mouth.

“None of that should matter now, though. It was 7 years ago, and we found our mate,” I finally said, expressing my irritation with the situation.

“You think that was the only time he ever used a girl?” Cullen shot, turning his eyes on me.

“What he did before hardly matters now! All that matters is how he treats Pip now. And we won’t know if you continue this absurd campaign to keep them away from each other!” I argued.

“You want to hand Pip over to him just like that?” He growled.

“Cullen, they are mates. This isn’t something you get to just veto!” I contended.

“Stop!” Remi shouted. We both looked at her, her arms crossed. “No one gets to decide what happens between Zeus and Pip!” she said angrily. “Pip is perfectly capable of deciding for herself! Cullen, how would you have felt if Gentry had tried to tell you that you didn’t deserve to be with me because of how you acted at first?” She took a deep breath, her voice getting softer. “I understand that he hurt you and you don’t like him. But doesn’t the Moon Goddess give you your mate for a reason? I know you care about Pip, but you can’t interfere. How will it look for the relationship between Blue Moon and Serenity Moon if you stop their next Alpha from being with his mate from your pack?”

Remi was eloquently reasoning with a seething Cullen. He wouldn’t be able to argue with her. She was giving him no choice but to concede. “Fine,” he said, clenching his fists and standing up a little straighter. He walked past us towards the master bedroom of the suite. The door slammed and Remi jumped a bit at the sound.

“Give him a bit to cool off. He won’t be happy about it, but he’ll accept it in time,” I told her. She nodded her head, taking a shaky breath. I opened my arms for her, and she walked right into them, wrapping her arms around my middle. I buried my nose in the top of her head. “You were impeccable,” I told her softly. “I don’t think anyone else could have kept Cullen under control like that. Thank you.”

Remi

Calder’s words made me feel a fraction better about everything that had just transpired at the entrance of the pack house. I knew Cullen was hurt but it filled me with dread that things had gone south so quickly. I really wanted to make a good impression this weekend for Cullen and Calder’s sake. After a few minutes, Calder showed me around the suite in an attempt to distract me. It had multiple bedrooms with bathrooms as well as a common sitting area. It was beautifully furnished and huge. He left me at Pip’s door so I could talk to her. I knocked softly. “Remi?” she called.

“Yea, can I come in?” I responded.

The door opened and she flung her arms around me, her eyes watery. “Did you get him to stop? Can I see him? Please tell me Cullen isn’t shipping me back to Blue Moon!” she exclaimed.

“No, no,” I told her. “He isn’t sending you away. He is just frustrated and doesn’t know how to deal with it, okay?”

“This has to do with Bea, doesn’t it?” she said letting go of me. We moved further into the room.

“Bea?” I asked.

“The one he was convinced was his mate. I honestly think what she did is why he was so cold about finding his fated. She really hurt him…” Pip said. So she did have at least an idea about what his problem was…

I could tell by the swirl of emotions when the twins and I talked about it that it was painful for him. I would bet that he would have never brought it up without the current situation. “I think it’s partly that and that he really cares about you,” I told her. She sighed heavily.

“I only heard about what happened from Gentry back then. I had never met Zeus. Not that I would have known he was my mate. But why should I judge him when I don’t even know what happened? It’s not like I am a virgin either. Plus, he could be way different now,” she said. “I just want a chance to make my own decision.” Her face looked so sad. I knew she would fight Cullen in private about the issue but would listen to him if he sent her away. It was probably breaking her heart to think about leaving now that she found Zeus.

I placed my hand on hers. “And I am going to make sure you can. You deserve to be loved, Pip. You are amazing and if you want Zeus, you should go get him,” I told her with a smile.

“Remi, do you even understand how perfect you are going to be as Luna? The twins hit the jackpot in the mate department,” she complimented. Her eyes went wide. “Oh Goddess. If I accept Zeus, I’ll become Luna of Serenity Moon,” she whispered.

“You will make a wonderful Luna,” I said. A knock on the door interrupted us. Carson poked his head in.

“We need to go,” he said and immediately left.

Pip rolled her eyes. “Do you know what his issue is?” I asked her.

“Well sort of. At least I think I do. That is for another time, though,” she said. Her hand squeezed mine and I looked down at it before looking back up at her face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I’m really nervous,” she said.

-

We all met in the common area of the suite. I could tell Cullen was still angry but was hiding behind his impartial facade. When Pip and I joined the Carlisle brothers, Cullen simply held his hand out expectantly. I squeezed Pip’s arm and went to Cullen. A knock sounded from the double doors leading to the hall, catching us all off guard. Calder went to the door, opening it wide. Zeus stood in the doorway with a cool look. It seemed like he was trying to hide his anxiety.

“I thought I might come escort you down to the reception,” he said politely. He looked past Calder to Pip. Calder turned his head and looked back at her. She nodded a fraction at him, and a small smile sprouted on her lips.

“That is so kind of you, Alpha Zeus,” I said. He tore his eyes away from Pip to look at me.

“My apologies. In the commotion earlier, we were not properly introduced,” he said stepping into the room. “My name is Zeus Henderson, future Alpha of Serenity Moon,” he said formerly with a small bow of his head.

“It is nice to meet you. I am Remi Anderson. Cullen and Calder are my mates,” I introduced myself. Cullen squeezed my hand. Zeus looked between the two of them.

“Wow, really?” he said astonished.

“Yes. The Moon Goddess has blessed both of us with Remi,” Calder said coolly.

“Well, congratulations,” he said to the twins. “Remi, you have two very impressive mates.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I am quite fond of them.”

“Should we go?” Cullen said in a dry tone. He wasn’t going to entertain this charade much longer.

Zeus turned to Pip with a smile. He walked up to her, stopping only two or three steps away. “Amanda, it would be my pleasure to escort you,” he said holding his hand out to her. She blushed again. She tentatively reached her hand forward and grabbed his. He gracefully turned and placed her hand on his arm. He smiled down at her. They almost looked like a fairytale in that moment. Pip was the sweet, blonde haired princess with her handsome, charming prince here to whisk her away.

“You got this,” I linked her. She smiled back at him and they silently led us from the room.