Chapter 2 Kieran

• “So, what’s going on Kieran? Is your dad still the first oarsman in the douche canoe?” Tommy commented. I nodded and sighed in response. It was just like Tommy to be observant enough to know what the problem was without me having to say a word. That’s why he’s going to make the perfect Lead Warrior when I ascend to Alpha.
• “Yeah, his dick is all twisted over the fact that I haven’t found my fated mate yet and he suggested that I take a chosen mate from the girls in the pack,” I explained as I opened the second beer and took a drink.
• “It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to choose your mate. I love Kayla with every fiber of my being, I don’t even think that I would have loved Sandra that way,” Tristan replied sincerely. I know that he means well, but it isn’t the same.
• Tristan’s fated mate was from a pack of rogues and was killed during a battle moments after he found her. But he did have a point, he and Kayla were quite possibly the picture-perfect couple. However, the reality is that there isn’t anyone in this pack that I am remotely interested in.
• “It’s a thought Tristan, but in all reality there’s no one here that is even vaguely appealing to me. I certainly don’t want any of those airheads that bat their eyelashes and toss their hair over their shoulder the second I walk by,” I scoffed.
• “What are you gonna do then Kieran? You can’t keep dodging the bullet on this, our pack really needs you and our Luna. I have heard talks of some pack members applying to become members of other packs, people are miserable here,” Xavier questioned.
• “I don’t know man. I can’t take a chosen mate from this pack, there isn’t anyone that I think would fit my idea of the perfect Luna here. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that once I become Alpha and if something were to happen to me, that Suzie or Melissa would make wonderful Lunas. It’s just, I need my Luna, I need the girl the goddess created specifically for me. My mom always told me that my mate would complete me like no other could and I believe that. Besides, the only girl I have ever been good friends with will be my female lead warrior,” I responded, explaining it the best I could.
• “Have you thought of inviting Cicily Martinez over on the night of the blood moon? She came to live over in Rip Claw when that dickhead Hollis found Luna Graciella at one of those mating balls,” Bill questioned earnestly.
• “That’s Luna Graciella’s twin sister, right? Hard pass. I have nothing against the new Luna and her twin, but the thought of having a mate that looks like Hollis’ mate is freaky. I don’t care if their pack is closest to ours, there’s something not right about him, he gives me mega sleazeball vibes,” I replied with a mock shiver.
• “You never know man; she could be the one and the moon goddess sent her with her sister for you. At any rate, what about going to one of those mating balls that Hollis went to? Maybe your mate will be the shy, sweet, little virgin hiding in the corner hoping nobody will notice she’s sweating bullets worried about the fact that her shoes aren’t exactly a perfect match for her dress,” Xavier teased.
• “Then you can walk up to her and throw her over your shoulder and say ‘Don’t worry little lady. Me heap big Alpha and you complete me even with ugly shoes.’ Then drag her off to a quiet place and take her virtue,” Bill chimed in.
• “The fuck is wrong with you? You went cowboy, to caveman, to Jerry Maguire, to rapist in one sentence. Why did the goddess give me a dipshit like you for second in command?” I scolded and smacked the side of his head at the same time. “You might be onto something though Xav. If I made plans to attend one of those balls for the next blood moon it might get my dad off my back,” I added as the thought rolled around in my head. The idea really wasn’t a bad one, to be honest, and I really wouldn’t mind having a shy, sweet girl to love and cherish.
• I pushed that thought to the back of my mind as the subject changed and we talked about normal things that a bunch of guys did when together. After we had each had 4 or 5 beers and polished off the pack of cigarettes Tristan changed the subject again and things got a little serious once more.
• “Kieran, I know you asked if I would consider being your Delta, but I kinda have my heart set on a simpler life. I don’t really wanna be responsible for pack problems and stuff, I kinda wanna be the guy people come see when they need a pick-me-up or to take a load off,” he confessed.
• I rolled to my side and propped myself up on one elbow, since we had all been laying on our backs looking at the stars. “Listen my dad is never going to agree to having a bar on the pack’s land and I’m not so sure I would really want one either. We don’t need a bunch of warriors getting drunk and rowdy after a particularly shitty patrol shift or something,” I stated. I’m obviously not opposed to alcohol, but I am concerned about what making it easier to access could mean.
• “That’s not what I meant, Kieran. I was thinking more along the lines of taking over Winters Coffee Shop. Old man Winters is one of the pack members who has applied for membership to another pack. I was thinking maybe when he leaves Kayla, and I could take it over and keep it open. When we go off territory there is this coffee shop in the neutral territory that we like to go to. Kayla made the comment that it would be fun to be able to serve coffee and chat people up all day. I want to give that life to her if the opportunity arises and I kinda want to do it by her side,” he explained sheepishly.
• Tristan was a damn good warrior and I wanted to bestow the title of Delta on him, but who was I to stand in the way of his dream? “I tell ya what, if old man Winters really does leave, I will make sure the coffee shop is yours. If he doesn’t leave, you’ll talk to Kayla about becoming the Delta couple of the pack under my lead. Deal?” I asked, extending my hand to shake his.
• Tristan extended his hand and shook mine. “Deal,” he agreed. “No offense, but I really hope he leaves. I would really love to be able to tell Kayla that we are going to live out her dream together,” he added.
• “You know what Tristan? I do too. It would be a positive change for the pack, old man Winters is kind of a sourpuss anyway,” I conceded. “Okay guys, I think we should probably pack it in for the night. You all have mates to go home to and if I don’t show up soon, my dad is liable to flip his shit and send out a search party,” I added with a tinge of regret.
• We made sure that all the cans and cigarette butts were in a trash bag and tossed that into the bed of Xavier’s truck before we stripped and tossed our shorts in there too. Everyone but Xavier shifted and with unsaid ‘see ya laters’, raced back towards our homes.