Song of the chapter - Fallin' All in You- (Shawn Mendes) if you think it sounds like an Ed Sheeran song it's because he co-wrote it.
Writer's Note - Demographics! As of May 8th we're at 2k reads!! I never thought we'd get here! I haven't been consistent with updates, I apologize. I've written chapters 19 through 25, and I'll be releasing one chapter a day for the next week. (So maybe this is longer than a traditional novella but let's just pretend that it's still a novella, hee hee).
Also! I think I'll go back and add songs since I like doing that.
Age
13-18 (21%)
18-25 (37%)
25-35 (8%)
35-45 (3%)
45+ (2%)
Private (28%)
Gender
Male (6%)
Female (67%)
Private (27%)
Countries
United States- 52.8%
United Kingdom -11.2%
Canada- 5.6%
Australia, South Africa, - 4.5%
Czech Republic- 2.2%
Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates - each 1.2%
If you're a reader from a country not here know that wattpad is kind of weird and I sometimes think they miss countries if a reader read a while ago or very recently.
~Achilles~
I scanned the dining hall for the third time, feeling like my ears were ringing and that the room was too much. Xander was talking but I just couldn't focus on the words, "What?"
He frowned, but the his features smoothed out as he moved in close to me, touching my elbow, "Let's go outside."
He ushered me out of the building and into the cool, wet, night air. The rain had stopped by the time we got to the pack grounds, making the night sky startlingly clear.
There were still a few families coming into the dining hall and everyone was greeting me so normally, it felt painful. A terrible weight burrowed into my chest as I watched families walking in and other pack members, no one walking in alone. There were a few cursory glances at Xander but there were too many wolves around for them to be able to tell he wasn't one of us.
Xander's voice was soft and insistent, "I'm sorry Achilles."
I shook my head, stuck somewhere between shock and numbness, "I can't believe they didn't come. They always come to pack meetings, no matter what." It didn't matter how long I waited, my family wasn't walking in through the doors. The sense of betrayal anchored me to the spot and made me feel sick. "They knew that I needed them, today of all days, and they're not here."
"You don't have to tell anyone about us," Xander said quietly, "This doesn't seem like the best time."
"It's never going to be the best time." I countered just as quietly, feeling the numbness spread out and down to my toes, making my extremities feel foreign and wrong. Everything was wrong.
My heart took a slow and long beat as the Asheborne alpha walked in. She was a statuesque woman with an appearance that could be described as a presence in and of itself. Tara was built sturdily with round hips and square shoulders and a predatory, vulpine face. She had short black hair that was never long enough to curl around her ears and dark, coffee eyes. She was White like most members of our pack and pale. Some people found her appearance intimidating, but then she'd smile and that did a lot to make her seem approachable.
She walked in with her daughter and two sons trailing after her with her husband taking up the rear. Marc was a handful of inches shorter than his wife and where Tara exuded he was nothing more than a wallflower. It was common gossip where people wondered about how their relationship worked and who "wore the pants." Humiliation crawled beneath my skin as I knew I'd wondered the same thing. Marc had a softer face, with a well kept red beard and fiery curls.
Tara came up to me suddenly, meeting me at eye level because of how tall she was. Alphas could be like that, all domineering. Her eyes slanted when she saw me, and soon she was in my space, and touching my back, rubbing comfortingly. "What is it?" She said in her warm, soothing tone. "You seem troubled, Lee." And then she saw Xander, hesitating for a beat. She inhaled softly, "Ah, this is uncommon." Tara circled the both of us, "A vampire and a shifter, mates, and male." She clucked her tongue, "Very uncommon, but wonderful, nonetheless. Congratulations, Lee." Tara broke into a genuine smile, clapping me on the shoulder and extending her arm out towards Xander to shake his hand.
"How can you tell?" Was all I managed to say, in perfect shock.
"I'm your alpha." She said in her soft rumble, "I know when one of my own people has found their mate. I mean it when I say congrats. It reminds me of my Marc. People couldn't imagine my being with a man who's so different from me. Come into the dining hall, and sit by my family tonight, I'll keep a few seats open for you."
I nodded silently, thankful. It was an unspoken honour to sit by the alpha during dinner. The alpha, and their immediate family along with their betas sat at the table. The table was slightly elevated and I noticed a few curious glances settling on Xander.
Eventually the hall was full and noisy, and Tara stood up from her seat. That was enough to make everyone fall quiet. It still amazed me every time she did that. Wolves weren't nearly as hierarchical as humans, I really thought it was the human part of us that wanted hierarchy.
It was instinctive to look towards Tara, she was a guardian, parent and leader all in one, our alpha.
"I hope everyone has had an enjoyable month and thank you for joining us for our pack meeting despite the bad weather earlier. Our run will be short today and afterwards there will be a few important announcements. Anyone not running today can help prepare the meal. I'll see you all afterwards."
Tara sat down and the hall became a mass of movement as people got up and started heading outdoors or to the kitchens.
Xander looked at me, a furrow appearing between his brows, "I can't exactly shift."
I smiled, "it's fine, lots of people help cook. Did you want me to stay with you?""
Xander touched his neck worriedly, pressing his thumb into his collarbone, "No, I'll just turn on the charm. I wish I could watch you run,
though. You're pretty as a wolf."
I took the charm out of my pocket, and handed it to Xander as we stood up, "It's fine, just put this back on."
Xander frowned, still worrying his neck, but eventually he took it, "Just don't feel pressured to do anything crazy."
#
The run was short and uneventful because of how agitated I was. Anders wasn't there to run with me and Tara kept moving out of lead position to urge me to stay with the pack as I fell behind.
The others started to notice the alpha's interest in me and that only created another kind of tension. I was happy several minutes later when the run was done and everyone was changed and back in the dining hall.
I saw Xander's hair first and then him chatting comfortably with some women as they put plates and utensils across the dining hall and others put out family style portions of food. Something in me eased at how nicely he seemed to fit in, just like any other member of the pack.
I must have been staring because next thing I knew Harrison was shaking my shoulder. I blinked, "You're...here?"
Harrison smiled at me, but then I saw a fist sized bruise forming on the side of his jaw, red and blotchy. I tilted his face, "What the hell? Who did this to you?!"
Harrison's strained smile only broadened, "I fell. Clumsy me."
"Don't lie to me, Harry." I said quietly, putting my hands by my sides.
He ignored me, "Mom came, too. But, Dad and Andersâ" Harrison swallowed hard, rubbing the back of his neck, "It's why we're late. We had an argument. Mom wanted us all to come to support you but they just...They just don't get it. Dad was acting weird, Anders was yelling. So, I yelled back. I'll tell you about it later, 'kay?"
My mom came over then, stroking my hair with glassy, red-streaked eyes. She started talking before I even got a word out, "We didn't miss anything, right?"
I shook my head, my mind stuttering as I tried to imagine just how bad this argument was, "Just the run."
"I'm sorry about before, Lee. All those months ago when I realized you found your mate and I assumed the He was a she. I didn't mean to make it harder for you to tell. I honestly just never considered anything else. You know that, right?"
"Yeah, Mom, I don't blame you. Me waiting forever was on me, not you."
She sniffled, pulling out a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbing at her eyes. "Let's all sit down."
I lead Harrison and Mom over to the alpha's table and they were surprised we'd been invited to sit there.
After everyone got seated and Xander greeted Harrison and my mom, the hall became silent and I realized it was because Tara had stood.
"There are a few important announcements for today. Firstly, we currently have ten expecting couples within the pack. Congratulations is in order and I wish the mothers healthy pregnancies. Our pack is only continuing to grow and I thank those families for choosing to grow with us. Next, the executive pack members have put forth a motion to expand our recreational facilities. We're considering integrating a computer lab onto pack grounds so that we can keep with the modern trends. Not every family comes from wealth so it would be nice for students to have options and a nice place to go to to do. As for the next school year we're beginning to establish a carpool system since the packgrounds are so far outside the city. And..." Tara's eyes flicked towards me and then away. "If anyone has any announcements this is the time to make them."
The seconds passed on but no one said anything. The silence was absolute as I felt my wrist get cold, the bracelet feeling like it was cutting off all the circulation there. My family was surrounding me and I could feel their stares boring into my skin, into my soul.
I stood up, "Good evening everyone."
"Good evening, Lee." Was the scattered and somewhat confused reply. I could tell no one knew why I was standing and talking.
"I've been a member of the Asheborne pack as long as I can remember. One of my first memories is running out on the field with my pack mates. Maybe as a boy or a wolf, but it was here on pack grounds." I looked around at all the members of my family. "I've learned so much here. I'veâ I've grown so much here. This is where I learned about friendship, love, and loyalty. And I remember a few years ago when Taylor met Joanne and they announced they were mates." I breathed, and gave myself a second. "I think that's when I realized mates were real, and I know it's tradition to announce when one has found their mate, so I'm announcing it now." I looked at Xander, feeling some kind of inexplicable emotion clog my throat. "When my mother described meeting my father she said 'it was the most pure kind of love you could experience.'" I lost my voice for a second, stretching out my arm so Xander could stand by me. "And she was right."
Xander came to stand by me as he nervously played with the charm along the necklace. I rubbed his back, still making sure to project. "This is my mate, Xander. I know some of you won't like this..."Xander tensed, while I sighed. "But, he's vegan." There was a moment of silence and then some laughter, and Xander laughed as well, the sound calming me. "So, we're going to need to start implementing some more vegan friendly options. And yeah, I guess that's it." My canines pushed out quickly, "I can't see why anyone would have a problem with it but if they do..." I left my threat open ended as I sat down.
"With that lets all dig in!" Tara's deep voice carried across the hall.
Harrison congratulated me as I spooned mashed potatoes and gravy onto his plate, "That was fucking amazing, Lee. I couldn't even tell you were nervous. And if anyone tries to be homophobic towards you I will personally fight them. Them and their kids." Harrison's eyes were twinkling and he was putting entirely too much mash potatoes on his plate.
My mother was trying to stifle her laughter, and Xander was smiling nicely. In that moment I could honestly say things were perfect. We talked easily at our corner of the table and not too far into our conversation Sunny came up to the table.
She was grinning from ear to ear, rocking on her feet. Sunny threw herself around me, giving me a suffocating hug. "Ah! I'm so happy for you, Lee! You told everyone." Sunny took an empty seat close to us and started fixing herself a plate, "Why didn't you guys ask me to sit with you? And where's Anders and your dad?"
"Well," I said slowly, "They decided not to come. Which is okay. Or, at least, it'll be okay eventually." Xander patted my back.
Sunny nodded, watching us, "Don't feel bad, Lee." She looked around our section of the table with my mom, Harrison, myself and Xander. "We're here for you."
I smiled, feeling a weight lift off of my chest, "Thanks guys. Honestly, you're the best family I could ask for." Looking at each of them, I meant it. And I knew that even if things weren't perfect, for now, they were good enough.
#
Overall thoughts?
How did you find the public coming out scene?