Chapter 32: Take a Bow | Bloom

Landon

My name is Landon Barnett and I am the Alpha of the Regency Falls pack.

You have no idea how long I have been waiting to be able to say these words!

Yes, my father was taken from us some months ago. I have been Regent for nearly five months, but most importantly I thought I wasn't going to ascend as Alpha at all.

It's very rare for ascending Alphas not to find their mates at 18. There are whispers that in some packs their ascending Alphas get dreams from the Moon Goddess announcing to them who their mate is BEFORE they even turn 18.

It's not exactly normal for a person of my status to be left unmated for such a long period of time. Not to say we are privileged by the Goddess, but if you look at Aaron's case now that he got a second chance mate, if that isn't privilege, I don't know what is.

Anyway, my point is: for the longest time I actually thought I would have to pass the baton to my brother Clark. I spent 3 years searching high and low for a mate, only for him to be delivered at my doorstep when I least expected.

I guess people are right when they say: the Goddess will find a way for you to meet your mate. Leave it up to Her because She will make it happen whenever She wants you to be mated.

If you think about the events that were set in motion for Ares to meet his mate... We barely had any advance notice on Harry's birthday. My mother pulled off a dinner party at the last minute - because she is that good - and Harry even invited the remainder of the Staedlers to join us for the special occasion.

That is without considering that Ares was supposed to be working that night. My mother called his father and pulled some strings so that he could attend the event. Honestly, I would never have thought of that.

I guess there is no other word for it: getting mated is magical and it only happens when it's supposed to. Not sooner or later, no matter how much we cry about it.

Trust me, my friends and I have cried plenty over our lack of mating. My 'lonely hearts club' is lonely no more. I couldn't be happier for all of them, even though Rhiannon is still rejecting her mate. But that is her choice and I support her as my friend and as a woman.

I am the Alpha of Regency Falls.

Tears come to my eyes as I reach this solemn realization.

It was one thing when Lourdes called me Alpha, but now I really am one. Officially. Or at least as official as I can be without having been marked by my mate, but that is just confirmation.

I feel amazing. I feel validated. I feel as if the whole world was there for the conquering. Like there is nothing I couldn't do, especially with Harry by my side.

Honestly, this is the happiest I have ever felt in my life. At least until I complete the bond with my mate. I cannot wait for that to happen!

I woke up next to my mate once again. It's the second night he slept with me since his birthday. And it's the second night we don't do anything except for kissing.

I don't want to push for anything, but I am good to go. I am eager for it. It's been a while...

I wake him up with a sweet kiss, causing a smile to form in his gorgeous face as he awakens. I snuggle up to him, rub my nose on his neck, scenting him like an animal.

My nose tickles him a bit and he giggles. I find it so adorable. Moments later, we get up and I follow my morning ritual while he goes all the way to the guest wing to do his.

Later, we are both comfortably sitting inside the dining room for breakfast. Spencer is here too since he is going to move in.

"How was the trip back to our pack yesterday? Did you talk to your parents? How did they react to the news?" Harry asked his best friend, who went home yesterday to talk things over with his folks and collect his belongings.

"They were confused as to why I would get a second mate, to be honest. But thrilled for me nonetheless. If I had to be mated away from our pack, at least I'm still close by. I can see my family any time." He replied, contently.

"Good for you, my friend. I can't think of anyone more deserving of happiness than you." Harry spoke, grinning at him.

"Speaking of deserving happiness... Harry, you can move your things to my son's bedroom if you want. You don't need to go all the way back to the guest wing just to change clothes." My mom told him with a poignant look.

Harry blushed at her suggestion, tongue tied for a minute.

"I'm not saying you have to, I'm just saying you are both consenting adults who are mated to each other. If you want to sleep with your mate, that's your prerogative." She continued, wisely.

"Not unlike my other son who wants to bring a lady friend to sleep in his room." She snickered, causing Clark to gasp at the not so subtle jab.

"I'm almost 18! I should be allowed to bring a date over to my house!" He protested, wide-eyed and frowning at mom.

"Of course you are! This house is very big. You can bring as many friends as you'd like, just not into your room." Mom smirked. My brother grunted in annoyance.

"Thanks for the suggestion, Luna. I'll take it under advisement." Harry said, still blushing.

My mother is right. What is the hold up, mate? Neither of us are teenagers anymore. We are allowed to do as we please.

I saw more action when you were still rejecting me. Though it's only been a few days, I shouldn't be so eager.

I guess I can't help but want to lock it down as soon as possible. There is still some part of me that thinks he is going to reject me all over again. *widens my eyes*

After breakfast, I went to my office for a while before I had to go to the training center.

Lourdes greeted me with a radiant smile and...

"You're pregnant? Congratulations!" I cheered at the glorious news.

"Thanks, Alpha. It's been quite the journey to get here." She smiled, glowing in happiness.

"I'm so happy for you and Kyle. Whatever you need from me, just ask." I said, cheerfully.

"Thanks, Alpha. I will." She replied, joyously.

I entered my office and got into my work load before I had to leave for training.

When I arrived at the training center, the atmosphere was a little different. Everyone and everything were the same, but people looked at me differently.

As I walked in, all the warriors bowed their heads and chanted:

"Long Live the Alpha!"

One by one, they all bowed their heads to me. I am not gonna lie, I was emotional watching this scene play out. I wanted this for so long, but thought it wasn't on the cards for me. *misty eyes*

So long I have been denied. So long I thought being Alpha was unreachable to me. I have spent so much time getting used to the idea of being Regent, of having to pass the job over to my brother, I didn't consider this day could in fact arrive.

Tears came to my eyes as more and more warriors bowed their heads to me. I fought to keep it together, to maintain my posture as Alpha, but I cannot deny it's freaking hard right now.

"Your father would be so proud of you. Of the man that you've become. Long Live the Alpha!" Beta Carillon told me as I approached him near the gym equipments.

I couldn't help the tears falling from my eyes. I felt so emotional, so proud of myself. But mostly happy to finally realize my father's vision for our pack.

I went to the bathroom to get myself together, then returned to report to Delta Saunders for my mandatory training.

"Good morning, Delta. I have to ask how you received the news of your son being mated at last." I wondered, curiously.

"Good morning, Alpha. I guess I'm still puzzled as to why my son was a second chance mate to this person who isn't even from our pack." He replied, not exactly pleased by the recent development.

"You should be glad he wasn't mated to their Alpha." Mr. Henderson interjected with a poignant look, not far from where we stood. His daughter gulped at his words, though she wasn't near us. But nowhere inside is too far from our wolf hearing.

"Actually, you should be happy he wasn't rejected." I stated, getting a whiplash from Rhiannon and Ares. He too wasn't near us, but then again...

"Who would reject my boy? He's perfect!" Delta Saunders rebuked, taken aback by the suggestion. Ares smiled wide hearing his father's words. He is not one to compliment anyone, not even his own son. At least not here.

"Of course he is, Delta. Did he ask for time off to complete the bond yet?" I snickered.

"Did you come here to train or to gossip?" Ares glared at me from afar.

"Is that how you speak to your Alpha?" I snapped at him.

"You're not Alpha until there's a mark on your neck." He countered and I growled at him.

"Alpha, I think it's time you start your training. You need to be done by lunchtime." Beta Carillon interjected, frowning at me.

"Of course, Beta. Lead the way, Delta." I agreed before I lost my cool.

After training was done, I went inside the locker room to take a much needed shower and returned home for lunch. Javier is right, I cannot be late for lunch at the pack house. It doesn't bode well for the Alpha to set a bad example and delay the service.

Harry was inside with me and so was Spencer, naturally. In reality, Harry was happier now that his best friend is here too.

I hate to say it, but I owe a debt of gratitude to the Goddess for pairing him to one of our own. Because I want my mate to feel as comfortable here as possible.

Later that night, he was already talking about a post dinner date with Ares.

"Damn! The second chance mates are putting us to shame! Maybe we should go out too, mate?" I suggested it to him at the end of dinner. Spencer grimaced at my phrasing and Harry picked up on it.

"We should, Landon. But you don't need to call them that. What's important is that they found each other now." He told me with an empathizing tone.

"Of course, please know that wasn't meant to be shady or condescending in any way, Spencer." I told him, remorsefully.

"No problem, Alpha. We have to make the most of our time together as I said before. The clock is ticking and we're just about to enter the last month of Summer." He said in a chipper tone.

He is right, you know. Time is a fickle master and before we know it, my mate will be back to college and...

"Hey, can I be honest with you?" I asked Harry once we got settled inside the bar. The same bar I used to come with my lonely hearts club, who now are all mated.

It's Friday night, so the place is packed with couples or people taking the edge off before returning home. Also, there's the occasional humans who just come here to drink.

It's not like Mike, the owner, is gonna turn away business just because of their species.

"Of course, Landon. Always." Harry replied in a good mood. We ordered some beers to get us started. Ares and Spencer are also here, but they are far from us at another table.

With this many loud people, none of us have to worry about listening in on each other's dates.

"When do you think we can complete the bond?" I asked point blank and he gasped at the question.

Harry got tongue tied for a minute, staring at me gobsmacked. But I mean business. I love what we have and waking up next to him in the morning. I really do.

But Spencer is right. We need to get properly bonded and enjoy ourselves before he leaves town.

"It's not that I haven't thought about it..." He muttered after a while of uncomfortable silence between us while the bar was noisy.

"That's good to know. Because it's all I think about." I emphasized, not really ashamed of it.

Harry blushes looking at me, but my stern expression never changes. I need to know this. Even if he doesn't want it now, I gotta have a timeline at least.

"I guess I'm open to it. We never discussed it before." He said, finally getting into the idea.

"Well, that's because you had rejected me, not because I didn't want to do it." I explained, causing him to laugh nervously.

"I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable talking about this. But we're mates. We're men. There's no reason to tiptoe around the subject. I want you. I guess I need to know if you want me too." I stake my claim.

Harry is taken by surprise by my bold statement. But after a while - and a few beers - he finally worked up the courage to admit it to himself.

"I want you too." He finally admitted after an eternity of hesitation and beer drinking pauses.

"That's good to know. I didn't mean to put you on the spot like this, but there's no sense in putting off this talk. We've been mated for quite some time now. Soon we'll be in a rut and I can't afford to get explosively angry." I elaborated, a bit concerned.

When a werewolf withholds completing the bond for too long, he can get struck by rut, which can cause the person to throw fits of rage, violence and uncontrollable physical reactions.

But since I am the Alpha, it's very dangerous for me to get vulnerable to a disease such as this. The outcome can be deadly.

Harry gulped at the information, feeling worried too.

"I don't mean to make you feel guilty. And I don't want you to rush this decision. I just want you to bear in mind that I want you. Whenever you're ready, I'm there for you." I reassured him in a soft tone.

I don't want to make him feel pressured. I just want it in the cards for us. Harry smiled and kissed me for the longest time.

We make out intensely under the loud noises as if we were the only ones inside the bar, then we order a cab.

He snuggles into me in bed, getting a little frisky and I welcome the touch. Harry touches me all over the place and each time his hands softly graze my skin, it sets me ablaze.

I relish in his touching.

"Yeah, I think I can get into the idea of bending you over and having my way with you." He said with a naughty grin.

"What?" I gasped in shock.

"I mean to complete the bond." He elaborated, confused by my expression of surprise.

"I want to bend YOU over and have my way with you." I declared, utterly shocking him.

"But I'm a top." He was baffled by this information.

"So am I." I informed him, wide-eyed.

We both stared at each other speechless. Neither willing to make a concession. Both of us were surprised by this turn of events.

"Then how are we supposed to complete the bond if neither of us wanna bottom?" He asked what we were already thinking of.

"I have no idea! I always dreamed of topping my mate when we complete the bond." I admitted, blushing a bit.

"Yeah, me too. I've never bottomed before." He argued, flustered.

"Me neither!" I said enthusiastically.

Both of us looked at each other baffled by this information. What the hell are we going to do about this?

Well, it's obvious. Someone is going to have to take one for the team.

Somebody needs to make a concession in the interest of peace. But who? I have no idea!

I guess we have some 'hard' negotiations to face between the two of us. Who will get to top his mate?

A|N: Welcome to Topping the Enemy! LoL

When I started writing this, I had a few songs in mind to be included as I always do. There were fewer songs [on my mind for this] than ever before, but this one I knew once I got here I wanted to create this story line.

Plus, I love Troye and wouldn't have the opportunity to use this particular song otherwise. 'BLOOM' is said to be a metaphor for bottoming.

Love,

Léo.