The Challenge Two Alphas, One Girl

Chapter 52: Missed Mate?

Friday’s POV

After the Berryndale Bazaar I came back to the pack house with Thaddeus and we played a drinking game with Maze. You had to take a shot every time you rolled a three with the dice during monopoly. It was fairly simple and poor Maze kept rolling threes. He drank nine shots by the end of it. Thaddeus drank five and I luckily only drank two shots so I was slightly buzzed. We all cuddled in Maze’s bed. Maze was not feeling good so I spooned him and put a cold washcloth on his head. Thaddeus spooned me. It was not the most erotic night or anything but it was comfortable and sweet. The Alphas kissed me goodnight at ten to midnight. Maze’s kiss was sloppy. Thaddeus carried me back to my room and tucked me in, kissing my forehead.

“Check on Maze ok, Thaddeus. I’m a bit worried,” I mumbled sleepily. “Of course, Luna,” said Thaddeus.

“I would love to be the Berryndale Luna and the Marigold Luna,” I said, trying to gauge Thaddeus’ reaction. He played with my waves, thinking about my words.

“You will have to give birth to the future Alphas of both places then,” Thaddeus said.

“A son for you and a son for Maze,” I said, shocked we were actually talking so matter-of-factly about this.

Thaddeus smiled to himself. “Go to sleep, Luna,” was all he said kissing me again.

It was too cold without them even with all these blankets. I fell asleep wishing was sandwiched between my Alphas.

Maze’s POV

My head was throbbing as I slowly opened my eyes. I felt awful. I had drank way too much. The last thing I remembered was Thaddeus helping me get to the bathroom to vomit. I groaned.

“I brought a bucket here for you,” Thaddeus said.

He had stay with me. It reminded me of when we had to share that ridiculously tiny cot in Friday’s cottage only this was a king-sized bed so I had actually forgotten Thaddeus was on the other side of

“I don’t have to vomit again, I don’t think so,” I said. “That’s what you said last time,” chuckled Thaddeus. “That’s why I brought you the bucket.” I looked around. “Did I make a mess or something?” I asked. “The staff cleaned it,” yawned Thaddeus.

“Today is my day,” I mumbled. My stomach really hurt but I did not want to ruin any of Friday’s date days.

There was a knock on the door. “It’s only me,” called a somewhat familiar voice.”

I looked at Thaddeus who was getting up. “Come in, Mom,” boomed Thaddeus, Luna True walked in followed by my own mother. “How is he?” Asked Luna True, looking at me like I was a pitiful little kitten or something. “Poor Dear! Baby Bear!

“Baby Bear?” I mumbled looking at Thaddeus.

He gave me a deadly look and I laughed but quickly stopped because the vibration hurt my tummy. My Mom was stroking my hair.

“You should just rest today!” She said. “Friday will understand if she really cares about you?” Said my Mom pointedly.

“I really do, actually,” said my favourite voice in the whole world.

Friday. She was already dressed, all in pink today in a blouse and skirt. She came towards me and put her cool hand on my cheek. I kissed her hand.

“How’re you feeling?” She asked. “Awful!” I pouted. Friday chucked and sat at the side of the bed.

“Good Morning Luna Elizabeth, if it pleases you, I’d like to care for Maze, it’s my responsibly now,” said Friday.

My mother did not look as though that pleased her but she nodded politely and kissed my cheek.

“Liz and I are going shopping today anyway! So thanks Friday!” Said Luna True.

Liz? My mother smiled faintly. A bit of colour had come back to her face. She looked a lot better than the first day I had gone to check on her at the Marigold Hotel.

“Have fun! Bye,” rumbled Thaddeus, bear hugging his Mom and mine who squealed when he lifted her off the floor. She laughed clutching her pearls when she was set back on her feet. They left.

“Shut the door!” I called after them. They shut it.

I lay back down pulling Friday under the covers with me, draping her over my chest. I rubbed her back and buried my nose in her hair.

“Poor Mazey-Wazey is sicky-wicky today,” said Thaddeus, booming with laughter. “Awww,” cooed Friday. I usually held my liquor well but Berryndale rum was different! “What did you have planned for today though?” Asked Thaddeus. I chuckled, “Going to a lounge, like a day club.” “To drink?” Asked Thaddeus incredulously. I nodded. He tossed his head back and his laughter shook the whole pack house. There was a knock on the door. Ugh. “Come in,” said Friday.

It was Thaddeus’ Dad, the former Berryndale Alpha, Timbre. He was like a walking relic, a viking transported into the future to lead the pack, a blonder version of Thaddeus with a longer beard and a deeper voice. I could barely understand him sometimes because his voice was so deep! I needed subtitles for this biopic.

“I heard Prince Maze here is hungover!” Boomed Timbre.

Prince Maze?

“My Dad calls people who can’t drink Princes and Princesses,” said Thaddeus answering my unspoken question.

The former Alpha made the room shake with his laughter. Two servants came in after him, rolling a wheeled table with mysterious liquids on it. Timbre mixed something that smelled awful and put it in a

“Berryndales’s finest cure! Bottom’s up!” He said encouragingly, clapping me on the back.

I did not want to insult Thaddeus’Dad or Thaddeus or look weak in front of Friday. I shotted whatever it was and it burned all the way down. In a matter of moments, the nausea passed. I sat up. I felt so much better!

“What’s in that, Alpha Timbre?” I asked. “Who the hell is that?” Boomed Timbre. Thaddeus laughed uproariously.

Huh. “I think he means don’t call him Alpha,” said my Friday sweetly. “Ohh,” I said, chuckling.

“Thank you, Timbre!” I said gratefully. He clapped me on the back which I interpreted as “You’re welcome.” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“So the day or should I say the date is saved!” Said Timbre, chuckling,

I nodded and the old alpha was beside himself, rolling with laughter. I could not help but laugh. Thaddeus’ father was so jolly and over nothing really. It was a bit infectious.

“We’re going to the day club or lounge then,” Thaddeus said as his father started wheeling the table away and the servants begged to do it instead but he kept laughing and waving them away.

“Yep!” I said. Friday smiled. “Better mix three more of these and put it aside,” grumbled Timbre to himself. Elizabeth’s POV

It was not a though Friday was an awful person. I could tell she was less conniving than her mother but the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. I was seething. All of a sudden, she was dutiful, wanting to take care of Maze and send me away!

“Liz!” Said True, looking worried. “Um, yeah,” I said, getting used to the new nickname. True paused, thinking. She sighed. “Why do you…dislike Friday? Or am I imagining things?” True was so frank about everything. I took a deep breath.

“She’s…you know…always…she’s just not Luna material,” I said, feeling a twinge of embarrassment at how dumb that sounded out-loud.

“But your son is fated to her and he seems taken with her. I don’t think he’ll ever thank you for interfering,” said True gently. She put a hand on my shoulder.

“Thaddeus told me about the complicated background,” said True apologetically. “I’d loved to hear it from your side.”

I looked away from her. We were in the pack house’s huge kitchen sitting away from the noise at the counter.

I shrugged. “I was young when I met Malachi. My mother liked him for me…” I began. True gripped her coffee cup, fascinated.

“I didn’t particularly want to get married but I couldn’t miss this chance to be Luna. There were rumours that he had a mate though, a rogue of all people,” I said, taking a deep breath.

“Friday’s mom,” said True. I nodded. “But there was no real proof,” I said.

“He was you know charming but distant,” I said, thinking about it caretully for what felt like the first time as i grasped the steaming cup.

True nodded encouragingly, “ignored that though. The wedding was like a fairytale, so extravagant!” | said, remembering it. True smiled, her eyes lighting up. “He took me on a honeymoon all over the world,” I continued. “What was the s*x like?” Said True plainly. I spluttered on the coffee, clutching my pearl necklace. “S**t! It’s too hot, isn’t it?” Said True reaching for the mug. “No, no, it’s fine,” I mumbled. “The, uh, intimacy was well lacking in intimacy, come to think of it.”

True laughed. She tossed her head back, shutting her eyes and clapped her hands just like Thaddeus always did. He probably got that from her.

I smiled.

“Anyway, yeah, he was always quite distant. I thought that was his nature. We conceived Maze. He was nice to me during the pregnancy, very protective. Maze was born and he was ecstatic about his heir, his baby boy,” I said, finding the memories painful.

“He kept…drifting away. He would be gone for long periods of time. I wondered if he had a mistress which is very unlike werewolves,” I said.

True held my hand. “It’s unlike werewolves because most of us wait to marry our fated mates,” she said gently.

She was right.

“Didn’t you want your own mate? Didn’t you worry about marrying someone who wasn’t your mate?” She asked incredulously.

Tavoided the first question and tackled the second. “I worried that he would want his mate, whomever she was. And I regretted things but…when Maze was born,” I stopped, smiling.

“Aww, of course, that’s your baby,” she said. I nodded.

“And your mate?” She prompted, realising I had ignored the question. I fidgeted. “Elizabeth!” She said.

“What?” I said indignantly.

She stared at me. She gasped putting her hands over her mouth. I recoiled a little. We looked at each other.

“You know who he is! Don’t you? You have a mate!” True said conspiratorially. “So…..can’t be with him. Father said…”I began,

“Oh, f**k your father! He’s probably so old now. He probably doesn’t even remember who you are without you jogging his memory,” True joked.

I laughed. My father was a sharp old werewolf though. “My mate, he…he wasn’t an appropriate choice at all,” I said. It was True’s turn to splutter. She looked at me disapprovingly.

“My father and Malachi’s father arranged for us to…wed. And may mate, he’d never take me back after what I did to him,” I said softly.

“Hey!” I said. “But I have some things for you to borrow! You’re going to look hot!” She said. I blushed.

“Well this tea has been piping hot,” she said, hopping off the high stool and motioning for me to follow her.

We headed up to her room. “But it was coffee,”I mumbled, confused.