POV
Lucas

Monday night arrived quickly, the fights are the most waited for part of the entire gathering.

Bragging rights for the pack that comes out on top, for years Brickston has held the title, everyone was saying Stone was the one to beat.

I planned on beating him, that wasn't gonna happen now, because Luna decided Stone and I needed another kid.

I don't know what it is with us, but having a kid after one night of lust probably means I'm super fertile.

Either way, I was pregnant, marked, and utterly stuck, but if I was gonna be stuck in this pack, I wanted Stone Jr to continue his education.

And I may have lost the bet, through forfeit of course, but I knew with me knocked up Stone would buy me anything I wanted.

And I knew exactly what I wanted.

Heather pines academy of sciences, super prestigious and right up my little Stone's alley.

Normally, the pups are homeschooled by state werewolves, who are great teachers by the way.

But my son wasn't an average child, he needed to be pushed, he needed more challenging work. So I intended to see Stone Jr's full tuition paid.

Stone has been avoiding me, I think he feels guilty. I mean he is guilty but no more than me, it's not like he raped me, I wanted to have sex.

But avoiding me is bullshit.

I came downstairs to find Stone Jr eating breakfast, the table was laden with a huge country breakfast.

"Morning Ma, grandma made breakfast, are you hungry?" He asked,  "Not right now sweetpea. I have to go see your papa." I said, kissing the top of his head.

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Ten minutes later I walked into the pack, the smell of burnt toast filled my nose and I knew Stone's mom was cooking.

I followed my nose, letting it carry me to the kitchens. Stone and his parents were sitting eating breakfast, he and his father were not enjoying it.

"Ahem, hem..." I coughed, causing them to look over at me. Stone's face paled, and I rolled my eyes.

"Stone, we need to talk," I said, "Can it wait, I'm about to go for a run after I eat. "Good, I'll join you," I said.

"No, you shouldn't be overexerting yourself." He said, suddenly sitting taller.

"We need to talk, and since you're gonna be a pussy about this thing. I'm willing to work on your schedule, so let's run." I said.

"Fine you wanna talk?!" He shouted standing and marching over to me.

He grabbed my shoulder and dragged me out of the kitchen, down a hallway, and into his white-walled and circular office. "So talk." He said slamming his office door shut.

"I'm pregnant, how are we gonna handle it?" I asked. "Can I speak frankly?" He asked, and I assumed he'd want to get rid of the pup.

"Straight talk," I said waving for him to continue.

"I want us to raise the pup together, and I don't mean co-parenting. I want to be with you, I want to raise our kids together, you and I, as a mated couple." He said, his gaze boring into me with intensity.

"Stone I do--"

"You had to forfeit our bet, I won and I'd like to collect, go out with me... Tomorrow." He said.

"What? What does a date have to do with this situation?" I asked. "Nothing, but I feel like I can show you how much I've changed if you'll go out with me." He said.

"It would have to be an incredible date. And I for one don't think you know what a date looks like. Have you ever been to one?" I asked, knowing we were completely off-topic.

"No, have you?" He asked, and I felt my anger and resentment towards him resurfacing. "Yes, but I almost didn't, because my mate was a pig, who got into my pants and then he rejected me." I snapped.

"Damnit Angel, I keep apologizing for that, and I'll happily keep apologizing, but what else can I do. Do you want me to be flogged, I can arrange for you to be the one who flogs me." He growled.

"No, I don't want that, but I also am not ready to forgive you," I said folding my arms.

"Okay that's fine, how about we just got out on dates, that'll be it, no kissing, no touching, no trying to get you to forgive me, just dates where we sit together and talk ... Just talk, maybe eat, dance." He said.

I thought it over, I mean what was the harm in talking to him, I was already marked, and pregnant, leaving wasn't an option anymore, so why not.

"Please please please angel." He begged, batting his ridiculously long eyelashes.

"I want you to talk to the elders, tell them to let Stone Jr go to school outside of the pack," I demanded.

"Where?" He asked. "Heather Pines," I answered. "Then will you go out with me?" He asked. "Once," I responded.

"No, we date or no deal." He bargained. "You are in no place to bargain Stone." I spat, but his face remained serious.

"Fine, but you cover his tuition too," I said. "Fine, whatever  you want." He said, his eyes full of so many emotions.

"Angel... I'm glad you're pregnant, I'm disappointed that I wasn't there for you the first time, but I'll be with you this time." He said.

I didn't respond, I heard him, but I didn't believe him, I didn't trust him. He sighed but he stopped pushing.

"What do you want? I mean do you want another boy or a girl?" He asked. "I want a pretty little girl, or maybe an Omega," I said, and he smiled.

"Yeah, an Omega, a little you. He'll be adorable." He said, sounding lost in the fantasy.

"One day we'll be so happy, and this moment in our path as mates will seem like a bad nightmare, it'll fade away, replaced by  years of happy moments." His words hit me hard, mostly because I silently found myself begging fate to make him right.

I hated myself instantly afterward, I mean I'd have to be a fucking masochist... Right?... Right?!!!
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POV
Stone

A date with Lucas had to be perfect, I was so excited but even more, I was nervous. One screw up, one ill-placed, stupid word or move and it was back to square one.

I had to put my emotions to the side, it was the day of the fights, and my pack would have glory again for another six years.

But first, there was the feast, it called for everyone to sit with their own pack.

I was sitting with my parents, Lucas's parents, his sister, and her mate Philip. Lucas was seated between his parents, and I can't say I was happy about it.

Little Stone was seated down one seat from Lucas, he kept stealing glances at Soren. They weren't speaking again, because Soren was determined to join the fights.

"Slow down." Lucas's father said to my mate, laughing at the red of embarrassment that spread across Lucas's face.

I wanted to go to his defense, pregnant she-wolves, and Omega are constantly hungry, the further along they are, the worst that hunger gets.

I wanted to remind the table of that, but then I remembered the pup was supposed to be a secret. So instead I caught Lucas's gaze and gave him a reassuring nod, as to say everything was fine.

The feast was as great as the others, full of roast boar and sweet duck. I was full by the time the sun started to set. And as it set a buzz fell over the crowded pack.

The fights would soon begin, the pups were first, then teens, then the adults. The Pup category ranged from ages seven to eleven.

And as time does it flew by like a soft summer breeze, and the moon hung in the sky, as crowds made their way to the open and extremely spacious grove that over the course of days had become a sandpit.

Small paper lanterns aligned the forest, leading to the sandpit.

Trees don't grow in that particular part of the woods, so it was more than enough room for the multitude of spectators, though some found themselves having to stand.

As Luna, Lucas and his selected people had a front seat. So Arthur, his mate, Lucy, and Phil, plus our parents.

There was a bunch of chatter until the referee walked into the middle of the sandpit, he looked around clapping his hands, running one over the scruff of his chin.

Then he howled and we all howled back in response. Kids stood in a line of about twenty, Stone stood out to me the most.

He had on the traditional trunks, made from deer hide, he stood ready, his little muscles flexing. I also noticed Soren who wore the Omega pelt, his made of the wild cat he killed.

The referee began speaking and we all fell silent.

"After six long years, we find ourselves again in a great tournament! Asking the question, who will be victorious!" The crowd listened with bated breath.

"The title of the best fighter will go to three members, from whichever pack can earn it! Pups! Are you prepared to face all opponents and bring victory to your pack?" The line of pups barked out their most aggressive growls in response.

I noticed little Soren didn't make a sound, there was a look of focus in his eyes, a pure fire.

He was determined and his spirit was commendable, though I believed he wouldn't last more than two fights.

The first fight was between Zeke and some pup from the Kansas City pack.

Zeke is super aggressive for an eight-year-old, and the Kansas kid just wasn't ready. He pounded down on the poor pup so bad his dad threw in the towel.

A few fights later, I pulled back from my zoned out space, and I watched my pup enter the pit, I walked over to the outer edge of the ring.

His first fight was against this stocky eleven-year-old from the Golden wolves. Across the sandpit, Lucas stood beside Soren... I could see why my son liked the little blonde, Soren was a lot like Lucas.

They both stood watching little Stone, their eyes were full of worry. I wasn't, he may only be six, but Lucas had obviously trained him well, he picked up pack technique like he'd been doing it all his life.

He would be an Alpha, he was practically already an Alpha.

The referee called the boys forward, they faced off as the ref spoke. "Golden Wolves! Brickston!" The ref yelled, and each pack howled.

"The Alpha's son against the young warrior wolf, he's five years your senior, he even has his wolf." The ref said, and I growled, the sound permeating the nightly air.

Stone waved me off, turning back to the ref, "Can we fight now?" He asked, and the crowd laughed. The ref stepped back, telling the boys to step back as well.

"No biting, no scratching, fight!" The ref shouted, he stepped back more and the boys started to circle each other.

The eleven-year-old released a tiny growl, meant to intimidate, it would have to lesser wolves, but Stone was stronger than that.

He wasn't bothered by the growl, and when the cornfed kid moved in to strike I was astounded, Stone leaned back on two hands, which caused the kid's swing to connect with air.

Then with momentum, he swung his legs, his left foot connecting with the little warrior's jaw, causing him to stumble back.

Stone stood up, throwing his hands up, taking a boxer's stance. The little warrior spits blood from his lip on the sand, and I smirked, whistling while yelling, "First blood!"

The kid growled again, before dropping into a wrestling stance, seeming to prowl around my son.

"Come at me," Stone said, the kid grabbed Stone and for a second I thought he was gonna slam him, he lifted him, but Stone used his legs to get out, then punched the kid in the mouth.

Little Stone's swagger was ridiculous, the way he cockily held his guard, almost taunting the kid. "Come on warrior, show me something," Stone called out.

The boy charged, tackling Stone, who threw up his guard, blocking his face and head.

Then the boy was under him and Stone went crazy, blow after blow it was too much aggression, some of his anger from the past couple of months was showing up.

But the other boy's father wouldn't throw in the towel, he stood by watching in disgust. Finally, the ref called the fight.

Stone stopped immediately, walking off the sands. The crowd cheered, the kid warrior limped over to his father bleeding heavily from his nose and mouth.

I walked over to my son, he was sitting behind a group of people, his head in his hands. "Pup, you won one. Come on what's wrong?" I asked.

"I don't care about this tournament, I just wanna be alone for a while, I'm okay Dad, I promise." He said, and I nodded.

The fights went on and on so far my pack was dominating, save for maybe two or three. The kid's category would most likely come down to Stone and Zeke.

Or so I thought, until Soren's first fight, against his packmate Zeke. If Soren won he'd have to fight six more pups, including Stone.

Lucas, stood watching as Soren entered the pit and Little Stone appeared beside me. Zeke entered the pit practically towering over the little Omega.

"I'm not sure how I feel about this, you're Omega right?" The ref asked Soren. "It's not against the rules, let him fight and cut out all the chit chat!" Lucas yelled, and a bunch of Omega cheered.

The ref shrugged and stepped back, "You both know the rules, fight!" The ref shouted.

Zeke charged Soren, but the Omega was quicker, he dodged Zeke without effort. Zeke growled trying, again and again, to get his hands on Soren.

Each time Soren dodged him, a triumphant smirk on his face. A smirk that was wiped off when he made a mistake, he tried to punch Zeke who grabbed his hand and twisted it behind his back.

He tossed Soren, throwing him into the dirt, snatching the air from his lungs. Then he walked over as Soren was standing and placed him in a complex grapple, stretching the little Omega, making him scream out

Stone stormed forward, but I grabbed him. "Zeke I swear to the Goddess, I'm gonna fucking kill you! Yo..." I quickly covered his mouth, as he continued to struggle.

Zeke looked over at my struggling son and smirked, he was enjoying it. But then Soren kicked his way free and stood up. His eyes were completely white. His wolf was in control.

When Zeke stood up, Soren swiftly approached Zeke and released an onslaught of punches, not giving Zeke time to react.

Zeke threw a punch and Soren brought his knee up to block it, his knee displacing one of Zeke's knuckles.

Zeke made a strangled noise, stumbling backward, before regaining his focus. He growled deeply, snarling as he popped his middle finger back into place.

With a black flash, Zeke's wolf took over. Soren stood tall, his eyes white as the Omega in him standing tall.

Zeke charged and Soren dropped down sweeping Zeke's legs out from under him.

Soren rolled over and with a balled fist, clocked Zeke in the throat. Zeke started to wheeze, struggling to find his breath.

While Zeke tried to recover Soren rolled over and straddled his stomach, then started raining down punches.

Zeke refused to be beaten, he ended up, throwing Soren off of him. Soren climbed to his feet, then he began circling Zeke, and Zeke didn't charge him again.

Stone stopped struggling in my arms, he became almost catatonic, I think it was the same disbelief we all had.

Zeke closed the distance between him and Soren, and with a smaller growl, Soren charged. He tackled Zeke to the ground and placed him in an arm grapple.

Zeke tried to get out of the grapple but to no avail, Soren's wolf was oddly strong.

"Submit or I'll break it! " The wolf inside Soren demanded, and he pulled harder, I knew she was serious so I threw in a white flag.

The ref called and Soren let go, Zeke jumped up and tried to attack Soren again, Stone stomped on my foot and I growled at him.

Then he ran forward, and he shoved Zeke to the ground. "Touch him again, ever again... And I. Will. Kill you. I swear I will." Stone growled, before grabbing Soren's hand and walking him towards one of the snack tables.

"Well, that was a sight to see. That Omega is small but fights with much fire!" The ref yelled.

I watched Lucas come across the pit, there was a triumphant smirk on his face. "Did you see that?" He asked, "Yes, did you see little Stone?" I asked back.

"He totally destroyed that kid." Lucas laughed, "Yeah but, did you see Stone's reaction to Zeke?" I asked. "Yeah, so what that Zeke kid is a prick," Lucas said.

"Stone is only six, some of his languages are a little... Hell, he shouldn't be cursing Angel." I said.

"You tell him that, this is your pack, he's your son too, maybe if you weren't so nervous because of all the years you missed, you wouldn't coddle him so much," Lucas said.

"Okay, you're right. But I don't feel comfortable giving him authority when he barely knows me as his father." I said.

"Well, you are his father." He said, and I heard his stomach growl. "Come on let's go feed you and my pup," I said, offering him my hand.

Surprisingly, he took my hand and allowed me to lead him over to the snack table.

"Water please?" He said and I handed him a cup of water, along with a fruit plate full of green apples and peanut butter. While he ate he made this cute little sound of hunger.

Down at the far end of the table, Soren and Stone were talking. Only a wolf's hearing could have caught their whispered conversation.

"I have a plan. I know Miro screwed us, he killed your real wolf, and so now we won't be mates. But I can fix it, I'm going to choose Miro."  Stone whispered.

I leaned directly into Lucas, so only he could hear me. "Listen to them, they're planning something," I whispered.

He looked past me slightly and tuned in, they continued whispering.

"Stone I don't think you should do it. What if you're wrong, what if I wasn't your mate?" Soren asked.

"Then I choose you, look at me. You're my best friend and that's what a mate is. I choose you... And besides, I saw us... We were happy. I'm not wrong." Stone said...

"Tell me again what it was like? " Soren asked. And Lucas and I listened closely.

"I was Alpha, and Caleb was my Beta. We got married in the backyard of the packhouse. You were beautiful and pregnant. I know that part probably won't happen now, but my Dad says, Luna is a living goddess... I still believe it can happen." Stone went off-topic.

"Whatever you decide Alpha. I trust you. Your fights up next."  Soren said, and Stone ran his forehead over the little Omega's.

As he walked off for his next fight, Lucas and I stood frozen. "What do we do Angel?" I asked.

"We'll discuss it with Stone and Soren, along with Arthur and Cheyenne," Lucas said.

"Maybe Stone is right, they were weird with each other from the very beginning," I said.

"It doesn't mean Stone should go looking for that wolf, Mya told the Elders every horrible thing that her mate did. No way am I gonna let that wolf influence my son." Lucas said.

"Okay, but we both know we can't stop him if he decides to go looking for Miro," I said.

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