“Is it accurate that their Luna is an Ivory wolf?” My kid, Korbin, enquires.
I have never encountered her, but I offer a piece of advise. “Do not accept every rumour you encounter, young man,” Alpha Ryan laughs. “She is probably merely an excessively ambitious Moonlit wolf.”
“Silver wolves do not establish kingdoms,” I retorted, while Alpha Ryan only shrugged.
“Myths do not either,” he replies.
I cannot dispute that reasoning and will proceed to load the automobile. The River Moon Pack is approximately a three-hour drive from the Redwood Pack; hence, after a brief breakfast, we commence our journey northward. Jaxton remains unusually silent on the ascent, likely apprehensive about encountering his enigmatic older brother.
“Why were we unaware of Alpha Noel’s elder son?” Korbin enquires, extending his arms and legs.
“It was for his protection,” I respond, observing Jaxton through the rear-view mirror. Although he does not make eye contact, it is evident that he is inquisitive about his sibling. “Following the death of Luna Olivia, Alpha Noel deemed it prudent to conceal his elder son from public scrutiny and from his own awareness.” He dispatched him to reside in an obscure locale. Neither the Alpha nor anyone else is aware of his whereabouts.
What is his name?Korbin prys, while Jaxton’s ear twitches.
“His name is irrelevant,” I exhale, becoming exasperated by his incessant enquiries. “We must locate him.”
“How are we expected to locate him without knowledge of his appearance or name?” Korbin murmurs.
“I possess all the information required regarding the Alpha’s son,” I retort.
“Would you like to share?” Jaxton enquires, “He is, after all, my elder brother.”
“You will be informed when I choose to disclose,” I caution with a growl.
“Will he assume the role of Alpha now that his existence is confirmed?” Korbin exclaims.
I cherish my son, however at times his intellect appears diminutive.
“Alpha Noel was unequivocal,” I respond, establishing eye contact with Jaxton through the mirror. Jaxton is the sole heir to the Alpha title. His eldest son will serve as a soldier for Crescent Mane and nothing beyond that.
A slight smirk forms on Jaxton’s lips as he turns away to gaze out the window, sending a chill down my spine.
Therefore
“Simply roll the ball down the lane to topple all the pins at the end,” Ricky elucidates as we approach our lane in our rental shoes, Bray’s eyes widening with enthusiasm.
I have never visited a bowling alley or arcade before, and my eyes are straining to absorb the myriad sounds, lights, and individuals. Children and adults alike engage in laughter and shouts throughout gameplay, all enjoying themselves.
A knot rises in my throat as I observe a father and his two sons engaging in a racing game, all three laughing uproariously as the elder son triumphs. I would have preferred to engage in games with my father and Jaxton. I would have preferred to have a brother.
Jimmy mutters disdainfully about them. We possess our own pack now. We do not require a paternal figure. We are DADDY.
“Father, observe!” Bray weeps, gesturing at the array of multi-patterned bowling balls arranged on the racks. “May I have a green one?” “
“We will locate a small one for you,” Ricky states as we reach our lane.
She assists Bray in donning his shoes and inputs our names on the display panel positioned above us. Ricky initiates the discussion by elucidating the fundamentals to me.
“Proceed by stepping, swinging, and releasing,” she stated, smiling as she let the ball roll down the lane.
We observe the ball traverse to the conclusion, striking down 8 pins.
“You may also utilise the dots on the lane for guidance,” she remarks, indicating the markers at the entrance of the lane. “Simply aim and fire.” She attempts a second shot, missing both pins and laughing to herself. “Now it is your turn,” she chuckles.
I choose a heavier ball and take my first stroke, which promptly lands in the gutter.
“Oh, Father!” Bray inhales sharply, cradling his face in astonishment. “You have failed to hit!” “
Jimmy purrs and wags his tag with delight whenever Bray utters “Daddy,” while I observe Ricky smiling bashfully to herself each time. I can merely wish it brings her the same joy it brings me.
“Father receives another opportunity,” Ricky elucidates, a pleasant shiver coursing down my spine.
Jimmy smirks, addressing his father playfully. I will demonstrate to her who is in authority.
Disregarding Jimmy and his obscene remarks, I take my second shot, successfully knocking down two pins.
“It is my turn!” Bray weeps as Ricky endeavours to assist him in carrying the ball. “No, Mother,” he swats her hand away. “I am an adult.” I am capable of accomplishing it!”
Ricky and I both distance ourselves from the larger child, Bray, who is waddling towards the lane while holding the ball with both hands. The bumpers engage automatically as he throws the ball onto the lane with a resounding thud, Bray beaming with pride as his ball progresses at a sluggish speed. We all rise on our toes and exclaim triumphantly at Bray when he topples three pins, while several other bowlers cast sidelong glances at us.
They are merely envious that their dogs failed to topple three pins, Jimmy asserts with arrogance.
Bray executes his second shot, and Ricky and I commend him on his victory by 5 pins.
“Now Me-lina,” Bray chuckles, approaching Melina and yanking her from her chair. “Father, how do you express ‘it’s your turn’?” “
“L-like this,” I articulate, positioning my fingers in a lateral L and extending it towards Melina. “It is your turn,” I state before drawing the L closer to myself. “Now, it is my turn.”
We reiterate the gesture to one another, with Ricky participating in the exercise. Tears well in Melina’s eyes as Bray gestures ‘Your turn’ to her, igniting a flicker of wrath in my heart. In our previous group, Rocco was the sole individual who endeavoured to learn sign language, while the others disregarded Melina and feigned her nonexistence. She acquired the habit of carrying a pen and paper or adeptly interpreting contextual cues, facial expressions, and gestures. Many presume she possesses the ability to read lips; yet, it is a challenging skill she has yet to perfect.
