"So you are telling me there is a kingdom within my country?" Niel asked in disbelief, his hands in his dark brown hair. What he was learning now about the werewolves, vampires and warlocks and witches was beyond him. He just couldn't believe it.
"As you can see on the map the outlines of our kingdom and its parted into different packs, covens, and houses." Charlotte continued Niel's lesson. It was his second one, and this one was even more overwhelming than the last one.
"What are covens and houses?"
"They are synonyms to our term of the pack. Warlocks and witches have covens, vampires have houses... Our kingdom is currently run by a werewolf family as it has done for the last two hundred years. We are a border pack, it's our responsibility to guard that border as best as possible against hunters and rogues, and other enemies."
Another sigh left from Niel and another frown settled on Charlotte's face. She was hired for the job because Charlotte was an intelligent shewolf, one of the few who went to a prestigious college to study politics and history. It was also because of her stay at a prestigious college she had been around humans. Only that was before the attack and she, like the rest of the pack, hated humans. It was their pack that had one of the hardest hits.
The other thing she hated the most was repeating herself. Charlotte wasn't the most patient woman and Niel asked for all of her patience.
It was silent in the small conference room. Niel's leg bounced up and down nervously as he started at the big map of his own country with lines, borders, and names he didn't recognize. He was told he had to learn them in two days. The teenage boy didn't understand why so quickly. His academics weren't great, he wasn't bright or smart. His grades were average and even below average during his senior year. Niel even doubted he could graduate this year.
Graduation...
That must be soon, he thought.
"Okay, let's move on. There is something else we have to discuss too. Although I don't think you can keep up." Charlotte muttered. She moved to the pile of books and papers she had brought with her. The elderly lady took one book in particular and threw it in front of the boy.
A large thud echoed through the room, making Niel jump.
"Open it."
Slowly Niel turned the cover and saw names and faces. "Go to the section that says North America and then search the Kingdom of Koda."
"Kingdom of Koda?"
Charlotte threw the papers she had in her hand on the table. "Yes, the Kingdom of Koda! Haven't you been listing to me?! That's the kingdom we are living in, the very same kingdom I have been talking about for the last two hours! Are you dumb?!"
A painful silence fell. Niel felt paralyzed, for a short moment he felt eleven years old again being screamed at by his father as he lost another soccer game.
"I am sorry," He whispered and turned to the right page.
Charlotte sighed. She was done with this. "You will see all the important families of this kingdom in that chapter, remember the faces and names of its leaders before Friday." And with that she left.
Niel did nothing more than study that day. He felt tired, and exhausted, and was ready to quit but he also had a great feeling of having to prove himself and therefore he kept seated in that small conference room studying faces and names. Until he heard a knock. Carefully he turned around and saw Rain entering.
"Hey fresh meat, I was looking for you. What are you doing here, being cooped up?"
"Studying," Niel lowly answered.
Rain nodded her head as the teenager turned around. When she took a seat next to him, Niel mumbled, "I didn't know you were twenty-one."
Surprise was written over the young shewolf's face. "How do you know that?"
Niel turned some pages back and pointed at her family. Rain followed his finger and noticed what Niel had in front of him. "Oh..." A sad frown settled on her face.
"I am sorry, I didn't want to pry but I have to study-"
Rain shook her head. "It's fine, no need to worry. It's just I haven't seen their faces in a while."
The teenager quirked up a brow. "Which faces?"
"My parent's."
"Oh, yeah, I was meaning to ask this, but where are they?"
Rain sighed. "They are dead..."
"I am sorry."
"Don't be, it wasn't your fault. I have always thought that was a weird human expression for someone's death." Rain's eyes remained settled on a woman and man who looked straightforward, with no emotions to be seen.
"Can I ask what happened?" Niel asked hesitantly.
"Uhm, I don't know... Well, I guess it would be fair to you."
"What would?"
"The cause of my parent's death also explains why our pack but werewolves and supernaturals, in general, despise you, humans... Seventeen years ago there was this big attack on our kind, especially the werewolves by human hunters. They believed supernaturals and humans couldn't live in the same world even though we have had for centuries good relationships with them. So they attacked... Because we are a border pack we got one of the largest hits. A third of our pack was killed during that attack. My parents... were killed as well. My uncle, Atlas's dad was severely wounded. We were hurt deeply as a pack. We have been unstable for years after, Atlas had to grow up so fast and take over way earlier than any other Alpha would."
Niel was shocked by this piece of information. Now he clearly understood the pack's behavior toward him. He represented a dark time for the pack.
But then all of the sudden a thought hit him. "Why don't you hate me?"
"Because I am not stupid. It was hunters who attacked not the whole human race. I know the difference between black, white, and grey Niel."
The teenager just nodded his head. Just when he wanted to ask more they were interrupted by the entrance of Levi.
"Don't you know how to fucking knock?" Rain asked irritated.
"I know, but I chose not to as you are not worth my manners pup," Levi bickered.
"Remind me to kill you tonight in your sleep," Rain growled back.
"I will put it on my agenda."
Rain scoffed. Niel was still surprised every time he saw them interact with each other. He never could decipher if they were being playful or if they truly despised each other.
"Anyway," Levi started. "The Alpha is looking for you, Luna."
The teenager sighed. "Not you too. My name is Niel." He still didn't like being called by his title.
Levi chuckled. "I am sorry man, but it's just protocol." He patted Niel's shoulder as he made his way out of the conference room holding the book with all the names and faces he still hadn't memorized yet.
"See you later," Niel directed toward the two wolves. They both responded accordingly and started to bicker once again when he made his way through the hallway.
It had been a while since Niel was here and he didn't have any good memories about this place and he dreaded what would happen now. He carefully knocked on the door.
"Come in," Slowly the teenager opened one of the doors and stepped inside. It was the first time Niel saw Atlas relax in his office. He was sitting on the couch reading a book. When he looked up he smiled and patted next to him, inviting me to join him.
As I sat down I asked, "Why did you ask for me?"
"Well, we have to discuss something... what is that?" The big guy asked, pointing at the book in Niel's hands. The teenager slumped in his seat and sighed. "Something Charlotte gave me."
Atlas carefully took it in his hands and chuckled when he opened the book.
"What's funny?"
"Nothing... this has actually to do with what I wanted to discuss with you." Niel tilted his head. "Friday will that party, well actually a gala, take place I talked about. And I think that's why Charlotte gave you this book so you know the names of the people who are attending."
Niel nodded his head, still having no clue what to expect during this so-called gala. "And the reason I called you here was one to remind you and two to tell you we will go shopping tomorrow."
"Shopping?"
"Yes you will need a suit, and Rain has complained about the fact you have barely any clothes on that fit you properly and I have to agree." Atlas laughed. "So are you up for a shopping spree tomorrow?"
Niel shrugged his shoulders. "I guess, I do have to study this though." Pointing at the book.
"Don't worry about it I will be there with you at the gala the whole time, so no worries. Although you will make a good impression if you have some knowledge," Atlas gave the book back with a kiss on the forehead, Niel flinched. Atlas laughed.
The teenager was still not used to the tingles he felt when they made skin-to-skin contact. Also, he didn't like the physical contact.
"Let's go, I am starving."
The next morning when Niel was sleeping peacefully all curled up in bed, he was woken up by Atlas. First, he shook him gently then caressed Niel's cheek. "Wake up, love."
The teenager grunted he was still tired. All evening, all night he had been studying. Het turned around and then all of a sudden he was wide awake. How did I get here? The teenager thought. The last thing he could remember was studying on the couch.
All bewildered he sat up and face Atlas, making the Alpha laugh. "How did I get here?"
Atlas sat down on the bed. "I brought you to bed, you fell asleep last night on the couch after I asked you to come to bed multiple times mister."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, if you have lessons by Charlotte I would like to see you go to sleep early. Do you know how scary she is?"
Atlas laughed again. He liked sleepy Niel, he was ironically more alive, more talkative than if he was fully awake. "Oh I know how scary she is, she was the one who prepared me to be an Alpha."
"Then why did you pick her?" Niel whined. "Why?"
"Because she is good and quick and I need you to be informed and educated in a short time and she can do that. Now get ready we are going to shop and Rain is already impatiently waiting downstairs."
This was going to be a long day Niel predicted. He had a feeling Rain would make this trip longer than it would be necessary and he knew he had to play his cards well today. They would go out, meaning possibilities of seeing his former friends and teammates, seeing familiar faces, and them seeing Niel with Atlas giving only more to gossip about that he might be in fact gay.
He groaned.
Niel had to play nice so Atlas would pick his side when he wanted to go home. That level of embarrassment he had at school was something the teenager couldn't live through another time, even if he wouldn't live in town anymore.
With some extra nudges from the Alpha, the teenage boy got out of bed and managed to be ready in thirty minutes. Atlas even got breakfast in his mate's stomach, something the big guy was proud of.
Now the three of them were entering the car when Rain asked, "Niel, do you know how to drive?"
He tilted his head, surprised the shewolf had asked him for his driver's license. "Uhm, yeah, why?"
"Oh, shotgun and Niel is going to drive Atlas. This will be so much fun!" She exclaimed. Atlas on the other hand wasn't as excited. "I prefer Niel sitting next to me while I drive Rain, you can go in the back."
"Don't be such a wuss Atlas. Let Niel have a bit of freedom, he has been cooped up here for weeks now."
The Alpha had its doubts. He looked over to his mate and tried to figure out what he wanted. "Niel? Would you like to drive?" Please say no, please say no, Atlas thought.
"I mean, it would be fun..." Niel really wanted to drive to feel that freedom again but he knew he needed Atlas at his side.
"That's settled then." Rain walked around the car and pushed Niel towards the driver's seat. Once settled Atlas was uncomfortable but he also knew how much Niel had worked the last two weeks to build their relationship and also to learn about his pack.
When Niel was in his seat he felt great. He adjusted the seat and mirrors so he could drive comfortably, he plugged his phone into the aux cable and put on music, much to Rain's liking, and started the engine.
It roared like a beast and it felt great for the teenager to feel the rumble of a car's engine. Slowly he moved the car forward and quickly he noticed how luxurious the car was. Way better than the crappy car he had driven during his lessons and the car of his parents drove in. Quickly he put more weight on the gas paddle and started to speed.
Meanwhile, Atlas sat anxiously in the back, afraid Niel would crash the car when they drove through the forest. His mate wasn't used to this road, at least that is what he thought. He grabbed the leather seat tight with his hands, his knuckles turning white.
But Niel had everything under control. The strong bass of the music, the wind through his hair, and Rain cheering him on made him relax. It was almost as if he took Rain on a date, to someplace nice to spend the day together like a normal straight couple. Unfortunately, that dream was quickly shattered by the look Atlas gave through the rearview mirror.
Niel could see the Alpha wasn't at ease, but for once the teenager wanted to use this moment to enjoy it. That for once he wasn't the one who felt like crap all the time. Once exiting the forest Rain had put the address of some mall in one of the bigger cities nearby into the navigation device of the car.
Once on the freeway, the teenage boy started to speed up even more and more, until he was over the legal speed limit. Rain egged him on, but Atlas warned him a couple of times. All warnings fell on deaf ears as Niel was focused on the road and driving.
For the first time in weeks, he felt like a normal human teenager again. His head bobbed to the beat of the music and his finger tapped on the steering wheel. His body was completely relaxed.
With the fast-speeding, they were at the mall within an hour. Atlas felt relieved they were finally at their destination. He left the car with a sigh. Immediately he asked for the car keys back. Niel gave them while saying, "Thank you for letting me drive, it felt good."
A tight smile formed on the Alpha's lips. "It was my pleasure, Niel. Now let's go and buy you some clothes."