Chapter 16: Invitations


    The entire open field was stunned by the revtion of their future Alpha. Ragnar and Zelda were


    inexplicably happy while the entire pack congratted the Alpha through their mind link. Unbeknownst


    to everyone around, Einar was still looking intently at somewhere in the jungle with an innocent smile


    and happy eyes. Garrick was happy for his friend but when he tried to link him, Einar did not respond to


    any mind link calls as he was consumed in his own thoughts.


    Garrick was eager to know what was causing Einar to block him. He quickly looked around to see what


    his friend was possibly seeing but found nothing intriguing. He looked again and found the only person


    in his line of sight at that moment was CALLAN.


    Can was standing near a faraway tree with his mother and was merrily having a conversation with


    her. Whenever Canughed or smiled Einar''s eyes glowed with content. This behavior of Einar was


    certainly taking Garrick off guard. He was amused and confused at the same time.


    Ragnar then hugged his son and patted his back once more which made Einar to focus on the current


    situation in hand unwillingly.


    "Words can''t exin how happy I am today! You have given me a bundle of reasons to cherish and


    celebrate. I am d you can finally take what rightfully belongs to you." Ragnar was teary eyed but had


    a constant smile on his face. The tears of joy made everyone around him emotional including Einar.


    It was the turn of his mother next. She hugged and kissed her son with absolute delight.


    "Now I can finally expect a few grandchildren from you." Einar''s smile faltered while thedies around


    were giggling and the men smirked gleefully at the state of Einar''s facial expressions.


    "Let the child breathe Zelda." The Alpha chided. He stood besides his son and signaled Peter to do his


    job.


    Peter howled to gain everybody''s attention. The Alpha then cleared his throat. "On this auspicious day


    of my son returning to his pack and finding his mate I hereby announce that we would have a grand


    celebration on thising full moon day."


    The crowd erupted in cheers and howls expressing their joy and congratted the Alpha and Luna


    once again. People gathered around Einar to pay their regards but Garrick could possibly see what no


    other person had yet noticed.


    Einar was not happy.


    Einar was trying very hard to keep a constant face but his eyes gave him away. Being with him for


    almost all his life, Garrick could detect that something was wrong with him. But instead of interrogating


    him about it, he thought to give some space to his friend. He presumed that Einar would exin himself


    when the time was right.


    ****


    It had been a week since the return of the future Alpha and the pack was already booming with joy and


    excitement everywhere. The preparations for the grand feast were already on the way while it was


    decided that the coronation ceremony of the Alpha be carried out at the earliest.


    Can was having breakfast with his pet bird and his mother when his father hurriedly barged through


    the door.


    "Hey honey. Why are you in a rush?" Mary asked her mate.


    "There is a lot to do with a very limited amount of time." Justus picked up some papers from his shelf


    and was heading back to the entrance door.


    "Atleast have something to eat." Mary pleaded her mate.


    "I will eatter honey." He kissed Mary''s forehead, looked to his son and said "Cally, make sure you


    visit the Alpha on time."+


    "I''ll be there father." With that, Justus quickly made his way out of the house.


    Can knew that he had to participate in the celebrations but the fact that these were carried out for


    Einar made him less excited for the event. It was hard for him to ept the rude man as their new


    Alpha. Moreover he could not forget what transpired at his grandparents ce.


    With a heavy heart he made his way to the Alpha house to resume his duties.


    ****


    The entire dining room in the Alpha house was buzzing with people. It had just been the morning but


    the table was already full with variety of delicacies and fruits. The Alpha headed the chair while Einar


    was sitting somewhere in the middle with his best friend Garrick and the gamma to be Arthur.


    Einar suddenly zoned out from the conversation when the sweet voice of his mate fell upon his ears.


    Garrick and Arthur were having augh while Einar remained unaffected as he was concentrating hard


    for his mate''s arrival. Garrick tried calling Einar but he did not respond.


    Garrick narrowed his eyes when Einar formed a tiny smile on his face while his eyes were glued at the


    door only to realize that Can had arrived. It was seemingly bing difficult for Garrick to


    understand this unruly behavior of his friend and he decided to have a talk about itter that day.


    "Hello my boy,e join us for breakfast." Zelda said politely putting her hand on Can''s shoulder.


    Einar''s interests perked on the mention of Can sitting with them for breakfast. This would be the first


    time that Einar would be in the same dining table as his mate.


    "I already had it Luna but thanks for asking." He bowed to the Luna and shifted his gaze to the Alpha. "I


    am at your service alpha."


    "Yes my child. Just give me a moment." The Alpha screeched his chair and gathered some papers from


    the nearby table. "Einar, Garrick, Arthur" he motioned to the three men who were sitting beside each


    other "Come with me."


    With a side nce to his mate Einar reluctantly went after his father. Each anxious step of his was


    heavier than the previous one. He just wanted to keep his eyes on Can or rather stare his mate


    forever. His inner conflicts between his heart and his mind made him frustrated.


    Einar sighed with happiness when the Alpha stopped suddenly and said "Can, why are you standing


    there alone? Come with us I will exin matters to you in my office."


    Being in the same space as Einar was always a bad thing for Can as he did notice that Einar would


    always stare at him by joining his eyebrows or would growl all of a sudden like he wanted to attack him.


    Can knew that Einar despised his presence but he had to deal with his abhorrence if he wanted to


    survive in the pack.


    Can kept his eyes low and followed the men from a distance. On entering the Alpha office he


    witnessed that a lot of people had already gathered. He found a suitable ce to station himself and


    sat there while the other men were intently listening to the Alpha instructions. Einar however was more


    interested on the man who was sitting diagonally, right behind the alpha. Unknown to Can he was


    being stared in disguise like a hawk.


    Soon the meeting became more strenuous for when Marden ,Tusker, Richard and Aldous joined them.


    Each one of them snorted derisively when they passed through Can. Richard went even further and


    slightly kicked the chair to catch Can off bnce. Can was surprisingly swift in his motions to keep


    him from falling but when Tusker followed the same routine it made Can loose his bnce and he fell


    to the ground.


    The entire room of men except the Alpha and his son, wereughing at the fallen man. Even Garrick


    chuckled a little.


    "Looks like you have found your right ce Ashton. Suits you." Aldous made a snidement and


    hystericallyughed with the other three friends.


    Einar was fuming with immense rage. He grabbed the arms of the metal chair which had to suffer the


    wrath of the going to be Alpha. His hold was so intense that at a point his ws and arms had


    constricted the width of the chair arms. He could no longer hear the tauntingughter within the room


    and was about to behead the four men when he was out of his murderous re as the Alpha roared his


    The entire room fell silent while the Alpha lent a helping hand to the fallen man. Can stood uptight


    and steadied himself. The Alpha then reprimanded the four friends and threatened dire consequences


    if they did not change their attitudes towards Can.


    The four men red at Can and apologized to the Alpha while they took their respective positions.


    The meeting resumed and went on for quite long. Tired of boredom Can fell asleep for a quick nap.


    Einar was mesmerized with the sleeping angel he saw in front of him. His dark thick hair had fallen onto


    his eyebrows while his lips were curved a little with his hands crossed against his abdomen. It was a


    pure bliss to watch the rhythmic rise and fall of the chest of the beautiful man.


    Garrick for some reason kept a close look on the hidden scenario. He was furious with Einar because


    something was definitely wrong with him. He kept smiling and snarling too often whenever he was


    around Can.


    It was strange.


    The Raven entered through the open window and sat on the shoulders of Can. It nuzzled its beak at


    Can''s cheek which awaked him, seemingly making Einar frown again.


    "s! You are awake. Can youe near the table boy?" The Alpha asked Can.


    Can rubbed his eyes and stood from his ce. he took measured steps and went straight ahead to


    the table. He caressed the creature on his shoulder and also kept soothing him with his lips.


    He was halted by an angry growl.


    For now it was too obvious for Can to recognize the growl. The Alpha and others were bemused for


    Einar''s sudden reaction. He again snarled when the bird was screeching its voice and ring at the


    future Alpha. It was unfazed by the raw power which Einar projected. The power which made even the


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Alpha wary of his son.


    It soon turned into a staring contest where both the participants were not ready to back down. Einar


    was agitated and his eyes were now turning red.


    The Alpha had to intervene. "Can could you please let the bird out of the room." Without thinking


    twice Can whispered "GO." The bird circled the room and made its way out of the window.


    "I''m sorry Can but Einar''s wolf saw the bird as a challenge and a wolf especially an Alpha does not


    likes to be disrespected. I hope you understand.."


    Can nodded curtly.


    Einar rubbed his locket and breathed heavily while Can stood besides the Alpha away from Einar.


    "The reason I called you out here was because I want you to personally invite the head of the mountain


    bears and the chief of the human viges along with their respective families for the coronation


    ceremony of Einar." Can smiled at that statement as he was a frequent visitor to thesends and he


    loved to visit these ces. "I wanted to pair you with Robert but he is busy doing some other stuff so


    Garrick will join you there."


    Hearing Garrick''s name made Can speechless for a moment. Garrick despised Can and to spend


    such a long time with him would prove difficult. Garrick on the other side frowned and looked sideways.


    He huffed and linked his best friend.


    I don''t want to go. I can''t stand him.


    Einar''s wolf was ufortable sharing Can with anyone but Einar would be relieved if Garrick would


    be around him to ensure his safety like his father once did.


    I understand you my friend but you know that no one would want to be with him willingly. Moreover


    these are the Alphas orders so you are obligated to follow.


    The alphas order is to apany him. That means I can strangte him on my way there and..


    Einar growled threateningly at his best friend at the thought of Garrick hurting his mate.


    Can however assumed that the tension arising was due to his presence. He quickly uttered "Garrick


    be ready tomorrow before sunrise and meet me at my house." With that Can did a final bow before


    leaving the Alpha office. Upset by Einar''s behavior Garrick too bowed to the Alpha and stormed out of


    the office without even ncing at his best friend. Einar palmed his face and sighed.


    ****


    The next morning, Garrick reached the Ashtons as was decided the earlier day. On entering the house


    he could see that the Ashtons were seated around a circr table with another man sitting with them


    having breakfast. They were engrossed in their talks and wereughing at some old memories. The


    loud chirping of the raven brought everyone''s attention to the door.


    "Wee Garrick. I have been waiting for you for quite some time now. Please have a seat" Justus


    offered Garrick to sit with them for which he reluctantly obliged. He could see that everyone had


    resumed their talks and were happily feeding themselves.


    They were a family. A family which Garrick had longed for almost five years.


    Garrick noticed that the buff man was quitefortable with the surroundings and was also eating


    quite a lot. He even had a cheerful banter with Can. Infact the two of them looked really close.


    After their breakfast Can stated that they would be heading to the mountains to meet the head of the


    mountain bears and said his goodbyes to his parents.


    All the three men stepped out of the door when they were halted by Garrick''s sudden interjection. "Why


    is he joining us?" Garrick directed the question to Archer.


    Archer was about to smart mouth Garrick when Can interrupted "I asked him to be with me. I guess


    we never introduced you to each other."


    Can pointed at Archer. "This is Archer. He is a were-bear and my best friend. He will apany us


    as he is well aware of the mountains."


    He then looked at Archer "And Archer..."


    "Yeah yeah I know who he is. He is the best friend of that egoistic maniac!" He uttered before Can


    could stop him.


    Garrick growled at the ndering from the were bear. Can pinched his nose and shook his head in


    embarrassment.


    "Watch your mouth bear. You are talking about a going to be Alpha. You disrespect him, you disrespect


    the entire pack."


    "Ohh! rest assured. Your going to be alpha doesn''t deserve any respect infact he should..." Can


    shoved Archer and red at him to which he huffed and threw his hands in the air. He moved towards


    a nearby tree and rubbed his back.


    "What is all this nonsense Ashton? You bad mouth Einar behind our back! That''s a new low even for


    you. I''ll make sure I report this to the Alpha." Can sighed and nodded and then shook his head again.


    In just a matter of few minutes the idiot of a friend had actually caused him trouble.


    The three men then walked to the human vige with Garrick clearly keeping his distance.


    Garrick had never visited a human vige before so it was quite unnerving for him at that moment as


    also his anxiousness grew more and more as he reached near the gates of the vige. He felt so


    ufortable that he stopped at a point right behind Can and Archer.


    "What happened? Why did you stop? We are yet to reach the main house." Can asked at the abrupt


    halt of Garrick.


    "I think you should carry on with the invitation ill stay put here." Garrick was anxious while his wolf was


    on guard like a danger was nearby.


    "Don''t worry wolf. Unlike you, these people don''t bite." Archer smirked sarcastically wiggling his


    eyebrows.


    Garrick was furious with the were-bears behavior. He was even close to attacking him at one point. But


    he knew better.


    Garrick released a long breath to calm himself and motioned Can to move ahead. Can nodded and


    pulled Archer with him.


    The border line of the human vige consisted vastnds of cultivation. There were homes which were


    at a considerable distance from each other while the borders and surrounding areas were guarded with


    nothing butrge trees. What surprised Garrick even more was that there was no security or fringing


    measures to check trespassing or any sudden attacks.


    A few distances ahead, the homes were bing more visible and were gradually increasing in the


    line of sight. Marching ahead they soon came to what Archer and Can liked the most about this


    ce- the market.


    The market was filled with hustle-bustle. There were people of every shapes and sizes. What surprised


    Garrick more was the fact that traders, sellers and shoppers alike were busy doing their own job and


    were hardly noticing a stranger intruding theirnd.


    Somehow the crowd made Garrick even more curious and short of breath. It was suffocating him.


    On the other side Can and Archer were busy looking at the weapon artifacts which feasted their


    eyes. For a moment they forgot why they were here in the first ce.


    A light tap on his shoulder forced Can to turn back.


    Standing before him was a tall girl with ocean blue eyes and ebony long hair. She was smiling with


    dimples on both her cheeks. She squeaked and embraced Can in a hug.


    "Where were you? I was waiting all day for you to show up. I also saved a piece of the cake for you but


    this fatty.." she hit Archers shoulder "He ate it all."


    "I''m really sorry Fayette, I was busy with some important work at that time."


    "Ohmon! You always make excuses. By the way every girl in here is looking at you." When Can


    circled his head from left to right he definitely could see that he was being watched. He assumed that


    the ring must have been stopped a long ago but he was wrong. The list of his admirers were


    increasing every day.


    Looking at the flushed state of Can, Archer intervened "Why don''t we go to your house and have a


    little chat."


    "Sure! Common I have to show you my new y items." The girl slid her hands in the arms of both the


    men and turned them to walk away.


    "Oh wait. I have a guest with us." The girl furrowed her eyes and gave an upward jerk to her head as if


    to ask who Can was talking about.


    "Fayette meet the future beta of our pack Garrick." The girl released her hands and bowed with a smile


    to the stranger. But her smile soon evaporated as she became concerned.


    Garrick was barely holding his own. He was sweating all over while his breaths were not in rhythm. He


    looked like he was inhaling through his mouth while his eyes moved frantically around him.


    His eyes roamed everywhere until they reached a particr spot and he growled with his might before


    falling unconscious to the ground.