gaius

I hate pack disputes.

That was one of the first things I learned after becoming beta. Most of the issues weren't even big problems that involved other packs but issues between our own members. Nine times out of ten, they were stupid problems that had easy solutions but wolves were short-tempered creatures.

Foster usually handled these types of issues. Gray had little to no patience for "idiotic problems between the feeble-minded" as he put it, while I was quickly drained by the lack of common sense and overflow of yelling. Gray knew this, which is why he had me assigned to solve these disputes for the next six months as a way of reminding me that he is still the alpha.

"That is my property!"

I close my eyes and take a deep breath before exhaling and turning to the angry woman.

"Mrs. Hastings, please-" I try to calm her down.

"No it's not, bitch! You've had an issue with me ever since I joined the pack!" Mr. Rogers yelled from the other side of me.

"Mr. Rogers-" I turn to the man.

"-What?! She's the one with the problem! The old hag threw her trash all over my yard!"

I bite back a growl in frustration as the two continue to argue. The two families had been at war for two years now. Every time we solved one problem, they came up with another. Gray was reaching his wits end with the two of them and was seriously considering kicking one or both families out the pack.

"Stop!" I growl out at the both of them. They turn and look at me with wide eyes. I was never one to yell but this was ridiculous. "Both of you are grown adults! This petty 'feud' has been going on for what? Two years? Unacceptable!" Their eyes fall to the ground. "You're adults- act like it. Next time it won't just be a slap on the wrist."

The two mumble out apologies before walking back into their separate houses. I run my hand through my black hair before sighing.

This definitely wouldn't be the last argument between them, but that wasn't my problem anymore. It would be Gray's when the report landed on his desk.

I begin to leave and make my way back home. After dealing with other peoples problems all morning, I still had to go check the borders.

"Gaius!" Someone calls out.

Stopping, I turn around and Gray's mate, Quinn, comes running up to me.

"Luna," I greet her. The two of us weren't that close so it didn't feel right to refer to her by her first name.

"Oh, hush with that," Quinn waves me off. "Gray tells me you've met your mate, congrats!"

A laugh escapes my lips before I can stop it.

"If you heard it from Gray then I'm sure you're aware of just how much he despises my mate," I tell her with a knowing grin.

Quinn laughs at that. "Yes, Gray's had a few...words about the whole situation but I haven't heard anything bad since he's been here, so I assume everything's going well?"

I nod as we continue to walk. "Some small minor hiccups, but no attacks."

Quinn smiles. "That's great," we stop at my apartment and she grips my hand. "I hope everything works out for you, Gaius. Really."

Quinn backs away and I watch as she walks away. The goddess couldn't have picked a better mate for Gray. Quinn was loved around the pack and she made up for the areas Gray lacked in. An example was the pack elders, they hated Gray with a passion and vice versa, but they loved Quinn dearly. Ever since they had met, Quinn's always been the one to handle the meetings involving the elders.

The pack kids loved her too. Their daughter, Layne, was three and I assumed that also played a part in the reason why.

Kids.

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought of having my own some day. Being an only child, I knew just how lonely it could be growing up- even more so after Mom died. If I ever had kids, I knew I wanted at least two of them. The idea of having a family of my own had always been one of my dreams and I expected it to remain just that; a dream.

Now it's starting to seem possible.

A smile made its way onto my face as I opened the door to my home. It quickly fell when I walked in and noticed the mess that had replaced my once clean house.

Stuffing from pillows littered the floor, the T.V. laid knocked over and probably cracked, bite marks covered the arms of the couch, anything that was laying on the kitchen counter or living room table before I left was now on the floor or destroyed.

A growl pulled me from my horror-induced trance and I turned around to find the prime suspect in the destruction of my home sitting innocently beside a plate that had been full this morning and now appeared to have been licked clean. Red eyes glanced down at the plate and then up at me again before another growl filled the room.

Clearly I didn't lay out enough food.