****Tamara****

We sat at the dining table at my mates parents and soon to be mine, chattering away. With our stomachs full of an assortment of scrumptious foods, we opted to pass sometime chit chatting. My mate sat beside me dressed in his usual style, black cargo pants with matching combat boots and a very fitting navy blue tee shirt.

His mother and father sat on the opposite side, with his mother taking control over the incessant conversation. One thing I had learnt about her in a short while is that she wasn't one to easily shut up.

The dining room had a hardwood flooring covered mostly by an area grey rug. The dark flooring matched with the dark wooded furnished dining table. The walls were elegantly painted with a gray colour accentuated with white trims. The cushioned chairs were nothing shot of comfortable with pastel tones making them stand out.

As Ryker's mother narrated about their vacation, my eyes drank in the lovely candle chandelier that hang in the middle of the dining room. The decor in this room including the elegant tray ceiling enhanced the traditional charm. The former Luna had really done a nice work.

'The two of you really look good together. ' My mate's mother pointed out with a proud, maternal and gleaming smile gracing her beautiful face.

'Please mum don't start. ' Ryker chimed sending his thoughts to mine about how his mother would end up embarrassing the both of us if he let her continue.

'Oh but we are done eating, what more could we talk about other than the two of you?' She questioned, looking at the both of us lovingly.

'We could talk about how the two of you went around different packs and enjoyed different climates and cultures... ' Ryker suggested.

'Or we could talk about why we didn't know about Tamara until we came back. ' The former Alpha joined in, leaning on his chair and crossing his arms on top of his upper abdomen.

'Father. ' Ryker tried changing the subject, turning to me with pleading eyes. No way I was going to save his ass for failing to mention our bond to not only his parents but the former alpha and Luna.

'No boy, you better start explaining from the beginning, no excuses. Imagine finding Tamara in your house knowing you never let any woman in there? It was shocking to say the least, I would have phased and attacked her there and then had I not scented you on her. ' His mother had suddenly become serious, urging his son to go on.

'Well there was so much going on in the pack that my beast and I ended up forgetting about informing you. ' He explained, placing his right hand on my left thigh gently.

'Ry finding your mate is the best thing that can ever happen to a werewolf. Even the Alpha position that you so much treasure doesn't compare to her( She pointed at me) and her position in your life. '

'Mother there has been a lot going on during these past few weeks. '

'What are you talking about? I haven't seen anything different on the grounds Ryker. ' His father questioned, his voice taking a curious tone.

So we gave them a detailed narration about the bloodied papers and the force that usually overtook and controlled my body. We explained how our mate bond was a different kettle of fish from the rest.

'So you're telling me that some mut has been threatening this pack and you never thought about informing me? ' Lionel suddenly stood, glaring at his son at the mere thought of such climacteric information being withheld from him.

'Calm down Lio. ' His mate soothed in a persuasive tone.

'Oh come on! Your son has kept this from us and you are taking his side now? ' His aura was becoming increasingly vexatious. His beast did not appreciate secrets from his own son.

'I am not taking sides here, you are the one letting anger control you. ' Margaret's voice with an obvious accusatory tone filled the dining room.

'Father, with all due respect, I am the alpha now. I don't see how this should be making you this worked up,plus I am handling the situation. ' Ryker remained seated as he addressed his father nonchalantly.

'Has she influenced your decision making Ryker? ' He pointed at me, an hint of disgust lacing his voice.

'As a matter of fact, yes.' My mate answered back, snaking his arm around my shoulders.

'A witch, as your mate. Surely the moon goddess must have miscalculated something here. ' This was the first time he was disapproving the bond and even so, I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief.

'I am warning you father. ' Ryker spoke evenly.

'Make sure your anger won't make you regret your words later Lio. Now calm down before your flesh and blood engages you in a fight in defence of her mate. ' Her words fell on deaf ears because one minute the former alpha stood beside her, the next he had my mate in a chokehold.

I had never seen a man his size move so fast in my life.

'Lionel! ' Margaret frantically shouted, terror filling her eyes in a dizzying speed.

My body remained unmoving, rooted on that chair for seconds, then an excruciating pain spread from my neck all the way to my head. I feebly stood to my feet grasping my upper neck in an attempt to reduce the ache.

As his father's unforgiving arms increased pressure on that spot, so did the exertion on my upper airway upsurge. My lungs began to burn with need for oxygen, as my trachea constricted hampering any ounce of air from passing.

'You are going to kill them Lionel! ' I could hear Ryker's mother panic-stricken voice trying to reason with the former Alpha.

'Let him die! I will not have my own son disrespecting me in my own house!' He bellowed, his eyes reflecting nothing but raw anger.

'Fucking stop being a moron and stop this madness! Look at Tamara, she is barely breathing because of your stupid actions. I swear to the moon goddess if anything happens to them I will reject and curse you! ' Even as my eyes began to fade, I couldn't help but admit that she was indeed a talker.

Her threat seemed to work because

in an instant, the pressure dissolved forcing my mate and I to take gasps of air. The sudden intake of air drew a series of coughs from the both of us. The experience was something I'd never experienced, something fear rendering.

My mate pulled my petite body to his much larger and muscular one, embracing me apologetically. His emotions flooded our bond with sorrow and dejection prominently taking charge.

'I didn't think it would come to this Tamara, I am really sorry for making you go through the pain. ' His thoughts filled my head, his beast whimpering.

'It's not your fault Ryker...' I answered his thoughts loudly, watching in peripheral vision as his father hang his head in mortification.

'I should have pried his arms away from me, hell I should have defended myself, us. '

'You didn't because you respect him, contrary to his thoughts. ' His mother mocked his father.

'Today you put me in a very tough spot Lionel. Making me choose between my own son and you, my other half. I am completely and utterly disappointed in you and I will make sure you pay for it. ' The seriousness in those words and her demeanor was a confirmation of the intensity of her words and the silence from her mate clearly said it all.

'I am sorry . ' The former Alpha finally muttered, rubbing his face with both of his hands.

'What I just did is inexcusable, that I know now. '

'Didn't I tell you to watch you mouth before saying something you would end up regretting your words? ' His mate mocked him, smiling victoriously at his facial expression.

'Look, the alpha blood still runs in my system. My beast and I saw your words as a challenge to our Alpha blood Ryker. We didn't mean to hurt you, we just felt threatened by the confidence and power that oozed from you. ' He explained.

'You almost killed the daughter that I never had the first time we invited her for dinner. Do you know how degrading that is to your former Alpha title? Look at her, she is clearly shaken up. You were supposed to control your feelings Lio, not act like some barbaric untrained rogue wolf. ' Ryker's mum chastised him, tapping at his chest with her index finger repeatedly.

Ryker remained silent watching in disinterest as his mother put his father in his place.

'I have seen them go at it since I was a pup Tamara, well more like my mother scolding a grown Alpha.' He whispered to me, making his parent's heads turn to our direction.

'I am going to assume that. ' His mother smiled at us.

'Tamara, I am sorry for hurting you and for making our first dinner kind of disastrous. Can we do this tomorrow? I would like to make up for my animalistic behaviour. '

'Of coure Mr Lionel, I would love that. '

'Lionel, just Lionel is okay. ' He assured me, flashing me a smile. Things had totally cooled down now and yet my mate didn't utter a word or talk to his father.

Thoughts of how I could have died in the hands of his father still lingered in his mind. His beast refused to forgive the man who had hurt me. Attempts to calm him through the bond remained futile, even as he continued embracing me.

One look at him, I knew his beast was out and he was still furious as before. With his eyes black as coal, he took calculated steps towards his father, who stood beside his mother giving him quizzical look?

'That man there was not my father. ' His deep yet calm voice resonated in the room.

'Son. ' His father called his name in a similar calm voice.

'Something happened while you were on that vacation. I want to know what? ' He insisted, waiting patiently for his parents to talk.

'Please Ry, not now. ' His mother begged, her voice telling that Ryker was indeed right.

'You nearly killed me father, of course I would have fought back after realising how serious you were. But fact remains that you almost killed my mate and I. That is definitely not you dad, you would never hurt me despite what your beast thinks. I know you would kill yourself before letting him hurt me. So what is it? '

'It's okay honey, he deserves to know. ' His mate urged.

'My wolf was cursed by an evil wizard. ' He paused.

'I have exactly 7 days to deliver what he wants, failure to that, my wolf will gradually become rabid. '

'What does he want? We shall deliver it now! ' Ryker's commintment made his parents sigh in sadness.

Tamara's womb