Chapter 4 Mate Qualifications

• Aidric Rossi stood in the middle of the forest admiring the view of the Appalachian Mountains. He loved living in Virginia with his family. The surrounding forests and mountains were majestic and calming. His Lycan counterpart had been restless of late. When he asked Lee what was wrong, his Lycan told him he would soon see. Lee often liked to play coy, but he didn’t mind.
• “My Prince, what are you doing out here?”
• Aidric turned and spotted his Beta, Achilles Ferrari, studying him.
• “Enjoying the view.”
• “Is that all?”
• Aidric grinned. His Beta knew him too well. “No, that’s not all. Lee is being moody again and I don’t have a clue as to why.”
• Achilles frowned. Usually, if a Lycan was being moody it could mean one of several different things. Some of them good; others not so much.
• “Could it have something to do with your father’s announcement that you are going to be visiting the packs to find your mate?”
• “Perhaps. We both want to find our mate but neither of us wants to deal with desperate she-wolves either.”
• “Well, you can’t help the good genetics you inherited or the monstrous strength you have, cousin.”
• Aidric sighed. Everything his Beta said was true. He was even stronger than his father. This put a lot of pressure on him as the future king of the werewolves and Lycans. He often doubted whether he was really fit for this position or not. He would keep faith in the Moon Goddess. She would never let him go too far astray.
• “Have you considered what you are looking for in a mate?”
• “A little. I know the things I don’t want.”
• “And those are?”
• “Vain, self-absorbed, egotistical, cruel, and unfaithful.”
• “Unfaithful?”
• “Yeah, a cheater. If you’ve done it once, you’ll do it again.”
• “But if the person is your fated mate, Aidric, they shouldn’t be able to cheat.”
• “Yeah, I would have believed that when I was younger, but did you forget about the case in the Las Vegas pack with their Alpha pair?”
• “Oh, I had forgotten about that,” admitted Achilles.
• “So, it is possible. I’ll make sure to check potential candidates’ dating histories. If they like to hop from person to person, then that she-wolf is not for me.”
• “Makes sense. Well,” Achilles playfully punched Aidric’s shoulder. “let’s go. Your mother is calling us for lunch.”
• Aidric chuckled and followed his cousin back to the mansion.
• ~***~
• The delectable smells of cooking filled the dining room. King Zachariah Rossi stood near the table with his beautiful wife, Queen Calista Rossi, by his side.
• “The kids should be arriving any minute now,” she laughed and stroked his arm.
• Twenty-five wonderful years they had been married and they still acted like newlyweds. He was not ashamed to show his Luna and Queen affection. He heard the footfalls of his four children, the Betas and the Gammas to the royal family and smiled.
• “The horde has arrived,” he chuckled, guiding his wife to their seats at the table.
• The first to come through the door was their youngest, Lorelei, followed by Viggo and Joshua.
• “Father! Mother!”
• “Greetings my children,” Calista said, smiling broadly at her kids.
• “Mother, how is your day going?”
• “It’s been peaceful, Lorelei.”
• Pleased at her mother’s response, she grinned and took a seat.
• Joshua and Viggo hurried over to Calista and kissed her cheek.
• Zachariah smirked. Both boys were charismatic and always kept him and his wife on their toes.
• He glanced toward the door and waved as first the Betas, Achilles Ferrari and Jorge Lopez entered, and bowed. Then came the Gammas, Aria Petrov and Maria Lopez. The two women stopped chatting long enough to bow in his direction.
• “Greetings my King. My Queen,” they chorused.
• Bringing up the rear was his oldest son, Aidric. He frowned when he saw his son’s pensive look. He would speak to him after lunch.
• The group took their seats and began eating. Lunch was always a lively affair as was dinner. Finally, lunch ended, and he motioned for Aidric, the Betas, and the Gammas, to follow him to his office.
• ::Love, do you wish to come?::
• Calista smiled and made a shooing motion. ::No, I’m good. I’m going to spend time with our youngest.::
• Zachariah went to his office and took his customary seat. The others arranged themselves around the room with Aidric sitting in the seat closest to his desk.
• “What’s on your mind, son?”
• Aidric glanced his way, thought for a moment, and spoke. “A lot but mainly the tour of the pack lands to find my mate. I know it’s been six years since I turned 18 and still no mate. I feel that she’s out there, but I don’t want to make a mistake. I know the Moon Goddess wouldn’t pair me with someone who isn’t good enough to be my Luna and future Queen.”
• “It is normal to have fears. Don’t let that stop you from finding her, your fated mate. I know that whoever she is, she will make you very happy.”
• Aidric smiled and Zachariah grinned at his son. His oldest was level-headed and fair. He would make a great king in the future.
• Zachariah looked at the Betas and Gammas. “Achilles and Aria, I expect you to guard my son with your lives on this tour. I will send four more royal guards as well. I don’t expect the Alphas you visit to cause too much trouble, but it is better to be prepared.”
• Jorge nodded his head. “I agree, my King.”
• “It is a chance for the future Beta and Gamma to stretch their wings,” added Maria.
• “I am looking forward to it, Gamma Maria,” replied Achilles with a grin.
• Zachariah was pleased with the good relationship all the Betas and Gammas had. Unlike his father’s reign that had been plagued with in-fighting and wars, his rule had been relatively peaceful. It was because he cleaned out the corrupt officials left behind from his father’s reign and waged an aggressive war against the rogues, until very few were left. Now he was more focused on getting along with the other supernaturals that inhabited the world as well as the humans. It was a delicate balancing act, but he enjoyed it.
• “Your mother and I will see you off tomorrow morning. I wish you luck and the Moon Goddess’s blessing on your search, my son.”
• Aidric stood and bowed. “Thank you, Father.”
• Together with Achilles and Aria he left the office.
• Zachariah looked to his Beta and Gamma. “What do you think?”
• Maria smiled. “I think the three of them will be amazing when it is their turn to rule the packs.”
• “I agree with my mate. We have trained the three of them well. It is also a good opportunity for them to network with the upcoming Alphas, Betas, and Gammas in the packs.”
• Zachariah regarded Jorge for a moment. They had been friends since childhood and his Beta knew him best. Maria and Calista had also been friends in a different pack when he and Jorge had discovered their mates. He thanked the Moon Goddess every day for his good fortune.
• “Well, my Beta and Gamma, shall we get to work?”
• The two grinned and together the three of them started on the day’s paperwork.