Blurb :
Only 5 years of immortality, Alpha Sean is bored. Then his half sister appears, a vampire attacks La Noire, and a mysterious black wolf enters his territory. The Elders conspire to form a werewolf battalion. Sean & Jordie must solve the mystery behind the black legend of the Pixiell and Leon's betrayal, before the time bell for their deaths predicted by Missiel rings.
~•~•~•~•~
The title routine never changes. That's why it's called routine, because it happened yesterday, today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the days after. Ordinary, the same, at the same time, the same activity, the same feeling ... Even if things change, even if there is a slight difference, something different than usual, it will only be a small, light surprise, and everything will return to normal . Normal.
It seemed as if nothing else could shock Sean Whyle. Get up late, tinker with the car a little in the garage to get a little money, arrange a few accessories for extra money, cook a little to fill your stomach, so late in the evening run a little in the forest, turn into a wolf, bark and howl a little if you accidentally run into a vampire a fool who entered the border, came home when it was almost morning, slept until noon, woke up, ate, worked, patrolled, slept, woke up ... those were routine activities. Normal. This he has been working on since he was 16, there is almost no element of surprise in it, it's almost like eating cereal every morning. Until sometimes he felt bored.
Since Leon married and had children, Alfa abandoned his ability to change shape, suddenly trying to be a good husband and father to his family. Mike as Beta in his group has no intention of leading, neither does Louis, especially since they both intend to immediately follow in Leon's footsteps: getting married and living a normal life, away from La Push. None of the other young members of their flock were competent enough for the position, not even from the Whyle line. As for her own flock, Ravinna had permanently abandoned her powers and went to California to become an artist. So there is the point of agreement, which the Tribal Council forces rationally regardless of feelings: the two flocks join forces, and automatically, since no one else is competent enough, in strength, experience, or lineage, he becomes the only one. Alpha. Tribal chief. Official. There is no more struggle for dominance between the heads of the two herds. Only he.
With pleasure, in fact, he will be willing to give up not only that position, but also his ability to change form. After all, he felt quite old, at least in the herd. He felt like Leon. He is 24 now, and he has to supervise children aged 16-18 years. With one of his best friends, the last senior member of the pack as well as his Gamma, Hoosok, also preparing to leave, the next oldest members are just Kyle and Jordie. Kyle clearly couldn't match the blood of Jordie, who automatically became Beta after Ravinna died. And of course, no matter how old he is, even if he's already two heads, even though his position and responsibility is high, Jordie is still Jordie.
Yes, he was willing to leave the flock, abandon his abilities, give up his obligations, lead a normal life, age .... But the world is not that beautiful. Its imprint, which means not only a fiancé, but also his entire life, is an immortal being, a human-vampire interbreeding hybrid that cannot die. Immortal life, frozen at his age, at least when he reaches maturity. But that won't be long. 2 years from now, everyone said and he couldn't help but believe it. Wait. And the girl who is destined to be his soul mate will live forever. Of course, there was no other choice but to follow.
That means he'll be stuck there forever: metamorphosis, Alfa, Chieftain ... La Push. All those obligations.
Since the incident five years ago, no vampire has dared to venture near the forested areas of the Olympic Peninsula. Nobody was stupid enough for that, especially after their top leader, Lord Viella, announced a truce and territorial pact not only with the Ben family, but also with the La Push werewolves. Even now, after Ben's family left three years ago, there have never been any significant threats. Since the state of security was peaceful, no other youth fell victim to tribal legends: turned into monsters forced to fight with their own emotional side. Not that it's bad.
Of course, that doesn't mean it's bad. It's good, very good in fact, almost near normal. If things continue like this, within a few years, the five-year-ago victim of the five-year-ago-vampire-threat-response-genes-in-blood-victim will grow up, gain control of themselves and be able to unleash the power of their metamorphosis. That's what everyone always hopes for. Everyone can hope for that happy ending. All. Except for him.
The first immortal chieftain in history. Well, this 'eternal' affair probably depends on how it defines the word. When it comes to 'not aging and living a long life', he may be at the umpteenth number of their long list of wolf chieftains. The last long-lived chieftain he knew was Taha Aki, but Taha Aki was able to unleash the wolf's power, grow old, and die because he loved a mortal woman. Whereas he is not. His soulmate is immortal. And he must become immortal for the soul mate. The meaning is truly 'immortal'.
Whether it's a blessing or a curse.
Even with the current security situation, it seems there is not much that can be done. Frankly speaking, the flock was getting weaker. No natural enemies means no tension, no surprises. Nothing. The flock seems to exist more as a counseling institution or a gym: a place to keep youthful for senior members waiting to mature for imprints like him and Kyle, or a place for emotional coping training for junior members like Colly and Brady. Boring.
Sometimes he thinks, what is he for? Avier being the imprint? All that destiny, the earth's rotation and time in its place? If he becomes the only immortal chieftain in safe times? What is the point?
Of course there was still a long way to go about immortality, for only five years had passed. Five years and he was bored to death. So how to deal with immortality when five years is unbearable?
Maybe he needs a surprise, maybe he needs a challenge. I have no idea. The side of his wolf screamed. The animal side rebelled. Want to fight, want to do something productive in accordance with the purpose for which it was created. But what should he do? Hunting nomadic vampires outside of your territory? Against Viella?
Even he, Sean Whyle, the immortal Chieftain of Kyleeute who was only five years old was bored to death, wouldn't be that stupid either.
~ • ~ • ~
The noise in the kitchen woke him up. For a moment he glanced at the clock. 09.30. Not until three hours he fell asleep. The time to wake up is still about two hours. What's Hubert doing in the kitchen so early ?, he thought. Whatever it is, it will stop soon. He knew his father, breakfast would not be far from cereal or toast. Not something that requires a long process in the kitchen. Lazily he rolled over, covering his head with the blanket.
Brakkk! Praaanggg!
A loud voice in the kitchen startled him. There was not any small sound that escaped her sensitive hearing. Moreover, even normal people can break the eardrum.
"Old man! What's wrong?" he shouted, lazily going to the source of the sound. Hubert is in the kitchen, cheerfully turning the wheel of his chair back and forth, circling around the kitchen, making sandwiches, frying bacon, ham and sausage, arranging fruit, roasting turkeys and pies and who knows what else.
"Wow, what's all this?" Sean didn't seem to wake up from his sleep yet. Seeing his father cooking like this was only once in his life for him. Surely hell has frozen over.
Hubert rolled his wheelchair over to the table where his son stood, picking up a plate. Nearby, not forgetting he turned twice.
"Shine, young man! It's a fine day, huh?" and with that not forgetting he slapped Sean's butt.
Sean groaned in pain, pretending to be offended. "I'm 22, old man! That's s****l harassment, especially if you do it to your own child!"
"So why? You want to arrest me? Charges of harassment? Ha! Even Charlie wouldn't be able to touch me, let alone my useless son Alpha?" and he laughed, stuffing the pan in the oven.
"What is it?" Sean asked suspiciously, picking up a sandwich on the table and poking it into his mouth roundly.
"What's the matter, what?"
"Today."
"Nothing. Absolutely normal."
"Really?" Sean squinted suspiciously. "My dad doesn't usually cook this much. Even I can't finish it all. Are you planning to have a wedding party without my knowledge? Which woman would want to be my stepmother?"
Hubert looked at his son as if he were the strangest creature in the whole world. The 'weird' part is of course true, but the 'worldwide' problem is definitely not, as he shares the same oddities with fifteen young men and one other young woman in her tribe. Twelve young men besides himself now, at least.
Suddenly Hubert patted his son loudly, laughing broadly.
"Cheer up!" roared Hubert. "It's a big day!"
Sean was still confused. He tried to spin the memory, remembering if there was something he had forgotten, something had escaped his attention. Is it her birthday? Hubert's birthday? His late mother's birthday? Her parents' wedding anniversary? Mia and Mira's birthday maybe? No, not one. She never forgot her family's birthdays, never, even if the twins were far from home. But if it's the twins' birthday celebration, or maybe their husband or their child, surely they should come first, right?
Oh, are the twins coming? Has Hubert said that before? Why doesn't he remember?
As if reading his son's confusion, Hubert rolled his wheelchair closer. Crossing his son to the room, he took time to say with a bright face, "Your brother is coming!". That's all, and he left. A cheerful mutter came from Hubert's bathroom, over the sound of running water. Leaving Sean in a frozen state, his expression was hard to read.
Brother ....
Maybe if there was one thing a werewolf could shock, it was this.