30 BAD NEWS

Derek would have found the large portrait of the family interesting and beautiful to look at, if it hadn't been brought by his uncle. "Was it a peace offering?" He thought to himself. Well if it was, It was a sham. He concluded, removing his eyes from the portrait which was a fine piece of art with beautiful bright colors; it was painted.

He turned to see his father and his uncle staring at him inquisitively. 'Did they ask for anything?' He thought, as he stared back at them, piquing up his eyebrows in the process; not minding that it seemed rude after zoning out on them.

"Derek.." His father called. "Didn't you get the question?"

"What question?" He asked.

"Don't tell me you zoned out while we were discussing important matters!!" Peter bawled, his voice booming across the ends of the large room. He couldn't fathom why his son was always this less concerned towards pack issues. 'Is he not aware that he would be taking over in less than a month time?' He thought to himself angrily.

"I'm sorry father." Derek stated, bowing his head a bit; knowing that he had annoyed his old man again. But it really wasn't his fault.

He had tried to listen, with a focus in its highest quantity and quality when he had first stepped in. But it had zapped out when his uncle started talking about his pack, his daughter's agility and accomplishments and his son's unique intelligence. It had been obvious to him that his cunning uncle had been trying to show off.

And so he had started thinking about his little witch; his mate.

"Derek.." His Uncle called this time around. "Have you found your mate yet?" He asked.

"I thought I would have to wait till I'm 18 to find that out." He replied sharply. He couldn't let his father know, not to mention his devious uncle that he had found his mate already. The duo would be an unstoppable force in making sure he rejects his little witch.

"That's the normality for usual wolves. You are unusual; special rather." Arnold said. The knowledge that his younger brother hadn't an inkling that his son had a mate already confirmed what his daughter had reported to him two days ago. His nephew's mate was a human, and he was hiding it from his father. This made the job easier and faster. He thought.

"Well, I haven't found her or him yet." Derek said, placing an emphasis on the 'him', in a bid to dislodge his uncle for a second. It worked.

Arnold's face ashened as he heard his nephew mention a 'him' mate; not because he was prejudiced against it but for the thought that he would be stronger and more powerful together with a he, than a she-mate. It wouldn't be good for his plans. But then he remembered that the lad already had a mate; a human mate. His nephew had just mentioned the possibility of a he-mate to dislodge him for a while. The truth riled him up, but he hid it with a smirk.

"Well, whichever one that the moon goddess gives.." He finally said, with a devious smirk on his lips.

Derek already knew that his plan had worked when he saw the pale look on Arnold's face; his uncle had been taken aback by his comment for reasons he couldn't decipher yet. But he hadn't taken into consideration his father's reaction; the entirety of his focus had been on his uncle.

"Derek." His father called. "Do you like boys?" He asked sharply, his face scrunching up a bit.

"No." He responded sharply. There wasn't a need to ponder on the question. He already had his little witch.

Peter sighed in relief at his son's answer. He wouldn't want a male mate for his son. It probably might cause issues sooner in the future.

"So how are my cousins doing?" Derek asked. Anything to change the mate topic. He thought; even if it had been discussed before.

"They are fine." Arnold stated monotonely, knowing what his nephew had done. He had veered the discussion away from the mate zone.

"How's Aunt Jan?" Derek continued.

"She's fine too." Arnold replied, hiding his impatience with a smirk.

"How's …"

"Cut it out Derek." Peter said, tired already from his son's chatter.

"Your Uncle would be sending some of his pack warriors to train with us. We would be sending some of ours over to his place too." He pronounced.

Derek was taken aback. 'What was his father doing now?' He wondered.

"Why?" He asked.

"The White sted pack are easily the biggest pack around here. So we need all the war lore we can get; hence the transfer of warriors. We could learn from each other. We could combine forces to win this war." Peter said.

Hearing his father's words, Derek could see the why but the whom was wrong. He thought. His uncle was too cunning to be trusted. He knew that the white sted pack was the biggest and strongest pack around them and that they would need all the help they could get, but he also knew that his Uncle's pack wouldn't be a good affiliate to the black moon pack; they were too egotistical.

"Dad, I don't think.." He tried saying, but was cut off by his father.

"It has already been decided." He said. "It's for the good of the pack." He mentioned, not taking note of the devious smile on his brother's lips which had gotten wider.

"But Dad.." Derek was saying

"I know you have doubts about your uncle but he brought this portrait over there as a peace offering. Let bygones be bygones." Peter said to him through the pack's link.

Arnold saw the link-communication happen, but refused to kvetch on it. He already got what he wanted. The plan was already in motion.

"Okay." Derek muttered.

He would have to wait till he was alpha then; there was no way he was going to allow his uncle meddle in his affairs. He would also stop the truce.

"Call for a pack meeting at seven, this night." His father said. "We have to let them know of the latest developments."

"Okay." He said, staring at his uncle blankly.

Arnold met his nephew's stare, and winced. He knew he would be a problem when he becomes the alpha. "I will just have to accomplish the plan first then." He thought to himself. But for now, he needed his sister in law's pancakes. The smell had been terrorizing him ever since he came.

"Derek.." He called. "Get me some pancakes."