Chapter 3:

Standing in the master bedroom of the Cates Mansion, "Luke hand me that black marker", with his head still turned down and no eye contact made Luke handed his mom the permanent marker. "Hon, I know you want to help but I would understand if you did not want to. Believe me this is hard for me too".

Luke turned his back and began taping another box shut he knew he could not look at his mom even after that statement, especially since he caught his mom and Tyler Creed, his brother in law having sex at his dad's funeral. Anger and hurt rose to his throat, but Luke held back and knew that this was not the time for that discussion, but yet, when would ever be the best time to discuss that, "we both know that this was going to have to get done sooner or later, we might as well get it over and done with". Luke realized that he just made that statement like he was asking for a glass of water and not a care in the world, but Luke himself knew better. These items….these boxes were his dads stuff. Not Willard Cates the Alpha of the Pack, but Willard Cates father to Ruby, his late sister Amanda, and Luke himself.

A single tear went down Luke's face as he placed a red and black flannel shirt into a box labeled work shirts and pants. To most people who saw Willard Cates, they saw him as the Armani suit and tie type, however when Willard was with his family he had the tendency to dress in everyday jeans and shirts. Pulling the shirt up to his nose, Luke took in a big whiff of his dad's still lingering wolf scent. Luke still had a clear image of his father putting on this shirt after him and Luke came in from one of their very frequent midnight runs. Then it hit Luke. Never again would he and his father have those midnight runs. Never again would they head deep into the woods while gracefully leaping over fallen down timber. Never again would his father give him the wisdom that Luke himself would use as the future Alpha, wisdom that was passed down from Alpha to Alpha. There was so much knowledge within Will Cates, however, Luke, would have to learn on his own.

After placing a box labeled shoes on the floor Vivian turned her head around to see that Lucas was deep in thought of his father. Even with his back turned Vivian knew that Luke had tears in his eyes, and she could feel the emptiness within him. "I know that you will have some hard times ahead of you Lucas as Alpha. So much you do not know and so much that your father did not get to tell".

"I'll learn, not every Alpha had there daddy there to hold their hand".

Vivian knew that Luke meant no sarcasm or hurt when he said that. She knew that Luke is and will always miss is father, but she knew he had to deal with his passing in his own way. At that very instance an image of Sophia Donner came into Vivian's mind. Sophia was like a second daughter to the Cates. Luke and Sophia were inseparable when they were younger. Vivian knew that their friendship had demised once Luke flipped, but even Vivian knew that Luke's feelings for Sophia never died, they only grew stronger and she had a feeling that Sophia felt the same way. Vivian knew that Sophia had and would continue to help Luke through the coming months.

"But even future Alpha's need reminded of their duties and how they should act", Vivian stated as she slowly stood up from the knelt down position on the floor to face Luke, who too was now facing his mother.

"What are you talking about?"

"Luke, I know about you and throwing a human clear across the street Friday night."

Placing his hands on the side of his hips and a smile creeping up on his face, "look no one got hurt and no one was around".

"Well, that is a good thing, because to top it off from what I hear is that Sophia managed to one handedly throw you on top of your windshield, hence the dent on the hood and a cracked…..no let me rephrase that…..shattered window." Vivian couldn't help but notice the smile that got even bigger from Luke.

Thoughts of that night hit Luke. Sophia showing signs of the flip only excited him even more, but what confused Luke was the fact that Sophia had not flipped yet, but yet, she managed to one hand pick up a male "future" Alpha. Hell, full grown males and females have enough trouble doing that, how could she?

"Mom, Sophia and I have already discussed the problem, and it is resolved."

"Resolved?"

"Yes. Sophia understands that she cannot date humans it's the way of the pack".

"Oh, you mean like her father not dating a human, or your sister not dating human, to be honest with you I think it starting to become an epidemic. Anyways… you said humans, you did not say other pack members, well lets say Randy or even Sean."

Vivian saw Luke's soft face turn into a hard rock, "that will never happen, I'll never allow it".

"Oh, really. Why?"

"Sean and Randy are not her type."

"So your Sophia's type?"

"What?"

"Are your Sophia's type?"

After a long pause…."I am not really going to discuss dating with my mother." Turning around Luke began to tape another box sitting on the bed.

"Just for the record Luke", he stopped taping the box and listened to his mother with his back turned, "she is a hell of a pick". Luke smiled and continued to tape the box.

Vivian realized that her son was in love. He would never admit it, at least not now. Her son's happiness make Vivian realize how much she wanted be happy herself. Her son was in love with Sophia Donner and Vivian herself was in love with Matt Donner. Several years ago, Vivian had to watch Matt Donner marry another, not only that, but a human no less. Till this day resentment towards Marie still lingered. Not saying she did not love Willard, but Willard himself knew that he was second best, because if Vivian could have done things differently she would have chosen Matt. But Vivian thanked the lord everyday for sending her Luke.

"Mom….."

Vivian thought that Matt would have come back to the pack after her death, but if anything it only pushed him farther from them and even farther from her.

"Mom?"

Luke calling her name snapped Vivian out of her day dream and wishful thinking. "Yeah?"

"What is this box? It has your initials on it."

Staring shell shocked, Vivian just stood there. The box had a deep dark red cherry color. Even with the darkness of the box you could tell that it had been hiding due to the fadedness and dirt and dust that had collected on it. The box was about the size of a shoe box, and a gold plate was in the middle with "V.C." initialed on it. You could also see a place on the front that was a lock and looked like you needed a key for. One of those keys that reminded you of the old Victorian style keys. Reaching for the box, "where did you find this?"

"It was in one of the empty boxes I got upstairs from the attic. What's in it?"

Licking her dried lips, and pulling the box closer to her, "oh…your father...um got this for me when we got married. I kept small mementos from my childhood in it."

"Well open it up I wanna see what's in it", Luke reaching for the box, Vivian suddenly pulled it away.

"Look it takes a key. I don't think I have it anymore."

"Okay."

"We'll jimmy with it later."

"We'll break the damn thing open." Luke turned around smiling and continued to fold his father's shirts and place them in the same cardboard box that he found the little one in.

Vivian gave her son a small grin. She too turned around and faced the dresser losing her grin in the process. There she placed the cherry box on the dresser. With her palms laying on the dresser help keeping her balance and tapping her fingers on the dresser, Vivian slowly titled her head downwards so her eyes met the floor, after standing like that which seemed for eternity, Vivian slowly raised her head and her eyes met her own reflection…………No onewill ever know!