<h4>Chapter 317: The West Pack.</h4>


    The car finally stopped in front of the pack Alpha’s house in the west. Being thergest pack, Kaito expected the ce to be crowded, and with the harvest moon celebration happening there, the noise and movement were even worse. His father was far away from home, and that was a relief. He was not ready to face him, not after the terrible day they had.


    "Are we going straight to Alex’s ce?" Renn asked as they stepped out of the car.


    "No. It is better to tell him toe here. We can’t let his innocent mother hear this," Taros said. Deep inside, he believed Alex had a reason for everything. Alex would never betray them. Not Kaito.


    "You are right," Samuel added. He walked closer to Kaito. "I will go and get him. What do you think, Alpha?"


    Kaito nodded. His forehead tightened with worry. Then he walked toward the giant mansion. His brothers followed him quietly.


    Before he reached the door, it opened wide. A Latina woman in herte thirties walked out. She wore ck trousers and a hot chocte colored shirt that matched her warm skin. Her ck curly hair bounced as she opened her arms for him, a big smile lighting up her face.


    "My dearest boy."


    "Mother," Kaito whispered as he hugged her gently. They stayed like that for a while before he pulled back a little. "How are you, mother?"


    "Now you care. I have not heard from you for more than a week. School closed and you didn’te home," she said, rolling her eyes before turning to the boys. "My sweet boys,e here."


    "Aunt," Taros said as he walked into her arms. "You look good."


    "Say that again," sheughed softly when they pulled apart. Then she looked at the red haired boy. "Renn, how are you doing?"


    "Fine ma... how are you doing?" he asked as he stepped forward. Outside the academy, this was only the third time they had met, unlike Taros, who had seen her countless times.


    "Can you guess, little Alpha from the east?" she asked, her gray eyes studying him with yful warmth.


    "You look absolutely gorgeous, ma," Renn said with a small smile. There was no doubt she was beautiful and strong, carrying the quiet aura of a Luna. "If I had not known you, I would have thought you were Kaito’s younger sister."


    "Are you serious?" She burst intoughter, turning for a moment toward the servants waiting by the door for her instructions.


    Kaito looked at his brother and shook his head. "Are you okay?"


    "I am not lying, Kaito," Renn chuckled, still amused that he had called her young.


    "Renn is right," Taros added as he moved closer and took his aunt’s hand.


    "Come on, boys... Lilian is too old for this," she said as she ced a hand on her chest, stillughing softly. Then she suddenly paused, realizing she had not weed them inside. "My manners...e in, boys."


    "I can see the preparations are being made," Kaito said as he looked around. The decorations were shaping up well, and he nodded, pleased with how his mother had managed everything.


    "Your father left me with this work for two days now, and I have been trying to handle everything," Lilian said as she led them into the house. When they entered the living room, she gestured for them to sit. Then she turned to her son with a pointed look.


    "And you? You choose to neglect your responsibilities. You forget sometimes that you are the next Alpha of this pack."


    "I haven’t forgotten, mom," Kaito said as he rubbed his face with both palms. He let out a tired sigh. "I just had too much on my te."


    His mother studied him closely, her confusion showing. It was like she was trying to read her own son. "Is everything okay? You all look tired and exhausted."


    "Really?" Taros asked, surprised. He straightened up a little, as if that would hide it. It was true they needed rest before tomorrow, but how were they supposed to get it now?


    "Yes, white haired boy... but this tiredness is not physical," Lilian said gently. She wanted them to understand that she felt something deeper, something heavy. "What is going on?"


    "Nothing," Renn replied as he sank into the sofa. His eyes drifted to the big portrait of Kaito’s father hanging on the wall. The man looked powerful, almost intimidating.


    "We are fine, mom," Kaito insisted with a small smile. He looked toward the servant standing at the far end of the door that led to the other rooms. "Get something to drink."


    "Sure, master Kaito," the servant said with a bow before leaving.


    "You are hiding something from me," Lilian said, her gaze fixed on her son. Kaito could not even hold her eyes for long; he looked away. "Your father is nning to coronate you tomorrow. He wants you to take charge."


    "Are you serious?" Kaito’s eyes widened, the news grabbing his full attention. He knew he would be Alpha one day, but not this soon. "I thought my coronation would take ce after my graduation from the academy next semester."


    "Yes, I was thinking the same thing," Taros added, still shocked by the sudden announcement.


    "It was supposed to be so, but the council changed their mind. Guess who made them change it?" Lilian asked as she crossed her arms. A small smirk formed on her face while she waited for someone to guess.


    "Mom..." Kaito was still in shock. He pulled her into a quick hug, grateful that she had fought for him even while he was away. "Thank you."


    "You are wee, my sweet boy," she said, kissing his cheek before turning to the others. "The coronation is for all four of you. No one is left out. I made sure of that. Where is your fourth?"


    "He is not feeling fine, so he stayed back at his ce," Kaito answered, still taken aback that she spoke for all of them.


    "Do you mean it, aunt? All four of us will be crowned tomorrow?" Taros asked, unable to hide his shock.


    "Exactly. You all should get prepared," Lilian said as she looked at each of them. "You are to find your mate. The wait is too long. It is time the prophecy is fulfilled and new royal pups are born into the packs."


    Kaito swallowed hard at herst words. His face tightened into a slight frown, and he tried to hide it. His mother was quick at reading faces, and he did not want her to know they had already met their mate.


    "Thank you ma," Renn said as he rubbed his palms together. He nced at Taros, who nodded, the moment feeling awkward between them.


    "Wait... something is not right," Lilian said suddenly. Her eyes moved from one boy to the other beforending on her son. "When were you going to tell me you met her, Kaito?"


    Damn. She caught it so fast that he had no idea how.