Parker's POV
I hadn't had a happy day in three weeks.
Not since Mario was buried and my next support, Padre Sergio has been nowhere close.
Soon the heat season is approaching. It's gonna be August soon and for one full month, I won't be able to do without my mate. Memories of the romantic and steamy moments with Mario recurred pushing me into a wave of more grief.
During this period, I need to be constantly around someone I love, someone my wolf can accept lest I stand the risk of going feral.
My dad came into my room one cold evening while I sat by the bed, head lowered, thinking about how I was going to survive this year's heat season without a mate. Everyone knew I was an Enigma in the family, that special Alpha who's stronger and smarter than ever normal Alpha. I took this trait from my great-grandfather and such occurs in every three generations.
"What are you going to do this heat season?" He asked in a cold tone.
"I—I don't know." I stammered.
"Last previous years, you had Mario by your side to take you on overseas tours. At least you were too busy for your wolf to really feel it. What would happen this time around, I guess I'll arrange a girl for you see you through but now—"
I shook my head. "No, as an Enigma, it's most risky to stay close to anyone my wolf doesn't accept. I could kill the person in rage once it arises."
One reason people feared Enigmas, all these while I'd never spoken of it to outsiders so they won't avoid me. They just thought I'm an ordinary Alpha. If they knew, I'm pretty sure most of the pack members and students who relate with me wouldn't.
First, when angry, I could cause massive destruction with my wolf. Anyone other than an Alpha standing near me could be paralyzed for weeks just by inhaling the pheromones I emit. Such couldn't be compared to an ordinary Alpha's scent.
Second, during heat seasons, I could go feral without having sex and in my case, it's literally worse. I'm gay. Hard to find a gay fated mate or chosen mate. A girl around me would cause more harm than good.
Besides having no mating partner, the loneliness will only bring back past memories of Mario. If the heat won't get me running feral, then the depression would certainly be the end of me.
I ignored my dad, refusing his request, stopped attending classes and only locked myself indoors, refusing to eat. I didn't even go to morning prayers again despite being frequent there from childhood. Things just changed and I refused to listen to anybody. Constant knocks and yells on my door to open up were futile.
I was already imagining my fate.
One afternoon, I heard a knock, gentle and slow, quite different from the lousy ones I'd been receiving from the Alpha most especially.
Who could that be?
None of my family were this gentle especially as I proved stubborn, refusing to come out.
I decided to get up the bed, I sat at the edge, pondering. "Get up and go open the door." My wolf urged. Very strange. An enigma wolf never accepts anyone, very few people could get special treatment from it.
"Who's it?" I asked him but he refused to reply, rather he kept pressing I go, open the door. I finally bowed to pressure when I opened the door, I saw someone I never expected, not even in my wildest dream.
Padre Sergio.
Immediately, my tight, pale face which had remained this way for days broke into a smile. He smiled back. My eyes rang down on him. He was in his priest robe, as handsome as ever. On his hand was a sick call massbox.
"What are you doing with this?" I asked out of curiosity. "You decided to branch upon returning from a sick call?" It was the only option since I wasn't ill.
He shook his head still with a smile. "No!"
"Then what?" I snapped.
He heaved, lowered his head to the ground, then lifted it up again, this time locking his lovely eyes with mine without a flinch. "I haven't noticed you at mass, so I've been really worried." He started, looking away for a second.
"You know we don't really have a business together so coming openly to see you when you aren't ready to receive anyone would scream we might both be—" he looked away again, clearly nervous.
"Come on," I rolled my eyes. "It won't record a damn thing. You're a priest."
"That's why I brought my sick call box alongside. I told your dad you'd invited me for a sick call. You need prayers not to go feral as your heat season is approaching."
The words fell on faint ears, slowly I was drifting into a trance even with my eyes open. My wolf was giggling, eyes, adoring his beautiful face, right inside of me, I was talking, complimenting him.
"Oh! I wish I could have him around me. I could have him as my mate."
"He's so adorable."
I was talking to myself when a wave over my face woke me up, I jerked off my thoughts. "Oh so sorry, I must have drifted off in thoughts." I chuckled nervously.
"What are you thinking of?" He grinned, the very act which got me overwhelmed. His expert eyes said it all. He could guess that I'm thinking up something romantic. There's no way I could escape this hearing him say all those spicy words about me.
"Come in, please."
It was a norm to welcome him inside but I would have to bear with the immense tension which would follow me staying in the same room with him.
There was no chair in the bedroom. I didn't care to place one because I had no visitors. If at all I ever had, the living room was there but for someone sick, I won't have the strength to lead him downstairs, right?
"I'm sorry, my room is without a—"
"Don't worry, I'm okay sitting on the bed." Before I could utter another word, he dropped on it, setting the sick call box by his foot. I sat after him, gazing with flickering eyes. I noticed my wolf brighten up, likewise my mood by his mere sitting beside me.
"So Parker, what's been wrong with you?" His tone was rather informal, to my surprise. The approaching heat season without a mate?"
I narrowed my eyes, wondering. "How did you know my heat season is approaching?"
That moment, the room fell into silence. He was just coming into the pack and my Enigma status was known only to my family, not even the pack members knew. "How did you know?" I repeated.
Sergio smiled. "You know I'm friends with the members of your family living here in the pack estate."
"Why?"
This was unusual for a busy priest like him, the only one we have here in the central part of the pack, with over eight thousand persons.
To my question, he smiled, not saying a word. His pupils dilated, sending signals of interest or shyness.
I shook my head, grinning.
Words weren't needed. "Because of me" screamed so loud.
As I glared back, the smile had gone and his face was serious. I sat up, not knowing what next. "You know no one really knows you're gay, you're in the closet, I sensed from the first day we met that's why I decided to protect you under the guise of coming to pray for you."
I stared away, trying hard to control the tears which had already begun to form in my eyes.
"Gosh, are you crying?" He asked, gently, shifting closer. I could feel the warmth.
"Man, this is so emotional. I never thought someone would understand me like this—" I broke into tears, crying. "Worst still, someone who should be condemning my sexuality because of your status but no, you aren't." I sniffed.
He pulled my head into his arm, draping his hands over me in a hug. I was sobbing while he patted my back.
"It's okay. I know how deep you need someone to lean on at a moment like this. I'm here for you. I'll be here today with you for as long as I can. I even cut off lots of activities to be with you."
"This is so—so so emotional. I'm an Enigma, I rarely cry because I'm stronger than normal Alphas. How did you manage to make me cry?"
The massive influence of Sergio over me was too active.
"An Alpha too?" I stammered.
"Yes," he accepted. "But I guess your wolf is just receptive to me. Enigmas don't flow well even with other Alphas."
I was speechless. Reality struck. I grabbed him tighter, not wanting to let him go. I felt if I did, I may never find someone like him in a lifetime but then—
He's a werepriest.