: Secrets
Sable POV
Alpha Darius has a lot of nerve to try to set up a way to force me to accept dinner with him. What no one in this pack knows, well except my parents, but they are gone, and no one else knows, is that I have a telekinetic gift. I can control the muscles and actions of other people. It is handy when you are a warrior and why I ended up becoming lead warrior.
I made sure to use it this time with Darius. I was taking a gamble but I really don’t want him bothering me about dinner or any other kind of date. I would rather spend the rest of my life alone than to choose a chosen mate.
I’m not trying to be a bitch, but I hate having to repeat myself over and over again to Alpha Darius and other warriors in the pack. I get back to my cottage and start working on my little garden of herbs. I find it therapeutic and calming. Especially, when I’m upset like right now.
I continue working on the garden quietly. All of sudden I hear soft footsteps approaching. I look up and for the first time in a few days, I see Jake. He’s back from scouting. “Hey Jake!” I say, standing up and wiping my hands on my pants. “You’re back! That’s great!”
He smiles at me, “Hey Sable. Yeah, I’m back. I even got what Alpha Darius was asking for, and you can see I’m back safe and sound.”
“That’s awesome! Well, of course, I won’t hold you up, but how was your first experience as a scout?”
“I won’t lie, I was very scared. But it was easier than I thought.”
I was surprised when Alpha Darius sent Jake to the Winter Moon pack. I heard the alpha there has a reputation for killing intruders on the spot. Scouts tend to go on their first mission after they have trained for a couple years, at least. Then the first mission is always something easy, not something as intense and dangerous as scouting the most notorious pack in the region.
It didn’t set right with me when Alpha Darius sent Jake on this mission. But I am impressed with Jake and proud of him for accomplishing his mission. “Well, I’m glad you are back. Alpha Darius was in the training facility when I left a little while ago. Why don’t you go and see if he is still there.” I say smiling.
“Thanks Sable. See you around.”
I return to gardening and let myself get lost in thought until it starts to dark.
***
Darius POV
I didn’t expect Jake to come back. I sent him as a decoy so Marcus, the other scout I sent behind him, could look at the Winter Moon defenses. They are the biggest threat to my operations, and I want to eliminate the Alpha. He has no Luna or heir. If I can eliminate him, then I can take over Winter Moon and I can expand my trafficking circle with the resources from his pack. He has grown Winter Moon substantially in the last five years and if I can infiltrate the pack in the most vulnerable spot, then I can conquer the pack.
I sent Jake because he is expendable. He is of no use to me. He comes from a weak pack and has no fighting ability. If he dies, it means nothing to me. Sure, he accepted me as his Alpha and I respected him, but he complains like a little bitch all the time. I need men for warriors. There are others that have come from different packs, and they don’t cry about missing home. They adapt to Dark Flame and to me as their new Alpha. He didn’t want to fall in line with that mentality, but he also never defied me. So, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don’t want other pack members to think I’m unjust. I need them to see me as a kind and respectful Alpha. It’s part of my cover. If the Elders were to catch on to what I am doing outside of agriculture, they could have me arrested, stripped of my title or killed. The pack members being happy with me and the pack is part of my cover. It would be nice to make Sable my Luna to complete the circle, but I’m still working her down.
“Jake, well done on completing your mission. What did you find?” I asked him.
“Well, Alpha Darius, I overheard patrol talking about securing the full moon route for next week. I followed behind in the shadows and mapped out the points of the route as you ordered." Jake said.
“Why were they interested in securing the full moon route, Jake?”
“Apparently, they are hearing news about pack members missing after full moon runs. They don’t know why pack members are going missing or if there is someone involved. Nor do they suspect that you have any involvement. At least, I didn’t hear either of the patrol guards mention it, sir.”
Hmm, this is new. The smaller packs are starting to report the disappearances of their pack members. I will need to be more mindful or find another way to get other pack members for the East Region. Alpha Jasper likes his harem of women, but so do his warriors. Bloodlust pack is an apt name for his pack. He pays me handsomely for the women I supply him with too.
If there are men that don’t want to acknowledge me as their Alpha but look like they could be good slaves for Alpha Jasper, I send them too. He pays me for them so far, and he hasn’t told me to stop sending them, so I will continue with how I am running things. Either way, this is supporting my pack and pack members and helping me gain the resources I need to take down Winter Moon. It’s only a matter of time before Alpha Jaxon falls, and I rise to power.
: Meeting Candidates
Jaxon POV
Candidates number one and two were a bust. They both acted like they neither wanted nor cared about having a serious mate bond with me. I entertained both women until I saw the look of lust in their eyes. I’m not interested in fucking these women. I’ll keep Diane around for that need. They just need to play the part of Luna. I immediately declined the first two as an option. This last one, I’m not holding my breath.
Cherise shows up and I immediately do not like her. She is bubbly and looks like she has stars in her eyes. But worse than all of that, her current appearance doesn’t look like her photo. I am avoiding all blondes because I don’t want to feel like I’m looking at Giselle. In Cherise’s picture, she had dark brown hair and brown eyes. The woman in front of me has blonde hair and blue eyes. It must be contacts. There are many problems I have with this one already. First, she changed her appearance drastically. I understand women like getting the hair done and all that nauseating female shit. But I like women that embrace their natural beauty. Second, she’s blonde. No. Not just no, but HELL no.
“Alpha Jaxon, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She says batting her eyelashes. Then one of the damn things pops off. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
“Cherise, good afternoon.” I can’t say it’s a pleasure because it’s not, “I think you dropped something.” Pointing at the eyelash on the floor.
“Oh, goodness!” She said. Cheeks turning wine red. “I’m so sorry. How embarrassing.” She says as she bent down to pick up the fake facial hair. If that’s what you even call it, I’m not sure.
“Hmm.” I mumbled. I’m not impressed. “Cherise, before going any further, I don’t believe you are a match. Perhaps for the sake of our sanity and while I still have patience, you should leave.”
Her mouth drops open and her eyes water. I turned to the guards and asked them to escort her out and arrange for a ride to take her back to her pack.
“That was the third candidate, Alpha.” Matt says to me.
“Thanks, Captain Obvious.”
“What was wrong with her?”
“Seriously? One of her fake eyelashes popped out. Her picture is totally different from how she presented. Even her eyes were a different color. HARD pass.”
“Damn, she cat fished you.” He said laughing.
I cut him a look to shut the fuck up. “This is pointless. I have one week left. I am no closer to finding a suitable Luna. Goddess only knows what the Elders and their geriatric asses will choose for me, if I don’t find someone.”
“I keep saying, maybe you should choose someone and try to be in an actual relationship again. Not all women are like your ex-mate, Alpha.” Matt says again.
Lately, he’s been persistent in trying to convince me to find a chosen mate based on an actual relationship. Drax and I have talked about it, and we don’t want a mate. Even if we considered one, she would have to be exceptional. Based on the applicants I saw of the ‘best of the best’ females in this region, I don’t there is anyone exceptional in existence.
“Have you heard anything from Dark Flame, since we sent back the dead scout?” I said, changing the subject.
“Not yet. Jake called though. He said that Alpha Darius went ballistic when he saw the dead body. We did fuck it up pretty bad before sending it back.” Matt continued, “Anyway, Jake said that Alpha Darius would have his revenge on Winter Moon. So, I doubled the patrols and hopefully, they come to our doorstep, and we can end that asshole.”
“Okay. Have you heard anything more about the missing pack members?” I asked him. I want to report it to the elders, but I need proof. I reached out to small neighboring packs and asked them if they have missing pack members. Almost all of them said they are missing between ten to fifteen pack members per pack. Mainly women go missing. It’s leaving an uneasy feeling in my stomach the more I try to find out.
“Unfortunately, no, Alpha.” He responds, “But I am still searching. I’m trying to see if there are any unusual transports or anomalies in the logs, but so far, nothing has come up.”
“Let me know if you find anything or need me to intervene. Good work.” I said to him.
“Thank you, Alph - ”, He stops and his eyes glaze over. At the same time, howls can be heard. There is an attack on our lands.
“I guess his ears were burning. Dark Flame is here and they are attacking.” Matt says.
I let out a snarl, “Let’s go.”
: The Attack
Sable POV
Alpha Darius sent Marcus behind Jake, but Jake thought he was on his own in Dark Flame. Darius thought at first that Jake killed Marcus, but I had to intervene and remind Alpha, that he denied someone to go with him and said Jake would go alone, so how would he have known he was being followed for his own protection?
When I looked over Marcus’ body, I found a letter from Winter Moon shoved in one of the ripped-up pockets of his pants. It said, ‘No one spies on Winter Moon.’ Needless to say, Darius flipped out again and assembled the warriors, including me.
I don’t really want to fight, because it’s a losing battle. Winter Moon is the most powerful pack in the South, and it feels like a suicide mission. His warriors will surely outnumber ours, but there is nothing to be said. I’m not Alpha. Darius is and I have to follow orders. So, here I am at the borders of Winter Moon. If I die today, at least I will see my parents again.
Nia, however, is restless. She seems nervous and jumpy. ‘What’s up with you?’
‘No idea. I feel nervous with anticipation. I’m not sure what’s going on Sable.’ She responds.
Usually, Nia is pretty quiet and only comes out when needed. Otherwise, she is the most chill wolf ever, so this behavior is unusual.
“Sable”, Darius said as he stands beside me, “be careful and hang back. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”
I smile softly, “Alpha, I’ll be fine, thanks for your concern. This is a bad idea though; I just want to voice that out.”
Before he could respond, we hear the howls from the Winter Moon warriors. They have spotted us. No turning back now. Darius gives the command, and we all go rushing towards the Winter Moon borders. Their warriors come out swinging. I’m holding my own and working my way through the perimeter. I see other Dark Flame warriors following me. They are trying to do a train formation, which is a terrible idea, but it’s what Darius said to do in the pack’s link.
He’s a strong Alpha, good to his pack members and even good with agriculture. But he is definitely not a strategist nor good at quickly analyzing threats. Through the pack link I take over, as lead warrior I get to do that, ‘GET OUT OF THE TRAIN FORMATION! THEIR WARRIORS OUTNUMBER US THREE TO ONE! START SPREADING OUT!’
The warriors take note, and I see them spreading out from the middle of this stupid ass train and start circling smaller groups of Winter Moon warriors. Meanwhile, Nia is going bat shit crazy in my head. ‘NIA WHAT THE HELL?! NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO LOSE YOUR SHIT!’
‘GET CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE, SABLE! WE NEED TO GET CLOSER!’
Ugh! This wolf. Of all the days to decide to be demanding and talkative, she chooses today in the middle of this suicide mission! I work my way to the middle of the field where Dark Flame and Winter Moon are really going at it and the scent hits me. It’s a delicious smoky bourbon with blood orange scent. It smells oaky and citrusy with an undertone of berries. I could get drunk on that scent.
‘What the hell is that smell Nia?’ I asked her.
‘MATE!’ She says, and my eyes go wide. Shit. Are you fucking serious right now? My mate is currently fighting my pack? He is in the Winter Moon pack? Well, that’s just great. Now I need to find him and make sure nothing happens to him too. Wonderful. Suicide Mission indeed.
I see a big black wolf and Nia starts clawing in my head. ‘That’s mate! The black wolf!’ She says excitedly.
My eyes widen. That looks like an Alpha wolf. That means the Alpha of Winter Moon is my mate? ‘Nia, are you sure? That’s the Winter Moon Alpha.’ I say, cutting down two more warriors. I am not trying to kill anyone. If he is my mate, I only want to injure so they can’t fight.
‘Yes, Sable! He has that delicious scent.’
‘Fine! Let’s get closer.’ I say making my way to my mate, the Alpha. I’m not creative enough to make this kind of thing up. No one would ever believe I met my mate, while fighting his pack.
I’m still working my way over, when he shifts back into human form. He is gorgeous. Damn. I really need a good look at him, but he is tall, dark and handsome and his scent has me drunk on him. He is fighting off two of my warriors and there is a third one coming towards him. My mate disarms one of the warriors and takes the knife from him, but the third warrior is about to attack him. I can’t let that happen.
I run fast, hard, and jump to bump the warrior out of the way, when my mate turns to me quickly. I gasp. Everything stops, at least for me. I’m looking into the most piercing blue eyes I’ve ever seen. But the pain I feel right now forces me to look down at my side; my mate stabbed me with the silver knife and it’s deep.
I am fading and I know it. Before I do, I look back at him, his eyes go wide, and I know his wolf recognizes me as his mate. Then it’s confirmed when he whispers, “Mate.”
I give him a small smile and whisper it back, “Mate.” Then my world fades to black.
