CHAPTER 2

~ Darius ~

"The west gate is about eighty percent completed, Alpha Darius. We expect the renovations to be finished two days from now," my Beta, Phillip, reported as soon as he entered my study room. Sunlight from my casement window reflected his eyeglasses while he handed me a brown folder. I took it, stretching my arm across the oak table that had too many sprawled papers on top.

"Good," I stated after opening the folder. Inside, there were updated pictures of the said gate under construction. This used to be made of logs tied together, but since it constantly gave me problems, I decided to install a new, impenetrable one.

"But two days is too long, Phillip. Make it one day."

If my Beta opposed my order, he didn't show it on his face. He just gave me his neutral expression and lowered his head. "I'll inform the builders, Alpha."

"The west gate is unfortunately a weak chain in our stronghold," I said, feeling that I should give him an explanation at least. He had complied with my orders. The least I could do was to share the rationale behind it. "I don't want to hear new reports about my men sneaking women in the middle of the night. I hate sending good men away just because they broke the rules. Might as well fix the hole, seal it tight, and triple the security."

"Yes, Alpha, I understand," he answered. He always does, and that was what made him my Beta. There were no buts, no questions, and he does his job well.

"Ensure round-a-clock surveillance of the gates and walls. And as always, report any rule breakers." I closed the folder and handed it back to him. "You are dismissed."

He took it and lowered his head before leaving. "Thank you, Alpha."

"Carlos, wine," I ordered, looking at one of my soldiers who was stationed outside of my room. Although they were present as my guards, questioning those who wish to request an audience with me, I gave them freedom to wear anything they want. This time, the two guards wore matching royal dark violet uniforms with numerous pockets on the blazer area.

"Yes, Alpha." His head full of brown hair lowered before he closed the door.

I relaxed back in my seat and released a sigh. Damn it. I could use a time-out right now; a place or a way to de-stress myself from all the alpha duties and problems in the Silver Moon Pack.

Currently, I have two grave issues in my hands: the rumors about my pack and the transgressions of some of my men.

I already created the perfect pack in terms of military strength, economic stability, and infrastructure development. I just have my people to deal with which comprised of all males. They seem hard-pressed to break the rules, especially when a woman was involved. Fucking hell.

My minute-long solace was interrupted when Carlos opened the door again, bringing with him a bottle of my favorite wine placed on a silver tray and a wineglass.

After he placed it on the table, I dismissed him and when he left, I popped the bottle open. The rich red liquid flowed smoothly down the glass as I filled it up to the brim. My throat automatically dried in reaction, so I grabbed the glass in haste and chugged the contents down.

The tangy, sweet taste blessed my mouth in that instant. However, I noticed some kind of taste too. Something bitter and sour... The hell. The Madrie de Colones wine from my vineyard wasn't supposed to taste like this.

I grabbed its bottle and checked for any unusualities. There was nothing. It still showed a healthy burgundy red color.

So what was that odd taste I picked up?

The answer to my question came when I started feeling dizzy. Shit. And seconds later, my head hit the table. The wine bottle fell to the floor and broke, tainting the beige carpet of my study room.

The noise must have alerted my soldiers, for I heard the door open again and felt their presence inside. I expected them to be alarmed, but strangely enough, they seemed to leisurely walk across the room and into my desk.

"Is he out cold?" Carlos asked.

My warning bells immediately sounded and my beast growled low. Just by this question alone, I now have a strong suspicion they intentionally did this to me. However, I couldn't fathom why.

Wanting to know more, I acted like I was unconscious and remained unmoving on my desk.

"Yeah. Alpha Darius is unconscious," Briggs, Carlos's partner, answered. With a corn-colored mop of hair, he was one of the soldiers Phillip recommended to be a Gamma. Now, because of this, he would certainly be demoted to Omega. Or worse, I'd kill him myself for doing this to me.

"Do you think he'll find out we sprayed the glass with the potion?" the former asked again.

I mentally grumbled. Potion? What potion? And inside the fucking glass... Hell.

No wonder I didn't notice it earlier.

"I don't know," Briggs answered. "Maybe, maybe not, but one thing is for sure, when he wakes up, he'll feel the burn and he'll want a woman to ease it. By the time the potion wears off, he'd already fucked a woman. He'd realize how wonderful it is to have a woman in his arms and he'll thank us for doing this to him."

Hearing this, my beast inside wanted to thrash, but I held it at bay. I'll enjoy killing them when the potion wears off.

They wanted to fool their alpha and all for just the opposite sex again. How idiotic.

"Oh, ho ho, you are so sly, Briggs," Carlos snickered.

And this man, too.

I'll crush both of their skulls to ashes and torch the rest of their bodies enough that their mourners wouldn't recognize them.

"Let's guard the door," Carlos advised. "We can't have Phillip coming back in and help him."

"Good idea," Briggs answered.

"Maybe we should hire one of your women to come here and entertain the Alpha for when he wakes up," Carlos suggested.

I heard a slapping sound and then Briggs' happy shout, "That's an even better idea!"

What a fool.

They actually think I'd give in to its effects? Huh. They thought wrong.

The sound of their boots faded as they closed the door. Once alone, I transported into my lycan form and although my gait was unstable, I exited the room through the window.

Jumping from the third floor of my pack house despite in my poor state was easy for me. When my feet hit the ground, it created a crater, destroying the bushes as a result. I ignored it. My gardeners could always fix that, anyway.

Before losing consciousness, I ran as fast as I could to the inner forest north of my pack territory, passing the steel gate surrounding my pack, the towering trees, valleys, and gorges until I arrived in a secluded river system where I was sure no woman was present.

Women, they were a curse to me, and I only want to steer clear of them. I would never touch even a strand of their hair or be in the same room with them. I hated them since I was young and I'll hate them forever.

I blacked out minutes later, falling to the ground next to a huge tree with protruding roots. I was certain I was safe here, but as I awoke to a dark sky, I realized I was wrong.