Chapter 7

Michael

"Alpha Michael, I thought you and Lincoln were coming home tomorrow?" Henry – the leader of the crescent moon pack warriors asked me. Henry is not the strongest of all my warriors but he is the smartest and that is the only reason why I appointed him as the leader of my pack warriors. I know that when it comes to a real battle, having strong warriors is not enough, we also need brains that can make a solid plan when it comes to battles and wars or when our pack is under attack. Coincidentally, Henry graduated from the National Military Academy. The truth is Henry and I graduated together at the National Military Academy, I achieved the highest honor while Henry in turn achieved the fifth highest honor.

"Kayden postponed the meeting since they're preparing the Mystic River for Morgan and his pack's burial," I respond to Henry as I walk into the packhouse, he was walking alongside me.

"Yeah, I heard what happened to Alpha Morgan's pack," Henry spoke softly and there was a hint of sadness in the tone of his voice.

"Any updates? What happened while I was not here?" I asked Henry to change our conversation. It's just that I already had enough conversation about Morgan's pack and it only breaks my heart talking about their tragic fate.

"Nothing much happened. We captured two rogues roaming around the area, they're in the cellar right now. The first rogue that we captured was already tortured but she's tough and she doesn't crack, no information was extracted from her. The second rogue we captured is still untouched, I reserve it for you in case you're in the mood to beat a rogue when you come back. " Henry informed me and I couldn't help but grin at what he just said.

"Yeah, I'll visit the cellar later. It's almost time for the border patrol, Henry." I said to him and he immediately looked at his watch that was attached tightly to his wrist.

"Okay, we'll start the border patrol now, alpha Michael," Henry responded to me and immediately said goodbye, I just nod at him and starts walking towards the pack house.

When I entered the pack house I immediately went straight to the penthouse where my room is, our pack house is as huge as the white palace because every year we added rooms since our population grows faster. The pack house has four floors and I was occupying the whole fourth floor which is the penthouse, while the first floor up to the third floor was occupied by the pack members. Usually, pack members who are single lives here, and when they find their mate that's the moment when they'll gonna build a house of their own that can fit a family.

I can't help but heave a sigh when the word 'mate' comes into my mind again. Until now, I still have not found the woman that was destined for me and as time goes by I am slowly losing my hope of ever finding my mate. I can't help but feel envious to those who already found their mates at the age of eighteen, I'm already twenty-six right now and my pack doesn't still have a luna.

"Alpha Michael," I immediately stopped walking and turned around when I heard someone call my name. My lips automatically form a smile when I saw Jordan trying to run closer to me, he was holding a piece of bond paper.

"Hey Jordan," I greeted the five-year-old boy, his face lit up and then he handed me the bond paper that he was holding.

"A wolf?" I asked Jordan while looking at the big wolf drawn on the bond paper, at a young age Jordan was already an excellent artist because the first time I peek a glance at his drawing, I immediately realized that the drawing on the bond paper is a wolf that was lying on the green grass, the wolf looks peaceful.

"Yes, alpha Michael. That's Kol, your wolf." I couldn’t help but smile at Jordan's response. I can see the wide smile plastered on his face, he was so proud of his drawing.

"You're the best, Jordan. How did you draw Kol?" I asked the boy but he just shrugged his shoulder.

"I took a picture of Kol using my polaroid when you were in the backyard, alpha Michael. It's real big and fluffy." Jordan replied and it made me laugh softly as I gently ruffled his hair.

"Okay, can I keep this?" I asked Jordan and he nodded quickly giving me permission to keep his drawing.

"Alpha, my mom said that your wolf is rare and that it's the strongest wolf. I want to have a strong wolf too, what should I do?" Jordan asked me and a hint of innocence gleamed in his brown eyes. I couldn’t help but smile seeing the curiosity in his eyes.

"Well, if you want to have a strong wolf then you should start by eating your vegetables," I responded to the young boy and I couldn’t stop my laughter when I saw his face turns sour, he obviously didn’t agree with what I just said.

"But vegetables taste like garbage, alpha Michael. Eating them causes pain in my stomach, dad doesn't even recommend eating vegetables, he said it makes us weak." Jordan complained and I just shake my head in amusement, I already know that this is what he's going to tell me. Werewolves are carnivores, we love eating fresh meats and it's very unnatural to see werewolves who are vegan.

"Well, no pain no gain," I replied to Jordan and ruffled his hair again before I said goodbye to him.

"Alpha Michael, "Jordan called me again and I glance at him with a raised brow.

"Hmm?"

"I'm not eating vegetables," Jordan said smirking and then he quickly ran back to his room. I just shook my head smiling softly as I walk towards the penthouse.

As I was walking near the penthouse, I can't help but frown when I saw Maddox–my beta or second-in-command, pacing back and forth at the door. Maddox is in charge of the pack whenever I'm in a council meeting or I have some errands to do to the neighboring packs. I don't know what's going on with Maddox right now but it feels like something is troubling him looking at his facial expression.

"Maddox," I called him when he didn't notice my presence because he was so busy pacing back and forth and seems so drawn in his thoughts.

"Michael." Maddox immediately stood up properly when he saw me walking towards him.

"Is everything alright?" I asked him anxiously. I asked Henry earlier if something bad happened while I was not here and he said that everything was fine. I think what's troubling Maddox doesn't concern with the safety of the pack, he might be worried about something personal.

"I found my mate, Michael," Maddox replied and I heaved a sigh upon hearing the news that he found his mate, I thought he's about to tell me some bad news.

"That's good news, Maddox. Why do you look like someone just beats you? Who's your mate? Is she a pack member? Or she's from another pack?" I asked Maddox question after another but he just shook his head in response.

"Okay? Who's your mate?" I asked.

"She's a rogue, Michael," Maddox replied and the smile on my lips immediately disappear upon hearing what he just said. I was caught off guard by his news and I don't know what to say. I suddenly remembered the moment when Lincoln asked me what will I do if my mate turns out to be a rogue, I told Lincoln that I will reject my mate.

"Well, that's bad news," I said to Maddox and I saw his face runs out of blood as I went inside my penthouse.