2

ALEXANDER

The sun felt warm and soothing on my skin in the morning. I leaned on the balcony of my room. Lighting a cigarette, I heave in a delicious whiff before puffing it into the air. I simply couldn’t get enough of this. Besides, I can enjoy it and not take any risks. I won’t die. It’s one perk of being a werewolf. I thought to myself.

After I was done, I put off my cigarette and hopped in the shower. I changed into neat casual clothes and exited my bedroom. Each pack member I passed by lowered their heads and greeted me as a sign of respect, while I kept my head held high with pride and dignity as the present Alpha of the Red Silverwood Pack.

“Alex!” a budding female voice called out to me from a distance.

Sighing, I turn my head to the side before forming a fake smile.

“Hi, Vera.” The girl’s name is Veronyka, but she strictly told me to call her by her nickname ‘so that it doesn’t sound too formal between us’. Her words, not mine. Vera was a sweet girl, five-feet flat, with light golden locks that reached only up to her small shoulders. She had sparkling emerald green eyes and plump lips. Her bronze skin is tanned and hydrated with lotion and moisturizer every night, probably more, seeing how she was glowing from every possible angle. She is absolutely gorgeous.

I watched as she flung her boobs when she jumped one meter away from me. I didn’t miss how she did that on purpose to shake lust from me. That won't happen in a million years. Vera is like a sister to me.

“I missed you.” She spoke, batting her thick, long eyelashes at me.

“But we were all together yesterday. You, me, and Elijah” I raised my finger to make a point. We squeezed a bit of time into our schedules that day so we can spend time together. We ate in a fancy diner downtown and dropped Vera by her house before Elijah and I went for a run to stretch our legs. After all, we’ve been working every single day nonstop. We deserve a break. The pack was fine when we got back.

Elijah West is my beta and second in command, whilst Veronyka Blade was the only daughter of our current gamma.

She inserted her arm to lock with mine and pushed her bouncy breasts against me.

“Not that. I mean, I miss you when it’s me and you” Her cheeks flushed red as she looked up at me, who towered over her. I give her a gentle smile and patted her head.

“When was it just me and you? We’re a trio, Vera.” I said, pretending not to grasp the meaning behind her words. She didn’t bother putting in much effort to hide her feelings after all, since I became the Alpha. Vera pouted, rolling her eyes.

“Elijah is such a bore. He’s always...a killjoy whenever I want to do something fun” Vera crossed her arms looking away, practically huffing out her anger as her face became gloomy the moment Elijah’s name was mentioned. I giggle and mess up her hair.

“That’s because he is just being protective of you. You’re our little sister, Vera” I tell her but she scowls.

“When did I ever need his protection?” Vera grunted, probably squeezing Elijah’s neck in her imagination. I couldn’t contain my laugh while feeling the devil’s glare right behind our backs.

“He’s bossy and annoying and way too overbearing. Argh! I just can’t stand someone like him.” Either Vera was telling me or herself that on purpose or she just hasn’t noticed Elijah walking toward us.

“Literally every single time? And I’m not bossy Vera. You are.” Elijah pointed at Vera and she spun around, her face shocked. Vera didn’t put up that shocked expression for long as she quickly replaced it with an annoyed one.

“Shut up.” Vera rolled her eyes at him and faced me instead. Her eyes twinkled as she stood on her tiptoes with her hands on her back, smiling at me.

“Alex, I’m turning 18 next month. Apparently, you haven’t found your mate yet. Don’t lose hope! Maybe your mate is closer to you than you think," She gave me a meaningful look and winked at me. I didn’t know what to say so I just gave her a nod before smiling. Elijah burst out laughing as if he was really out to mock Vera after hearing her words. My wolf found it funny too that Vera would think she was my mate. I’m 22 years old, and Vera has been around me for a long time. If we really were mates, I would have known or felt a connection between us when I turned 18 myself.

“In your dreams! You? Alex’s mate? Impossible,” Elijah waved his hand at her as if she was being ridiculous. Vera turned to him, frowning and shooting glares at him. She pushed him with all she got but she barely made Elijah move with her tiny hands.

“And how are you supposed to know that? It’s not like you’re my mate.” Vera rolled her eyes at him, making Elijah stop. He suddenly averted his eyes from her and tsked. I watched them in my spot, finding their argument slightly entertaining.

“What are you doing here anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be at school? I have an important matter to discuss with my Alpha. Now shoo.” Elijah pushed past her gently, rolling his eyes. I sighed at the lover’s quarrel. It made me think they were real mates. Only that, they’re not. Elijah too hasn’t found his mate yet. Being 20 years old. If he did know he found his mate he would have told me. Right?

“Bye Alex! Screw you Elijah” Vera turned on her heel and walked away. Elijah snorted. He waited until she was out of sight before facing me. He handed me a small blue envelope and cleared his throat.

“It’s a letter from Alpha Victor of Blue Mountains Pack. The messenger told me it was an invitation letter for a peace talk between our packs.” He explained. I opened the blue envelope to read its contents.

Dear Alpha Alexander,

My name is Victor Raven, Alpha of Blue Mountains Pack. I would like to be the first to extend a hand and invite you to come for a visit to our pack. For years our packs remained in conflict with one another, and I think it is time for us to change that. Your parents might have not seen the possibility of peace for our packs, but maybe you can help me make my dream come true. I would like to negotiate together with you to clear the tension and unite both our packs. Together, I feel we could bring peace and stop many future wars so that we would finally live in harmony after all these years. Hope to see you soon, Alpha.

Sincerely,

Alpha Victor Raven

Blue Mountains Pack

I stared at the letter for a long moment before handing it back to Elijah. I let him read it after I did and his eyes widened in an instant. It made me think he didn’t really believe what the messenger had told him when he said it was a peace invitation.

“Well, that was unexpected. I didn’t think that old geezer had it in him.” I nodded in agreement. I thought so too. Suddenly receiving a peace invitation from him was enough to raise my suspicions.

Clenching my fist, I inhaled a deep breath, thinking about what my dad would do if he was in this situation. His advice always seemed to help. Though I have to face it, my parents are long dead.

“Ten years ago when he basically started a war, peace and unity were never in his vocabulary,” I said. Elijah furrowed his brows.

“You think this might be some kind of trap?” He crossed his arm over the other, still holding the letter in his hand and I stare at it.

I nod slightly, closing my eyes as my memories from that bloody war resurfaced in my mind. The war that took my parents away and tore me asunder in just one, bloody, merciless night.

“Tell him we’re headed there today, and that I accept.”

“Are you sure about this, Alex?” Elijah’s eyes are filled with worry. I nod before turning on my heel and grabbing my car keys in my room.

‘Mom and Dad would have wanted me to agree. They would have wanted me to make peace with other packs so all werewolves can finally live in harmony and stop war from destroying countless lives.

My wolf, Loki, agreed.

‘But we’re not afraid of war.’ He added.

‘Still. We need to keep our eyes open for traps. You never really know what’s coming for you until it happens,’ I tell my wolf, reminiscing the day my parents died. Something I didn’t want to go through one more fucking time.