Chapter 4
Earl stared at Gregg, eyes widened. "How could you suggest that?""Sometimes I can't help but wonder if you are the same person I know. Why do you look like you have seen a ghost? I mean, what's so wrong with what I just said?" Gregg folded his arms."Since we have the cure at our disposal, enough of it at that, don't you think the best thing we could do is to give it to her first before talking about what we want? I'm sure she would be glad to help." Earl said.Gregg laughed and placed one hand on his friend's shoulders, "You think so?" He asked again."It's what anyone would do, one good turn deserves another." Earl replied, folding his hands across his chest in a more relaxed posture now.Gregg laughed again, "You think she would willingly leave her own pack and bring her army of soldiers to fight Lambert and his Rogues for your little favor? Think again, Earl."Now, Earl was not very convinced he was right, "Well, if she has a good heart…""By God, Earl! She's a woman, and it is in their nature to be scared. I have no problem with her being the Alpha of her pack but those army of hers are better off being controlled by you, for your betterment and her own. This is the best way it should be.""But it's almost like giving her one hand and taking her entire body!" Earl exclaimed.Gregg shrugged, "Once she is at ease, there is a probability that she would not allow us near her again, especially after she hears our proposal- that is if we wait until her problem is solved." He paused and looked at his friend's worried face, then he pinhed him joking, "Besides there's no harm in taking her body for her own and your own pleasure. Have you seen this woman? Damn! She's so hot!"Earl's features relaxed now and he even smiled. "You seem to know more than I do, Beta. But there will be no pleasure for anybody, it's just a Pact for purpose and after we achieve the goal, it's done."Gregg scoffed. "Maybe I am that other part of your brain that should have been there, but got sent as your best friend instead." He said jokingly."Don't flatter yourself, I would have preferred to have all that to myself without you here with your crazy ideas.""Or maybe your mate has it. You never can tell." Gregg added the last part with a wink."Save me that mate gist, go and do something with your life." Earl waved his hands in the air._________Earl spent the next few hours in his library, it was where he preferred working in, sometimes he didn't work, just spent the time there thinking. Because of the quietness and the serenity of the room and right now he had a lot to think about.He had been doing a lot of thinking lately and it was not helping him to know that if things went wrong with the proposal he was to make for the Lady, he might be getting married real soon to a total stranger. But what if she didn't even agree to any of the pact?The door burst open and Gregg strolled in freely, his hands in his pocket. "Lady Laurel will be here soon, you need to get ready for her. Remember?" He said, taking a seat opposite him."So fast?""The earlier the better, so they say."Earl scoffed, "When she comes, let me know. I'll be here."Gregg eyed him from head to toe and stood up, "Just curious, what are you going to wear?"Earl raised his eyebrows, "Is there a special occasion?""Of course there is! We are almost celebrating your marriage!""If that was a joke, I don't find it humorous, you might as well try again.""First impressions matter." Gregg said matter of factly, looking around the room as if he had not said anything."Listen Gregg, I am not ready for this sort of thing you are suggesting, and you know it. All that matters to me is the safety of the Pack, a woman is not going to do me any good, suggesting that I marry is the worst solution you can come up with." He strode out of the room and Gregg followed."I know how you feel. I know how much this Pack matters to you, you are not going to start telling me that..."Before he could finish talking Earl put his palm on his mouth to make him quiet. "Someone is coming," he said, alarmed. He glanced at the door.Just then, a maid came knocking on the door, Gregg motioned for her to come in and Earl clenched his fists."My Lord, Lady Laura Kris is waiting outside." The girl said, with a bow.Earl had forbidden anyone from coming into his room, and no one dared to. He looked at Gregg to let him know he had just broken a rule but Gregg shrugged and gave his usual grin. Earl eyed him and motioned for the girl to leave the room."Meet me outside" Earl made to leave but Gregg pulled him back."Not like this. I told you to look your best, I wouldn't talk to you if I was a girl, let alone agree to marry you." Before he could protest, he was shoved into the bathroom.He frowned,"Why are you not talking about the first part of the pact? I meant that part where she steps down as the Alpha and makes me the Alpha while she rules as my beta?"Again, Gregg laughed, "Would you do that if you were her? Give up your birthright? You know that is next to impossible, we know she is desperate right now and we have to use that to our advantage.""So why is it in the contract in the first place if you know it's almost impossible?""See this as a plan B, something to fall back on. Trust me, I have a lot of experience when it comes to women and this one will be tough to break. Besides this is the best way to achieve this, picture this, if you force her to give you her pack, her subjects will see you as the devil, but if you both get married, they will respect you as their Alpha and she your Luna. Two powerful Packs coming together to fight off a common enemy."That made sense, "So in essence, marrying her is the plan A and becoming her Alpha becomes the plan B, huh?""You are getting it now."Earl was still in doubt as he went into the bathroom, it made sense but she might not see it like that and what if she hates him for the rest of his life because of this? After taking his bath, he came into the room wearing a simple shirt with the few buttons above the neck region undone. He was about putting on simple sandals when he felt Gregg behind him.His friend was already shaking his head in disapproval, "Bad expression of our Pack. What do you want her to tell her people when she gets back home? That the New Knight Pack is filled with perverts?" Gregg gave him a disapproving look."What is more important? Finding the solution to what is almost wiping out her Pack or taking in my appearance?" Earl folded his arms."Whatever it is that is more important to her, I will prefer you give us a good reputation, not the other way round" Gregg persisted, holding Earl firmly, he walked him to his wardrobe."This will be perfect" he held out a tailored robe with velvet pleatings of gold and green at the edge and matching trousers to his face, an approving smile on his face."I told you I hate that cloth, it's the most ridiculous thing I've seen in a while, all that glitters for a man? No way." Earl turned from him."I am not letting you leave this room dressed like a pauper. You must look good. No female wants to get stuck with a boring old and ugly man." Gregg said stubbornly.Earl glared at him,"Are you saying I'm ugly? Nevermind, do you remember she is waiting for us?""It is definitely worth the wait. You know we really need her, if she sees how handsome you are, she would be forced to accept anything you offer her."Gregg tossed the clothes at Earl who shrugged and started taking off the ones he was wearing, already tired of his friend. When he finished putting on the cloth, he turned to let Earl access him, he was almost angry when he saw Gregg shake his head thoughtfully in what appeared to be disapproval."What now? You picked this clown costume yourself!" Earl exclaimed in renewed annoyance."I was simply going to say it's great, but not perfect." Gregg said, walking around Earl in a circle."What is it this time?" He asked impatiently."The key to a woman's heart… It is missing. Come on man, this is not a funeral, at least not yet. Give me that cute smile and your face is white, we need something to make you look very cute." Gregg held his cheek childishly."Now I am really convinced that something is wrong with you, when did you become a woman who suddenly cares about how I look?" Earl said, pushing Gregg away from him."You are too old fashioned for a young man, if this all goes to shit then it's on you." Before Earl could respond, Gregg rang and maids flooded into the room."Make sure The Alpha is without blemish, he will be meeting his future Luna today." He told themEarl sank back in a seat out of anger, there was no escaping this man, he thought.Hello Reader, if you love this book then check out my other book, When Dreams Are Made, a inter racial Victorian era romance. Please don't forget to leave comments on the book so I can know your thoughts. Subscribe to the book by adding it to your library and send gems to support the author, you are free to share. I love you.❤️
Chapter 5After waiting anxiously for Earl without any sight of him, Kristen, who had been pacing the length of the large parlor where she and Laurel were ushered in by the maids turned to her sister. Throwing caution to the wind, she had known that coming here was a waste of time and she had not failed to point it out, but according to Laurel, everything was worth trying so here they were, waiting for hours for the Alpha of the New Knight Pack, who they had not seen or met before. The possibility of them getting any help from these people was very slim and she knew it, but she had been trying not to shatter her sister's hope."What if he doesn't come?" Kristen finally voiced her fear.Laurel sighed weakly, "We have to be optimistic, and it has not even been up to three hours since we have been here." She said despite herself, she was equally afraid that they might not get the help they came for, but someone had to be strong."How sure are we that the cure is even here, Laurel? Where
Chapter 6Back in the garden, Kristen paced up and down waiting anxiously for Laurel, she hoped it went well. As much as she hated to admit it, having thought it through, her own way might have led them to destruction. Alpha Earl was not stupid and neither was his Beta, the lives of those men she had proposed they take as hostage might well have meant nothing to the Alpha. What if after going through the trouble, the men ended up showing them the wrong leaves and they went home and realized they had wasted their time? She sighed for the umpteenth time only to hear the annoying voice from behind her,"Are you not going to have your seat?" Gregg asked for the tenth time."Are you deaf? Or maybe you don't hear well in the afternoon? I said to keep quiet. If you have nothing better to say, I will prefer that you stop talking!" Kristen snapped at him."I am just concerned. If it's any consolation, you don't have to worry about your sister. Earl doesn't bite." Gregg offered."I would sugges
Chapter 7Earl was anxiously pacing in the library as he waited for Gregg to come in. It had been a while since Lady Laurel Kris left, and he was not back. He was either calculating, hoping that the lady would change her mind and come back or Gregg would come in to tell him she had realized her mistake, but none of that happened. When Gregg finally came in, it was to shatter Earl's hope with the first question he asked."How did it go?" Gregg asked again, guessing correctly that everything had not gone as planned, especially with the way he had seen Laurel storm out of the place, fuming with anger. Earl eyed his friend angrily, "You know this is all your fault, right? I hate that innocent look on your face." Gregg gave a light chuckle. "I don't understand why you are angry. Relax, man. You did not just expect her to give in, did you?" "This is not a time for games, Gregg. We are under threat from Lambert and his Rogues, life and death to be precise. And the only shot we have at get
Chapter 8The next few days were very difficult ones for Laurel. It had been five days since she went to Earl for help, now the plague was spreading really fast. The other Packs around them were not ready to help, although they did not even have the cure. Even if they had the cure, they didn't show any sympathy. They only got a nod from them and some words of encouragement, which did nothing to change the deaths that plague the Sacred Moon pack."It is getting worse, Laurel. I am afraid there is nothing more we can do now." Kristen said ruefully. She had been going from Pack to Pack soliciting for help while Laurel was tasked with handling things in the pack."I guess there is nothing else we can do," Laurel said painfully."The Alpha Pack at the North instructed their gate to be locked to keep us out for fears of us coming in there and infecting them with it. Looks like most people know it is transmittable now.""That is not surprising, words spread really fast." Laurel said, the sad
Chapter 9There was nothing to prepare for the decision that Laurel Kris, the Alpha of the Sacred Moon pack had made to marry Earl Malory, Alpha of the New Knight Pack. She barely picked a shawl from her room and hurried out as soon as she entered, shouting orders at the guards by the door to prepare for a journey. Her mood was sour, but she knew that there were worse days ahead, at least for her. Laurel prayed silently, she doubted that she was doing the right thing, wished she could ask her Papa for directions one last time, but this was a child's dream and she knew that now. Kristen had told her she was now a ruler countless times and that she had to act like one but it was only dawning on her now. Laurel made for the horses which had already been prepared for the journey. She did not take anything with her, didn't even know if there was anything she had to take. Kristen followed closely behind her, one hand clutching tightly to her sword which was installed and strapped firmly t
Chapter 10The ride was a quiet one, with each person riding fast on their horses and only having one thing in mind- their direction and the outcome of the meeting ahead. Everyone had something to think about, families they left behind, friends they hoped to go back to meet alive and they all hoped their journey this time would not be in vain. Perhaps everyone was afraid, except one person, Rick Adams. He was a lonely man who was oftentimes considered emotionless. In his mid thirties, he was without a family, wife or siblings. He spent most of his days training young wolves who hoped to be great warriors someday. His emotionlessness and lack of feelings had gained him the position as the Gamma of the Sacred Moon pack. He had only one agenda, to protect the Lady Alpha and her family at all cost, because with them, the future of the pack was secured. Rick had spent the last fourteen years training Kristen how to be a good swordsman. And he was glad that that knowledge, fueled by her f
Chapter 11"What are you doing?" Kristen yelled after Laurel as she tried to catch up with her. "What do you mean?""What the hell are you doing with that man?!" "Letting him go." Laurel replied calmly. "I can see that, but why? Certainly not after they just killed one of our men and made our horses go agog and leaving us stranded in this bush?" Kristen said angrily. "We have killed a number if their men too, let him go back and tell his Master that we do not want trouble." "And you think he'll buy that?" "He will. This whole thing was a misunderstanding, they will realize it." Laurel said adamantly. Kristen stopped walking and turned around in anger. She ran her hand through her hair and kicked the grass in front of her. Laurel stopped to pacify her but she shifted out of her sister's reach. "Look Laurel, I know you are all about sending a message but we don't know these people. For all we know, they could be vampires or even just serial killers. We can't risk a war with anoth
Chapter 12Rick and the rest of Laurel's men were assigned a special chamber in Earl's castle, the men were grateful for that after the long stress in the woods. Except for Rick who did not want Laurel and Kristen out of his sight for even a second. Laurel was given a separate room from Kristen too but Kristen insisted on staying with her sister, not even taking her hands off her sword for a second. Earl watched with keen interest as his soon to be bride and her entourage struggled to get comfortable in their soon to be second home. For some reason, the thought was funny to him but he was relieved that he didn't have to go and beg her for help. How it turned out that she appeared in front of his gate at the exact same moment he was about to go out to meet her was still a welcome puzzle to him. Gregg was right after all, in a good way, but he hated to admit that. Even Gregg had not stopped smiling from ear to ear since the Lady Alpha's arrival and each time their eyes met, he could sw