Chapter 5

ROMAN.

“Man, that was amusing. Hopefully, you’ll get more opportunities to put people in their places. Watching that is always like watching a sports match where the hits keep coming, but you’re always undefeated. Not to mention that I’m currently in the pool of odds for you making someone piss their pants. So please, bro, do me a solid and make it happen at least twice. I need to win back some of the money that I lost last time.”

I rolled my eyes, not even questioning any of that. Brock had a bit of a gambling problem, but a lot of our pack did as well. It kept things interesting. As long as it didn’t get out of hand, then I didn’t care, even participating at times.

“You’ve got a problem,” I told him with a shake of my head.

My eyes scanned the environment. The houses and buildings looked aged. They weren’t falling apart or anything but could certainly use some TLC. There were some pack members out and about but not many. It was also easy to see what could be considered class divisions, which weren’t uncommon in some packs.

Werewolf hierarchy was important because we were pack animals. It was literally encoded in our DNA. That is why packs were run by an Alpha. The Goddess had intended for them to be the ones who took care of their pack, ensuring that it remained safe and flourished. Unfortunately, not all people were cut out to be Alphas. They allowed greed to taint their leadership. Many horrible Alphas became cocky, as if they were better than those that they were meant to lead.

It didn’t matter if it was an Alpha or an Omega. All pack members held equal value. At least that was how it should be seen. Sadly, Omegas were often treated as lower-class citizens, which was ridiculous. Packs often thrived because of their Omega’s hard work. I dared anyone who thought that I was full of it to go one week without any Omega lifting a finger. It’d certainly make for a memorable experience.

“It’s only a problem if I lose. Otherwise, they're just investments for the future. Gotta’ get set up for my future mate. Just think of it as investing in your future Beta female.”

I was saved from responding when I was directed to a visitor’s parking space. On the packhouse’s steps stood Alpha Richard and Luna Felecia.

He was dressed in a crisp business suit, clearly tailored to accentuate his physique. It looked like the seams would bust if he sneezed. Gelled hair was perfectly groomed without a single piece out of place. His keen eyes pierced into my own, assessing and observing me as I stepped out of the car.

His Luna was decked out in a red form-fitting dress that fell to her mid-thighs, leaving her long legs on display. Heels that were at least five inches brought her up in height. Her hair was styled with curls, and dramatic makeup highlighted her features. That dress even dipped into her cleavage, leaving very little to the imagination.

I wasn’t the type to shame others for their choices of attire, but this seemed more suited for a night out rather than greeting guests. They hadn’t known that we were here, so she was either dressed this way already or had fixed herself up in the ten minutes that it had been since the guard alerted Alpha Richard to my presence.

I was preferential to dressing casually, opting for comfort around the pack unless there was a reason to dress up. Dad taught me that an Alpha’s merits should be found in how he cared for each member of his pack instead of the image that he presented to others.

“Welcome Alpha Roman,” he said, shaking my hand. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”

His voice was steady, not giving away any hints of tension. His body was also relaxed.

‘Either he’s great at masking himself, believes that he’s the supreme being who'll never get caught, or he’s innocent. However, I seriously doubt the last option. He’s good, but we’re not leaving here without the truth,’ Creed voiced his thoughts.

I hummed in agreement. My gut had never once steered me wrong, so I’d trust it. Alpha Richard was somehow connected to the missing she-wolves. We just needed to figure out what the connection was before it was too late.

“Thank you, Alpha Richard. I appreciate the welcome. I’m making my rounds, as Regent, to packs that I haven’t been to within that capacity. I know that you’ve dealt with my father in the past, but it’s my turn to do so. I was hoping that you would be able to accommodate us overnight so that we could discuss any issues that we might be able to help with.”

He hesitated just for a brief moment before he agreed and ushered us inside.

Stepping over the door’s threshold, my heart started beating a little bit faster. It felt almost like anticipation was gripping me, but I had no idea what caused it. I took a few steadying breaths, forcing myself to calm down so that I didn’t draw any unwanted attention.

I certainly agree with Creed that this mission would be important. I was more convinced of it now than I had been before.

There was no telling what we were walking into, but we’d face it head-on just like we faced any obstacle.

“I do apologize that we weren’t prepared for guests. My Luna will show you to your rooms while I go speak to the kitchen staff to ensure that they account for the additional mouths to feed,” Alpha Richard said, gesturing for his Luna to lead the way.

“Of course. Perhaps we can meet up after to get started,” I suggested.

He gave me a brief nod and turned around, but not before I saw the grimace on his face.

Alpha Richard didn’t seem to enjoy the fact that we showed up unannounced. However, that was often the only way to truly see a pack’s reality. Not giving them notice meant that they had no time to make a presentable front. No time to hide their dirty laundry.

Why would he be going to talk to the kitchen staff instead of simply mindlinking them or sending his Luna to do it? My curiosity was piqued, but I knew that it wasn’t the right time to show my hand. I could be patient.

The Omegas lowered their heads as we passed. Luna Felicia didn’t even spare them a glance. Her head tilted up some though as if they were beneath her or something. Wow. Entitled much?

We were led down a long hallway to the guest rooms and informed that we could choose from any of the rooms on the left.

I noticed her eyes cloud over in a mindlink. The tensing of her shoulders showed that it was not the most comforting message, whatever it was.

“I’m needed elsewhere, so I’ll send Beta Miller to bring you to my Alpha’s office. Please excuse me.”

She didn’t even wait for a response before she turned on her heels and stalked off.

Red flags were being tossed into the air by both of them already. There was nothing concrete yet, but their behavior seemed suspicious between Alpha Richard insisting on personally checking in on the kitchen staff and the way that she hightailed it away from us, opting to send the Beta to do something that she could have easily done herself or even had anyone else.

It was almost like they didn’t want us moving around without one of them present. It was a song and dance that had been done by other packs before. It was a way to ensure that they could control the flow of information that we received. Most pack members would never speak up against their leadership if said leadership was right there in front of them.

‘Pair up. Nobody rooms alone,’ I told my team.

‘Yes, Alpha.’

Brock and I went into the first room and put our stuff down on the Queen-sized bed. It wasn’t the first time that we’d shared a bed, having grown up as each other’s shadows since we were toddlers.

A knock on the open door revealed the man that I assumed was Beta Miller, considering his aura.

He informed us that he’d take me to Alpha Richard whenever I was ready. I did, however, tell him that Brock would be accompanying us. He just nodded in understanding, knowing that I hadn’t left any room for any argument.

I followed behind him while taking stock of anything that I came across during our walk. Nothing stuck out except for a little pup who peeked out of an open doorway. There was curiosity when she looked at Brock and me. However, that was replaced with fear when she looked at Beta Miller.

What in the world would cause a pup, who couldn’t be any older than five, to fear him instead of the strangers who she didn’t know?

“Alpha said to take a seat, and he’d be right with you,” Beta Miller told us, opening a door.

Inside, it looked like it was curated from money. His pack’s buildings might need TLC, but his office definitely didn’t need any. An expensive collection of alcohol, artwork that would’ve cost a fortune if it was real, and furniture that cost more than I wanted to even consider.

It wasn’t a choice that I’d make, but to each their own though…

A scent caught my attention as Alpha Richard entered his office and closed the door behind him. It was rich, deep, and so damn sweet that I barely kept myself from growling. The cocoa bean and vanilla scent was the most delectable thing that I had ever encountered before.

‘Careful,’ Creed cautioned me. ‘We’ll find out who the scent belongs to, but we can’t risk getting her caught in the middle of anything. He’s hiding something. The fact that he came back with her scent on him makes me wonder if it has anything to do with her. Calm. Cool. Collected. That’s how we have to play this, because he has an entire pack under his command.’

Creed’s words hit me like a bucket of ice water. I’d never questioned his instincts, so I grabbed onto my emotions tightly.

I might’ve come here to learn about Alpha Richard’s connection to the missing and dead she-wolves, but I wouldn’t be leaving here without my mate. Anyone who got in my way might just go meet the Goddess.