Chapter 9

MARK

I checked out of yet another hotel room. Once again I scolded myself for not flying and for driving to the council meeting. I could have been home days ago. As it was I would get home just in time for the festival.I got into my car after putting my bag in the backseat. No point in putting it in the trunk when I was by myself. I should have brought my beta or gamma just so I could have someone to talk to on this long boring drive home.My mind wandered to the call I had with my dad and beta the previous night. They had quite a few things to update me on. Starting with the new pack member, Oakley, and her white wolf. My dad said she is massive, as big as sorry, and reminded me of her families history. Then the conversation switch to the rogue that came onto the territory. How they tried to get information from him but he wouldn't talk. It was odd. The rogues have been coming in groups, not one by himself. We didn't know what to think of that. Once I get home and the festival is over I planned on interrogating him. My alpha aura should make him submit and talk but it didn't work on any of the others. I knew they weren't working alone.It was reaching afternoon and my stomach growled. Only a few more miles of this interstate and then it would be back roads the rest of the way. I had my beta prepping my suit for the festival so all I had to do was shower and change when I got home. I hoped that none of the alphas tried to pawn their daughters off on me. They all think I will take one of their daughters as a chosen mate and create an alliance. I wanted to hold out for my mate. I know she is out there somewhere.After a few more miles I take an exit off the interstate to start the drive on the back roads. There is a small diner just off the exit that I have been to a few times. It is neutral territory so all different types of shifters can be seen there. The owners are a bear shifter and a wolf shifter that are fated mates. It works well for them.I park the car and head on inside. I find a booth in the back with my back to the wall so I can see the door. I do not like surprises or being snuck up on. Not that anyone would be able to sneak up on me because of my wolf sense. I picked up the menu and read over it.I heard the ring of the bell on the door and my nose was assaulted with the worst smell ever, like rotten eggs mixed with a trash dump. I looked up to see three skinny, dirty looking wolf shifters. They were clearly rogues. Being on neutral territory no one could do anything but everyone seemed to avoid them. Probably for their stench mostly. They took a seat not far away from me and I could over hear them talking. They were saying something about their boss wanting a special wolf and how they didn't understand it but that they would follow orders. Their boss was having doubts about where this wolf was so they were going to start looking into other territories. No mentions of where they had been before.A waitress came over and interrupted my eaves dropping."What can I get you handsome?" She asked. She was young, looked like she could be a model. She smelled like a wolf. She had a flirty smile but I was not at all interested. I gave her my order in a monotone voice, hoping she would get the hint that I wasn't interested. I really just wanted her to go away so I could continue to listen to the rogues. By the time she had left they had put in their order and had changed the subject to something else. I was annoyed. My meal came around the same time as theirs and once I was finished I paid and went outside to my car."Did you hear enough of what you wanted?" I heard a voice from beside the diner."Yea, it's rude to listen to other people's conversations." Said another.The rogues from inside came sulking out from the allyway. Up close I could see their scars and dirt from where they clearly did not take care of themselves. Their clothes had holes in them, they didn't wear shoes and their hair was so greasy and dirty that I couldn't even tell what color it was."What do you want?" I asked with an attitude as I continued toward my car."Don't you mean what do YOU want since your the one who was listening to our conversation?" The one who seemed like he might be the leader of the three asked."I have no business with you. I want nothing to do with you." I said. I had reached my car and thrown my wallet and phone inside incase I needed to shift and fight them. I hoped it wouldn't come down to that because fighting on neutral territory was against all supernatural rules. There had to be a few places one could go and feel safe."You better watch yourself." Said the leader as they backed away back into the alley. I just rolled my eyes and got into my car. I sped out of there, flinging rocks from the gravel parking lot as I went. I felt a little bad for that because they could have harmed someone who didn't deserve it but I wanted to get out of their and back to my territory.I called my dad and told him about the encounter and relayed to him what I had heard them saying."Hmmm. That's interesting." He said."What?" I responded."Well I have some ideas about this but I want to do some research before I come to any conclusions and say anything. I'll get back to you on this. Of course it will be after the festival because your mother has me running around like a chicken with its head cut off." He chuckled."Ah yes. I believe that." I smiled as I responded. I could see her now, barking orders at him and him doing exactly what she said with all the love he has for her. They are fated and they are the reason he wants to wait for his fated. He has never seen such love from a fated pair as his parents."I hope you will be home in time." My dad said."I am on my way now and I will make it just in time for the festival." I replied. We hung up and I continued on the road through the woods that would take me home.