4 The Runaway Luna

Alexander Thorne.

"Your Highness, we are approaching the Cresant Wane Pack." My Beta, Callum announced from the passenger seat, his head tilted to the side slightly. "Should we notify them of your arrival?"

"No." I reached out and fixed my necktie as I leaned back in my seat, glancing out at the forest that led to the pack. It seems normal from the outside, but the reports I had gotten about it said otherwise. "Otherwise, what would be the point of me coming here low profile?" I had inquired, my voice low, but enough to be heard by the two others in the car with me--my Royal Beta Callum, and the driver. "It is best to catch them all off guard."

Callum nodded in understanding. "You are right, Your Highness." He slumped back in his seat. I could hear the worry in his tone when he spoke again. "But, do you believe the reports about the new Alpha conspiring with the the Rogue King? It could all just be rumors. After all, he just took over the Alpha position, and I heard he is reckless sure, but I doubt Alpha Rico would be stupid enough to conspire with the Rogue King."

I stroked my beard with my hand as his words hung in the air, "Well, whether stupid or not, we are about to find out." I did not respond to his question as to whether I believe the report or otherwise. I only believe in what I see, but I do not take such reports lightly as well, especially not when the alarm was raised by the High Councils. Those old wolves do not raise reports for no reason. There has to be some basis to it. And that is what I am about to find out. "His wedding is the best chance for us to get the answers we need. Their guards will be lowered now. Has Rhys and the others arrive?"

Rhys is my Head of Shadow Guards, my personal guards that is.

They do not know I will be attending, though they will be aware the moment I arrive on their packgrounds. However, their guards would already be down, and I have my people, chaired by Rhys, in camouflage that would infiltrate and gather the information needed.

I have had this all planned.

"Yes, Your Highness. He had reported earlier that they have successfully gotten in." Callum confirmed. "Though, Alpha, I believe his Luna to be should be looked into as well."

My brows pinched. "And what makes you say so?"

"Because they aren't fated mates." Callum stated the fact that is already known to everyone. "Hardly she-wolves agree to chosen mates knowing their mates are out there. Alpha Rico could agree to secure his position, but she and her family must have their ulterior motives as well. Not to mention, she sounds too perfect. Why would anyone that perfect settle for an incompetent Alpha like Alpha Rico?" The dislike in Callum's tone was evident, and very rarely does he dislike anyone.

His dislike for Rico was evident though, and it is understandable because the new Alpha has to be the most incomptent and reckless, a shame to the Alpha title really, but so far he has yet done anything of being stripped off the position. However, Callum's dislike for him had rubbed off on his bride apparently though I could not say he was entirely wrong.

Why would someone as seemingly perfect as Rico's Luna be with him?

I exhaled a low breath, "Well, whatever it is, we are about to find out."

Up ahead, we coud spot the high building of the packhouse, signifying we were on pack grounds already. My frown did deepen however when I realized there were no sight of patrol guards anywhere, not even in the shadows, and it appears Callum shared the same thought as he too glanced out, his keen eyes sharp as they surveyed.

"Weak security." He noted, his tone sharp. "For a pack of this influence, they sure play with their security."

"Keep your guards up. Do not be decieved. Someone's approaching fast." I warned, my voice low, my ears perking up at the sound of rushed footsteps approaching from afar. He could not hear it yet--my senses were more heightened than theirs all but I had picked it up.

It was just a single person though, light, but fast--alarmingly so. Not even Rhys was that fast, and he is the fastest wolf in my pack.

My eyes narrowed, my claws making an appearance by the side as I shifted my gaze in the direction of the sound.

Then I heard it.

Branch breaking, leaves crushed, and ragged breaths that nearly had my focus breaking. It was getting closer. Both my ears perked up, and Callum's did as well, the intruder close enough to be spotted. Then--

"Stop the car." I had ordered, my tone sharp, and quick.

The driver pressed on the brakes just as the person came crashing into the car, almost hit but he swiveled the car to the side enough to avoid the fatal collision. But the act had the person crashing to my side instead.

I saw the flash of white first, and time seemed to slow as I lowered the window, my instincts primal and offensive, my claws sharp and ready to strike on instinct, but then the person pulled back.

And my eyes clashed with hers.

Time had indeed stilled in, and the only thing heard was her ragged, heavy breaths from sprinting, and the sound of our heartbeats racing behind our ribcages. The scent hit me then, with no warnings whatsoever.

She smelled of crushed violets and storm winds, a scent that clawed through my chest and sank into my bones. But there was also something else, something darker, ancient, a pull as old as time and written in blood and stars. I knew what it was even before my wolf growled it in my mind.

"Mate!"

But much to my surprise, she did not have the same reaction as me. Instead, she released a shaky breath, her palms pressed against the car as she leaned down to meet my eye level, and when she parted her lips to speak to me for the very first time---in that voice I knew would be etched to me for a lifetime and beyond, her words were not what I had expected.

"Would you marry me?" She asked, breathing heavily, but sounding determined.

I arched a brow on instinct, my claws retracting, and from the front seat I heard Callum and the driver gasp in surprise. But, if they thought what she said was enough to throw them off, then they were certainly not ready for my response.

The corner of my lips tilted into a faint, ghost smirk, and the response escaped my lips smoothly. "Why not?" After all, fate had already made its choice. This was just me catching up.