Chapter 3 Arthur POV

“Settle down! I will never touch a shewolf and you know it! No matter how long we must wait for her” I reminded my wolf, his constant whining of me finding our mate, was getting on my nerves.

“You better not, we are getting closer, I can feel it” he replied.

“I hope you are right, Excalibur, these dreams we keep having must mean she is near. The moon goddess wouldn’t be cruel enough to dangle such a gift only to take it away”

The pressure weighs heavy on my chest. I need to find her soon. My position as Alpha depends on it. The pack elders have made it clear that an unmated Alpha cannot lead indefinitely.

The photographs they sent of eligible females made my stomach turn. Plain, weak, desperate. None of them worthy of standing beside an Alpha of my caliber. But I felt like there was Luna there, that I will be attracted to.

Sitting back in my seat, I block out Excalibur, and remember last nights dream.

I’m in wolf form, running and running but always in the same woods. Woods I’m not familiar with. Eventually coming to a break in trees. I’m at the edge of a lake, Bowing my head, I drink heartily. An enticing smell surrounds me, cinnamon and apples. It is so tantalising that I can practically taste it.

Looking up, desperately trying to find the source. There! On the other side of the lake, a stunning blonde wolf, drinking from the lake as well. She looks up and my breath disappears. Such stunning blue eyes. I know it, deep inside me, she’s my mate. I have to get to her, she is so far away, but I have to. I take off running, as fast as I can, running and running around the lake. Trying desperately to catch up to her. I’ve searching so long for her, but she is right there. Breaking from the tree line, she stands before me. So close.

I’m jolted awake, like always, disappointment and pain grips my chest. Night after night, I get closer and closer but I can never reach her.

“Sorry to disturb you Alpha, we are entering the pack lands” my driver hesitates.

“Very well” I grumble, Its taking everything in me to hold back Excalibur from clawing out his throat, that was the closest we had ever been to meeting our mate.

I often hear people describe me as a beast, and at 7ft with long dark chestnut hair in a bun and 200kg of pure muscle, it’s not much of a stretch to guess why. But that’s not what I want my mate to see and think though.

The darkness of the forest suddenly opens up with blinding light revealing a large clearing. Small cottages in a poor state of repair dotted around the land, I suspect those are where the mated wolves live. The road improves the further into the pack lands we go, yet no escort has arrived. Strange.

I mind link my beta, Gareth, who is in the car behind mine. I thought the Moon Rises pack were the second largest pack in Europe?. He is quick to reply. So did I, Alpha. Something is not right here, this is a pack with a long heritage but it seems to be in decline. Nodding my head, I agree, while we are here do some investigating, quietly, I want to know the state of play before the Alpha summit on Monday. Yes Alpha. The mind link ends.

Gareth has been my closest ally and best friend since we were pups. There was no doubt when I became Alpha that he would be my second. We enter more woodland. The drive was becoming too long, why would the pack house be so far away from the town?

Two hours later the woodland cover breaks and a large grey block scars the landscape. It must be ten stories high, but seems slightly more taken care of than the rest of the pack lands.

I quickly mind link Gareth; after this, we are having an extended stay at home. No invites, no touring, no travel. I need some time in my own space. I feel him sigh through the link, we are only doing this to find your mate Arthur. However, I agree, our pack would benefit from some time with their Alpha and Beta at home.

The mind link closes just as we pull up in front of the block. Elders and I’m guessing the Alpha and Luna are gathered on the front steps, they look nervous. Idiots, they should be scared. I have no time for idiots. My driver, Percival, opens my door once the rest of my entourage has assembled. I step out into the shadows, a sneer on my face.

Suddenly, the wind shifts. A scent hits me like lightning. Cinnamon and apples. My heart stops. Excalibur goes wild, clawing at my insides with desperate need.

“MATE!” he roars in my mind.

She’s here. She’s actually here. The scent is faint but unmistakable. My eyes scan the building frantically, searching every window, every shadow. My hands shake as I try to control myself. After years of searching, she’s within these walls.

Let’s get this over with.

“Greetings Alpha Hendrix and Beta Morgan of the Dark Night Pack, I am Alpha Magnus and my Luna Morgana. Welcome to the Moon Rises Pack.” Kiss ass.

“Greetings, Alpha, Luna. Thank you for hosting this year’s Mating Ball.”

“Please come in, let us show you to your suites, after such a long drive, you should rest while the other Alphas arrive” Alpha Magnus guides us inside to a large entry, with a large oak staircase leading up through the building to all the floors. “Your rooms are on the 9th floor, the elevator is just back here” the Alpha leads on, surely this is an omega job or at most the gammas.

“Nonsense! We are wolves, not kittens. The stairs will be fine” I remark, turning my back on them all, taking the stairs three at a time, like my warriors around me. I catch the look on Magnus’s face, shock and fear, as he and his Luna follow behind us.

We reach the 9th floor, noting the others seem to be many floors behind us and moving slowly. Do they not train? Does the pack not train or just them? How ludicrous. How do they hope to survive an attack? We come across an omega on the floor, bowing her head respectfully, she quickly guides us to our rooms, and enquires if we need anything else. Gareth requests some refreshments and our luggage to be brought up, then she dashes away. Ideal, finally someone who acts accordingly.