Chapter-25 (Part 2)

“What are you guys waiting for?” I snapped, making everyone jump. “Off to training.” They all nodded and, murmuring to themselves, started with the daily routine.

“Meeting in ten,” I muttered to Eli and started to head back inside, but I knew my delta had something to say as he trailed behind me.

“What’s going on? Why are you treating Ivy like that?” Eli demanded. “She is your mate.”

“Exactly! She is my mate…” I said, turning around and shooting him an icy look. “So let me deal with her, Delta,”

“Two hundred laps? That’s insane, Asher,” he protested again. “And almost impossible to complete in the time you gave her,”

“Again, that’s none of your concern. I know a warrior when I see one and I have my doubts about her. If she indeed is a true warrior, then this will be a piece of cake for her. If not then she doesn’t belong to the GrayCrest army and can find her place somewhere else. Maybe she will be better off doing the household chores, like the omegas.”

“But Logan and Noah…”

“Logan and Noah don’t run the army, I do!” I growled. “I don’t want another word from you, Eli. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Alpha,” Eli mumbled, lowering his head.

“Good. Meet me at ten in my study,” I ordered before walking away. My scalp prickled and a part of me hated myself for doing what I did to Ivy. If she could shift, that would be nothing. But without shifting, two hundred laps of the entire perimeter was insane. Because GrayCrest boundaries stretched far and wide and completing two hundred rounds with her human feet before evening…I don’t know how she would do it.

I knew I was being unfair but; I was mad at her, and she needed to pay for the humiliation.

Logan, Noah and Eli were gathered in my study as was planned and, judging from the look on Noah and Logan’s face, I knew Eli had spilled it all.

“How did it go with the buyers?” I asked, trying to seem normal.

Apart from the pack, we had businesses as well to make up for the wealth that we had amassed over several generations. Our most significant and profitable venture was our real estate business, and each one of us owned equal shares in it. The main office was located in New York City and was looked after by our human secretary, Harper White. He was the most reliable human I have ever met and had been working for us for years now.

“Good, they have quoted a good price, but Harper is looking into more profitable options, so we will know soon enough. We also looked into some good ventures to invest in, but, of course, we couldn't decide in your absence. We can discuss it during our quarterly meeting with the shareholders next month,” Noah replied.

“The market price for the penthouse has also shot up. Harper said if we wanted to sell, it’s a good time,” Logan added. “I refused because Cora loves it there and that’s where she stays when she visits the café,” Cora owned a chic café in the City with her best friend Maya. They set it all up on their own with a little help from Logan, and she was immensely proud of it.

“Rose too,” Noah agreed. My sweet little Rose wasn’t much of a business person, but her kind heart drew her to a non-profit that actively works for homeless children. Since charities were a big part of the Luna duties, Rose was highly invested in stuff like that.

“I don’t see why we would need to sell it,” I shrugged. “Anyway, I have news.”

“What did we miss?” Logan asked.

“Someone intruded across our boundary last night,”

“What’s new about that?” Noah grimaced. “Another rogue?”

“Could be, but…I don’t think so,” I said, flopping down on my desk.

“Why not?” Logan said.

“Because whatever it was, it was crazy fast,” I replied. “I was right behind it, and then it just disappeared. A normal rogue can’t ever outrun me.”

“You never know,” Noah shrugged. “Rogues are pretty powerful too,”

“I caught its scent lingering on the trees and there were no paw prints. Explain how a rogue leaves its scent on trees all over the forest, but leaves no evidence of its existence at all. Not even a single crumpled leaf or anything. The floor was wet enough to leave at least some prints. I saw mine,”

“So, what are you implying?” Logan asked. “Are you saying…?” He caught what I was implying and I gave him a nod.

“Vampire. The scent I caught was revolting. Rogues have a disgusting scent too, but not shitty enough to make me want to empty my stomach. It wasn’t a wolf’s scent,”

“The warriors chased it all the way to CrescentMoon’s borders, but truth be told, none of them saw the thing. Just traced the scent so I wouldn’t completely rule out what Asher is saying,” Eli agreed.

“But vampires haven’t stepped into our territory for ages. The nearest vampire coven is that led by Orion and his mate Venette. They are quite a large coven, but GrayCrest made a treaty with them fifty years ago that none of us cross each other’s territories or hunt. In dire circumstances, prior permission is to be asked for. And Orion has followed the treaty dutifully and so have we,” Logan muttered.

“I guess we need to pay a visit to Orion then,” I said. “But not unless we are a hundred percent sure. I believe we should let Natalie know of this and figure out if her men have also run into whatever creature it was.”

“Hmm, yeah, that can be done. I haven’t talked to Natalie in ages,” Logan said. “No news from CrescentMoon either. Last I heard, they were revolting against a female alpha’s rule. I offered Natalie help, but she said she needed to do this on her own and would reach out if she needed help. Things have been so busy since I didn’t get a chance to talk to her.”

“Well, that’s all I had to discuss. Eli, please keep an eye on Graham and ensure that guards are on strict lookout in case whoever this was tries to sneak in again.”

“Yes, alpha,” Eli nodded. “Anything else?”

“No, that will be all,” I muttered. Eli gave us a bow and then walked out and the moment he did, both my brothers turned to me, their eyes glinting. I blinked as they shot me devilish grins.

Crap. I was trapped.