The date

Valencia headed to her home, a cozy little den just near the edge of the Sricgis forest. She loved being alone in her house when she wasn't busy performing her job as the Archon Alpha. She was the alpha of all the alphas in Sricgis empire that spanned the entirety of the forest and a major chunk of the nearby human city of Grawd.

She disliked humans, petty little things who had no fangs, no claws to protect themselves yet who would come charging in her lands occasionally to hunt animals with their sick weapons for the fun of it. One of such hunts had snatched away everything from her when she had been young.

Her werewolf parents had been killed by the humans and she had been left to defend herself on her own. She had had two choices- to cry her eyes out and wait for someone to help her or to make herself strong enough that she would never need anyone. Obviously, she had chosen the latter.

She had been a rogue but had asserted her dominance by killing all the alphas and naming betas, and even gammas as the next alphas of the five major werewolf packs in Sricgis. Anybody who had challenged her authority had met a gruesome death giving her the status of the Archon Alpha.

Her own pack, the blood moon, consisted of six loyal members- a beta, a gamma and four omegas. Though, she considered them more of a family. The number of werewolves was dwindling as it had been a hundred years since anybody had had children. Her cousin and Beta, Gerald was the proud father of the three werewolf cubs-Sarah, Elvin and Tom. That had made the total number of members reach nine. Gerald had found and married his mate, Olivia last year.

Valencia had asked him to form a new pack if he wished but Gerald had politely declined. He hadn’t wanted to look after the kids alone and he knew Valencia could protect his family like no other. Valencia, on the other hand, had no intention of finding out who her mate was, she had found the concept of mate ridiculous. She couldn't imagine herself tied to one person for eternity. Or to several.

She loved being the sovereign queen of her life and Sricgis.

She lay immersed in her hot tub with the thoughts whirling through her head as her phone buzzed. She knew who it must be even without having to open her eyes. Only one person would have the guts to call her late at night. She hit the accept button and put the phone to her ears, "Yes?"

The voice of Dominic drawled, "You could have at least let me ask your hand before you said yes. Not that I mind, Valencia Raskin."

Valencia rolled her eyes, "It's Archon Alpha."

Dominic chuckled, "Certainly, your majesty."

Valencia got straight to the point, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your call, Dominic?"

Dominic laughed, "You know why. I want you to be present at the conclave next week."

Valencia drew an exasperated breath, "I'll doze to sleep if I have to listen to the stupid alpha speeches of secrecy and security one more time."

Dominic's voice grew edgy, "Well, that's what I want you for."

Valencia noticed the change in his voice, "Spit it out, Dom"

Dominic couldn’t hide amusement from his voice at the way she said Dom instead of Dominic. "Well, I believe, some werewolves aren't keeping us secured anymore."

That caught her attention. "What do you mean?"

Dominic lowered his voice, "I can't tell you everything over the phone. Can we meet at the usual place in an hour?"

Valencia spoke, "Make it two" before disconnecting the call. If she had to hear more politics and gossip she needed to spend a damn extra hour immersed in the bathtub to keep herself from screaming at him when they met.

Two hours later, she found herself standing in front of a rusty-looking diner called 'The old place.' It was a dodgy werewolf hideout but Dominic had wanted to make this meeting as secret as possible. The owner of the place was a short bearded man who ate nearly all of the food that could have earned him more money. He sat by the bar on a wooden stool, cleaning the glasses with a cloth.

At least, his nails were clean today. He bowed at Valencia and greeted her, "Madam Valencia, why are you outside again?"

She muttered under her breath, "It's Archon Alpha Valencia.”

Rugor’s brow furrowed as he tried to concentrate, “Rugor had walked you inside five minutes ago.”

Valencia asked with her artificial smile, “Are you drunk?”

His smile dropped a bit as he attempted to smooth his hair with his fingers. He stuttered, “Not today Argon”. Valencia gave up correcting him and asked instead, "Have you bathed today, Rugor?"

He was delighted for being congratulated on being clean. "Yes, and Rugor cut nails too. See" He waved his hands in front of her to verify, an opportunity she gladly skipped away. He continued with renewed enthusiasm, "Alpha Dominic Castro asked me to accompany you to the table."

Valencia replied, "Well, he should have been inside, setting up the table himself" as she walked inside.

Rugor took her to a far table nestled under the branches of a tree. A handsome looking man turned around and greeted her, "It's an honor to have your acquaintance, my lady."

His eyes moved from her feet to her eyes, taking in her appearance- ripped jeans, a tank top, and messy hair. She hadn't bothered to look in the mirror before stepping out. "You look beautiful, as always."

Valencia looked at him standing in his immaculate dark blue three piece suit with cufflinks and black shoes. "Blue suits you", she offered. She wasn't going to admit that he looked smoking-hot in his well-toned body, perfectly set black hair, and emerald eyes that could make any girl go weak in the knees. Any girl- but not her.

He offered her a hand and pulled out a chair to help her settle in. He was charming in his mannerisms. "Is this a date?"

Dominic smiled mischievously, "It can be if you want."

Valencia smiled as she looked around, "I must appreciate your effort though I must say it’s wasted on me."

He settled down in a chair opposite her, "Nothing's wasted on you, ever. I haven't found my mate yet, either." He stressed on ‘either’ longer than necessary.

They were two alphas who hadn't found their mates even though both of them were centuries old. It was a common assumption that the two would eventually accept each other. Dominic had tried to reason with her a million times but she wouldn't budge.

"The conclave, Dominic.' Valencia prompted him to speak before he would make her sick of all the flirting.

Dominic rubbed his neck with his left hand as his biceps threatened to rip his suit apart. "Well, I don't know where to start."

"How about you educate me on the purpose of sending hycwens after my family?"