Chapter 5 - James POV

"It's 5:30 in the fucking morning. Couldn't this bullshit wait?" Marcus rages. He's in a mood again. He may have inherited the title by blood right, but he hates every second of the responsibility and duty that entails. We've got four pack links severed, three dead Blood Moon Warriors, one dead gamma, no answers, and he's worried about getting his beauty rest. Typical.

"Where's my coffee? Fifty fucking omegas in this house, and no one can muster a cup of coffee for their alpha? Incompetent idiots," Marcus continues on his tirade as Alice slips in with a hot mocha for him, sliding it on his desk without him even noticing. Ah, she has one for me too. My savior. She always comes through for me.

It smells a bit—off—though, but not in a bad way. Or is that the garden? Whoever has taken it over has really outdone themselves. I don't even know how to describe it. Sunshine and jasmine? Does sunshine have a smell? If it does, this is surely it.

The council doors open, and I lean forward in a