Chapter 4 - Carter

It was rare I left my pack now, instead choosing to send my people instead. Yes, you could say I was withdrawn. Isolated. Preferring my own company even. But, I was the Alpha of my own pack, and therefore in my mind have nobody to answer to. If I chose to stay within the confines of my own pack, then that shall be what I do. Others were merely an irritation to me.

But this, I considered an important business arrangement, and one I wanted to ensure was completed. Eldermoon Pack was one that rarely offered business deals, and they had assets that could be benficial, so this opportunity was not one to be risked. I needed to push past my inner demons and get out of pack.

“Almost there.” Hudson, my pack Beta said calmly from the drivers seat of the car. We had been driving for near four hours just to get here. A drive I could have done without, and one where my mind had been running overtime. This had better be worth it, and we had best finalise this deal. I swear this Alpha reverses on any of the things we discussed or even contemplates cancelling the deal he would learn what regret truly was…

I simply nodded in agreement with my Beta, and closest friend, as I allowed my eyes to wander out of the window of the car in a bid to distract my wandering mind. But Hudson's voice interrupts my thoughts before they even have a chance to take over. “C, come on, I can sense your irritation from here. If you are wanting this to go well you may want to at least appear approachable, and not come across like you want to kill them all and burn their pack to the ground.”

I gave my friend a cold glare. That was not the aura I was giving off, was it? Draven, my wolf released a low chuckle. ‘He may not be far wrong.’

I sighed. Heavily. It was not the first time the first impression I portrayed had got me into trouble. “I shall smile when I meet them, would that help?”

Hudson laughed. “Oh yes, lure them in with that truly friendly forced smile.” He winked playfully at me as we turned down a long driveway, which I assumed was the entrance to the pack. “But, in truth, that would be no different to the wolf dressing as Grandma in Little Red Riding Hood... 'Oh, what big teeth you have...' the little girls says as the wolf grins, before replying. 'All the better for eating you with.' Seriously your forced smile is scary as hell, creeps even me out and I have been your friend forever, so they are still going to assume you are smiling because you are looking forward to eating them, Carter.”

I rolled my eyes, while my wolf howls with laughter at everything my friend had just implied. I hated them both. Assholes. I can't help if somewhere along the lines of becoming Alpha, the pressures of the role, and then losing my fated mate that I have become far from skilled in dealing with people. In fact, I hated them. I preferred my own company. That way I do not have to deal with other people's drama, nor do I need to force conversations. Is there a crime in that?

I watched carefully from my seat, as my friend pulled up the car at the guard box, greeting the young guy with a smile. I sighed, feeling deflated. He was friendly, and easy-going, or at least capable of being both sides of the coin. Moody and ruthless as well as friendly and easy-going. There was no winning this for me. I could not change who I was. I was me. I was an Alpha. That meant mean and moody. Ruthless. Cold-hearted. Cruel. Brutal. I knew I had become worse over time. I did not like being around others. Maybe even more so since losing Gabrielle. But I could not alter the make-up which made me the man I was to please others. So, if they want this business deal here at Eldermoon Pack as much as they say they do, they would take me as I am, or leave me. Simple as that.

I listened carefully as Hudson discussed our arrival with the seemingly incompetent guard on duty. The confused expression upon his face told me he was not aware of our expected arrival, which only further fed my irritation. Surely he would have been aware of our impending arrival? This was not a spur of the moment visit. This had been planned for weeks. Yet, watching the reaction of this young wolf in front of us, he was completely unaware of the visit, and of who we were. Though, in fact, from where I was sitting he appeared to be unaware of very little… in fact, I am near certain he may even be high…

His eyes glazed over for a moment, making me assume he was mindlinking about our arrival. Hudson glanced across to me uncomfortably, while I remained watching the guard, awaiting a response. Those eyes of his, remaining glazed for quite some time, though, in truth, they were remarkedly glazed and unfocused to begin with, only further backing up my theory he was high.

“Here are your ID’s” He stuttered, attempting to pass Hudson our paperworks, and missing his hand by a mile. Wow… I was beginning to second guess my decision to work with this pack now if this was what they considered a capable guard. “And Miss Mari will be waiting for you at the packhouse doors to take you to meet the Alpha. She is the grand-daughter of our former Beta. A sweet little thing. My understanding is she will be taking care of you in the coming days.”

Hudson begun to drive on, but I faltered at this young guard's words. We were being left in the care of some minor she-wolf? A sweet little thing? Was that all we were worthy of? Grand-daughter of a former of a former Beta or not, I was expecting more. This was not what I was imagining, and far from the beginning of the meeting I was hoping for…