Chapter Five

* Alpha Zayden *

The noise of the servants is what woke me up. Then I realised I was still inside the stone room. My eyes were wide open; I usually wake up cold, on the floor, with my throat raw and blood under my claws.

Today was different; I woke up warm.

I felt Something soft on my back. Not my own blanket. It smelled good compared to this room—Jasmine flowers and something sweet. I remembered the night air. Then the scent of fear from a she-wolf, but she was trying to be brave.

The same scent lingers in the air around me, from last night. I sat up too fast and the cloth fell. It's a woman's shawl. Small, cheap wool, frayed at the edge. It had been covering me.

I remembered her soft hands. A small hand on my shoulder when the beast in me felt like it was tearing my body apart. A gentle voice saying I am safe here in my own home.

For decades, no one has touched me during a full moon in ten years. No one is allowed to live after seeing it. That's what happened to the previous brides I was supposed to have. They never survived.

I pulled on pants from the chest I keep in the corner and stormed out, the shawl in my fist. The bookshelf door was already sealed shut. My archive was empty, just like I left it.

"Sora!"

The old maid came running, nearly dropping her tray when she saw me standing. Her eyes went straight to the shawl in my hand.

"Alpha Zayden! You - you're awake early. The moon -"

"Who was in my house last night?"

Her face went white. "No one, Alpha. You ordered everyone home. Only the border guards remained, as you said."

"Don't lie to me."

She trembled and held out a small wooden box. "This... this was left. Last night. A girl... a young she-wolf came to the door. She said she was with a messenger from Crimson River; she brought it. She said it was for you. About the betrothal."

I took the box from her hand. It still held that faint scent. Faint, but jasmine underneath the wood.

"A girl? What did she look like?" In the depths of my mind, I couldn't recall her face. That was the reason for my annoyance.

"I... I don't know, Alpha. She's young, maybe eighteen or nineteen years old. She-wolf smell, but weak. She said there was a warrior hurt in the archive and I told her there was no one there. She kept saying there was a room -"

"And you let her in my archives?" My voice dropped accusing her.

"I did not! She ran in herself, Alpha, I swear! Then she left. She said to tell you a male messenger was waiting in a car, but I only saw her."

I slowly opened the box. Inside was not a treaty. Not gold. A folded letter, and a small Crimson river stone, the kind pups from the Crimson pack use to make wishes. I noticed the letter was in a rushed, feminine handwriting.

Alpha Zayden, please don't marry Chloe. She loves someone else and it will kill her. Please, you are an Alpha; you can say no to the Council. Written by a friend from the Blue Moon pack.

I closed the box slowly.

Blue Moon. Not Crimson River, but the gift is from Crimson River. Alpha Daniel, I must pay him a visit soon. Whoever wrote the letter, obviously lied.

"Did anyone else see her? Ask Beta Jax. Ask the gate guards. And Jude my warrior."

Sora shook her head frantically. "I asked this morning Alpha. No one saw a car. No one saw a girl enter the gates. The gate log is also empty. It is like... she was never here, Alpha."

I looked down at the shawl again. The scent was real. The hand on my shoulder was real. I was not a dream, I was certain. That she-wolf has done something to the beast who lives inside of me. For the first time since I shifted, another wolf has calmed me.

Someone had walked through my locked gates on a full moon night, found my cursed room that no one is supposed to find, put her hand on the beast, and calmed him...

And my whole Alpha house has no idea who she is!?

An hour later, Jude and Beta Jax came to my office. I haven't started working on anything yet, not when my mind is preoccupied by the scene in my head last night. If only I could remember her face.

"Good morning Alpha."

I look up to see the two best warriors of my pack. Both were built for war, big, strong, and deadly. Just like how I prefer them to be.

"Where were you two last night?"

They glance at each other; Jude groans and looks at Beta Jax. "You told me I could go home and rest; you were the last one that stayed with Alpha."

Beta Jax shrugged his shoulders and turned to face me. "I was home after we talked Alpha; you told me to leave. I understood it was the full wolf Moon and you cannot be disturbed."

They were both right but now I am left with a puzzle. "There was a she-wolf who got inside the Alpha house last night, i want to know if she was from our pack or the pack outside. Jude, you check all security and find out who has guests from the other packs. Find every she-wolf who comes near the Alpha house and have them see me immediately."

Jude bowed and answered. "Yes Alpha, I am going to do it now."

He took a step back and walked out leaving me and Beta Jax. He sat on the single couch and his brows furrowed when he looked at me.

"Forgive me if I may ask what did the female intruder do that makes you so anxious to see her again?"

I look at him and sigh. "In my cursed beast time, she was with me and she was brave enough to have calmed the beast inside me. I want to see her again and find out who she is, why she was with me that night and maybe, maybe she is my fated mate. The one that could lift the curse."

Beta Jax gasped and stood up. "If that is the case then I should help Jude with the task you gave him. It will be easier and more effective if there were two of us investigating."

"No. You stay with me; the alliance with the Crimson River pack has to be established. I'm not sure who that she-wolf is but for now we have to think about the daughter of Alpha Daniel. He has agreed to let his daughter marry me."

“Oh! That is great news Alpha! Your grandfather will be happy; does he know?”

“I haven’t confirmed anything to him yet, but he was optimistic since the talk of alliance started.”

I let out a deep breath. “Get everything ready; we will go to the Crimson River Pack, the day after tomorrow. Now that Alpha Daniel has sent me his gift it means my bride is ready.”