Chapter Seven

* Alpha Zayden *

We take a black Navigator to the Crimson River Pack. Just the four of us, cutting through the road of the valley at dawn. Jude and Beta Jax, two of my best warriors, and Alfred behind the wheel. No other car, no messenger flag. When an Alpha like me arrives in a car, it means I am not asking for permission.

When I arrive on the pack's territory, I have already declared that I own the road. The Crimson River border warriors smelled us three miles out. I heard their howls, their panicked mind-links. By the time we broke through the tree line, their entire gate guard was in formation, weapons down, and heads bowed.

I shifted at the gate as soon as I got out of the vehicle. Naked, unashamed, steam coming off my skin in the cold morning. I meant to show them my true wolf form. They have shown great respect and fear.

Jax threw me my pants afterwards. I didn't bother with a shirt anymore.

"Alpha Daniel," I said, loud enough for the whole hill to hear. "You sent for me."

Then the gates opened. Crimson River was supposed to be a strong pack. Big territory, river on both sides. But their Alpha house was small compared to mine. Their warriors were lean. Their eyes dropped too fast.

Alpha Daniel waited on the porch in his formal jacket, just like he wears for Council meetings when we last met. His Luna, Clara, was standing beside him clutching her shawl. And behind them, a girl in a white dress was trying to make herself invisible. Their daughter Chloe.

She wasn't a scent that had caught my attention. I knew that instantly. My wolf didn't even lift his head for her.

"Alpha Zayden," Alpha Daniel bowed his head low after seeing me. Too low. "You honor us by coming so soon. We expected you to come tomorrow."

"You sent a gift," I said, walking straight up the steps to get near him. I didn't bow back. "I don't like to be kept waiting for what is mine."

I let my aura slip so that everyone may know me, even the servants—just a fraction.

Every warrior on that porch dropped to one knee affected by my strong aura. Even Jude and Jax took a step back. Alpha Daniel's knees locked, fighting it; his Luna gasped and grabbed his arm.

Chloe made a small, choked sound and went pale with her eyes wide. Good for them. Let them feel it. Let them understand what they are marrying their daughter into.

"I was told the daughter of the Crimson River pack is an obedient girl. Loyal to her husband. Trained to be a good Luna," I said, looking straight at Chloe. She couldn't meet my eyes; I felt her body trembling.

"She is," Alpha Daniel said through gritted teeth, still fighting my pressure.

"Then we will have no problems." I finally pulled the pressure back and allowed them to breathe. The warriors gasped for air. "I came to see my future bride. And to see who else lives in this house."

My eyes moved past Chloe searching, to the windows of the Alpha house, to the side yard, to the small houses down the hill where the Alpha families lived.

Somewhere here, I knew that she-wolf could have come from.

"Where is the rest of your pack, wolves? Your blood relatives?" I asked. "Bring them out. I want to see everyone who will be bowing to my Luna."

Alpha Daniel frowned, confused. "Everyone? Now?"

"Now," I said. "If she is to be Luna of Dark Blood, she should be introduced properly to all. I want to meet your living relatives. I want them to see my face. Every she-wolf from eighteen to twenty. I want to see them too."

Luna Clara's hand tightened on Alpha Daniel's arm. "All of them, Alpha Zayden?"

"All of them," I repeated with a strong determination in every word, my eyes never leaving the tree line because I felt something move.

Alpha Daniel has instructed the warriors to go and tell his family to come. And so his son came first. The one who would inherit his Alpha title. A wolf who was formal but hid his fear in front of me.

"Welcome to the Crimson River pack Alpha Zayden, I am Duncan."

He extended his hand for a handshake; I sized him up. Alpha Daniel was now standing beside him. "You can't shake my hand for now; maybe next time when you inherit your father's title. By now let's just pretend we were good brothers-in-law."

I heard him grit his teeth but look down and didn't say a word. Alpha Daniel sighed but he didn't complain. From the aura of his son, I felt his eagerness to take the title from his father; too bad he has to wait for maybe a decade more.

"Alpha Zayden, if you have received the betrothal gift and are willing to take my daughter as your bride would you be kind enough to treat my son as your good brother-in-law?"

That earned a sarcastic chuckle in my mouth. "I am here to take my bride; after I confirm something, I'm not to be bothered by him."

They looked at each other and nodded. We waited for almost an hour and then the Alpha house was crowded. I looked around trying to see the familiar face or the scent but failed.

"Every she-wolf from age eighteen to twenty is here, including female servants and warriors. I don't understand why you have to do this Alpha Zayden?"

Alpha Daniel said as I walked slowly and started watching the she-wolves outside.

"A few nights ago there was an intruder in the Dark Blood Alpha house. The she-wolf is in the age bracket of nineteen to twenty. You are lucky if I don't find her here; it means she is from another pack."

He looked pale when I started to check every she-wolf whose fear had filled the entire Alpha house. But there was no familiar scent of the same figure.

"I..I'm sure it's nothing serious?" Alpha Daniel asked.

I shook my head and then groaned. "Not from here; no familiar scent guess you are right Alpha Daniel."

Luna Clara smiled at the she-wolves. "I am sure whoever you're looking for is not from here Alpha Zayden. So I hope we can send these wolves back to their respective training and homes."

I nodded. Where the hell is that she-wolf hiding!? Who is she and why did she have to hide? Then I remembered something.

"Didn't you say you have a brother? Where is he and his family?"

Alpha Daniel shook his head. "My brother Thomas is preoccupied with the pack's clinic. He usually doesn't come unless I give him important notice. He hates politics; I don't see any reason why he must be involved in this."

I groaned and snarled at him which made him cower and kneel in front of me.

"It seems that you are not taking this matter seriously. Bring your brother and his family here now!"