Pack Meeting

               The next day, I maneuver my luxurious Mercedes-Benz into the parking lot.

As usual, it is the center of attention on the campus, with heads turning to admire my baby for the umpteenth time. Alongside Alpha Romero and Beta Jace's Cadillac Escalade and Maserati Levante Trofeo, my ride is the most expensive in the car park, but actually in the pack as well.

               As the most talented marksman of all the packs in this region, I have already made a small fortune at the early age of 15. Online, I offer my services as a private detective and sniper for the Alphas of the various pack and mates who suspect their better half of infidelity. Without revealing my identity, I take orders and execute them with perfection. So far, I have only satisfied clients and they were generous in paying my hefty fee.

               My parents almost freaked out when they saw the pricey car I bought for myself a few months ago. My father immediately wanted to see proof of my income. I explained that I was a successful application developer for companies. I was able to convince him with some invoices from my own secret offshore detective agency. But after this extravagant purchase, I kept a low profile, no more expensive presents to myself.   

               "Lori, have you heard? It's all over social media. Louise, the Chief Warrior's daughter, is missing". My best friend Meg runs up to me, her face all concerned. "She was out late last night. Alpha Romero confessed to spending the night with her. She left his house in the middle of the night and was never seen again after that," she rattles on as she pulls me along to the entrance of the school building.

               As we are about to climb the stairs, we see Alpha Romero sitting on a bench, his head resting in his hands. Meg hesitates but steps over to him anyway and sits down next to him in silence. I study him closely; he looks terribly tired and defeated. Like me, he is eighteen, although I am two weeks older than him. His body promises to grow into formidable manhood, partly because of his many hours in the gym.

               "Alpha," Meg whispers after a few seconds. "I know you blame yourself pretty badly for not taking her home yourself. But you couldn't have foreseen this to happen. And who knows, she might turn up one day," she tries to comfort the young man. Slowly, he lifts his head and looks at her with empty eyes. He nods.

               "I really hope so. I blame myself for not being more careful. My dating record doesn't look particularly clean," he sighs sadly. Meg pats him on the shoulder. She has always been so worried about this Alpha well being.

               "Aaahh, don't worry. You still have three years to find the future Luna. When you meet her, the Moon Goddess will make sure nothing goes wrong, she will love you unconditionally, nothing will keep her away from you. Have faith, Alpha".

I frown in surprise at my bestie's words. I pray she too does not become interested in Romero either. It would hurt me terribly to have to deal with her too. Her friendship means the world to me.

               When Meg rejoins me, the Alpha looks up at me for a moment. Of course, she doesn't recognize me, as always. A pang of betrayal and sadness washes over me. Still, I manage to nod politely and continue on my way into the school building with my friend.

               "I feel so sorry for him, Lori. There must be a curse on him. All the women he has a date with avoid him like the plague. A few have even fled the pack without an explanation for their strange behavior," Meg whispers now. As always, she does not expect an answer from me. I am always a silent listener, conversing is not really my thing. By now she is used to having a monologue with me.

               We walk into our science class, almost all the students are already there. This university is a mixture of all the surrounding packs, built through joint investment.

               I find the usual seat, throw myself on my chair and pull out my books. The lecturer has not yet signed in, so the students are standing, talking together in groups. And the topic of the conversations is none other than Louise's disappearance.

               I sharpen my were-hearing. Most of them feel sorry for the Alpha and agree with Meg that he should just wait until he meets his Luna. Every parent has already forbidden their daughter to meet him or even talk to him. He is shunned by the females. I chuckle, if only Louise had heeded this warning. She was a beautiful woman and could have tried her luck with the future Beta instead, the pack's man-whore. But that bitch thought it was better to fish in bigger waters and that was fatal to her.

               I sigh deeply and flip through last week's homework on my iPad. This Science teacher is strict, everyone gets her personal attention when it comes to working out assignments.

               With a grin, I look out the window towards the pack border where I dumped Louise. I doubt she survived the encounter with the rogues. A woman in their hands is rare and I’m sure they will make good use of her.

 Hearing the teacher step in, I shift my gaze.

               Meg comes to sit next to me and opens her books as well.

"Have you finished your assignments? You left my house late last night, but luckily we had it largely figured out," she murmurs.

               Yes, that was why I hadn't been able to detect Louise earlier. Science is a pretty difficult subject and Meg and I concentrated on getting the homework in order. With my attention completely elsewhere the bitch was able to sneak into the bedroom with the Alpha unnoticed.

               "I did it," I tell her briefly, probably the only words she will hear from me for this week. But she is used to it and soon we have all our attention on the job.

Hours later we walk down the steps to the car park.

'All members of Eclipse Howl must sign up for a pack meeting with Alpha Thoseo this afternoon,' echoes through the pack mind link.

               When Meg freezes, I look at her calmly. In no way am I surprised by this. Although it has not been announced, I am sure Louise is the subject....