Chapter 3: Under His Power

Rowan's POV

“Today has good weather, don’t you think, my lord?” 

Looking outside the car, I replied to my butler, “You really have a good eye, Orion. But do you think I’d be pleased to hear that?”

Orion coughed at the driver’s seat. “I was just merely trying to lift your mood-“

“And you think talking about the weather will lift my mood, yes?” 

“What do you want to hear then, my lord?” He shyly met my gaze in the rearview mirror. When I raised a brow, he immediately looked away.

I crossed my legs and tapped my knee slowly. “Tell me about what is happening in the sixth district. I was just recently informed that Alpha Roger’s heir is killed. Is that true?”

“Yes, it’s true. It seems that Alpha Roger’s stepdaughter was the one who killed his heir.”

My eyes narrowed. “The girl must be really strong. Roger is from the third generation of pureblooded alphas, after all. His son should also be great.”

“Actually, the stepdaughter has no wolf yet, sir.”

Now that intrigued me.

“What do you mean she has no wolf? She hasn’t hit puberty yet?”

“I heard the girl is already past fifteen but still wolfless.”

I scoffed. “Being wolfless is like being a disabled werewolf. How could she have killed a grown up man who was ready to be an alpha?”

“Everyone believes the girl did it out of envy. She’s looked down by most while her brother received all the glory. The heir was kind and couldn’t hurt her sister, so at the end he was killed by her with a knife pierced through his heart.”

“How cruel,” I muttered, my lips curving up. “But I must say, if she really did it, she’s so brave for a wolfless girl.” 

Though it made me wonder how she could be so foolish to think that she’d get away with it when she’s not even capable of protecting herself. It doesn’t make sense. Even if she killed him, her life wouldn’t get any better. In any case, it would become even worse. Why would she do something that wouldn’t benefit her in the slightest?

Unless she’s a complete lunatic who just wanted to kill her brother because she felt so unsatisfied with herself and the world. 

Well, everyone has their own kind of craziness, don’t they?

“Pull over,” I demanded, looking outside. 

“Did I hear you right, my lord?”

I glared at Orion in the mirror and without further question, he steered the car to the side of the road. He then opened the door for me.

I put my sunglasses on as I stepped out. The lad who’s giving out pamphlets looked at me for a moment with a questionable look before his eyes widened.

“Supreme Alpha!” He bowed his head nervously.

“What are those pamphlets for?” I looked at the bunch of papers in his hands. 

The lad looked confused. He probably wonders why the supreme alpha would be interested in some random kid giving out pamphlets in the street. 

Still, he’s required to answer so he did, “This is for our restaurant, sir. My family just recently opened it and I think I can promote it this way.”

“How thoughtful of you,” my lips curved up. A smile that surely didn’t reach my eyes. “Orion, isn’t this kid amazing? He’s helping out his family despite his young age.”

“Indeed he is, my lord,” Orion agreed giddily. 

“Mind if you give one, lad? Maybe someday, if my schedule permits, I can visit.” 

He looked at my palm. I could sense his fear and anxiety as he slowly put the paper in my hand. He’s obviously hesitating. But then, he can say no to me. No one dares say no to the Supreme Alpha. Especially not those with no power.

After giving his thanks anxiously, the lad hurriedly left.

“Did you stop by just because of that, my lord?” Orion asked. The way his eyes narrowed made me know he’s suspicious. He knows I don’t just give my time to anyone. If I do something, I make sure it’s something beneficial.

I smirked. My eyes drifted to the pamphlet in my hand and I felt the tip of my wolf fangs in my tongue. Barb’s Restaurant. I want to laugh. How silly these people are to think they can outsmart me. Using a restaurant to cover up their dirty business, really?

“Are you up for a party tonight, Orion?” 

“Party?” Orion’s brows are knitted. “I don’t remember receiving any invitation…”

“Should we host one?”

Orion looked more puzzled. I’ve never hosted any party. Not my thing.

I was about to go back inside the car when I saw four black cars with the sixth district pack’s emblem pass in front of me. My eyes followed them until they stopped near the train station about a hundred meters from where I stood.

“I didn’t call the district alphas for a meeting, so why is Alpha Roger here with his convoy?” 

“Maybe he’s here to visit?”

“In the middle of chaos in their district, you think so?” I eyed Orion and he pursed his lips as he looked down.

“I really don’t know where you’ve lost your intelligence, Orion. Or was it even there in the first place?”

Orion looked at me in a way that told me he wanted to say something but stopped himself. I raised a brow, urging him to speak his mind.

“Are you offended?”

Orion shook his head nervously. I smiled at him.

“Good. Now follow me.”

“Are you going to just walk, my lord? Where are we-“

“Spare the unnecessary questions unless you’ve come to realize you no longer want to live.”

I started to walk towards the train station. The alphas seldomly leave their district packs. Only when I call them for a meeting, and when they have important affairs to attend to. They are quite busy to travel from time to time. That’s why this sudden appearance of Alpha Roger piqued my curiosity. I want to check what business he got here.

“Oh, it seems that they are here to catch someone,” I muttered when I noticed the position of Roger’s men in the station’s exits.

“Catch someone? Who are we going to catch, sir?” 

“Orion, do you need medical help? I think there’s a bit of a problem with your sense of hearing.”

“Huh? I think my hearing ability is perfectly fine though,” he muttered to himself, which I just ignored. 

The man really can annoy me effortlessly. He’s born to be good at it, making me wonder sometimes why I chose him for his job.

The people I passed by gave their respects and most of them made sure to leave distance. 

As I was nearing the exits, I noticed Roger’s men left their posts and ran inside. People hurriedly left the station, didn't want to get involved with whatever’s happening.

“I think there's a problem inside, my lord. Should I check first-“

“No need,” I cut Orion. 

When I got inside the station, they already caught whoever it was they were expecting. 

However, halfway towards the group, I stopped when something got into my senses.

A scent that smells so sweet and potent, and a presence that seems familiar and somehow connected to me.

My face went cold when realization hit me.

Mate.

My jaw clenched as the corners of my lips rose without any humor. 

I hoped I’d be an exception. I thought the moon goddess would despise me for fooling around women and not giving a damn about love. I thought she’d punish me by not giving me a mate, which I actually prefer.

But it seems like the goddess is more forgiving than I expected.

“What mess is this, Roger?” I continued walking. The scent of my mate is coming from the center of the group, which got me more intrigued. What are the odds that it’s the person the sixth district pack is after?

Roger’s men made way for me and bowed their heads to show respect.

“Supreme Alpha!”

When my eyes drifted to the girl they’re surrounding, I felt my eyes narrowed sharply behind my glasses. 

“Hmm… let me see what you got here,” I muttered as I took my glass off, so I could have a look at the girl more clearly.

She’s on her knees and cuffed. She’s wearing a black overcoat marked with some dirt like she went through so much before she made it here. 

Her brown eyes stared back at me. She looks young, perhaps years younger than me. And I can sense based on her scent that she has no wolf.

The goddess isn’t as forgiving as I thought, huh. Yes, I’m taking back my word. This girl she gave me doesn’t even look ready to bear a child. She looks like a child herself. And how can she still be wolfless at her age? Most girls already have their wolves at fifteen.

“This is just a trivial matter that shouldn’t be of your concern, Supreme Alpha,” Roger said. “This prisoner escaped our district and we’re just here to catch her.”

“Prisoner?” I raised a brow. If I’m not mistaken, this girl must be Roger’s stepdaughter who’s believed to be the murderer of his heir.

How lucky am I to have a murderer as my mate. Quite extraordinary, isn’t it?

“Yes, my lord. You must have heard about my only son’s death. The girl is my stepdaughter. She killed my son, James,” answered Roger.

“No, Supreme Alpha! I didn’t kill my brother!” 

My eyes drifted back to the girl who’s looking at me like I’m her only hope. Tears were pooling in her eyes and her helpless state somehow irked me.

“Please, my lord! Listen to me! I didn’t kill him! I’ve never thought of killing anyone! Please open an investigation!” 

“Shut up, you wench!” One of the men was about to hit the girl but I blocked it on time.

“There’s no need to hit her in public,” I said in a controlled tone, eyeing the man darkly. “I’m sure you’ve been torturing her in prison.”

“Supreme Alpha, I’m sure you have more important affairs to attend to. Let me take care of this,” Roger offered in a calm manner, but it’s evident in his eyes that he doesn’t want me to lay my hands on this case for personal gains. 

It was my very keen eye that brought me the power I have now. It enabled me to identify who my allies and enemies were. All those years in the face of lies, I somehow learned to see through most people. Like how I can see through Alpha Roger in just a look.

He’s lying. I’m sure of that. And my judgment is not even clouded with my mate bond with the girl. 

“You haven’t done a proper investigation on this matter, Alpha Roger?” I questioned.

“No, but she was caught on the scene. She was there with my son’s lifeless body. The weapon used also has her fingerprints. What else needs to be done when that’s already proof that she killed him?”

“But it’s still quite suspicious, don’t you think? Even if we say your son James loved his sister dearly that he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her, he was still capable enough to defend himself. The girl is wolfless, which means she’s weaker than most of us.”

“But Supreme Alpha-“

“Since this matter involves the death of an alpha’s heir, I’d open a thorough investigation about this case. As for the girl, when the verdict is served and she’s found guilty, you’re free to give whatever punishment you think she deserves.”

Contempt is evident on Roger’s face. But before he could contend with my decision, I spoke again.

“For the meantime, she’d be under my watch as my prisoner.”