Chapter 6

Travis needed a plan, a damn good one at that. 

He never felt this incompetent in his entire life, and knowing he had Alpha blood running through his veins, he felt that he was being used as a puppet all along by his father. He couldn't believe that a father would treat his own son, much less the future inheritor of the Alpha seat of Crimson Moon pack, but what did he expect? The man was heartless, a complete bastard that only cared for the pack's legacy. 

Travis' father was not joking when he said he was being watched, every move he made was duly noted and reported straight to the Alpha personally. 

With that, he needed an outsider, someone not from his pack to aid him with his search for Serena. Even if he would leave his pack, chances of him getting out were slim, so he needed to be careful. He had to make sure that his means of communication were an untraceable and unlinkable form of technology and that would at least give him an edge against his father. 

As he buttoned his black dress shirt, Travis made a resolve that he would find Serena, and once she was back in his arms, he would kick his father and Carmela's ass goodbye and claim his mate without hesitation. 

He is going to be the man Serena wants him to be. 

"Are you ready, Travis?" a soft female voice that could only belong to his mother, Elena, asked him from his closed doorway. 

"Yes," he said with a grunt, hating the idea of attending a posh party. He walked towards the door, turned the doorknob, and there she was, his mother standing there in her fancy lilac colored long gown with intricate designs on the soft fabric of it. Her blond hair was up in a bun with diamond pins surrounding it and her make-up made her look ethereal, especially her eyes. It had silver eye shadow on it which complimented her dark blue eyes. All in all, she was a sight for sore eyes. 

As Elena took in her son's wardrobe of choice: black buttoned up shirt with three buttons undone and sleeves rolled up to his elbows, black dress pants and sneakers, she couldn't help but frown from it. It was supposed to be a grand party, not some high school rave where you could go casual. Her son didn't have any clue what dress to impress meant. 

"Travis," she asked as she eyed him up and down with extreme scrutiny, "what are you wearing?" 

Travis shrugged. "What do you think it looks like?" 

Elena glared, not liking her son's rebellious attitude. She was deeply aware of what was going on, and Carmela's mother, Delayna, filled her in with his son's secret rendezvous with Serena. She won't allow Travis' sappiness to jeopardize tradition, and he must follow what needs to be done. 

Of course, she couldn't forget what Travis did to her precious Swarovski crystal figurines. 

"Don't get smart with me, young man," she said tersely. "Now why don't you change into your tux so you won't make us look like fools in front of everyone." 

Travis scoffed. Typical of his mother to say such a thing. She was just like his father and tough luck they were in a loveless marriage. Both of them were thrusted into family tradition, much less going against the laws of nature. No wonder they both think alike. 

"I like what I'm wearing, so you can just suck it up," Travis replied off-handedly, turned around and walked away. 

All that Elena could do was shake her head. 

The next events of this party would surely blow up in their faces once Travis learns the real reason for this party, and she could only hope that his son wouldn't cause a scene. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * 

The party now was in full swing, and Travis was agitated. People were mingling about in the grand ballroom of the pack house, chatting in small circles with laughter filling in the air. He had to give props to his mom for sprucing the place up; she had outdone herself by decorating the place elegantly with fancy tablecloths, expensive looking centerpieces, top of the line dining utensils, she even hired a jazz band for music. He had no idea what this party was all about and couldn't understand why, but he would find out soon enough. 

As he was about to get himself a drink from the bar, someone gripped his arm, hard. 

"We need to talk, Travis." 

Travis stiffened for he knew that voice from anywhere. He wasn't expecting this at all, and judging from the grip on his arm, it couldn't be good. As he glanced at the person, he put a name to that face - he was Serena's brother, Sean, looking serious as death itself, and he had a feeling that he knew what he was letting on. 

"Hey, Sean," Travis greeted him nervously. "What's up?" 

Sean just had to restrain himself from laughing humorlessly, but seriously, "what's up"? Travis was just trying so damn hard to sound casual when his voice betrayed him. He could smell nervousness rolling off of him and he was planning on getting more out of it. He was getting answers from him today. 

"Do you have any idea where Serena is?" Sean asked, tone brisk that meant business. "She hadn't been home for a day, and when I tried to look for her around the territory, your scent reeked all over it. It was as though you were chasing her." 

'Oh, shit,' Travis thought in a panic. How was he going to explain himself to Sean? 

"What do you mean?" he asked warily. 

Sean tightened his grip on Travis' arm, and he noticed that he flinched from it. "Why were you chasing her?" he asked him, gritting his teeth. 

"Sean, take it easy on the boy," Sean's father, Nathaniel, piped up from behind him as he laid his hand on his son's shoulder. "Let's not scare him." 

'Double trouble,' Travis thought. Now the father enters the picture. It was no use acting like he didn't know, so he may as well spill the beans. 

Travis sighed. "Gentlemen, I think we should discuss this somewhere else?" he proposed, sounding hopeful. 

Nathaniel nodded, agreeing with him. "Alright," he said and then asked his son."Sean? How about you?" 

"Fine," Sean grunted out then looked Travis straight in the eye."You better explain yourself truthfully, Travis. No lying." 

Travis gulped audibly. He was in deep shit. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Travis decided that they should talk in his father's office. It was soundproof, and since there was a party going on, his father would be too busy entertaining guests to notice his disappearance. As they were all situated inside, he flicked on the lock and spun on his heel to face two intimidating men with their arms crossed over their chests. 

"Alright, now spill," Sean ordered with an edge on his voice. 

Travis swallowed a lump that clogged up his throat and blew out a big breath, bracing himself. "Where do I begin..." he murmured, racking his brain for the right words. "After my 17th birthday, I've found my mate." 

Nathaniel frowned, very confused. "What does that have to do with Serena?" 

"It has everything to do with her because she's my mate." 

It took Sean and Nathaniel some time to process Travis' words. The silence was thick and tense, almost as suffocating as strangulation. Nathaniel couldn't wrap his head around it, because in his head, a series of worst case scenarios fleeted back and forth. How could he miss this? He had thought that Carmela was Travis' mate, but this? There had to be some sort of sign, but how come he didn't know about this? He was too dumbfounded and utterly lost for words. 

A few moments passed when Sean broke the silence by asking a question: 

"Then how come we don't see you guys all lovey-dovey, and aren't you dating my step-sister, Carmela?" Sean asked, dreading the answer. 

"I told Serena to keep our relationship a secret. We see each other as cautiously as we can behind Carmela's back, because I didn't want my father to know about it. He wanted Carmela for me," he explained. "The day that Serena ran away was the day she asked to be claimed, but I denied her. She asked why, but I couldn't tell her the truth." 

Sean couldn't believe it. Travis denied Serena because he was such a wuss to go against his stupid ass of a father. Travis was a sad excuse of a future leader, let alone have taken his mate for granted. He was so mad, and right now he wanted nothing more to strangle the life out of his spineless self. 

He might as well do that right now, so without further ado, he used his wolf speed to charge at Travis and shoved him up against the door with a loud bang, his hands wrapped around his neck with a tight grip. 

"You worthless piece of sh!t!" Sean seethed, glaring into his eyes with so much anger. "How could you do that to my sister, to your mate?" 

Travis was choking from Sean's choke hold, blocking his windpipe and he wheezed\ trying to breathe. He had a taste of Sean's wrath, and he knew he deserved every bit of it, but damn it, let the guy breathe! 

"I tried... going... after her..." Travis choked, trying to speak. "But... she... she...doesn't w-want.. .to l-listen." 

Sean snorted. 'Good girl,' he thought. "Well it's a good thing she didn't listen to you," he spat then tightened the choke hold even more. 

As Nathaniel stood there, watching his son strangling the life of Travis, he needed to stop it or else nothing would come out of this confrontation. For sure, Sean would end up killing the boy and he wouldn't allow blood to taint on his son's hands, so with that, he stormed towards them and ripped him away from Travis. 

"Sean, that's enough," Nathaniel ordered. "Settle down or you might end up killing him." 

Travis took huge gulps of air, trying to regain his breathing. Sean sure does have a strong grip and he was almost sure he was about to pass out. "I promise you," Travis said as he rubbed his sore neck, "I plan to find Serena even if it's the last thing I'll do, but I need your help," he said to them. 

Sean snorted. "Help? So now you are asking for our help?" The nerve he could ask that from them. First he denied his sister, and now he needed assistance? The boy was off his rocker. 

"Please," Travis pleaded, "I can't do this alone." 

Nathaniel walked over to Travis and gripped his shoulder. He knew what it felt like to lose a mate, and even though he did something horrible to his daughter, all that mattered right now was to have her back where she belonged. "I'll help, whatever you need and it's yours," he said and then added, "What about your father? Does he know?" 

Travis nodded, frowning. "Yes sir, he knows and he plans to let me mate Carmela by force on my eighteenth birthday, when I claim my inheritance." 

Nathaniel nodded. "Okay, so do you have a plan?" 

"We need an outsider to aid us on our search," Travis told him. "Someone who is not in alliance with us, because I'm sure father will know about it. Our means of communication should be untraceable and scrambled that no code breaker could decipher." 

Nathaniel mused this over. He knew someone, a close friend from the military, high ranking and happens to be a wolf as well. Maybe he could score them some military issued equipment that would be of help, so he made a note to himself to contact his friend and have a word with him. "I'll take care of the equipment. I know someone who might help us," he informed him with assurance and then turned to look at his son. "What do you think, Sean? Are you in this or not?" he asked. 

Sean grimaced, but this is his sister they were talking about. He wanted nothing to do with Travis, but if it meant getting his sister back, then he needs to push his pride aside and act like a man. "I'm in," he said curtly. "I'm doing this for Serena, not for you, Travis," he said to him with a glare. 

Travis chuckled. "I won't have it any other way." 

A loud knock had their conversation ended prematurely, followed by a frantic female voice that only belonged to Travis' mother. 

"Travis?" Elena asked. "Are you in there? You are needed at the ballroom." 

Travis rolled his eyes. "Fine, be right there." 

"Hurry," she said back and he heard heels clacking, an indication that she had walked away. 

Travis sighed and looked back at Sean and Nathaniel. "I guess we better go back to the ballroom," he said with a dejected sigh, wanting this night to be over. 

* * * * * * * * ** * * 

"Everyone," Trenton boomed out in the middle of the ballroom, gaining everyone's attention. He stood there, looking tall and proud in his tux, eyeing the crowd with great enthusiasm. "I would like to make an announcement." 

As he saw that everyone was all ears, he proceeded with his next words. "Thank you everyone for coming to this important event. I know you have busy lives, so I appreciate you all for coming." He paused, took a deep breath and continued, "As you can see, my son, Travis, will soon take over the pack when he turns eighteen, and he will have a mate to rule beside him. I think you already know who that is, so I would like to call Carmela to stand beside me, please?" 

Among the crowd, Carmela stood radiant in her pale pink elegant strapless cocktail dress with its poofy skirt. It had a sweetheart neckline with rhinestones adorning the edges. She paired it up with pink strappy sandals and her hair was down in soft curls. Her make-up, although it was only minimal, still looked flawless and beautiful. 

As she heard her name being called, her face lit up and walked confidently to where the Alpha was. She already knew what the announcement was about, and she was excited to let every female know who had their sights on his boyfriend that he was hers, no one else but hers. Too bad Serena wasn't here to witness this. She would give anything to see her face when she knew about the announcement and she would throw a dime at her feet for a show well done. Finally, when she reached the Alpha, she smiled at him and turned to face the crowd. 

"Now that Carmela is here," Trenton began. "I would like to call upon my son, Travis, to come up here please." 

Standing in between Nathaniel and Sean in the crowd, Travis heard his name being called. He was baffled, not having a clue what this was all about, but nevertheless, he went to his father and stood to the other side of him. 

"Now that the two of the important people are here," Trenton said and slung each of his arms on both Carmela and Travis' shoulder. "I'm happy to introduce to you all the newly engaged couple of the Crimson Moon pack. A round of applause, please, to your future Alpha and Luna." 

A roaring, deafening applause erupted, and Travis was seething in rage. How dare his father pull a stunt like this? An engagement party without his consent?! 

"Father, why didn't you tell me that this was an engagement party?" he seethed to his father. 

Still smiling, he replied to his son, "Why would I?" he asked as he eyed the crowd. "If I told, you wouldn't show up," he told him with a laugh. "Son, tradition is tradition, a part of being Vinova. There is nothing you can do." 

Shrugging his father's arm off, Travis gave him the coldest glare he could muster. "Screw you," and with that, he stormed out of the living room, leaving the crowd baffled. 

Among the crowd, Nathaniel couldn't believe what he had heard. He knew Trenton was a hard ass, but forcing his son to a loveless marriage was just taking the piss. As he turned to face his lovely wife, Delayna, who was standing next to him, he couldn't help but glare at the woman whom he called wife. "I'm assuming you knew about this, Delayna?" he asked tersely. 

Delayna rolled her eyes. Sometimes she thought her husband was being overly dramatic. "They are perfect for each other, don't you agree?" she asked. 

"Delayna, Travis is Serena's mate," he told her angrily. "Carmela has a mate somewhere; are you going to do that to your own daughter?" 

"Carmela knows what she's getting into," she informed him. "She loves Travis and she is perfect to be Luna of this pack. Trenton said so, as well as Elena." 

Nathaniel snorted. "You, Delayna, are one delusional woman," he told her with disgust. "This is going against nature and you know that." As Delayna opened her mouth to say something, he continued on, cutting her off, "You know what? I'm wasting my breath on you." And with that, he walked away, followed by an angry looking Sean who spared her one last scornful look then snapped his head back, following his father. 

"Damn it," Delayna cursed under her breath, not expecting this turn of events. Now what? She needed to appease her husband and she would die trying, even if it meant begging him to forgive her. Before she turned around, she heard someone call her name and in the very least, the last person she wanted to hear from again. 

"Delayna?" 

'No, no, no, no, no, NO!' she thought in her mind angrily. 

"Delayna," that deep, baritone that made her shiver and weak-kneed from the sound of it. "It's me." 

She closed her eyes tight, willing for that voice to go away. She didn't want to see him again and after what he did to her and her daughter. 

What the hell was he doing here?! 

"Delayna." 

Peeling her eyes open, she turned around to face the man who had broken her heart into a million pieces, never to be put back ever again. 

Her mate, Martin. 

God, he was still handsome as ever, but he looked older now. He looked tall, around six-foot-two and was burly as a linebacker. His dark brown hair was still tousled as she remembered and his face had become striking and chiseled. As she stared at his piercing navy blue eyes, she got lost in them, like a drowning person not knowing how to swim. She used to stare at those eyes when they were still together and now, she was staring at them again. 

She needed to get a hold of herself, so with that, she looked away and cleared her throat. 

"What are you doing here?" she spat at him. "I thought you don't want to do anything with me and our daughter." 

Martin looked remorseful. "I'm sorry," he apologized sincerely. "I know I made a mistake and I want you and our daughter back." 

He knew he made a mistake by betraying her. He wasn't prepared to be a father and he was scared of the commitment that came along with it, so he betrayed her as she walked in on him sleeping with someone, in their bed, where he marked and mated her as his. 

Martin was devastated when he knew she left together with their daughter. He had looked for her high and low, and after several years, he had found her, in this very pack, which he asked permission from Alpha Trenton to join. 

He reveled at the sight of his mate. She was still beautiful as he remembered her, and when he eyed the spot where he had marked her, he frowned when he saw that the mark was no longer there and was replaced with a new one. 

That is definitely not his mark. 

He took a quick sniff and he froze when he smelled another wolf's scent on her. It was of Beta's descent, and right now he was boiling in rage that someone else claimed what was his. 

"Your neck," Martin hissed, eyeing the mark in disgust. "You let someone mark you?" 

Delayna stood tall and defiant in front of him, not backing down. "That is my husband's mark, the Beta of this pack," she said, and when she saw the hurt in Martin's eyes, she smirked in triumph. "Yeah, that's right. I'm married." 

"You're... you're married?" he choked, not believing it. "That can't be. You're my mate." 

"Yes, I'm married," she said. "Look, you and I... it's over. You decided for yourself that you don't want me and our daughter, so I suggest you leave this pack. I'm happily married and I intend to keep it that way for a long time." 

"But you are my mate," Martin seethed, his anger rising to the highest level. "You belong with me." 

She smirked. "Not anymore," and with that, she turned around and left him standing there on his lonesome. 

At the back of Martin's head, he would do anything to bring her and his daughter back in his life. He would do whatever it takes, even if it meant bringing that Beta down, or better yet, kill him in the process. 

"Mark my words, Delayna," he said in a low voice. "You will be mine, again.”