Chapter Three

Zak

It took everything in me to not follow her after school. I wanted to know where she lived, who she lived with, where she worked. I wanted to know everything about her to be able to better understand her. I parked my Explorer in front of the large building and walked inside the packhouse. My mother greeted me with a kiss on the cheek as she always did.

“How was your first day of school?” She beamed, looking so excited to hear all about it. I didn’t understand why they insisted on me going, but they assured me it was for my own benefit and would help me when I took on the role as Alpha. I had hated the idea of school up until I saw her. Now I couldn’t wait to go back.

“It was good. Not at all what I expected.” I said honestly, though I couldn’t tell my Mother about El. Not until I knew for sure if she was my mate. “I have a lot of homework to catch up on.” I say pointing down the hallway. My mother narrowed her eyes at me. Not much made it past her, but I took the stairs two at a time before she could ask anymore questions.

I plopped on the bed and stared at the ceiling. I couldn’t get her image out of my head. She was perfect in every way. Her raven colored hair made her skin look like porcelain and even though she was quite petite, she was full of attitude. Watching her stick up for herself against that preppy bitch earlier made me even more attracted to her. 

I tried to deny it, but the feelings swarming around me all day were just as everyone describes with the fated mate bond. When our hands touched, that all but confirmed that she was in fact my mate. The only problem is that she was human. Either the Moon Goddess had a sense of humor, or there was something more to El. She definitely smelled like a human, no trace of any werewolf scent at all, but there was something different about her, that much I knew.

I had nearly lost it and killed the human boy when he asked her out. Literally almost ripped his throat out in the middle of class. I could tell El was unsure about him, but he was relentless. I knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer and that put a pit in the center of my stomach. I didn’t trust him, and not just for the fact that I didn’t want to see my mate with someone else. I worried that he would take advantage of her. El was tiny compared to him, and I worried if given the opportunity, he could overpower her and take whatever he wants.

My hands clenched into fists at the very thought of him touching her. I normally kept a lid on my anger, but I was swimming with emotions today, making it hard to contain. I felt the need to find her. She mentioned work and I wondered where it was she worked at and debated on searching every business in town. I cursed myself for not asking more questions. I had to remind myself that I would see her tomorrow. 

I sat up and made my way to my desk, needing a break from my thoughts. If I couldn’t go and see her, I supposed I would have to settle for drawing her. I pulled out my sketchbook and began drawing a portrait of her. I don’t think I’ll ever forget her perfect face, and could pull it easily from memory. Drawing was one of the rare things in life I enjoyed. It was a welcome break from school and training. I was elated to see that she also shared the same hobby. At least this much we had in common.

Every day I had a lesson from my father on Alpha’s duties. When I turned twenty, I would be taking over the pack and he wanted to make sure I was ready. I had less than a year to go, as I was already nineteen. The two months of public school were to give me training in the real world, and teach me about human customs. Never in a million years would I have thought I would find my mate.

Normally, I would rejoice at the fact I had found her, but once I realized she wasn’t like me, I worried for her. The council would never allow a human girl to be their Luna, and would certainly vote for her to be killed, giving me my second chance mate. The thought had crossed my mind to run away with her, but I wondered if she even felt the same mate pull that I did, being human. Would she even want to run away with me? 

I shook the thought from my mind. I couldn’t abandon my pack. The only thing I could do is keep it a secret. That’s the only way to protect her from the council, from my world. In the meantime, I will do some research and see if I can find anything useful that would let me bring her into my life.

About an hour had passed and I had almost completed her sketch, when my father’s voice echoed in my head. ‘I’m calling a meeting on the rogue situation. Be in the conference room in five.’

‘Yes, Alpha.’ I said, instantly standing and hiding the near complete sketch of her. I wondered if something had happened while I was in school. I wasn’t used to leaving the pack for hours at a time like that, but at least I had El to distract me.

I trotted down the stairs, taking the long hallway to the conference room. It was a plain room with only a table and eight chairs. The council consisted of just four members. The Beta, who was right hand to the Alpha, the Delta, just below the Beta, and the two Gamma’s. My Father and Mother were already in the room when I arrived along with Gabriel, the Beta. 

My father sat at the head of the table with my mother on his left and Gabriel on his right, leaning back in his chair. Gabriel was my father’s best friend and our strongest warrior apart from my father. I took a seat across from my father as he smiled warmly at me, but I could still see the worry on his face he tried to hide. “How was your first day?” He asked as he sifted through paperwork.

“It was good.” I kept my answer short, not wanting to entice anymore questions. 

Damien, one of the Gamma’s, walked in. He was young to be in such a high position, but he was insanely smart. It made him very useful when it came to strategizing. We greeted each with a nod and he took his seat as Ashlynn, the other Gamma, entered quickly, apologizing for being late. Ashlynn was a tall girl around my father’s age and was quite the warrior. While the werewolf community didn’t have any rules on women holding high positions, it was exceedingly rare. 

We sat in silence for a moment, waiting on Luke, the Delta. Luke and my father never got along much, but unfortunately he was stuck with him as the Delta. The positions are each earned and cannot be taken away without cause. Whoever was challenged would fight until someone submitted. Luke made his way from Gamma to Delta in the past year, and we all knew he had his eyes set on being Alpha. He was hot-headed, and that made him dangerous.

Five more minutes had passed and my Father sighed in annoyance. “No sense in waiting any longer. I called you all here to discuss the growing rogue situation-” 

The door bursts open and Luke casually walks in as if he didn’t just make us wait. I clenched my fists, wanting desperately to put him in his place. Luke plopped down in his seat, not even bothering to apologize.

“Lucas. So nice of you to join us.” My father said sarcastically.

He shrugged, “I had to finish up what I was doing. Not my fault you called a meeting on short notice.”

“It's only short notice because it's important. The rogue situation is getting out of hand. We had an attack this afternoon.” The room quieted and suddenly Luke was all business, listening intently to what my Father said. When needed, Luke did put in the work. Like I said, these positions were earned.

“Was anyone hurt?” I asked. Of course there would be an attack when I wasn’t here to defend our pack. Guilt flowed through me. I felt like a useless child being at school all day.

“Fortunately, no. I had sent a few scouts to survey the rogues. They’ve been creeping closer to our territory as you know and I wanted to get an idea of what we’re dealing with. This group is bigger than we thought. The scouts got too close and were seen. Luckily they made it back with only a few bruises.” My father’s jaw clenched with anger. 

“Were they successful? Did they get any information?” Luke asks. 

This time Gabriel answered. “From what they could see, the group has grown substantially. They now have at least a few hundred members and seem to be growing by the day.”

“What do they want with our pack?” Ashlynn asks.

I could already guess the answer to this question. It was what all rogues wanted. A pack. As werewolves, we thrived in a pack. Without one, we have no sense of purpose. Rogues rarely leave their packs willingly and rarely would a pack take them in. Their only option at that point is to find other Rogues and group together. If they had enough numbers they could be verified as their own pack. If one of them killed my father, they would be the new Alpha and the rogues would no doubt integrate with our pack. 

“They want our pack.” I say simply, answering Ashlynn.

My father nods once. “That’s what we suspect. I’ve increased our patrols and we are using the buddy system. No one patrols alone until this can be resolved.”

“And how do we resolve this?” Damien says, seeming annoyed by the situation, but that seemed to just be his personality. 

“Before today, I had considered setting up a meeting with their leader, but seeing how hostile they were and how quick they were to attack, I don’t think it would be a good idea.”

“Why not just attack them? We have the numbers. We could easily take them out before they can keep growing in numbers.” Luke says as if it were the only option.

“We’d have a blood bath, not to mention the casualties on our side. I want this to end peacefully. For now, lets monitor the situation. We only attack when they do. I’ve gone this long with peace. I refuse to give it up now.” My father says, looking at each of us. We all bow our heads slightly in submission to show we will follow orders. “You are dismissed.” He says and everyone quickly stands, including me and heads for the exit. “Hang on, Zak.” I sigh, stepping back into the room.

“Yea?” 

“I don’t want you to attend school anymore.” My heart rate quickens and I try to calm it before he can tell. “They know you're next in line. If they kill me, they will kill you too. You’re unprotected at school.”

“I just started.” I protest, knowing that if it weren’t for El, I would gladly drop out. “You’ve trained me well. I will call if I sense any danger.”

“Zak, we just don’t think it’s a good idea.” My mother interjects, leaving me to believe this is her idea. I know my father trusts my abilities. 

“You wanted me to have experience with humans, to learn their customs. I can’t do that in one day. I have less than a year until I’m Alpha. I need to see this through.” I need to see El is what I actually meant.

My mother narrows her eyes. “I recall you hating the idea of school. What changed?”

“Nothing.” I say too quickly. “It just wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.”

“May, perhaps we should let him go. We won’t have time to wait another year for him to get this experience.” My father looks to my mother, resting a hand on hers.

She presses her lips into a thin line, staring at me. “I don’t think it's a good idea. They could target you.”

“You’ll know if I’m in danger.” I remind her. I can see her start to give in as she pinches the bridge of her nose.

“Fine. But if the situation worsens, you’re staying here.”

“Agreed.” I said quickly before she could change her mind. I quickly give her a peck on the cheek and walk out the door having won the battle for now. Even if I couldn’t have El, I at least had to be near her. That had to be enough.

For now.