Chapter 8

DAYA POV

This feels so surreal. Hugging my sister for the first time in twelve years- this doesn’t feel real, but it is. Emmy is here. Yes, we have spoken regularly via video chat, so we have been able to watch each other grow up, but we never visited one another. None of us have. And, hopefully, in a few months, Emmy will help me be able to challenge Darius and take over this pack. And then we can bring our other three sisters here with us: Saph, Amy, and Pearl. All good things come with time- but when I really want something, it’s difficult for me to be patient. Luckily, patience is Emmy’s middle name. Literally, her full name is Emerald Patience Stone. Weird, but perfectly fitting for her. Me and Emmy get settled on my sofa and I start pouring us a couple glasses of Malbec. I always enjoyed a dry red wine. I don’t drink much, but this is a special occasion.

            “I can’t believe you’re here. This is the best day of my life. How was your meeting with Alpha Douchebag?” I said excitedly for the first part and then changing my tone to annoyance at the thought of Alpha Darius. I don’t know what his deal is. Granted, I did offend him in front of his subordinates at our first meeting. But I can tell he is pretending to care about his pack and is just a power-hungry alpha like so many others I have met. He even tried to butter me up earlier today after my morning session. At first, I almost fell for his nice-guy act, but he seems like a fuck-boy. I overheard a bunch of the ladies during training. He is highly sought after. For some reason he hasn’t picked a chosen mate yet and a few girls were hoping that by becoming warriors, they would stand out to him more as “luna potential.” Ugh. This one girl, Mara, clearly has the hots for him and can’t go fifteen minutes without mentioning Alpha Darius. Emmy starts talking and pulls me out of my thoughts. Good, Darius doesn’t deserve any additional mental energy of mine.

            “It feels really great to be here. I am so happy to finally be with you, Dye. I’m sure in time, Saph, Amy, and Pearl will make their way here as well. I’m sure that’s been on your mind.” This girl knows me so well, she is reading my mind. “As for my meeting with Alpha Darius, it went well. He seems to genuinely care about his pack members and their well-being.” My jaw dropped. Are we talking about the same Alpha Darius? This guy was an asshole to me when we first met and has avoided me my entire first week here until this morning.

            “Really? What makes you think he genuinely cares about them?” I asked with true curiosity. I took a sip from my wine glass, getting more comfortable on the sofa.

            “I mean, just the fact that he was willing to accept help from the both of us, without knowing us, shows that he is willing to trust if it means it will help his pack. And he admitted to me that whatever defensive systems he has in place are not working.” Emmy shrugged, taking a sip of wine. I let her opinion sink in a little. Could I have this guy all wrong?

            “But then how did he come to be here in our territory? He must have had something to do with overthrowing Father in some way. All of the packs now living in our territory must have.” I said definitively. My brow furrowing and shoulders tensing up.

            “That I don’t know. But, now that we are here, we can get some more information. Maybe try and find out what happened after Father sent us away.” Emmy said. Her tone dipping and becoming softer towards the end of her comment. She has a point that now we can try and find out what happened to Father and our territory. Even if Darius wasn’t the Alpha when Father was killed, he was still here. So, he must know something. This definitely gives me something to think about over the next few weeks. Maybe I can try to get closer to Alpha Darius. I’ve never been the flirtatious type. But maybe just trying to be his friend and get on his good side would help me learn more about his pack’s history. And I’m sure Emmy will be able to get information working with Gamma Lucas as a strategist.

            “How about we stop talking serious stuff for now and just have some fun sister talk.” I suggested. Emmy smiled and nodded. We spent the next several hours just talking about how our lives have been. I told her about Andre and Ophelia taking their chosen mates under the full moon next week. Emmy would talk to them over video calls every once in a while, so it made her really happy to hear about that. Emmy was always more of a listener than a sharer. She told me Gamma Milo, her guardian, and our father’s gamma from our original pack, was doing well. He was proud to hear Emmy and I are back in our original territory with the intent to take back part of our home. After playing catch up, and finishing the bottle of wine, Emmy said it was time for her to go up to her apartment and unpack some more.

            The next few days went like clockwork- wake up early, run morning training, eat, shower, run afternoon training, go for a run, eat, shower, sleep. I love a predictable routine. I had dinner with Emmy every night and she was really taking to her new role. She said Gamma Lucas was easy to work with and they were coming up with some great ideas together. They called a meeting for all of pack leadership, which includes me now as the lead female warrior and trainer. I was surprised to have the invitation extended to me given how new I am, and I’m not even an official pack member- I can’t mindlink with anyone here and Alpha Darius hasn’t pushed for me to join the pack since this is a temporary assignment. I wonder why Emmy couldn’t give me a head’s up on what would be discussed in this meeting.

I got settled into my seat at the conference room in the packhouse. It’s a standard meeting room, large oval-shaped table with enough room for 10 large chairs around it. A big tv screen at the front of the room to share presentations or to have people from outside this pack join in a meeting via video call. From what I understand, the Running River Pack, like most packs after the plague, and with being in a constant state of war, has no true allies. That was a big reason why Darius said he wanted Emmy to join his strategy team because she helped create several alliances for her pack out in California. I look around the room as the rest of the leadership team files in- Emmy is sitting in the seat next to me, and to her left is Gamma Lucas. Beta Tobias was sitting towards the head of the table, in a seat to the left of the chair that Darius will most likely take. Another minute later, Justin, the lead warrior and trainer walked in. He and I have talked every day about our training plans and the progress of the female warriors. We are planning on doing mixed sessions in the next few weeks since a lot of the women are progressing quickly, and they need to get used to fighting men. Justin sat in the seat to my right. Finally, Darius walks in and takes his seat at the head of the table. Tobias gets up and shuts the door. Darius clears his throat to speak.

            “I was told by Gamma Lucas and Miss Emerald Davis that they have an important theory that could be explaining the increase in rogue attacks. I don’t think I need to say this, but since Miss Tannerman and Miss Davis are visitors to our pack for the next few months, I want to restate that whatever is said in this meeting is confidential and does not leave this room. Our pack’s safety and well-being are at stake.” Darius scanned the room, and we all nodded our heads in agreement. Shit, what is this meeting about? “Gamma Lucas, you and Miss Davis have the floor.” Darius nodded to Emmy and Gamma Lucas, and they stood. I could tell Emmy was feeling nervous, but she was good at keeping a poker face- not wanting to be appear unsure of herself.

            “Thank you, Alpha.” Gamma Lucas began. He was a good looking guy- all these men were. Darius had darker features, with wavy black hair and almost black eyes, and he was tall, maybe 6’4 and incredibly muscular. Can he wear a shirt that isn’t struggling to cover his biceps? Lucas had lighter features with light brown hair, swept over to the side and hazel eyes. He was tall too, at about 6’1 and Tobias looked like Thor, with longer blonde hair and big muscles, and dark blue eyes. Between the three of them, I’m surprised this pack is attacked so frequently by rogues- they are intimidating to look at. “As you know, the number of rogue attacks our pack has experienced has significantly increased the last year. It is not uncommon for rogues to attack, but they are rarely well coordinated. The most recent attacks this year, the rogues seem to know how to get into our pack territory without our guards noticing them. They have also been trying to attack specific areas, such as the cottages in the forest- not far from where you live, Alpha.” Lucas paused. That was interesting information. Darius, the Alpha doesn’t live in the packhouse? That’s usually standard protocol for Alphas to live in the packhouse. It’s the biggest building on the territory and there are staff who cook and clean for everyone who lives here. Seems odd that Darius chooses to live alone in a cabin.

            “Are you suggesting I am a target? That’s not new. Most rogues would love to kill an Alpha and take over the pack.” Darius fired back, his thick black eyebrow arching and a frown forming on his face. He ran his hand through his wavy hair, causing it to loosen and start to fall across his forehead. That’s a nice look for him- kinda disheveled. What am I saying? Focus Daya!

            “No, it isn’t new for rogues to want to challenge an Alpha, sir.” Emmy cut in. “But based on what Gamma Lucas has told me, only people within your pack know you live outside the packhouse in your own cottage. So, the question is, how do the rogues know where you live? How do they know how to get past the guards on patrol without being noticed?” Emmy’s tone was serious. All eyes went from her back to Darius. He nodded and his gaze drifted down towards the table. His fists were clenched, and his jaw was twitching. He quickly stood up and started pacing back and forth. Nobody was saying anything. But it was clear his wolf was agitated his eyes went from a dark brown to a bright gold. Darius took a few deep breaths, in an effort to rein in his wolf. He looked back up to us all sitting at the table and slammed his open palms down on the table. I flinched at the loud sound, knowing that had to sting his hands. He opened his mouth to speak, but his voice was low, and growly.

            “We have a traitor in the pack.”