The Possessive Alpha

As Rafe hung up the phone with Marcus, he was satisfied knowing where Delia was and what she was doing. Marcus was instructed to provide a report of her whereabouts every hour.

His encounter with her earlier that morning had been a tantalizing experience that tested his self control to its limit.

When she had opened the front door, her expression a mix of awe and surprise, Rafe couldn't help but marvel at the beauty that greeted him.

He was entranced by Delia's mesmerizing green eyes, like emeralds sparkling in the sunlight, and the way her long black hair fell in soft waves, framing her heart-shaped face. Her delicate, straight nose and the slight curve of her plump pink lips were irresistible. He found himself imagining what they might taste like.

When he was hit with her alluring scent of fresh mountain snow, his mind screamed “MATE”. After all these years, he could scarcely fathom that his fated had literally found her way to him, to his island and into his property.

Although he maintained a calm exterior, inwardly, his heart raced and he struggled to control his beast from laying claim on her there and then.

He wanted to touch her and bury his face in the crook of her neck, letting her scent calm his inner animal, but instead, he focused on getting Delia to accept Marcus as her driver and unknowingly, as her bodyguard.

A knock on the door, broke Rafe out of his reverie. Alex poked his head in before entering his office. With a nod of acknowledgment, Rafe motioned for Alex to take a seat. “How was meeting your mate this morning?" Alex inquired, settling into the chair across from Rafe’s desk.

Rafe recounted the events of the morning, including how he got Delia to begrudgingly accept Marcus driving her around.

Alex chuckled, shaking his head, "You know that's just a temporary fix; she'll want her own mode of transportation sooner or later." Rafe shot him a glare, but Alex seemed unfazed, placing a file on Rafe's desk.

“She's a smart and independent woman, Rafe," Alex continued, "and from what this file reveals, she's never relied on anyone financially. Ever since she was 18, she's supported herself, even through college, and she has climbed the ranks at the real estate investment firm she worked at in Washington DC."

"Our Luna is pretty impressive," Alex mused, admiration evident in his tone. "The Moon Goddess has truly blessed you and our pack." He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Did you get the sense that perhaps she might be supernatural like Ethan suspected?"

Rafe contemplated Alex's question, his mind drifting back to his encounter with Delia. "Honestly," he admitted, "I was so distracted by my mate that I didn’t really notice." He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "But now that I think about it, my beast may have sensed something that may have been more than a human but that seems odd. Do you think she is hiding something?" Rafe's voice held a note of concern as he posed the question to Alex.

Alex shrugged, his expression thoughtful. "The information in her file begins from when she was 18," he explained. "There's no trace of where she came from before that or who her family is." He paused, considering the implications. "Either she's trying to hide something, or her record was suppressed when she was a minor."

Rafe furrowed his brows, deep in contemplation. Was his mate in danger? The thought nagged at him. Why else would she have suddenly left her job and moved to a remote island? His instincts told him there was more to Delia's story, and he resolved to uncover the truth. "I’ll have to get more information from the source directly," he concluded, picking up the file to read the details.

Alex then broached the topic of Ethan with Rafe, his tone gentle but firm. "You know you'll have to get over your anger with Ethan for last night," he began. "He's our Gamma, and it's his duty to protect the Luna." He leaned forward, his gaze earnest. "Assigning Marcus to Luna instead of Ethan is going to eat him up. You need to talk to him and let him go to her."

Rafe sighed, understanding the weight of Alex's words. "I know," he conceded reluctantly. "But it’s going to be hard for my wolf to trust him when he had his mate’s scent all over his jacket." Alex placed a reassuring hand on Rafe's shoulder. "Ethan's loyalty to the pack and to you is unwavering," he affirmed. "And you know the bond between a Gamma and the Luna. It's his duty to protect her at all costs."

Rafe nodded, acknowledging the truth in Alex's words. "I'll talk to him," he promised, steeling himself for the conversation ahead. As the alpha, he knew it was his responsibility to ensure harmony within the pack.

In a werewolf pack, the bond between the Luna and the Gamma is sacred and deeply ingrained in pack dynamics. While the Alpha leads the pack and the Beta serves as his second-in-command, filling in during the Alpha’s absence, the Gamma plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of the pack, particularly the Luna. The Delta assumes the role of the general leading the warriors, overseeing the training and coordination of the pack's defensive strategies. Each position within the pack hierarchy carries its own set of responsibilities, contributing to the overall strength and cohesion of the pack.

"Besides, Aria is due to return soon," Alex supplied. "She will need Marcus back on the training grounds."

Aria was Rafe’s younger sister and the Delta of Nightclaw pack, a fact that filled him with great pride. Three years his junior, she possessed a fierce, alpha-blooded spirit and had earned the title of Delta within their pack. She had been visiting one of the neighboring islands to negotiate a crucial peace treaty.

Rafe nodded thoughtfully, his brow furrowing, "Have you heard from her? How did her meeting with Alpha Damien go?"

Alex shook his head, his expression reflecting uncertainty. "It doesn't seem to have gone as planned," he admitted. "But we'll have to wait for her to fill us in on the details. She should be back by tomorrow evening.”

"Do you think we should announce to the pack about the Luna?" Alex inquired.

Rafe paused, considering the question carefully. "I think we should only inform a handful of people, mostly trusted warriors for now," he replied thoughtfully. "We don't know if she's aware of the supernatural world, so it's best to tread cautiously. I don't want her running off to the hills, although I'm sure my wolf would enjoy that chase." Rafe chuckled softly.

After a moment of comfortable silence. Rafe suggested, “Let's go find Ethan and talk to him." Alex nodded in agreement. "He's in his room, sulking," he said with a hint of amusement.

*******

They ascended the stairs to Ethan's room, located on the second floor alongside the Beta and Delta quarters. As the Alpha, Rafe had the entire third floor to himself. The rest of the pack members resided in various accommodations scattered throughout the island. Since most of the island was their pack territory, border patrol entailed different strategies. They manned the ports, marina, and lighthouses overlooking the island, vigilant against any potential threats, including rogue pirates.

Humans coexisted on the island with them and while some were sworn to secrecy regarding the supernatural, not all residents were aware of the hidden world within their midst.

Passage onto the island was tightly controlled, with stringent measures in place to prevent unwanted intrusion. Delia's arrival had been facilitated by her connection with Jackson Associates, a firm that Rafe had business dealings with.

Rafe and Alex found Ethan looking out the window of his room and staring at the ocean.

Rafe cleared his throat, gaining Ethan's attention. "Hey, Ethan," Rafe began, his tone serious. "I owe you an apology. I lost control of my wolf yesterday, and almost attacked you. It was unforgivable, and I'm sorry."

Ethan turned to face Rafe, his expression a mix of surprise and understanding. "It's okay, Alpha," Ethan replied, his voice calm despite the awkwardness in the air. "I know the pull of the mating bond can be overwhelming."

Rafe nodded gratefully, relieved by Ethan's words. "Thank you. I appreciate your understanding," he said sincerely. "And I want to make it right. You're free to go see your Luna when she gets back from town. Starting tomorrow, you can take Marcus' place."

Ethan's eyes widened at the news. "Really?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. Rafe nodded firmly, his gaze unwavering. "Yes, really. It's finally time for you to fulfill your duties as Gamma and protect our Luna," he said with conviction.

A sense of relief came over Ethan as he processed Rafe's words. "Thank you, Rafe. I won't let you down," he vowed, determination shining in his eyes.

As Rafe turned to leave, his phone buzzed, indicating an incoming call. Seeing that it was Marcus likely calling to provide his hourly report, Rafe answered.

However, Marcus's voice sounded nervous and urgent on the other end. "Alpha, I..I seem to have lost Luna," Marcus exclaimed, his tone filled with panic.

Rage instantly consumed Rafe, and he demanded, "What do you mean you seem to have lost Luna?"

Marcus recounted that he had been waiting outside the phone store for Delia, but when he went in to check, she was nowhere to be found. "I've been running around the town trying to locate her," Marcus explained frantically.

“Marcus," Rafe bit out, trying to contain his fury, "how long has she been missing, and why are you just informing me now?"

Marcus admitted that he wasn't sure how long she had been missing. Rafe hung up on him, frustration evident on his face.

Turning to Ethan, Rafe's expression was grim. "Delia's missing. We need to go find her," he said urgently. "Alex, you take charge while we're gone."

With that, Ethan and Rafe rushed out to where Rafe’s black Defender was parked. They quickly peeled out of the driveway and drove towards town, with Rafe gripping the steering wheel tightly, driving like a man possessed.