05 - Arrival

*** Matthew's POV ***

My office is a pretty typical one, maybe a tad larger than average. Between the two dark espresso built-in bookshelves, a floor-to-ceiling window is located just behind the dark mahogany office desk.  Two soft, see-through curtains break the harsh light, giving the window a soft glow. In front of the desk, there are two navy-blue soft velvet fauteuils with deep button tufting. The room also has two matching black velvet couches with similar button tufting on them sitting on both sides of the room with a dark espresso French coffee table directly across them both.

Barely making it behind the desk, I hear someone knocking on the door.

-"Come on in."  I instruct before sitting down and taking a deep breath.

-"Morning, boss!" Morgan says with her cheerful personality.

Morgan Bates is my pack's Gamma. She is relatively young, 21 years old, to be exact. She has earned her Gamma position with hard work and dedication. Both her parents are regular members of the pack, but Morgan always stood out from the crowd. She might not have immense strength, but I tell you, this five-foot girl can stand up to my best warrior in a fight. She is small and light, making her super agile. Brains over muscles. Literally.

-"Report." I give a dry command leaning back on my chair and while pinching my nose bridge. My head is starting to hurt.

-"Someone is in a bad mood today!" She points out while sitting on the blue fauteuils to my right, her left.

- "My day is not going as planned, and it's not even ten in the morning."

- "Okay... Well, we spotted a few rogues north from here. We don't know their intentions or plans. A couple of days ago, a human village was attacked. Fortunately, the Underworld Council had operatives nearby, who intervened just in time. Only a few human casualties were reported."

- "Hmm, why would the Underworld Council have operatives so close to our territories? Are they keeping tabs on the rogues too?"

Supernatural warriors and leaders form the Underworld Council. They consist of magical creatures such as vampires, shapeshifters, elves, fairies, etc. Their main objective is to keep us hidden from human society. They are what we consider our world's police departments. The council doesn't have any werewolf representatives, mainly because we're territorial and pack-oriented. We don't like strangers interfering in our business.  So, they always leave us alone to take care of our problems.

-"Well... According to my source, the increased dark magic usage throughout the region might be correlated with Shadow Witches. I think the council was following the witches' lead when they came across the rogues' situation. Another source thinks the rogue attacks seem to be somewhat organized as if they have a leader telling them what, when, and how to attack next. My instincts tell me the witches and the rogues might be working together. We were following the rogues while the council was following a witch's lead, and, somehow, we all ended at the same location. Isn't that too much of a coincidence, boss?"

-"Yes, something is up.  Morgan, I would like you to keep an eye on the council while following the rogues up north. We need more information on both parties if we are to be a step ahead. Regarding the witches and the black magic, didn't you have a friend that was a 'good' witch? Maybe you can ask her if she heard anything."

-"Yes, and they are called Light Witches, boss! Their power source comes from nature and good deeds. Witches that use black magic are called Shadow Witches; their power comes mainly from necromancy and bad deeds." She giggles, "I can't believe I have to teach you this every time." I give her a severe look. "You know, there's no harm learning about the culture of other supernatural beings."

- "I know about it! Bad Witch, Good Witch!

- "Hahaha, NO! It's a LIGHT witch and SHADOW witch!

- "You think you're so smart, huh?  What do you call a vampire who attacks during the day?"

- "Duh~Daylighter!"  She answers confidently.

- "Nope, he is a Daydrinker!"

She starts bursting out laughing upon hearing my epic joke. I couldn't resist and join her. She is always optimistic. I have a lot to thank her for. She makes Susie laugh when she needs it the most. And just when I needed it too, she bursts through the door spreading her cheerfulness.

- "Now go rest before the party tonight. I am sure Susie will love to catch up with you."

-" About that... I am really, really sorry, but I won't be here tonight. A group of rogues was spotted just a few miles from here.  The tracks are still fresh, and I don't want to let this opportunity go to waste. I'm sure Morris mind-linked you about it. So, I would like to leave as soon as possible."

-"Morgan, Susie will kill me if you don't stop to at least say hi. She adores you like a sister."

-"Alright, alright! I will say hi before I go. I miss Little Alpha so much."

- "His name is Carl!" I correct her as she makes her way to the door. But, before she exits, she turns around and attempts a serious face.

-"Alpha, I owe you and this pack everything I have. You gave me a chance to be who I am today." She then smiles. "Please know, whatever happens, we have your back!"

She bows her head to me and leaves the room. Feeling reenergized from my conversation with Morgan, I stuff my face in the never-ending paperwork set on my desk.  When I finally looked back at my watch, it was already five in the afternoon. The guests were already arriving, and I still had to check the area before welcoming them.

- "Alex, you wanna go for a run? We have to check the house's perimeter, and I figure you would like to be in control for a bit." I suggest to my wolf and feel his excitement.

-"I thought you would never ask!" He replies.

Squeezing my way through the servants, who were arranging the flowers and making finishing touches here and there, I make my way down the ballroom stairs and exit through the French doors leading to the garden,  quickly removing my clothes before shifting into my wolf form and giving Alex complete control. My wolf's fur is jet black, just like my hair. His eyes also matched mine, sky blue. I could have shifted with clothes on, but it would have been a waste. Werewolf's body structure is enormous, like in the Twilight movies. Yep, they got that one right, not the shinning vampires, though.

~~~

On my way back from patrolling, I shift into naked human form before entering the house through the kitchen's back door.  This area of the house was an organized chaos in preparation for tonight. I wiggle myself through them into the service elevators. Now, werewolves are used to seeing each other naked. It's like second nature to us; that's why no one pointed out a crazy dude wiggling his way through the kitchen butt naked. The elevator makes a quick bell sound as it reaches the third floor. Since Susie got pregnant, I started to spend the nights in her room, eventually moving there when the baby was born. 

Susie and Carl are still napping. The party preparations had tired them out. I tiptoed across the room towards the master's en suite and shower quietly. After going through my wardrobe,  I decided to put on my navy-blue royal tunic. Navy-blue is one of our pack's colors, and it also happens to be my favorite. The other colors are red and white. I leave the room, making sure I don't wake up my sleeping beauties, and head down to the ballroom. A couple more minutes of rest will be good for them. 

It's 5:50 p.m., the ballroom has taken a life of its own. I welcome the various pack leaders, group by group, which leads me to the garden just a few minutes past 6 p.m.  Once out there, I catch up with our allies and cross paths with Susie's cousin and current Grayfang Pack's Alpha, Robert Lawson.

-"Matthew, long time no see, my old friend!"

-"Indeed, Rob, how have you been? Did you find your mate yet?" We first bump like two old-school buddies.

- "Oh, I haven't yet. I am looking for him right now!"

-" What? He is here?" I question, curiosity making me look around.

- "I know, from all the places, it had to be here. You are like my fairy godfather!" He chuckled.

- "Last time I checked, I still had a tail, not a pair of wings."  Rob gasps in disbelief and playfully slaps my right shoulder.

-"Anyhow. How do you know he is here?" I changed the subject before my race joke had a chance to set in and became inappropriate.

-"My wolf, William, can sense it. He also told me our mate smells like lemon custard, and it's coming from your house."

- "Alright, Juliet, let's go find your Romeo, shall we?"

-"It's Cinderella. Juliet didn't have a fairy godmother!"

We both walk through the second pair of French doors, which is closer to the staircase. The other set was by the main ballroom's entrance. As I walk inside, I inhale the sweetest aroma ever—a combination of raspberry, black currant Chambord, sparkling nectarine, and sugared musk.

Out of nowhere, my wolf Alex growls and fights for control. Something was up.

-"What's going on, Alex?"

-"She is here. Our true mate is here. I can feel her. She smells like..."

-" ...raspberry, black currant sugared musk." I finish his sentence.