Three

Matteo

"Ensure that you thoroughly investigate every aspect related to the Howlers Pack," urged Dad, the Lycan King. I sat in his office alongside my prospective beta, Calvin.

Concern etched his face as he pondered the fate of the pack. Its sudden obliteration left him perplexed, unable to fathom why it occurred without his knowledge. He questioned whether the pack had submitted any reports of rogue attacks or assaults by rival packs. Typically, the Howlers Pack would promptly inform the palace of such incidents, but in this instance, no information had reached us, preventing any swift response.

"Matteo, are you paying attention?" my father's voice boomed, snapping me out of my contemplation. I comprehended his urgency; my mind had been immersed in deep reflection..

"Yes, Dad, I heard you loud and clear," I replied. The incident had occurred for several years, yet we hadn't found any clues. So, he decided to send me there, urging me to resolve it before assuming his throne. Restless since discovering the issue, and now passing the throne to me, he wanted assurance that such incidents wouldn't recur.

Only Calvin and I, along with our trusted Lycan friends, were privy to this information. While some would stay behind, others would join us for an initial investigation.

We arrived at the Midnight Pack without them knowing the exact reason for our visit and our subsequent stay. They assumed we were there to check on the needs of their pack and the surrounding packs. The moment I stepped out of the car, chaos ensued in my life. I attempted to reach out to Calvin for an explanation, but even he couldn't clarify.

Eunice approached me, prompting me to wear sunglasses and scan the surroundings for something elusive. My eyes fixed on a she-wolf with her head lowered. Attempting to enhance my senses and catch her scent, I found nothing; she had no discernible aroma

I followed Alpha Daniel as he led us inside, with Eunice by my side. Growling at her to create distance proved futile, so I resigned to her proximity. I was the cause of her odd behavior, and I had to handle it myself.

The Midnight Pack allowed us to use their villa during our stay. I was relieved not to be in the alpha's pack house, not out of disdain, but because I discovered the future alpha was lacking.

Four months passed, and Calvin and I were in a room discussing our arrival and my unease regarding the Lycans. "Maybe your mate was there," Calvin suggested.

"I hope so, but I already mentioned I smelled her back in the palace nine years ago," I reminded him, and he nodded. It was true. On our return from vacation nine years ago, I caught a whiff of my mate's scent as I stepped out of the car. I followed it, only to be disappointed when it ended on the porch. To this day, her identity remains unknown.

I informed my father, who queried the remaining rank officials about any visitors during our absence. Ronaldo, the palace financial adviser and Eunice's father, denied it, leaving me perplexed. If my mate was in the palace, why couldn't I smell her anymore?

Lycans struggle to find their mates, sometimes taking centuries. Approaching 100 in a few months, I pondered why my Lycan was acting strangely. "Then why do you think your Lycan was acting strangely?" Calvin inquired, and I shook my head, genuinely clueless.

"Speaking of mates, if she was indeed here and the reason for your Lycan's disturbance, you have to address the Eunice situation," he cautioned. I was aware, but uncertainty still lingered, leading me to maintain contact with Eunice, despite our agreement that our relationship was strictly physical. The concern persisted nonetheless.

"Why can't she just show up?" I exclaimed in frustration. I was here for the case and not for my mate, but it seemed I would have to face both. Closing my eyes, I said, "We had better focus on what brought us here; the sooner, the better." We both agreed on that.

Leaving the room, I found Eunice by the door. "Didn't I already express my dislike for your eavesdropping?" I asked, annoyed. She approached me with a seductive smile, her hand landing on my chest, and she kissed me. I really messed up. Unable to resist, I found myself touching her, and without knowing why, I carried her to the next room and took her as I pleased.

In the many decades of our liaison, I had never ejaculated inside her. My mate was the only one with the right to bear my pups and take my seeds, and Eunice would never receive them if that was her intention. I never engaged with her in my room; it was always in hers or in any available room or location whenever the mood struck us.

"Get out," I instructed her after composing myself. Then I heard it again—a painful howl, as if accusing me of infidelity. My eyes widened as my Lycan screamed in my head.

'Mate, she was in pain because of you! She knew we were hers, and your involvement with that ingrate hurts her.'

'Tell me where she is. I want to see her too, but why can't I find her?' I asked him.

'Because you are an idiot! We've been communicating for almost a hundred years, and you still don't know my name!' he replied. It was true. Until now, I didn't know how to address him. I had been asking from the beginning, but I never received a response. Now he blamed me for not knowing what to call him.

"What was that?" Eunice asked, having heard it as well. "There were many pathetic wolves here, so that one was in pain because his or her mate was cheating," she said mockingly.

"Didn't I tell you to leave already?" I asked, hoping she would, as my Lycan wanted to eliminate her. She didn't need much fixing because I only pulled down her pants and had her from behind. She just needed to pull them back up and leave.

Settling into a chair, I pondered. I wanted to go wherever she was, but I knew I wouldn't be able to find her; she had no scent at all. Then my eyes widened as I remembered the she-wolf, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't smell her. I rushed out of the room and went to see and talk to Calvin.

"Let's organize a friendly fight tournament among the Midnight Pack's members," I suggested to him. He eyed me. "I want to find my mate, so I think this will help me locate her." He nodded.

The next day, I informed Alpha Daniel about it, and whether he liked it or not, he would have to agree. I prepared to go to school and announce the tournament to every class, hoping to catch sight of a certain someone.