Chapter 10: The Alpha’s Restlessness  

Lucas POV 

Where is he? I muttered under my breath, my voice edged with irritation as I glanced at the clock mounted on the lavish wall of the private lounge.  

“Late, as usual,” my wolf grumbled. “Fidel doesn’t respect your time.”  

I exhaled sharply, my jaw tightening. Delays grated on me, especially when Fidel was involved. The man could be efficient when it suited him, but his tendency to indulge often led to a lack of punctuality—a trait I had little patience for.  

“Fidel will show,” I said aloud, more to reassure myself than my wolf. Even as the words left my mouth, doubt lingered in my mind.  

My goal is for us to capture this intruder and deal with her without mercy.

“We should be out there, not wasting time at this circus,” my wolf growled. “This party is beneath us.”  

“I know,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. The atmosphere of the gathering grated on my nerves. The room buzzed with idle chatter, laughter, and the clinking of glasses, but none of it resonated with me.  

The party felt frivolous—an extravagant display of excess with no meaningful purpose. I had agreed to attend only because Fidel had promised it would be worth my time. Now, with Fidel absent and my brother Jake nowhere in sight, I felt like a caged predator.  

Sinking into one of the leather chairs, I stared at the ornate chandelier hanging overhead, my mind drifting back to the night before. My composure had slipped—something that rarely, if ever, happened. The memory of that moment, the fire in my veins, and the inexplicable magnetic pull left me unsettled.  

I prided myself on my control. As Alpha, it was my duty to remain steady, to lead with clarity and purpose. Yet the previous night had been different. The mere thought of it made my wolf stir, restless and agitated.  

“What’s happening to us?” I murmured, my voice low.  

“Something important,” my wolf replied cryptically.  

I frowned, running a hand through my hair. I didn’t have time for riddles, not with the pack relying on me to maintain order. Whatever this was, I would have to bury it—at least until I had more answers.  

The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor drew my attention. I glanced toward the door, half-hoping it was Fidel, but it was just another partygoer—a woman dressed in a gown that screamed wealth and vanity. She cast me a flirtatious smile, but my cold stare quickly dissuaded her.  

Leaning forward, elbows resting on my knees, I sighed. This wasn’t where I wanted to be. I had responsibilities to attend to, tasks that actually mattered.  

“I should leave,” I muttered, rising to my feet.  

“No,” my wolf snapped. “Stay. He’s close.”  

“Fidel?” I asked, my brow furrowing.  

My wolf didn’t respond directly, but the sudden alertness coursing through me was answer enough. Clenching my fists, I forced myself to stay put.  

Moments later, a waiter approached, his posture stiff with nervousness. “Alpha, Mr. Fidel has just arrived,” he announced.  

I nodded curtly, dismissing the man with a wave of my hand. Despite my irritation, a flicker of relief passed through me. At least the wait was over.  

But as I stood there, something shifted. My wolf stirred again, a strange energy crackling beneath my skin. It wasn’t just the anticipation of dealing with Fidel—it was something deeper, something I couldn’t quite name.  

“Go to the bar,” my wolf urged, its tone commanding.  

I hesitated. “Why?”  

“You’ll see.”  

Reluctantly, I stepped out of the private lounge and into the main hall of the party. The change in atmosphere was immediate. The energy of the crowd hit me like a wave—voices rising and falling, glasses clinking, music thrumming in the background. It was a cacophony that set my teeth on edge.  

I moved with purpose, my imposing figure cutting through the crowd with ease. People instinctively gave me a wide berth, their conversations faltering as I passed. I paid them no mind.  

When I reached the bar, I leaned against the counter, signaling the bartender with a quick nod. A drink might not solve my problems, but it would give me something to do while I waited.  

“Whiskey. Neat,” I ordered, my voice low but firm.  

As the bartender prepared my drink, I scanned the room, my sharp gaze taking in every detail. The partygoers seemed oblivious to my scrutiny, too wrapped up in their own worlds to notice the tension radiating from me.  

“Fidel’s close,” my wolf reminded me.  

“I know,” I muttered. “But so what? What’s the point of all this?”  

My wolf didn’t answer, but the unease in my chest only grew.  

When the bartender set the glass in front of me, I took a slow sip, the burn of the whiskey grounding me. I needed clarity, focus. The pack couldn’t afford an Alpha distracted by... whatever this was.  

As I stood there, my thoughts drifted to Jake. My brother had promised to meet me tonight, but as usual, Jake was late. My lips tightened into a thin line. Jake’s carefree attitude was both a blessing and a curse—one I often found myself cleaning up after.  

“Figures he’d bail on this,” I muttered.  

“Jake doesn’t have our responsibilities,” my wolf said. “He doesn’t feel the weight we carry.”  

“That doesn’t mean he gets a free pass,” I replied, my tone clipped.  

But even as I spoke, I knew my frustration with Jake was a convenient distraction from the real issue—the restless energy coursing through me, growing stronger with every passing moment.  

My biggest goal was to get to the woman who had been troubling us, but it seemed as though Jake and Fidel were sleeping on it.  

The sound of laughter drew my attention, and my eyes landed on a group near the far end of the bar. They were loud, their laughter and chatter grating against my nerves. But it wasn’t the noise that caught my attention—it was the man at the center of the group.  

Fidel.