Chapter Four

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"Have you double checked the guard rotation like I asked you to,Gary?"

I raised a brow at his light exasperated sigh as he struggled not to roll his eyes at me. We were clashing, as usual, but the arguments were not as intense as they always are. No, this time, we were trying and actually succeding to tolerate each other through the mutual discontent we held for each other.

"Yeah,Lex.I double checked,"

His tone sounded incredibly condescending as was his cocky smirk as he put on a show for the chuckling guards. As expected, like the cliche that he was, he had his own little band of followers who did nothing but pump his ego. It was pathetic, to be honest, but far be it for me to judge someone's coping mechanism through their boring life.

"I don't see how that's funny but okay. I noticed that the south side had less guards than we originally intended. Assign four more for a smoother transisition. We need to ensure that every single cardinal point of the pack land is secure."

I added, recalling all the discrepancies I had noted as I patrolled the entire pack land.

Although I had been uncomfortable by the arrangement, I had let Gary handle most of the guard placement around the pack land whilst I focused on dispatching those accompanying the Alpha, Luna, My father and Gamma Richard to receive the guests. It had been easier to acquisece to his demands than have a full on brawl about it when there was other things to be done. 

My perfectionist side was, however, unsatisfied and as soon as I was done assigning responsibilities to those who would be guarding the meeting hall, I had taken my bike out and proceeded to patroll our massive pack land just to be sure.

And I'm glad I did with all the loopholes I found...

"Did you really go through the pack land to point out all my 'mistakes'? Goddess, you are so fucking petty, Alexandra! I know what I'm doing!"

Gary seethed as he took what seemed to be a threatening step towards me. I was absolutely unperturbed, though. He could never threaten or scare me. I was absolutely immune to his rage that always sent other lower level pack members scampering due to his Beta blood.  It was one of the reasons why he disliked me with such a vengeance. Because despite all his efforts to make me break, I was still here, facing his BS head on.

"Oh, I don't doubt that you think you know what you're doing."

I responded, rolling my eyes at his attempt to scare me as a growl broke through him, his eyes flashing a threatening light brown as he stared me down. His wolf was not pleased with my own condescending tone whereas my own wolf was relaxed within me, unperturbed as I was. 

That was, however, not the case for his little band of idiots who, for the first time in forever, said something that was actually sensible.

"Calm down, Gary. We can't fight right now. The meeting is in a few hours and we have to supervise the upcoming rotation."

Each of them reared back at Gary's glare before averting their gazes from him. I couldn't blame them for their meek and cowardly response to his usual empty threats and glares.

Their reactions were part of the natural order of things.

Werewolves who were part of the three main classifications in our world; Alpha, Beta and Gamma beheld another level of power and dominance than pack members born of ordinary werewolves. The goddess had made us that way to ensure order in our world.

It was also why she created the Royal Family as a separate entity who ensured absolute order and protection of her children. Those fortunate enough to be born in Nobility or the main Royal lineage were a step higher than normal pack Alphas like Alpha Reed.

Our ruling structure was divided out into the King of Werewolves who stood tall and powerful above all werewolves, Alpha or not. He had his own pack which mainly consisted of powerful werewolf nobles who protected the King and the royal family. They occupied the Northern part of our world which was a hub for high ranking nobles.

Below the Werewolf King were Four Noble Werewolf families who ruled the North, West, East and South werewolf territories. They were the next in line should the Werewolf King possess no heir. First in line to the throne was the Noble who protected the Northern Region and commanded the King's pack and army. We belonged to the Southern territory that was commanded by Lord Caspien, third in line to the throne. 

I sometimes thanked the goddess that Gary was not born to nobility. He was simply a normal Beta's son who was still arrogant enough to amass himself a band of loyal guard level werewolves to carry out his every whim. 

Including bullying me when I first arrived at the pack. Before I figured out that it was okay to fight back...

"Listen to me, you arrogant bitch. I owe you no explanations. I am the son of a Beta and way higher than you, a pathetic Beta's daughter! So don't you dare try and patronize me!"

He was seething now, seeming to have partly relinquished control over to his wolf. I released a small sigh of exasperation, chastising myself for letting it get this far. We had too much to do to waste time on a useless and baseless argument.

I don't have time to entertain him whilst he tried to make himself feel like a strong and powerful man...

 "Just assign the four guards like I asked you to. This event is too important to make any mistakes or spend time on useless arguments. Do that and I'll stay out of your way just as I'm sure you'll stay out of mine."

I finished with a small wave of the hand, dismissing the entire conversation entirely as I focused instead on what last minute touches that needed to be done.

"Don't fucking turn your back on me, bitch!"

Gary's yell was enough to make his comrades and nearby guards to jump, each of them now coming forth to watch the spectacle. Our fights were famed all through the pack and many came out to watch as I thoroughly destroyed the seething wolf behind me who was a hair breadth away from turning.

Slowly turning to face the nuisance, my gaze slowly fell onto his hand that was clutching my own so tight, it would have broken were I a human. The very action had confirmed what I already knew which was that he was on the cusp of breaking.

For all our arguments, Gary knew better than to lay a single finger on me. I had instilled the fear of such a stupid action when I beat him to a pulp back when we were teenagers for pulling my hair. Since then, he had steered clear of doing it, even when our argument was fierce as hell. 

He must have lost his damn mind now...

"While I am used to your misgonistic comments and unoriginal insults, I am going to take you touching me as a momentary lapse of judgement and not kick your teeth in if you let me go right now."

My words, though calm, had enough inflection of danger to make those watching shiver in fear. I really hated being touched without my own consent, let alone by the asshole who had made my life a living hell just because I moved to his pack.

He had unleashed all the rage he held for my father taking his late father's position onto me and I had tried to understand him at the beginning. I thought he was still in mourning and cut him some slack. 

But not anymore...He's an asshole, simple as that. And I will put him in his place every single time until he understands that I'm not going anywhere and neither is my father...

"How about you try, huh? We're not kids anymore and I am itching for a rematch with no interruptions this time."

It was true that we had been pulled apart by our parents the last time we fought which was the crutch he always relied on when anyone mentioned how badly I had beaten him. It was a stupid argument that wasn't holding up with his peers anymore. Everyone knew I'd beaten him and the thought enraged him. He had been itching for a rematch since but had no opportunity to provoke me into one due to the presence of our parents.

Seems today is the day he breaks, huh? There is no one to really stop him...or me...

Though enticing, I could not follow through. Not with the Alpha Meeting about to start. I could already feel the shift in the air as Alphas began to arrive.

I still need to deal with him, though...

Releasing a small sigh of exasperation, I used my speed to grab his hand that was holding my own using my free hand, breaking his in two places before I shoved him hard. He had no time to react or stop himself as he crashed against one of the trees so hard, a crack vented the air from his dislocated shoulder.

Gasps of surprise followed at the sudden turn of events. No one had been able to predict or follow my movements.

I was, after all, the fastest in the pack.

I was on him as soon as he crashed against the tree, holding his discolated shoulder in place with my own tight grip which stopped it from healing and snapping back in place. His groan of pain was loud but I didn't care, a part of my own rage having taken the reigns over my body.

"Listen here, you immature, arrogant cretin. I do not give a shit about your childish whims. I will not be part of whatever stupid, pathetic plans you have to 'prove' yourself. None of that means anything to me and it never will. All I do care about is this pack meeting and you will NOT ruin this for me or anyone else in the pack. Now, get your shit together and send the four guards I told you to send to the south. Do that and I'll stay in my lane while you stay in yours. We clear?"

Although he said nothing, the pain in his eyes overshadowed the anger. It was clear that he wouldn't do anything. 

At least not now...

"As for the rest of you, don't you all have somewhere to be? Get back to work."

I didn't even have to turn to know that everyone had scampered off, their silent whispers at everything that happened floating over to me.

Dammit. I just know the entire pack will know about this in no time...

The very thought exhausted me but I didn't really have time to think about that as Sebastian's direct mind link came through to me.

"The Elder Alphas are here. The Royal Emissaries a few minutes away. My Grandfather wants to see you before the meeting begins. Where are you?"

"I ran into some...trouble. Its been handled though. I'll be there in a bit."

I responded once I got back on my speed bike, glancing back at an angry Gary who was, true enough, relaying my orders to his minions. He was clearly not pleased but my lesson seemed to have done the trick.

Well done, Alexandra...I wish I didn't have to resort to violence but that seems to be the only thing he listens to...

Putting on my black helmet, I brought the powerful machine to life before taking off down the dirt path and towards the meeting hall where I was sure Elder Alpha Killian Michaels was waiting. A small smile spread across my lips at the thought of the old man who had treated me like his own granddaughter from the moment I arrived at the pack.

He loved my father just like he loved his own son, Alpha Reed, and treated him with respect and love as he did his own flesh and blood. I always looked forward to visiting him in the Western territory which was the HQ of the Elder Alpha council but him being here meant I could spend more time with him and be as free with him as I wanted unlike the constraints we had to adhere to in the West. 

Revving my bike in excitement, I shifted the gears and increased the speed all the more, my mind absolutely oblivious to my wolf who seemed to have perked up at something. It was rare for her to make her appearance unless I was in danger which was why she had sat out my small fight and instead focused on her beauty sleep.

She was alert now, though, and more than ever as I sped through one of the last roads that led into the main pack. I chose to ignore her behavior as I parked my bike in front of the Meeting Hall and rushed towards the old man who didn't look a day over 50. His smile was wide as was his laugh once I jumped on him in excitement.

Even as I reveled in my grandfather's presence, my wolf was still just as unsettled and confused as to her conflicted emotions.

It would all make sense soon enough, though...

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