Chapter 4

 

[EVANDER’s Point-of-View]

White smoke from the cigarette blew from between my lips as I exhaled sharply through my teeth, a newly lit stick was between my index and third finger. It tasted bitter and mint in my mouth as I clicked my tongue, feeling all bored and exhausted.

A loud thud of a heavy body filled the room and I turned the swivel chair to look at the glassy, steady look on the dead man’s eyes. I put the cigarette stick on the ashtray while studying the face of the lifeless man lying on the carpet of my office. His blood soaked the textile cover on the floor and the metallic smell of his blood wafted through the vast space, mixed with the strong smell of the cigarette disgusted me.

A wave of a hand was enough for my Beta, Kian Ridley, to understand that he could get rid of the body. I didn’t have a choice. I had to eliminate a problem and threat to my business and the pack. This man had caused so much trouble after he committed arson and burned one of the storage supplies that were supposed to feed five hundred families this coming winter. I didn’t know who paid him to do such a crime here, but I had a feeling it must be one of my desperate enemies.

I hated that things had to go into this but I had to make everyone see that above all else, the safety and the betterment of the pack should be put first.

Even if it meant killing people that threatened my rule and my power.

Beta Kian immediately signaled his men to clean the mess and five men rushed inside to carry the body and clean the blood that drenched the carpet. Wincing at the disgusting smell, I stood from my chair and took the cigarette with me as I opened the balcony just across the room to get some fresh air.

I brushed my wavy dark hair with my fingers as I watched the whole city with an austere face. I didn’t know why I felt sad whenever I looked down the busy streets of my territory. Like there was something in me that was missing. Something I needed to find to fill the gap—a hole that was inside my chest. I had everything I wanted. I am the most powerful Alpha in this region and yet I was not happy. I needed something! I needed a wife!

A Luna.

“It’s been eighteen years and so many things happened. Worst things that I wish we had control over.”

Kian walked behind me and I made a shirt glance at him through my shoulder and shook my head, “Eighteen years of nothing but death and destruction. Houses burned and fathers died in an endless war of power.”

Kian stood by my side, his blonde hair was softly blown by the cold breeze as we both watched the darkness of the twilight slowly wrap around the city and the lights started to glimmer from the business establishments that I mostly owned.

“The Royal family is in a desperate state, Alpha Evan,” Kian uttered and I could sense worry in his tone, “All of this must be easy for you if your parents didn’t die when you were too young. I saw your hardwork, Evan. You are doing your best not to fail your people. Maybe you should be a little kinder to yourself too.”

I scoffed, “I didn’t like the idea but I have to keep my promise to my father, Kian. His will is for me to establish a peaceful connection with the other packs to prevent war from happening again. But these people are testing my patience. All those *ssholes are provoking me by sneakily attacking the pack.

“And I am doing my best to monitor every activity happening all over the territory. You know you can always count on me, right?” Kian smiled at me, his gentle face, lean body, and graceful movement made him look more like a prince, and I, a frightening beast with dark hair, a muscled body with a height of six feet seven inches.

“I just want to tell you that the alliance stands stronger than we expected, Evans,” the energy came back into his eyes as Kian smiled at me and I looked at him, a little annoyed at that friendly, happy face.

Kian and I had funny opposite personalities. Maybe his gentle demeanor was perfect to tolerate my rough, violent outbursts most of the time.

“Alphas of the nearby territories are satisfied with the progress happening in this region. But from my perspective, the relationship was like standing on thin ice in the middle of a frozen river. We should always be prepared because any time, it would collapse.”

“I had already anticipated that kind of sh*t, Kian,” I hissed and closed my eyes. I exhaled sharply as I felt the cold breeze on my face. My whole thought was still distracted by my eagerness to find a mate, “Any more news you can tell me?”

Kian cleared his throat. I could tell that my impatience had made him a little uncomfortable as I saw the tension building on his shoulders. I could also sense anxiety in him as he answered, “I don’t think you would like it but—”

“Say it, Kian.” I gave him a darting look.

He wiped the sweat that formed on his forehead as he spoke, “It’s about your former Beta, Raldalf Ambrose. News reached me that the Alpha of the Agarwood Pack, Alec Aoki was also after his daughter, Irina Ambrose. This is insulting because Ambrose first promised his daughter to you!”

I sneered, giving Kian a villainous look and he stared at me like I was about to go crazy. I shook my head to him as I looked at the clear, stary sky, both my anger and frustration mixing in my head, and all I wanted to scream and laugh at the same time.

MATE!  ALL I WANTED WAS JUST A MATE! I snarled internally.

“I can go to the Ivory territory and talk with Randalf—”

Kian stopped talking when he saw my lips stretched into a wrathful grin with my eyes glaring red, “This is getting interesting.” I growled so low it was almost a whisper.