CHAPTER 4

ALPHA CONNOR POV

Being the Alpha of a pack is a huge responsibility. Even for me. I am 25 years old and started this pack from nothing. We are the Protectors, a pack of warriors. Some of our members have chosen each other as mates and have started families. But I can't do that. I know that an Alpha is meant to be stronger with a Luna, but I wasn't going to just choose a mate because people expected me too. I wasn't holding out hope of finding my mate, but I wasn't going to just take any women to be the Luna of the pack that I built either. As a pack of warriors, we have become so good at what we do that we are invited to help other packs train to protect their packs. It's an honor that we got that reputation.

This time we are headed off to a pack called the Diamond Pack, headed by William and Sophia Jameson. I didn't know how long this job was going to take. Or how bad their warriors were. 

They are starting the night off with a black tie event which none of us are used to. We don't know what to do at black tie dinners. We're warriors. We all had to go and buy suits and dresses for this dinner. It definitely wasn't anything we were used to. But I was assured by my Beta that it was because they are trying to impress us. 

They even sent limousines to come and get us from our pack and take us there. They really didn't need to try so hard. We're warriors. This is what we do. And we are more than happy to help anyone that is in need. With the signed treaty of course. That was always my Beta's suggestion. To look out for me and make sure that the packs that we train don't try to come after us and destoy us.

I hadn't ever heard much about the Diamond Pack except that the Alpha's fated Luna and child died in childbirth. 

The whole trip there I was tugging on my tie because it felt like it was choking me and my Beta kept trying to stop me from messing it all up. It took us forever to figure out how to even tie the damn things. But it was necessary I guess. Since they went to all the trouble of making this big dinner for us. 

I sat very uncomfortably in the back of the limo the whole way there staring out the window at the passing woods, wishing I could be out there enjoying a run on a night like this. 

"What's the matter?" Miles, my Beta, asked me since I hadn't said a whole lot since we left our pack.

"I don't know if we're doing the right thing here. I've been doing some research on this pack." I admitted to him while still looking out the window. 

"I didn't think there was much information. Just that they have been hidden from the world for a long time. The Alpha is only just trying to get their pack into shape now." Miles says.

"Yeah. I dug a little deeper and asked some contacts. The Alpha lost a fair few members 15 years ago when his mate died in childbirth. The child died too. And he basically ran the pack into the ground. I have been curious why he wants to fix things now." I state.

"Well, he has a new Luna. Maybe that has something to do with it. He has a new Luna and he wants to put his pack back together." Miles suggested.

"Yeah. That was what I was thinking as well. But I just have this feeling that something doesn't add up with him. You know what I mean?" I asked, looking at him.

"Yeah. I know what you mean. And you always get those gut feelings that always prove to be right. You know me, the second you say that you want out of here, I'll be right behind me. I know not to doubt you anymore. If you say that it's time to go then we'll be out of there." Miles says.

"Thanks man. I know that I can count on you." I say.

As soon as we got to the three story packhouse I looked out the window and shook my head at how elaborate it was. I thought it was completely unnecessary. Why would the Alpha and his Luna need a house that big?

As soon as the door was open for us I climbed out of the limousine and we started walking towards the front door when the wind changed and I stopped walking. 

"Are you alright, Alpha Connor?" Miles asked as I looked to the left of me when an aroma caught me off guard. It was the most delicious smell I had ever smelt in my life. It almost took my breath away. I stood there not believing my own senses for a moment. Every werewolf has a mate out there somewhere, but we're an outcase pack. I never expected to actually find my mate. I was in disbelief until my wolf, Bronx, started getting really excited and tried to come to the surface. It took almost all of my energy to regain control of him. The problem was I couldn't see anyone or hear anyone out that side of the packhouse. I didn't know where it was coming from. 

So I continued on into the house and was greeted by Alpha William and Luna Sophia. We walked through to the grand ballroom and it was something out of a magazine. 

We weren't there for long before dinner was bought out and it was buffet style which was more my style and we helped ourselves to the food. As soon as I started tasting this amazing food I wondered who made this cuisine, she may be perfect, like an angel. We started talking amongst the existing pack members and I was seated next to the head warrior Elias.

"So, what are the issues that you guys are having with training?" I asked casually through dinner.

"Well, since the Alpha's misfortunate 15 years ago, things went downhill around here. It wasn't until he met and mated with Luna Sophia that he regained some control and wanted to turn this pack into what it used to be." Elias says.

"Yeah. We heard that he lost his mate and child." I say.

"It was a horrible thing. To lose his mate and his newborn baby. He was left with nothing."Elias says.

"Was it a boy or a girl?" Miles asked.

"Does it matter? It was a child." I commented.

"Well, yeah. It doesn't matter. But it was a girl." Elias replied. 

"Yeah. That would crush anyone. And training just stopped happening after that?" I asked.

"Yeah. Pretty much. It's amazing that this place hasn't been attacked and destroyed but I guess we never started anything with any other pack and kept to ourselves. I think werewolves actually forgot that we were here." Elias explained.

"Well, we can get your guys back in shape if that's what you're after." I say.

"We appreciate you all coming to help out." Elias says.

When we finished eating I was talking to the Alpha and we were walking through the house having a discussion about the training session and how they would go when I got a whiff of that same aroma. It was cherries and chocolate. It was delectable. But it was stronger in the house then it was outside the house. So I knew that the scent belonged to someone in the house. I knew that I needed to find it. 

It was only faint where I was right now. But I quickly excused myself and the Alpha showed me to my room. A large room with an ensuite bathroom and as soon as I walked into the room it was strong in here as well. I waited until the Alpha left and I snuck out of my room and headed down the hallway. I wasn't sure which way to go. The scent was everywhere. She definitely got around everywhere in the packhouse. 

I finally got to the end of the hallway on the third floor and saw a door right at the end of it. I walked to it slowly and jiggled the door handle but it was locked. I then heard footsteps on the stairs on the other side and it sounded like they were sitting on the stairs. They weren't going to open the door. But the scent got so much stronger. I needed to get in there. The smell was intoxicating. I couldn’t wait to see who she was. But when she told me to go away, I felt a pang of hurt in my stomach. No matter how much I tried to convince her, she just wouldn’t open the door. I could hear her heavy breathing and racing heart beat. Since she wouldn’t open the door I came to the conclusion that she was anxious about opening the door. She was scared. But what could she possibly be scared of? I definitely wasn’t going to hurt her. And then I heard the booming voice of Alpha William coming down the hallway.

Seeing the Alpha coming down the hallway really got my suspicions in the end. What the hell was going on in this pack that a girl was hiding away in an attic? I could hear her on the other side of the door in almost a panic the second she heard Alpha William. No one should fear their Alpha like that. Bronx was growling in my head and I knew that something was wrong here. I had a bad feeling about this pack from the start. I need to find out who the girl is. I followed her scent here, and that’s what has my wolf on edge at the moment. Could it really be my mate? I made the decision right now, that we were going to stay until I finally met this girl. And when Luna told me that she was not a good girl, that really got Bronx stirred up. He hated her for that. But I needed to play along right now, for mine and the girl’s sake.

I knew that he was lying. Especially about Luna indicating that she had mental problems. She didn’t seem unwell to me. She was terrified. I could sense that in her voice let alone her heart beat and her breathing. She was terrified of the Alpha. 

I'd heard of Alpha's like this. They abuse their workers. Don't feed them. Beat them. Torture them. I knew that I was going to have to be very cautious while in this pack. I was now starting to not trust the Alpha at all. 

We headed back downstairs to the ballroom and I saw my Beta Miles standing against a wall talking to another member of the Diamond pack. I walked up to Miles and asked him if we could talk alone and I made sure that no one was around to hear our conversation. I kept my voice low so that no one could hear us.

"I need you to do something for me. We might get into trouble but I need you to spy on the Alpha and Luna for me and tell me everything you see. We need to figure out what the hell is going on around here.” I asked.