Chapter 11: Dangerous Attraction

"All witnesses including Alpha Grey have been taken care of, non of them will remember a thing!" Jeremy said giving account of his duties in the office of the alpha.

"Thank you Jeremy!" Monroe said as he took his leave.

"You took his gift!?" Ten, enraged beyond her capacity, she knew her uncle could go to different levels of low to gain an advantage but this was new to her.

"Yes, I did. It was not ideal for a gift of that sort to be possessed by someone with his history within the territory.."

"You mean someone who isn't you, right!?" She shot.

"Say whatever you want, I was only looking out for the members of my pack!"

"Tell that to Jason who is on the brink of death or the five other warriors that tried to intervene!"

"I know you are angry Quincy..."

"Don't call me that name!" She shot. How she hated that name. It reminded her of the original owner, her father and of the times she heard her mother's cries, her eleven year old self unable to do a thing..

"Look Ten I get you are pissed because I took his gift but what I did was the right call to make. His gift is unstoppable. Nobody, not even I can stand against it. Now if you would kindly go and escort him here, we have a war to prepare for!" He said, hand to the ringing telephone on his desk.

"Barry, do you know the reason why I changed my name? It was because I was devastated of my own name, my very identity tag coined from someone so self centred and unethical. Now I see, my father wasn't the only one!" She stormed out of the office. How dare he justify this with pack safety! It has never been about pack safety but always about his own..

The elevator dinged a welcome to the first floor, the leadership of Equinox From Luna to the Beta and Omega littered the lobby.

She moved out of the way as they made way towards the elevator. The Luna and the Beta female cornered Ten. While the rest marched on.

Rowena Monroe and Bethilda Story her mother's best friends and her two godmothers.

Rowena the ginger with an apple chin and wise royal blue eyes, a hint of island life came through when she spoke while Bethilda was the exact opposite, the blazing brunette with fashion senses on point. Every detail on her armless jumpsuit, highlighted to match a shade of purple or gold. but still comfortable enough to fight in a war. Rowena, the wise mother among the three best friends while Bethilda was only a Four years older than Ten.

"Quincy dear, I heard about the incident with your friend. Please do forgive your uncle, he can be a little..." Rowena paused deliberating the right word.

"Controlling?" Ten pitched.

"I was going to say impulsive but that works too. He's heart's in the right place though, just clogged by a cloud of Alpha authority."

"Guess that's why the goddess gave them to us mates.. to unclog the cloud..." Bethilda said. Mimicking Rowena's voice perfectly.

"As annoying as your aunt Beth is, she is right. And don't worry I am uncloging the cloud..." An underlying tone of a cautionary tale in her voice.

"Do I even want to know?" Ten wondered why she asked.

"Trust me Quincy, you don't want to..." Beth said when something else caught her attention at the door.

"Okay I haven't seen that before.." she pointed towards a man who looked lost at and confused. Looking Sharp in one of Jeremy's black T's that had a skull pasted up front and a black jean to go with.

"I don't think the eye candy is from this pack but he definitely should be.. look at him!" Rowena joined the gaze fest ogling over his figure.

"He's like a fallen angel with broken wings but still blazing hot at the same time.."

"Umm you both know you are already marked and mated right!?" Ten tried to remind them.

"And so, we are just admiring the goddess's work of art! Wait he's looking over here why's he walking over here!?" Ten finally paid attention to the man they were talking about. It was Grey approaching.

"Ten, I've been looking everywhere for you, I am supposed to go to the office of the Alpha and I have no idea what floor it's on!..."

"Ladies!" He threw a Curt nod of acknowledgement.

"Grey this is Luna Rowena Monroe and Beta female Bethilda Story!" He took Beth's wanting hand and giving it a lingering kiss at the back. Ten held him, she wanted to maneuver him to the elevator before they come down with their mountain of questions especially the ones she had no answers to but she was too late, Hilda already spoke.

"On your way to the Alpha's office? What a coincidence, so are we!" She gestured towards the elevator.

"Drama here we come!?" Ten said under her breath as she followed them into the elevator.

"So, Grey. What pack are you from, your scent is farmiliar though you carry the Equinox scent!?" She asked chipping a length of thread holding him in check.

"Actually, I am not in a pack!"

"You are a Rogue? How tiring your life must be, all that running. You know before I met my mate I was a rogue too. I was in this pack out west with nice and accepting rogues like me. I sure do miss them sometimes, especially the Luna. She was and still is the most beautiful person I've ever met in and out.." Bethilda was interrupted by Grey's hand tapping the elevator button at the second floor.

"Am so sorry please excuse me!" He shuffled out of the elevator. He felt a restriction in his chest, being in another alpha's territory coupled with a delayed shift made his wolf restless. The avalanche of guilt cascading over him forcing him to shift.

His spine gave a resounding crack as he ran out of the building rushing towards a wooded part behind the Manor. His bones snapped reshaping Grey into a new form. Black fur grew out of his pore colonizing his skin. The shift went on till there was no man, but a wolf almost the size of a bear.

He took off into the woods searching for deer prints...

"Was it something I said!?" Bethilda asked concerned that her words were some how offensive. She alighted with Rowena leaving Ten in the elevator ready to go after Grey.

"Quincy, aren't you coming!?" Rowena asked.

"I'll be right with you. Just need to check up on something!"

"You are going after him?" Rowena asked.

"I have to, it has been one drama after another since I brought him here!" She smacked the button. Rowena stepped closer holding the door.

"I don't know him but when I looked at him I saw guilt and grief engraved in his heart. He is carrying guilt which is a heavy burden for just about anyone imagine adding grief... Let him be, let him sort himself out!" Rowena said, her gift coming to play, The sight of the Oracle. She saw his guilt, an additional monster coiled behind his cool, calm and collected facade but behind all that it was there a craving for vengeance.

Rowena extended a hand towards Ten, an invitation she took.

Together they walked to the office of Alpha Monroe. A spacious carpeted space with walls made of shelves home to different genres of books. A deep mahogany desk sitting with it back towards the open window framing a clear view of the central imperial town. A couch by the entrance and a table holding a miniature copy of the whole werewolf kingdom with the marked territories. with the Alpha, Luna, Beta, Beta Female and an Omega (Doctor Miles Hague).

"Where is the alpha!?" Monroe asked with Ten in the direction of his question.

"Alpha.. what Alpha!?" Ten asked having no idea who he was talking about.

"Alpha Grey! You were supposed to escort him up!?"

Grey is an Alpha, Grey is the alpha. Shapes she never thought would fit came together like a constellation. The council, the hurt at the mention of the pack of the west. Rowena's vision. She heard the rumors about the alpha that massacred his whole pack but debunked them to be just rumors. Grey can't be that alpha, he is true and thoughtful. Those traits doesn't belong to a murderer..

"He had something to take care off, I'll brief him on whatever is said!" She dropped to the couch like a sack of potatoes worried that she didn't connect the dots before.

"Very well then! As we all know, Quincy Colt and Jack Colt came to us for refuge weeks ago. They were prisoners unjustly detained by the alpha of the council. Now, the alpha council is giving us twenty-four hours before they come into the territory by force.."

"We have less!" Rowena spoke up, staring into the floor but focused on something no one else can see.

"The council is gathering troops as we speak, they plan to attack at high noon tomorrow!" She said.

"Right when we least expect an attack but we will be waiting for them. Any indication if Moons Peak will be joining the assault!?"

"Uncertain! His intentions are still conflicted..wait, he is with the paperwork. He has signed against the assault. Moons Peak will be neutral!" She gasped drawing in desperate breath as her focus returned.

"Great. Jeremy, take some warriors to the west hills and activate our defense measures!" Getting the information he needed Monroe took back leadership.

"Yes Alpha!" Jeremy said exiting the room.

"Beth, you and Miles handle evacuation into the underground bunkers. Make sure they are all secure!"

"Yes Alpha!" They left too.

"Quincy...."

"Grey and I will take the Northern side of the boarder!" She pitched out loud.

"No, I need the both of you to focus attacks on ShadowLake and Blood Moon axis. If we can capture one or both Alphas we can negotiate a price of sorts!" She had been hoping, more like praying for a chance to meet her father in battle and here it was just hours away.

"Yes Alpha! If that will be all I would to take my leave."

"Luna" She gave a Curt bow which was replied with a smile.

She left with the sole aim of finding Grey before anything else...

"Is there any way to avoid this war!?" Monroe asked, eyes to the organized city about to be thrown into chaos. Rowena walked to him and wrapped her hands around him in a hug from behind.

"Even if we hand them over to the council they will still find another reason to come down hard on us. They want our pack and it's riches. There will be death but each spilled blood is in the honour of moon goddess" She rested her head on his back maintaining that position for the sure part of forever...

Ten sprinted through the woods following a scent in the air. The wind slapping hard against her face. Noticing the scent slowly fading, she slowed down her pace stopping only when it faded completely by the floral gates of the Orchard. Giving up on scent searched for prints. Rewarded seconds later, she followed huge paw prints leading to Grey at bed of the stream. In nothing but his birthday suit he watched ducks wobble their way through shallow water..

"You found me!" He heard her footsteps approaching.

"I found you!" She sat next to him an audience to nature's show.

"Sorry about leaving, earlier!" He apologized, eyes not leaving the scenery for a second.

"Apology accepted!" Her voice brought him more peace. He let go of a heavy exhale turning to her. He had spent hours trying to prepare himself for this but it wasn't enough.

"Ten..." He started softly.

"There is something you need to know, about my past..." He paused gathering more courage to speak.

"My pack.. my former pack were attacked.." He paused again unable to mention her name.

Ten gave him time, waiting patiently for his words.

"My mate Lana and my entire pack suffered a fate non of them deserved. I didn't even see things like this till four minutes ago. Throughout my life people close to me always end up in some sort of danger.."

"I can deal with danger!" Her vocal cords betrayed her thoughts. Now she was certain, right from the cells of ShadowLake, there was something about danger that attracted her like a magnet..

"I don't think you understand, you might die..." she couldn't stop staring at his lips as they moved, losing control she went for those lips, pressing her's against his. He accepted them like an offering, taking them into his and tasting every nook and cranny. Yes, it was as scintillating as she imagined.

Kisses turning violent as their bodies pressed against each other in urgent need. One at a time clothes flew like migrating birds as moans of pleasure beckoned on approaching dusk.