chapter 3

Chapter three.

Charles' POV.

I stood at the edge of the fifty-story building of the Moonstone Pack's company, watching the far end of the earth.

"Coward," I muttered to myself. I closed my eyes deeply, and Kate's face kept displaying in my head. What have I done? She was just a poor omega, a desperate slave with no one, but I sent her away to the wild. Is she dead? I don't think I would be able to live with this guilt. She was my mate. I raped her, threatened to kill her, and sent her to her death.

I brought out my cigarettes and was about to light it when Marcus' appearance distracted me.

"Alpha King, are you still brooding over Kate? It's high time you forget her. The Alpha Queen just died, and the pack needs you. We are crumbling, and you can't just be wasting time on a probably dead person," Marcus, my personal bodyguard, and also my friend, said.

"I did something unimaginable! I ought to die!"

"Why did you reject her if you have feelings for her? I don't understand you."

I faced him and smiled. "I don't understand either."

Marcus exhaled. Then, Kristopher, the general warrior of the pack, rushed at me and bowed his head.

"How is it?" I demanded.

"Sir, we have searched every corner of the city, neighboring packs, down the hills, and every part of the forest. We are unable to find Kate or even anyone who has heard that name. It was like she disappeared completely from this world, like she is dead," he reported.

I growled at him. "You don't have any right to say that! She is not dead. I can feel it! You have to find her. I don't mind if she is dead; I want her bone in front of me!"

"At your service, Lord," he complied as he immediately rushed away.

Marcus sighed and nodded. "The meeting would be held in 5 minutes. Let's go."

****

As they all stared at me, I knew what today's meeting was all about. The same thing they had always talked about, every day and night.

"Alpha, it's high time you find a mate for yourself. You are getting weaker every day. You need a Luna; the pack needs a Luna," Elder Richard laid out their ultimate concern.

There was total silence. They were waiting for my response.

Another council member roared, "The company also. We have to do something about it. It's crumbling, and Luna Enterprises doesn't want to partner with us. We have to go for Alpha Queen Janet's offer!"

I cleared my throat. "The oracle said we should partner with Luna Enterprises. It has never been wrong. And you all hear Janet's terms. You all know it's ridiculous."

Alpha Janet was the Alpha Queen of the Quill's Pack, the leader who didn't have a mate. She also had the most successful company in the city. To stop the crumbling of my company and pack, we sought her help. She could only help us if I agreed to marry her. That's ridiculous!

Elder Richard slammed the table, anger evident in his voice. "Why are you like this, Alpha? We need a Luna, and Alpha Janet is right about it. She leads a pack and has a successful consortium. She would do us good! This is a blessing!"

"I am the Alpha King here, and my say is the final. End this meeting now! Anymore talk from any of you, I will have him demoted" I growled back and stood up, then stormed out of the room. Marcus rushed after me.

After my mom, the Alpha Queen who was overseeing the pack, died, the company and the pack dismantled. People that partnered with us started withdrawing, saying I am too young, inexperienced, and an Alpha King without Luna. We sought the oracle, and it said we had to partner with Luna Enterprises. That's the only thing I would do. Not stooping low for Janet.

"Sir, you are making a very serious bad decision. The neighboring pack will soon be attacking us if they find out how weak we are. We can't survive like this. The pack's finances will soon hit rock bottom, and we will be like leftover grass," Marcus said with genuine concern.

I stopped and turned to Marcus. "So, what are you telling me I should do?"

"Marry Janet! That's the only way. Look, we have been hiding this from you, but there has been a famine in the Moonstone Forest. Animals are declining, and other packs are breaching in. They don't respect us anymore, and you… you are weak without Luna."

I brushed my hair with my hand and sighed in frustration. This was a very big concern.

"I know you are doing this because of Kate. It's high time you forget her and move on," he said.

I closed my eyes deeply. Yeah, the pack needs me. I should forget it all. I'm sorry, Kate!

"Okay," I said and went back to the meeting room, then agreed to comply with them.

"That's a good decision," Elder Richard said. "Someone should inform Janet, and…" I was cut off by the door that flung open, and it was Sophia, my secretary.

"What's wrong? Anything you have to say should wait until after the meeting!" I growled at her.

"Sir, Luna Enterprises has accepted the partnership request, and they want to meet and seal the agreement today!"

What perfect timing!

"Really? That's great news. I should prepare…" I stood up, feeling very grateful that I wouldn't have to do anything with Janet.

"But…"

I cut Richard off. "Talk no more. This is the best solution from the acumen, and we are going with it." I stormed out of the room.