Chapter Three: Intriguing Secrets

Nicholae Lykon’s POV

  I hate patrolling.

  Trust me, I know how important it is to do so and the necessity of it but in the past 500 years of my life, I have basically seen it all.

  No, it’s the endless waiting that pisses me off. I have been waiting for so many things for so long I basically wrote the book on patience.

  Being the Alpha of the most powerful pack on the continent, I could easily assign the task to someone else but something has been bothering me recently.

  We got a report on one of the packs in California who were under suspicious of practicing witchcraft and trafficking in young werewolves and the High Council requested that my pack investigate.

  Normally I would have ignored the request from those pompous assholes since I wasn’t fucking answerable to them but something about the pack called to me and more importantly, intrigued my wolf. Something that hasn’t happens in decades.

  I call for Logan, my Beta’s attention through the pack’s mind link.

  “Something is definitely wrong with this pack. Look at the way their boundary is defended. It seems like anyone can literally walk in and there’s barely a scent marking this territory as taken.”

  Logan agrees with my observation.

  “You’re right Alpha, even the North end of the boundary is just defended with meager guards. I seems like a trap. Like they’re trying to lure wolves who might think is area is unmarked.”

  The Northern boundary of any pack is the most important for any wolf pack because it is the most common point of entry for outsiders.

  In fact, it is considered rude to come into a pack from any other direction and is sometimes seen as a hostile action. As such, it is the most heavily guarded. The fact that there are few sentries at the Northern border shows not just gross negligence but also calls for great suspicion.

  There is definitely something wrong. But there’s something else. Something I haven’t quite figured out yet. My wolf Orion’s growl just reinforces my suspicion. He hasn’t spoken to me in decades and when he occasionally does, it’s usually in growls and grunts. He gave up hope after waiting decades for his, our, Mea Lunaria.

  I can see Orion in our mind space, his hackles razed and teeth bared. He is definitely restless. Nothing has held his attention for years and I want to know what it is.

  I tell Logan through the mind link to be cautious but he responds cockily.

  “I always am Alpha.” I can hear the cocky smirk in his voice and I growl to get his attention so he knows I’m not joking. I don’t know why I am on edge like this but I have a feeling we have to be alert.

  “I’m not joking, Logan. You and the others cover the Western and Southern end of the border. I’ll take the East. Shift to your wolf forms. Report any suspicious activity to me immediately and don’t go alone. Be alert, don’t let them know we are here yet and make sure to hide your scents. I won’t tolerate any mistakes. Am I understood?”

  “Yes Alpha.” Logan and the others echo through the pack bond.

  I walk towards the eastern part of the pack boundary. As I approach I feel my wolf press at my consciousness. Orion is restless and wants to take over. I let him as I feel the shift take over me and I change into my midnight black wolf.

  Orion trots towards the tree line away from the eastern border. Something seems to have gotten his attention but I haven’t sensed it. At least not yet.

  Orion is an ancient spirit who has been existing for generations. When I met him as a boy, he told me that he was a conquering emperor whose empire stretched over several lands and kingdoms long forgotten in his past life. When I asked him why I didn’t know him, he told me that he was one of the ‘lost kings’ but didn’t dwell on the subject.

  He doesn’t like to talk about his past. He just prefers to have his orders obeyed which was why we struggled for dominance at the beginning since I also won’t submit and take anyone’s crap.

  All werewolves meet their wolves when they come of age. Wolves are reincarnated ancient spirits who were supernaturals in their past lives. However, not all supernatural creatures reincarnate into spirits. The goddess selects who would be worthy of reincarnation based on how they lived their previous lives.

  The strength of your wolf determines whether you fall into the Alpha, Beta Omega casts and so on.

  Of course, your initial temperament also plays a role in what cast you become. It is usually obvious from a young age what cast you belong to.

  Wolves are primal beings who are driven purely by power and instinct and the more powerful your wolf, the more powerful you are and your ability to have control over your wolf is what separates you from going rogue.

  Werewolves are born with acute senses more than the average human but you do not come into your full powers until your wolf spirit manifests in you at maturity. In my case, Orion manifested in me when I was ten years old. Something that had never happened before.

  Your wolf spirit lends their powers to you and amplifies your own. While a werewolf’s spirit is a part of one’s consciousness and identity, they have their own thoughts and have greater senses that a typical werewolf’s supernatural abilities because they are more in tune with the earth and have a greater more direct connection to the Moon Goddess and in turn, her powers. The older you are, the more powerful you become.

  Orion is able to sense things even I can’t and it was probably why he was able to sense whatever it is that has him so worked up.

  He sniffs and his nose flares as he picks up the scent of blood. He gets more anxious and follows the scent which gets stronger the deeper he goes into the forest.

  “What is it Orion?”