Honey, Rum and Fresia

ALARIC

“What happened here?” I frowned. I was sitting with dad, discussing some military changes he seemed when Noah called me. He said that it was horrible. It was. Indeed. Brutality screamed in this place. Everything was ruined. Those trees…my dad planted them with my late grandmother. We used to play here. Sister Gianna loved being here.

Anger surged through my veins. “Who?” It was a question that messed my interiors. I could feel Moon getting agitated too. Noah looked perplexed. He glanced at those peach trees again. They were shattered to the ground. They were broken and cut down. All the peaches were crushed to an extent that the pulp had been soiled.

“We suspect it to be rogues, Alpha.” Noah picked a full peach and cleaned it with his shirt. He would much it later. Not only sister Gianna, but Ashton and Noah too love those peaches and cherries. This area of forest belonged to the Windsor family.

“What kind?” My next question puzzled Noah. James appeared out of nowhere. He was huffing. Did he run? His body smelled like the forest. Was he…?

“You must have followed them?” I spoke. My eyebrows rose. In search of answers, of course. James nodded. Perfect. I would not spare those bastards. I moved close to James. Noah stepped back. James straightened his spine.

“Name, James!” I didn’t need to phrase a full sentence when James could decipher the meaning of some words. Did I? James was confused. Why? Who was the criminal? I wondered James' confused face.

“James…” This time Noah was the one. His tone carried authority. He had authority over James. He never likes to use it. But the situation demanded. Noah was cognizant of my authoritative side. He would instead use his superiority than let me use mine. In circumstances like these, he helped me keep my calm. A true Beta.

“Alpha, they came in a group. I was running in the forest this morning when I heard slight noises. Their scent was foreign. I followed them and found them plucking the peaches and cherries. They are some and then started to destroy the trees. I warned them and they ran. I chased them before they left in the cars.” James reported. He did chase them. His panting breaths confirmed that.

“How many?” I shoot the next question. I was going insane. If dad came to know this, he would be sad and furious. I would be questioned since the forests were under my jurisdiction.

“Eight. And they left for Silver City.” James said putting on his shirt. Shifting ripped of clothes. We preferred to shift after taking them off. It saved a lot of trouble. Unlike humans, werewolves find anyone from their scents. And clothes are always scented.

“How are you sure about that?” Noah scrunched his brows when James confirmed that attackers left for Silver City. James spared him a you-are-pissing-me-off look. If not for my presence, he would have told Noah to go fuck off. They always fought like kids.

“Alpha, I know one of them. He lives in Silver City. He is a drug trader. I don’t know why they messed here. But all of them are werewolves. Lone wolves, without any Alpha, Luna, or a pack.” James said.

“Let’s find those bastards,” Moon growled in my mind. Noah chuckled. He might have heard Moon. We were mind-linked.

“I will start the car.” James flew away followed by Noah. I would have to show strength. Show who I am. Show what I, Alaric, Windsor, The Alpha can do to those who mess with me. I sat down in the car while Noah followed us in another car with some soldiers. I preferred it alone, but he was like a shadow. Never leaving me. Not even in the dark.

We made it to Silver City in one hour. “Crowded. So many scents.” Moon said. Since my first shift, Moon and I were friends. He loved to explore. New places, new people, and new scents. He was obsessed with scents. A special power.

“It’s a metro city. What else do you expect?” I answered in a questioning manner. Moon must have eyed me. I wonder if we were two different people in different bodies, our bonds must have been great. He was like me but exaggerated.

“Alpha, I don’t know their exact location. How do we find them?” James looked through that mirror at my figure. I was in a conversation with Moon. Yeah, James said it right. How to find those rogues? Moon stepped forward.

“I can find them if you want me to!” Wait, did he just seek my permission! This happened for the first time. How would I have wasted such an opportunity!

“Of course, I permit you,” I said. Moon grumbled. He was annoyed. Moon mind-linked with James’ wolf Jam to find those scents Jam encountered in the forest. After a while,

“I got the scents. We have two ways. First, let me out and I will find those rogues. Second, follow my lead.” Moon suggested. It wasn’t a suggestion. I didn’t need it. I knew what I would choose. The first option was never an option in the first place. Letting out my wolf in such a place, a crowded city, filled with so many humans… was bad news. I didn’t want Moon to encounter any vampire or rogue wolf and kill the latter out of fury.

“Second one,” I confirmed. Moon chuckled. Narcissistic wolf. He was aware of my choice already. We were out of the car and Moon took the front. My wolf was exceptionally skilled with scents. I sniffed the surroundings and my eyes shined. What an exceptional wolf I had!

“You know the location, Alaric,” Moon voiced. I turned only to find James and Noah’s gazes fixated on me. They were trying to study my expressions. Well, they didn’t need to. “James, The Martini’s,” I ordered and stepped on the passenger seat.

“Jam rolled his eyes at me, his Alpha,” Moon upbraided. “Not now, Moon,” I decreed and hoped him not to be annoyed again. He was a moody wolf. Well, everything was good till the ride to The Martini’s. It was a club or bar. I exited the car only to hear Noah in my mind saying illegal. Well, it was. Who would legalize the trade of drugs and weapons!

“They are here,” James confirmed sniffing the club once we were in. Humans love these places. Why? Maybe, clubs like these offered drugs and sex. A good fuck! I and Noah made our way through the pool of people dancing to the tunes of some American song.

The hot bodies, the sweat, the alcohol. Everything welcomed me with open arms. But I felt disgusted. One more reason to punish those rogues. Moon jumped in my mind to take control. But I hushed him. This was not the time. This was unquestionably not the place.

I death glared at a black-haired average-heightened girl who just collided with me. Her body screamed lust, desire for sex. Human. She stepped away even under the effect of alcohol. That’s when James confirmed. He pointed to my left.

“Alpha, he is the one.”

“Noah, step in,” I ordered Noah who volunteered to back me. Well, it was the time. I approached the rogue. Surprised, he looked well-manicured type of a guy. If his body didn’t reek of those cursed fruits and my forests, I would have spared him. But not now. It’s too late.

“Hey, step away. You are blocking,” He stuttered. A rogue. A dunk rogue werewolf. A criminal. He was so many things at one time. I didn’t move and glared. He got irritated. He was about to roar when I used my Alpha tone.

“Before you open that darn mouth of yours, stay silent, and follow them. That’s your only choice, rogue.” He attended my line of sight. There stood Noah with seven warrior werewolves. They were fierce. The rogue's body trembled. I loved that effect. I would reward those warrior wolves.

The rogue was contemplating things. I knew his choice. I stepped away. My nostrils flared with a unique scent. Honey, rum, and citrusy smell. It was something like Freesia grounded with honey and rum. So unique and addicting. I turned around. My eyes found a girl dressed in a plaid skirt with a white shirt and denim jacket. Her back faced me.

“You are under arrest for illegal sale and purchase of drugs,” she said handcuffing a man who looked insanely annoyed. She was a police officer. And a werewolf. I confirmed.

The moment she turned around, Moon took over and my eyes changed color. He smelled her and said in ecstasy,

“MATE.”

Holy Goddess!