Chapter 24: An Alpha's plan

Benjamin’s POV

“Benji! Wake up!”

I turned around in my bed to the male voice waking me up. Before I realized who was standing next to me, I had my hand wrapped around his throat, choking him. Over the many years of being groomed for the position of Alpha, I had grown to become somewhat paranoiac and I always remained on the defensive. It took me a second to register that the person who had intruded the privacy of my bedroom was none other than Ryan.

“Dude!” He choked out a little while rubbing his throat after I’d let him go. “Not cool!”

“I’m sorry, man. But it’s your fault. What are you even doing in my room?” I asked, slightly annoyed as I got out of bed and put on my boxers.

“Well, I wouldn’t be here if you had kept your mind-link opened!”

“Shhh!” I put my finger over my lips, effectively shutting him up. I pointed over to my bed where Mina’s sleeping body laid comfortably between my sheets.

“Ohhhhh!” Ryan whispered with a mischievous grin. “So you two… uh? You know!” He brought his two index fingers in an interlocked pattern.

“It’s none of your business. But no, we didn’t. Go wait in the living room. I’ll be down in a second.” I ordered him even more irritated about his invasive questions.

“Whatever. Hurry up!”

He left my room and I looked back at my sleeping mate. She seemed so peaceful and so inviting I just wanted to crawl back into bed with her. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen and I couldn’t fathom ever being without her. My wolf growled inside of my head in the most arrogant fashion. It was his own little way of saying ‘I told you so!”. I finished getting dressed and almost skipped down to the living room. It seemed to me that I was finally happy. It wasn’t a feeling I was very familiar with. Dread, anxiety, pressure…now those were the best friends I had formed over the years. Even on the nights I laid with other women, I was never happy, just somewhat satisfied. Even though, we hadn’t mated yet and I hadn’t marked Mina, I knew that it was just a question of formality. When she fell asleep in my arms last night, I listened to her steady breathing for hours. I felt her heartbeat and I rejoiced in her warmth. I knew, right then, that I had found my safe place. I just hoped that she had too.

I arrived in the living room only to find out that Ryan was nowhere to be seen but I heard a lot of din coming from my kitchen. ‘*Why am I not surprised?*’ I thought to myself as I made my way to the kitchen.

“Didn’t I say living room?”

He had a piece of toast in his mouth and a pack of turkey bacon in his hand when I startled him. His surprise didn’t last very long as he resumed raiding my fridge and preparing his breakfast.

“Hey! Again, it’s your fault that I had to come here so early. I didn’t even have time to eat at home.” He broke half a dozen eggs into a pan and grilled the turkey in another. “And trust me, we’re gonna need food in our systems.”

“Okay, I’ll bite.” I said sitting down behind him at my kitchen island. “What’s so important that you blame me for everything this morning?”

He turned around and my back automatically straightened. Ryan had this mix of worry, sadness and angst on his face and I knew that bad news were coming. Whether it was about how to break the news or about if he even should say anything at all, Ryan hesitated a long time before speaking. After a while, he chose to be straight-forward.

“There’s been another attack last night, while we were at the club.” He said in one breath.

“What?” My heart dropped to my stomach. “How could that be? How could I not know about it?” I was furious.

“None of us knew. Not even the patrol captains. It wasn’t until Craig did a patrol count at five this morning that he found out Max had disappeared. They investigated and found his body mauled to death. He was near the Waters’ Ranch. They also found Mark and Suzanne Waters, both killed. They think Max might’ve trailed some rogues and tried to save the Waters’. I’m sorry, Benji.”

I was overtaken by waves of desolation, pity and fury. I knew the Waters’ really well. Everyone knew them. They were a nice elderly couple and owned the town’s flower shop. They once were fierce warriors under my grandparents’ rule as Alpha and Luna and they always treated Roxanne and I like the grandchildren they never had.

“That fucking little beast!” I hissed out thinking about my uncle’s son. “I swear to the Moon Goddess I’ll kill him myself, if it’s the last thing I do!” I punched the wooden island.

“Benji, last night’s deaths weren’t kept under wraps. It’s the only thing the whole pack is talking about. People are getting really freaked out.” He turned around and turned off the stove. “What are we going to do?” He said looking back to me.

“We’re going to find the little prick and we’re going to kill him, that’s what!” I was pacing back and forth trying to control my rage.

“And how do you suggest we do that? We don’t know where he is, who he is or even how many rogues he’s got with him.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” I snapped viscously at my best friend who remained silent.

“Look…” I took some deep breaths, trying to calm down. “This is getting ridiculous. I can’t allow myself to just sit back and watch him kill off my friends anymore. I can’t allow him to win. Every time he kills, he taunts me and he undermines everything I’ve worked for my entire life.”

“I agree with you, Benji. But we need a plan.”

“We’ve got one already, Ryan.” I simply said. Ryan looked at me confused.

“We’re gonna find the bastard. Finish your food and call out to all the warriors to meet on the training grounds. I’m going to go check on Mina.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Ryan nodded and I hurried back up to my room.

Mina was still sleeping when I entered the bedroom. I sat besides her on the bed and ran my fingers on her naked back. I could feel the sparks under my fingertips and they sent shivers down my spine. She had placed her arms under the pillow and I could see the shape of her breast squished inbetween her and the mattress. Even now, innocently sleeping, she managed to excite me and my wolf. I inhaled her scent which had now filled up my entire room. I sat there for a few minutes, wondering how I achieved to live this long without her calming honey and cinnamon fragrance. I placed a kiss on her cheek carefully to not wake her up. I disarmed my alarm which was due to go off at any minute. I wanted her to get as much rest as possible.

I left my bedroom reluctantly and before meeting with Ryan, I passed by my office. I reached into my bottom drawer and took out a locked wooden box. I unlocked it and grabbed the Alpha ring sitting inside the silk cushion. This emerald heirloom was passed on from generation to generation and had been in my possession since my ascension to the title. I had only worn it once before which was the very night I became Alpha. I felt it was time to put it on once more. This ring conveyed a message of authority that could not be denied or disputed. I figured, if anything at all, this precious piece of jewellery would help me conserve my pack’s trust.

When I reached Ryan, he was waiting for me by the door with the rest of his breakfast in a plastic container. I shook my head as I passed him to open the door.

“A to go box? Really?”

“What? Were you planning on stopping by McDonald’s?” He replied seeming almost shocked that I even had to ask.

We got into my truck and sped off towards the training facilities. Once in the parking lot, I noticed a slew of werewolves arriving in different groups. Ryan and I met up with Anderson, Jason, Sheila and Craig to discuss the events that had transpired last night. Before I had to address the large crowd forming, the boys agreed to visit Max’s parents with me later on to pay our respects as we knew him best.

I mind-linked everyone in attendance to pay attention and I waited until most of them had taken their seats on the bleachers. The whole crowd fell completely silent very quickly. I stepped forward and prepared myself to confront their fears and doubts.

“Good morning everyone. By now, everyone here knows we were attacked once again last night. I am truly sorry about it. And I am completely devastated by the loss of the three precious lives that were those of Mark and Suzanne Waters and patrol warrior Maxwell Flannigan. They will truly be missed. These past months, we’ve had consistent fatal attacks from rogues, and today, I’d like to tell you all why that is.” I took a deep breath and continued. “I’ve recently discovered those attacks were planned and perpetrated by a cousin of mine.” I heard the gasps and whispers that filled the crowd and I put my hand up to bring it to a stop. “My father had a brother whose honour the rogue Alpha wants to avenge. He plans on doing that by killing us off.”

“And you’re just letting him do it!” An emotional voice screamed while others grunted in approval. I could feel the Beta and Gamma stiffen in anger at the obvious defiance. I looked back at them and whispered that everything was okay. I, then, turned my attention back to the crowd.

“I can imagine your frustration. Believe me, I’m frustrated too.” I stood my ground in front of all of my men, and held my head high. I needed to remain in control and self-assured. “These assaults on our pack must come to an end and for that, I need your help. All of you.”

“What can we do to help, Alpha?”

“Yeah, how can we help?”

“We’re ready, Alpha!”

I heard multiple voices mesh into one big, loud and proud roar which gave me courage to lay out my plan.

“We can’t sit here and wait to be attacked. For all we know, we are completely surrounded by rogues. We must go on the offensive! So that is why, today, we will all go hunting for rogues.”

“Are you serious?” Craig asked me quietly.

“I’m serious!” I replied in a loud voice for all to hear me. “We will be the ones attacking the rogues today. We will locate them and force them out. We will shrink the territory they have been gaining on us and we will make sure they know not to fuck with us. We are many and we are strong. I know we can do this.”

The whole crowd erupted in cheers and I had to send out multiple orders for calm and silence before I could speak again.

“You will all find your group assignments with the Deltas. Be sure to remain with your groups at all times. Stay sharp and stay safe. We dispatch in an hour!”

A thundering ‘Yes, Alpha!” was heard before the crowd started to disperse outside to receive their assignments.

Ryan and Anderson looked at me with biggest smiles on their faces. They were men of action and they could barely contain their eagerness.

“Let’s fucking do this!” They hollered, high five-ing and bumping their stomachs together.