It Is an Honor
"Alpha." A voice calls me. A female. A warm palm is placed upon my shoulder softly shaking me from my slumber.
I open my eyes with every energy I have left as the sunlight peering through the slits of the window shade strikes deep. Annoyance is the first feeling that arises within me on this new day.
A small yawn escapes my lips as I stretch my arms flexing my muscles. Tying my loose hair up in a quick bun I finally acknowledge the wolf's presence.
"Elriam." Is all I say. Her eyes are drowning in pain and worry. Both the feelings aimed for me. I keep my emotions in a cage not showing anything, not even to her.
"You know you can talk to me about anything for I will always be here. By your side." She says her tone gentle.
I don't say anything. I don't need anyone's help as I can deal with things with my strength. My wolf has been resting, she hasn't woken since the war that happened last month.
Four months have passed and I feel as though each day takes a piece of my soul with it leaving me with nothing but empty darkness. A void hole in my chest.
My eyes scan his office. Deimos's office. Giovanni had given it to him for use. I make sure this room is cleaned every day. Windows look like crystals rather than glass with the way they shimmer and shine.
I must have slept on his desk again. I have to perform all his duties as well as mine and it has been draining me. I can barely sleep as the face of my dying male springs forward holding a knife whilst thrusting it deep within my heart.
But at the same time work takes my mind off until the end of the day. I barely speak to anyone, not even the females. I don't need their comfort for I can fight on my own.
"Read to me today's schedule." I command as one of the females bring in my everyday coffee right on time. Neither a minute early nor late. On-time as I ordered. She comes over placing the coffee on the desk and leaves quickly with a bow.
"What about breakfast? You haven't been eating at all!" Elriam says. She tries to say more but quietens once her eyes find mine.
"Read the first thing on the schedule, Elriam." I say once more as she removes a small book from her breast pocket and begins flipping through the pages. This was what we always did when I was Alpha.
"We visit the wounded." She says her eyes scanning what's written as I watch the pack lands through the window sipping my black coffee. Perhaps I have become colder.
With a quick nod, I grab my coat off the chair and head towards the pack clinic. A separate building with glass windows for the freedom of its patients. Wolves bow to me as I walk past them without a smile. They understand me. I am in mourning.
I walk towards the sliding doors and the pungent smell of medicine hits me. It's a small building with only a few rooms as wolves don't face problems with health unless they were attacked with silver. Silver. The room spins and I close my eyes shut, my fingers stroking my aching head.
The knife that was thrust into my male was the most dangerous of all. Handcrafted with a mix of mercury and pure silver also called guicksilver. I made sure to possess every single detail of that knife. It was made exactly for one purpose... to kill.
"Alpha, are you all right?" Elriam asks me gently as I nod quickly gaining my composure. Striding into the ward the warriors' chatter comes to a complete stop.
My eyes scan each wolf with their bandages and walking sticks. Some try to sit up to greet me but I show my palm facing towards them as a sign not to do so. Each of them was struck with silver-tipped arrows when they were lying on the ground unconscious in the fight.
The rogues didn't come to play. We had underestimated them. They had built a perfect plan and had carried it out with ease even with the death of their leader.
"I apologize that Giovanni couldn't be here to see to your needs. He is with the others hunting down the few rogues that fled." I say.
"Thank you for coming, Luna Lumina. It means a lot to us." One of the females speaks as I nod towards her. I would have smiled but a smile hasn't chosen to appear since my male... I don't want to think about it.
"How have you all been feeling these days? If there is anything you need. Please let Elriam know as she will inform me." I say.
"We are doing well, please do not worry about us and we do not need anything for you have already helped us. I think most of us are allowed to leave tomorrow." Mia speaks out on behalf of her fellow wolves.
"Luna." The croaky voice of the healer takes my attention. In her hand, she holds a bowl filled with some sort of mixed leaves.
"Guaritrice" I acknowledge her. Her eyes scan me from my head to the tips of my toes. She watches carefully analyzing me. I watch her watch me with a calmness, my hands meeting behind my back.
"Are you well?" She asks me.
"Yes." I reply with no hesitation.
"I can give you something to make-" She begins as I cut her off.
"No need for that." My voice stern I look away from her. I do not need anything from her at the moment. Whatever services she wishes to provide she can do so for the warriors.
"We should head towards the meeting room now." Elriam whispers to me.
"I shall check again whoever remains here next week." And with that, I head out. I can hear the worried whispers of the wolves wondering if I am okay.
I am okay.
I whisper those three words like a chant to aid myself. The ringtone of Elriam's phone pierces through the silence.
"Speak." She says. The sound of muffled voices reaches my ears. "We are on our way, make sure they feel comfortable."
I walk faster to meet the guests with Elriam hot on my heels. Reaching the room Elriam swiftly opens the door for me to walk through as the guests immediately stand up bowing deeply, palm placed upon their belly.
"It is an honor." One of the males speaks out whilst the other watches me with no word.
"I think you already know the reason as to why I have invited you here. State your names." I ask.
"I am Luigi and he is-" One of the males begins whilst the other cuts him off.
"Marco! I am Marco." He says. He wishes to be heard, as my eyes move to him acknowledging his presence.
"I need you both to help install more protection devices for Alpha Giovanni's pack. We were attacked by a group of rogues last month and suffered a huge loss. The fact that there was nothing to stop them coming through those gates was proven as they infiltrated easily." I talk business. My fingers pull back the sleeves of my shirt and I notice Marco's eyes immediately feasting on my flesh.
Paying no heed to it I continue with the meeting. "Of course as you requested. May we start the presentation of our drafts?" Luigi asks and I nod. They immediately fiddle with their computer and head towards the screen preparing for the presentation.
I often feel his eyes on me. Marco's, perhaps curiosity ignites him. I lean my back into the chair, tiredness taking over. I haven't slept for a long time and it's taking a toll on me. My headache worsens with each passing day.
The presentation begins and Luigi takes the lead, I can feel how nervous he is. Well, I can understand his nervousness. It is difficult to speak to someone with the highest authority. Throughout the presentation, I watch keenly and listen to every word the males speak.
I want the best for Giovanni. Even if my pack needs to pay for it, he is Deimos's favorite male. I will do everything I can to protect what he holds dear.
I feel Marco's gaze on me again. What is it with this wolf? No this isn't curiosity. It's something else.
One of the devices interests me and I feel it might be the right one. "Show me the prototype." I ask and before Luigi could touch it, Marco quickly grabs it and brings it to me.
Holding my palm out for the device, Marco's fingers graze my wrist whilst dropping it in my hold. I scan the device messing around with the sensors, lasers, and buttons. I pass it to Elriam for her approval.
"What do you think?" I ask her keeping my eyes on the different prototypes arranged in order in front of me.
She takes her time analyzing every part of the device calculating its strength. I look back at her and she gives me a nod as her sign of approval.
"We will take this." I say to Luigi.
"Perfect choice, this is the best we have at the moment. We worked on this for years." Luigi replies.
"It is also the most expensive." Marco says. "But I can give you a special discount." He continues eyeing my body up and down as his lips curve up into a hideous smirk.
I look at the floor thinking if Deimos was here Marco would be ten feet into the ground right about now. That thought makes me chuckle out loud as Elriam looks at me with wide eyes.
"I would like to speak to Marco alone. Thank you for your help, Luigi." I say not taking my eyes from the excited male in front of me.
Elriam guides Luigi out as I get up to walk around the desk and lean my body against it. Marco being the brainless one probably thinks this is a move of seduction.
"You have been watching me." I tell him, my voice calm.
"Indeed. You noticed." He says with a smile. I tilt my head to the side slowly guiding my eyes from his head to toe.
"Why?" I question him.
"Because I want you." He says with confidence.
"I am mated." I reply.
"Doesn't matter to me. Your mate is dead isn't he?" He questions me. I flinch to his choice of words. Grabbing the pen in my hand I twirl it in my fingers.
"Do you think you are worthy to acquire me?" I ask him.