Chapter 41 Chapter 41

Chapter 41 Chapter 41
ALPHA ANDREW POV:

The elders summoned me ahead of the pack's festival we hold once every six months.

My mother already reported to the council of elders that I went ahead and mated with a human. Therefore, they needed me to pick a mate before I brought a human to them.

What if that human girl was my mate? I kept dreaming about her. But I knew that I couldn't have her as a mate.

In the meeting hall filled with the pack elders, my parents sat on the front seat where several elders sat awaiting my final answer to their questions.

The head chief, Morris Antonio, asked, "Alpha Andrew, is it true that you went ahead and mated with a human?"

I stood before them, dressed in a black ensemble: a black top with short sleeves, black trousers, and boots.

"I did," I responded calmly. My eyes met all their gazes. The elders scowled.

"How could you mate with a human? Why didn't you take any of our daughters with you? We would have gladly given her to you," they murmured.

Beta Richard frowned as he was my father's beta. He had hoped that I would marry his daughter. But Zion did not like her. Nor did I feel comfortable around her.

"The human was a fling—a prostitute—and I already sent my beta to take care of her. I will not pick a human as my mate. Since the pack wants a Luna, my wolf and I already accepted the Brown Moon Pack Alpha's daughter. So this calls for no debates."

The meeting hall fell silent, and Chief Morris agreed, "That sounds better, Alpha Andrew. When are you going to marry Alpha Bennett's daughter? When do we expect out new Luna?"

"Soon. I will make arrangements for it once Steven returns," I responded firmly as I moved to take a seat in my head seat.

"Alpha Andrew, why not accept marriage to Beta Richard's daughter, Zoey? She loves you. She has been here with you since your childhood, and she will make a perfect Luna for the pack," another elder said, wanting me to reconsider my decision.

"Zoey is not my mate. I cannot afford to hurt her or see her get hurt when I find my mate. It's best I accept a marriage alliance with the Brown Moon Pack's Alpha. That way our pack can benefit from much of their partnership, and it will limit our traveling to the city for more resources," I explained calmly from my Alpha's seat.

The elders mumbled to themselves as their hushed muttering echoed in the council hall.

"Will that be all the inquiry regarding my mate bond?" I asked, my voice loud and drawing all their attention as everyone's eyes shifted to me.

"Yes, Alpha. That's all. The pack will be excited to have a new Luna this season. Congratulations," the elders said, most of whom were happy that I had chosen to pick a mate.

When I looked over at my parents, my mother scowled. She rose to her feet and left the hall. Dad sighed and came forward to meet me, as I had some financial report about the pack's development to review.

"Andrew, do you think it's best to accept Alpha Bennett's daughter? You do not love her. She is not your real mate, and you cannot torture her without showing her love," my father explained. He wasn't in a hurry for me to pick a random woman as my mate. He understood the challenge that comes with being an alpha wolf and protecting the pack.

Looking at my father's face as he stood in a brown shirt and trousers paired with black shoes, I saw his gaze laced with worry.

"Do not worry, Dad. The pack wants a Luna. If I do not accept, the pack might come under attack, and the elders are worried I want to pick a human as my mate," I explained calmly as the hall gradually emptied out.

"About the human—have you contacted Steven yet to find out if he has found her?" Dad queried. Just then, my phone rang, and I picked it up and saw that it was Steven on the line.

He mentioned to me that he couldn't find the human. I was supposed to be happy, but I felt like a wave of ice had crashed down on me. I was disappointed, but seeing my father standing in my view, I maintained a steady and calm expression. I ordered Steven to return. I needed to plan the arranged marriage with Alpha Bennett's daughter. Since Hannah wasn't my mate, I had to ensure that I brought enough wedding gifts to show my interest in her.

"What did Steven say?" Dad asked, because my phone was not on speaker.

"He didn't find the human."

My father's expression hardened. "What if she got pregnant?"

My heart raced. "The chances are thin. She is a human. I believe she must have taken care of it. Besides, I paid her off."

"Mmm," Dad's jaw clenched. His alpha aura surfaced. "You shouldn't make such a stupid mistake that will risk all our lives again."

"Got it," I replied calmly before my father turned and marched away. His tall frame disappeared from the large hall.

Gamma Carlos and Delta Commander Thomas strode into the hall. They wore black shirts and trousers that hugged their tall, masculine frames.

"Alpha, what is going on? I heard you accepted Alpha Bennett's daughter?" Carlos asked me first when he reached my Alpha's chair.

"Yeah. Any issues with that? I need you to dig in and find out the type of person she is. Her father was the one who proposed the marriage alliance, and with the elders' fear of me picking a human as a mate, I had no option," I explained to them.

"The last time we went to the Brown Moon Pack annual ball, Hannah was small, and she was just 14. I think that was about four years ago. I don't know if she will make a great Luna. But she is an alpha," Carlos replied, and I nodded.

"Check her out. I want to know the type of person she is. What she likes and what presents I should get for her before we go to her father's house for proper marriage introduction," I said, but Zion growled in my head.

"I don't want her!"

My mood darkened. "You never wanted any woman. You must accept Hannah and her wolf."

My wolf shut me out, and Carlos and Thomas bowed to me as my alpha aura suppressed them.

"It's fine," I broke out of my plummeting mood and ordered, "Get to work."

My Gamma and Delta friends left the meeting hall, and I remained there reviewing the last financial report.

Before I could wrap it up, the doors swung open and Zoey entered, wearing a long red dress that accentuated her figure, paired with a set of black shoes. Her face appeared dull, but she marched up to meet me.

"Alpha, I came to see you. I heard from your mother that you accepted marriage to Hannah Bennett," Zoey said, her tone laced with sadness like she couldn't breathe.

"I am sorry, Zoey. I had no choice," I pointed out before keeping the last file away and shutting the folder. My gaze met hers, and traces of fresh tears cascaded down her eyes.

"You deserve a man who loves you. I cannot put you through the torture of marrying you when I know Zion doesn't love you," I explained, getting up from my seat.

"But I love you, Alpha Andrew. I do not mind. I want to be the Luna, please…" she begged, taking a step forward, but I cut her off.

"No. You should leave the Alpha's mansion and return to your dad's manor. I will be leaving in two days to welcome Hannah Bennett."

Zoey turned and ran away from the hall, crying as she left me alone.

Sighing, I decided to go for a walk to clear my head.