Chapter 77- An Alpha’s Obsession

Derrick’s POV

“What in the hell is the Alpha heir of the Blood Moon Pack doing attacking our pack with a group of wolves?” The sound of the door slamming behind me causes those in the room to jump in surprise, not expecting the sudden sound.

A frown settles on Charles’ face when he turns to look in my direction. I make my way across the large room with quick strides, taking my place at the conference table with more force than I had intended. I didn’t want to show my anger and fear in front of Salara, but now that she has gone to check on the children, I can let loose the emotions that are swirling around inside of me.

“That is not all, Alpha.” The hesitancy in Charles’ voice irritates me, earning a displeased growl in response. Charles turns his head in submission before carrying on. “We found the Beta from the Crescent Moon Pack among the bodies of the dead as well.”

My fists reach out and slam against the table loudly without me intending for it to happen. The Elders in attendance all jump in their seats, all except for Winifred of course, their heads shifting to the side in a show of submission.

“What about the other wolves? Are we even sure this was a rogue attack?” Leaning back in my seat, I run my fingers through my hair in an attempt to cool the rising storm brewing inside of me. That is two packs that have basically declared war on us, and they are both packs that we don’t have much interaction with.

None of this is making any sense!

“The remaining wolves have the stench of rogue wolves clinging to their bodies.” Charles tells me quietly, bracing for another burst of anger from me. Letting out a sigh, I nod my head in his direction.

So we have Josiah from our pack, the Alpha heir from the Blood Moon pack, the Beta from the Crescent Moon pack, and a sprinkling of rogues that all came together to attack us here today. And not just us, they were going after our children. But why?

What was their plan?

“Gamma Orlando believes that it was Josiah that helped the group get in without being detected by border patrol.”

“That would make sense. None of the other packs have been in our territory and would know nothing about the way we run things.” Leaning forward in my seat, I place my arms across the cracked table. “But why would Josiah go against his pack?”

The five Elders all look at each other with a look that indicates that they have an idea of what is happening. The looks that they give to each other has me sitting up in my seat as I brace myself for what they have to say.

“The Luna-” An angry growl from Hunter shuts the foolish Elder up before he can get much more out of his mouth.

Rising from my seat in a flourish of anger, I face the newest Elder, Corey, and let loose a warning growl. “Watch your tongue before blaming your Luna for anything.” Hunter’s gruff voice fuses with mine, causing the Elder to cower in his seat.

“For Goddesses sake Derrick, sit down!” Everyone turns to look in Elder Winifred’s direction where she stares up at me with a displeased look on her face. “Let the poor man finish speaking before you threaten to take his head off.” Hunter is not happy with the way the oldest Elder has spoken to us, but out of respect I find myself settling back into my seat.

Elder Corey lets out a relieved breath of air, his body relaxing back into his seat as he wipes off the sweat that has formed across his forehead and brow. “No one is blaming the Luna for anything.” Winifred goes on, taking up the explanation that Elder Corey is too scared to finish.

‘Coward! We should eat him.’ Hunter growls in my head, making me miss part of what Elder Winifred has said.

“Packs also have the prophecy that I have seen and it is only natural that they would see our dear Luna as a threat that needs to be taken out.” A frown creases her brow. “Though how they know that Salara is the Alpha’s mate is beyond me.” Hunter growls out at her words, drawing her attention to where we sit.

“Salara is MY MATE.” Hunter rumbles out. I can’t help but agree with my wolf, even though I know there is a large chance that she is also mated to the Alpha wolf, something that is unheard of in our time.

Back in the day it wasn’t unusual for Alpha’s to be mated to multiple partners, but the Moon Goddess has slowed down on her pairings in recent decades, not giving more than one to anyone in a long time. Most wolves don’t even get a second chance mate anymore these days. It is almost as if we have displeased the Goddess somehow and now we are suffering a punishment for that.

“Salara might be your mate and Luna,” Elder Winifred casts us with one of her disapproving looks. “But that does not change the fact that she is mated to the Alpha and has been for a very long time.”

Hunter rises up to pace in my mind, distracting me from the conversation going on around me and making me miss pieces of information that could be vital to what is happening around here. ‘Would you stop your pacing so I can concentrate!?’ Hunter pauses momentarily before continuing on with his pacing, but thankfully moving it further back in my mind, allowing me my concentration.

“We need to find out what the other two packs know and gauge whether they were aware of what has happened here today.” Charles nods his head in agreement, already relaying this information to our Gamma so he can contact the two packs and speak with their Alpha’s.

“I don’t understand what any of this has to do with Salara though.”

Elder Winifred looks me in the eye, a look of guilt briefly appearing in her tired orbs before the return to her usual, stoic look. “Right now the Alpha more than likely believes his mate to be dead, but that will not last for long, and when he learns that she survived Henry’s bite, he will come after her.”

“But why? I have already marked her as mine.” Fear settles in the pit of my stomach. I can’t fight an ancient Alpha on top of keeping my pack safe from attacks coming in from all sides.

“She is his everything.” That simple explanation tells me so much and yet so little. I can understand that feeling because Salara is my everything and I would stop at nothing to keep her here with me, but it doesn’t change the fact that she is already mine.

“He will burn the entire pack down in order to get to her.” The first signs of worry appear on the old woman’s features. “He has done it before.”

A gasp from the doorway draws everyone’s attention to the sparkling eyes of Salara, her hand placed over her lips as she fights back the flow of tears.