Chapter 7 Something Rotten pt 1
Duncan
We pulled up to the gates of Blood Moon Pack right at noon. The guards waved us through after we gave them our pack information. As we arrived at their pack house, Conn started to get super agitated, pacing in my mind. This did not bode well. ‘What is going on with you, Conn? Chill out. We haven’t even gotten out of the vehicle yet.’
‘I know, but something is wrong here. I can feel it already. We need to find out what it is. This pack feels dark. Don’t you feel it?’ he responded.
‘I feel something, but it’s hard to concentrate with you pacing in my head the way you are. We’ll figure it out, I promise. But be cool for now, would you?’ I asked him. He huffed but settled back down.
“You ready to start this farce?” Julian asked. He shot me a questioning look, clearly aware that I’d just had an internal battle.
“Yes. Conn’s agitated. Something is rotten in this pack; he feels it already. Stay aware,” I said to the entire group in the SUV with me.
Before we’d left Crescent Moon, I’d told all the warrior volunteers that we were heading to the Blood Moon mating ball, but to keep their eyes open as we had never spent time in Blood Moon before. I didn’t fill them in completely on the true reason we were here, but my warriors are smart. They’ll keep aware of their surroundings and let me know if something seems off.
I heard a squeal as soon as I opened the door to the SUV, and I looked up to see the alpha’s daughter on the pack house steps with Alpha James and future alpha Tobias. It was almost enough to make me get back in the vehicle.
‘Look at it this way; now we already know she’s not one of our mates,’ Lucian mindlinked us.
‘And thank the Goddess for that. I don’t know if I’d be able to live with that noise for the rest of my life,’ Julian joked.
‘I wouldn’t put it past her to try something while we’re here. Don’t let her get you alone anywhere,’ I said to them both. Some of these she-wolves would go to any lengths to trap a high-ranking wolf, and given the reasons we’re in this pack, I don’t trust anyone here.
We took a moment to make sure our warriors were in order and covertly check out the greeting area. The pack house loomed large in front of us, and up close it showed it’s age. The shutters were peeling and the flowerbeds could use new mulch. There was a small group of omegas behind the Alpha family in servants uniforms, their eyes facing down.
We walked up the steps to greet everyone. Alpha James was in his late fifties, and his chosen Luna was beside him. She was in her mid-twenties. We have not received an announcement about a Luna Ceremony for his new Luna, which was suspicious, but not necessarily a sign that there was something bad going on. Stranger things had happened.
“Good afternoon, Alpha Duncan. Welcome to Blood Moon Pack,” Alpha James greeted me. He nodded at Julian and Lucian. “We’re pleased you could make it. I’m looking forward to speaking with you later about some potential business opportunities,” he added.
“Thank you for having us, Alpha James. I’m always open to hearing about new opportunities,” I responded.
He looked at me, calculation glittering in his eyes. “Wonderful! Let me introduce you to Amelia, my daughter. Of course, you know Tobias, my heir, already.”
“I was so excited when Father told us your pack was coming, Alpha Duncan. I’ve heard nothing but good things about you,” Amelia said to me, fluttering her lashes. “I do hope you’ll save me a dance at the ball this evening.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Amelia. I’m sure I’ll see you there. If you haven’t found your mate by then, that is,” I told her. ‘No way are we touching her. I won’t let you. She smells like at least two other wolves right now,’ Conn told me.
‘I know, Conn. Just pleasantries. We’ll avoid her…we’re going to be avoiding the ball as much as possible, anyway.’
She giggled. “Maybe I will.” She winked at me. The blatant flirting in front of her father just put me even more on guard. I turned back to him then.
“I’m sure you’ve got others to welcome. If you could have someone show us to our rooms? I know that I’d like to freshen up a bit, and I’m sure my men would as well after the long trip this morning.”
“Of course, Alpha Duncan. We’ll get you squared away. I have you in the alpha guest suites on the alpha floor, and your men two floors down. Let me get an omega to show you,” his Luna responded. Alpha James had not introduced us when he was introducing his family. Another red flag.
“Thank you…” I trailed off, an obvious attempt at getting a name.
“My apologies! This is my new Luna, Claire. We just found each other a few weeks ago and haven’t had a chance to get her ceremony planned yet, since we were so focused on this Mating Ball. I’m sure we’ll be sending you an invitation when we set a date,” Alpha James told us.
“Congratulations. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for your hospitality,” I aimed that at Luna Claire, as Alpha James narrowed his eyes at me.
“Well, let’s get you on your way, shall we?” he said. “Louise, please show the Crescent Moon group to their rooms.” He indicated an omega who was standing a bit behind him.