Chapter 114 ALPHA AND BETA
Nixx
Tatiana needs to understand the consequences of meddling with mate bonds...
“That’s enough. Let’s go talk to your dad. If he won’t help, we’ll handle this ourselves. Even if it means getting into trouble, at least we’ll have each other. Let’s go.” I picked up the book from the floor, tucking it under my shirt as I stormed out of my room, Percival right on my heels. Both of us... Alpha and Beta, the new generation. We carried ourselves with authority as we hurried down the stairs and out of my home.
By lunchtime, the other wolves were already moving around, gathering everyone for the meal. The women stopped in their tracks to watch us as we walked together down the dusty path toward the pack house.
The pups whined... Some of the women hunched their shoulders, while others squared themselves up, clearly aiming their attention at us. And the males... They wanted nothing to do with us. They avoided our gaze, dipping their necks slightly in submission to our wolves, which now glinted through our eyes.
Two of the toughest wolves in the pack... Ready to work together. We were embarking on a mission.
The sun was slowly disappearing behind ominous clouds, which were moving in to obscure it from view. It looked like it was going to rain for the rest of the day. Just the kind of weather that matched my mood perfectly.
Distant thunder rumbled, and the sound filled me with a strange excitement, sending a surge of adrenaline through my veins. As we approached the front yard of the pack house, the playful pups scattered, sensing the tension and fear in the air.
Just as we were about to enter the front door, Alpha William stepped outside, looking confused. His blue eyes fixated on the two of us, and when he saw me, he did a double take. Luna Annabel appeared behind him on the porch, her expression mirroring his confusion as she tilted her head and glanced at Alpha William.
“Hey, Dad!” Percival called out, catching William’s attention. “Have you started the investigation into who poisoned Mirabelle?” He began with a pointed question. A smart move...
Surrounded by wolves who were always alert and observant, we needed to be careful with our words. We couldn’t risk tipping off Anita or giving Tatiana a chance to escape our grasp. Ever since he bonded with my sister, Alpha William had been completely out of touch. And now, with her in the hospital, it seemed his thoughts were even more scattered, his focus slipping away from the important matters.
I only hoped that when I eventually formed a bond with someone, I wouldn’t end up making the same poor decisions he had made over the past few months.
“Yes,” Alpha William replied, his eyes carefully scanning each of us before resting on me. “In fact, we’re currently searching the oracle’s and Tatiana’s cabins. The investigation has started, and so far, it seems only Edeline, the oracle, and Anita had any contact with Mirabelle. That’s why we’re searching their cabins. I was just heading to see how things were progressing.”
“Hey, are you alright? You seem upset, but there’s something different about you... I can sense the power of your inner wolf,” Luna Annabel said, her gentle yet piercing blue eyes focused on me with surprise.
“I’m not doing well, Alpha. We need to talk about pack matters. It’s something private.” I shot a glance at the wolves around us, who immediately backed away, giving us some space. Alpha William still looked confused, but he opened the door wider.
“Come to my office,” he said, his expression tight. Without wasting a moment, I charged up the stairs, my fists clenched, with Percival close behind. We passed the curious and fearful gazes of the younger wolves as we made our way to the third floor and settled into Alpha’s office. Once inside, we sat in silence, waiting for him to join us.
The ticking of the small clock on his desk was maddening, making my wolf restless... All we craved was the satisfying crunch of bones between our jaws.
And Tatiana…
It's hard not to think that this is all my friend’s fault—what led to my sister’s humiliation and near-death experience. She was subjected to that traumatic incident, where her own best friend tried to assault her.
And my mate...
I can't help but wonder if I misjudged her. Maybe she isn't the capable wolf I believed her to be. Maybe I made a mistake.
The door suddenly swung open, and Alpha William's presence filled the room, his wolf’s energy dominating the space. My wolf bristled, but sensing his authority helped to calm the tension in my body. It’s always reassuring for an angry wolf to see his leader. It avoids unnecessary conflict or the temptation to challenge an alpha.
After finishing whatever task he had been tending to, William strode to his desk, locking the door behind him. His gaze flickered between Percival, whose eyes had darkened to a deep, stormy blue, and then to mine, likely glowing with a dark forest green hue.
Our wolves were reacting to each other’s emotions, testing the waters between us.
“What’s going on between you two?” Alpha William asked, his voice low and commanding, his gaze shifting back and forth between us with keen intensity.
Without a word, I pulled the journal from my waistband and set it down on his desk. He looked at me with a frown, clearly perplexed.
I glanced at Percival, giving him a silent nudge to take the lead. My mouth felt dry, and speaking would be difficult with my mind swirling in anger.
Percival gave me a slight nod before turning to face his father. “Dad, I need you to read the latest entry in Darius's journal. There's something seriously wrong here.”
William's expression shifted from confusion to a tense understanding as he took the journal and opened it to the final entry. His eyes darted across the messy handwriting, and we both watched, waiting for his reaction.
And then it came.