Chapter 5

(Dylan’s POV)

“Alpha!” John called out for me.

I turned to face him, noticing he was looking at me expectantly.

“I’ve been calling you for a while. Are you alright?” He asked.

We had been driving for a few hours now. Nicolas had invited us to his territory for the presentation of his new wife, and now Luna of Raven pack.

My father had stayed at home watching over the pack while I took a few days off to visit Nicolas.

I wanted to leave Jace in charge, but he was adamant in coming. One of the Alphas attending the gathering was having problems with another pack. Jace didn’t want to risk having me out of our territory alone.

I had brought ten men with me- plus Jace, my Beta, and John, my third in command. Jace wanted to bring along twenty men, but I considered that an exaggeration.

Nicolas’ pack was a calm one and much smaller than mine. I didn’t really feel threatened by him or his pack.

In general, I hadn’t been interested in the trip. If it wasn’t for my father and Jace pressuring me to come- I would have stayed at home.

The only good thing coming out of the trip was seeing Nicolas again. The last time I’d seen him- he had been devastated with the death of his mate.

I had pitied him them.

Losing your mate was the worst thing that could happen to one.

A strong Alpha needed his Luna.

Lately, I’d been thinking of mine most often than not. I tried imagining what she would be like. Whatever I pictured, there was no doubt I wouldn’t do her justice.

“Dylan!” Jace called out.

“What?” I snapped, not liking his tone.

“John was talking to you when you went out of it again.”

“What did you need?” I asked, directing my attention to John.

“Do you want to stop again before arriving at Raven territory?” John asked me.

He was the one driving, with Jace on the passenger seat. Eric was sitting at my side. Most of the drive he’d been listening to music, while playing a video game.

“No, just drive straight through. We’re already late as it is,” I replied.

“Are you sure? If you don’t get a chance to meet them today, you can just catch up with them tomorrow. If you want to rest, we can stop,” John explained.

“I’m fine. I just want to get this over with,” I said, with my voice harsher than I’d been intending.

It wasn’t John’s fault. Despite Nicolas’ new wife not being his mate, I was envious of him. He had found his mate a few years ago. Even though she had been taken away from him, he was getting a second chance with someone.

My father told me Nicolas was obsessed with his new wife. The few people that had attended the wedding- witnessed how happy Nicolas had looked.

Happiness was an emotion he hadn’t known since losing Isabelle.

I had an alliance with Caine, Alpha of Locus pack. It was one formed between a friendship Caine and I had kept since we were pups.

My father had warned me we needed to be cautious with the recent union of Nicolas and his new wife. I didn’t know much of her, other than the beauty which Nicolas proclaimed.

But, I’d heard she was the daughter of Jackson’s Beta. The union had created a strong alliance between Nicolas and Jackson. There was also the fact that their pups would definitely be a forced to be reckoned with.

I was slightly disturbed they arranged a marriage between Wolves- but it wasn’t my place to call either of them out on it. I was more preoccupied with the new alliance between the two Alphas.

It was late at night when we finally reached the outskirts of Raven territory.

“Do we head on, or are they going to come and escort us?” John asked me. He had stopped about a mile away before entering their land.

I didn’t have to answer, because three shifted Wolves came to stand by the side of our truck.

John lowered his window, as one of the guys shifted.

“Midnight Moon?” The guy asked, once he was in his human form.

John nodded his reply.

They ran along with our truck, probably to keep us in check.

“It’s late,” Jace pointed out, keeping his gaze on the scenery passing us by.

“Does that matter? It’s not like they’re going anywhere,” Eric commented, finally shutting down his video game.

“It doesn’t,” I added.

It took us another while to reach Nicolas’ house.

I could hear the noise in his backyard as soon as I got off of the truck.

“Alpha Dylan?” A man asked, approaching us.

The men that came along as part of the security had created a circle around me.

“Yes,” I replied, shaking his hand.

“I’m not sure if you remember me. I’m Robert, Nicolas’ Beta,” he introduced himself.

“I remember.”

“Great,” he said.

“We’re out back. You arrived later than we expected,” he commented, while walking us toward the back area.

“I didn’t take into account how long it would take me to get here if we drove,” I replied.

The last time I visited anywhere near this territory- I had ran all the way from Midnight Moon.

“It’s fine. The Luna has already called it a night, but Nicolas is waiting for you,” he said.

I was trying to keep up with his conversation. When Jace noticed I was getting distracted, he took over talking with Robert.

For some reason, my Wolf was acting up.

‘You okay?’ I heard John ask in my mind.

I had heard the same question over and over from him and Jace the entire ride. Apparently, I was acting strange.

I nodded at him, and continued following Robert.

Something in the air was what had my Wolf howling inside. I didn’t know whether he was angry, or he was enjoying it.

I only felt him trying to fight me for control.

It hadn’t been the first time that my Wolf tried to come out. I had a short temper, most of which I could thank my Wolf for. Never had it felt as strong as it was at the moment.

I tried pushing him away. Right now was not the moment to give in to my Wolf.

“Dylan!” Nicolas excitedly greeted.

He got up from his chair, and made his way toward me. The group of men surrounding me left an opening for him. They were aware they had to watch out for any other Wolf who tried to attack.

“Nicolas,” I said, as he gave me a man hug, slapping my back a few times.

“It’s been a while, pup,” he said.

I laughed, because I’d been a pup the last time I had seen him.

“I’m no longer a pup, old man,” I told him.

He laughed along with me, as he messed up my hair.

The scent was now all over the place. With my Wolf trying to fight me for control, and Nicolas yapping about his new wife- I felt my mind going into overdrive.

“We crossed paths with some Rogues on the way,” Jace told Nicolas, bringing up what had happened a few hours after leaving our territory.

“Were they trespassing anyone’s territory? I haven’t dealt with Rogues in a while. I was talking with Robert the other day about new ways to eliminate them once and for all,” Nicolas said, in a harsh tone.

“There’s no way to get rid of all the Rogues. You kill one and the next second, there’s another Wolf leaving his pack to go Rogue,” I reminded him.

Wiping out all the Rogues didn’t exactly seem fair. Just because we chose to live in packs, didn’t mean the Rogues deserved to die. I didn’t have a problem with them, as long as they didn’t cross my territory and they didn’t attack my pack.

All of the packs in the US however, knew of the grudge Nicolas carried against Rogues. It was justified, since a Rogue had taken his mate from him. That didn’t make all of them bad.

“What do you think about it, Dylan?” Robert asked me.

I’d been too distracted wrapped up in my own thoughts. I had missed what he had said.

‘He wants to know if you want to join in wiping all the Rogues,’ Eric said in my mind.

“I’m not interested,” I replied, with a shrug.

“We’ll talk about that another time,” Nicolas said, looking too cheerful for my taste.

Watching at him and how happy he looked- it was getting me in a worse mood. I shouldn’t have come. I wasn’t having a good time- and I’d only ruin the evening for them as well.

“Vincent, bring more drinks from inside!” Nicolas called out to a guy who was standing around the table where we sat.

“I’ll go,” I offered, wanting a distraction from the group.

Nicolas laughed, shaking his head at me.

“You’re my guest pup, Vincent will get them,” Nicolas said.

I had already gotten up from the table.

“I’ll go,” Eric offered, putting his hand on my chest to keep me there.

I looked down at his hand, not appreciating that he’d stopped me from going.

“Sorry,” Eric said, while bowing his head at me and making his way inside the house.

“Hey man, are you alright?” Derek asked me, while cocking an eyebrow.

“It was a long ride. I’m just tired,” I lied.

I realized too late that I shouldn’t have said that.

“You look like you need to go for a run,” he commented, as he nodded toward the woods behind us.

“He’s fine. He’s an Alpha!” Jace said with a grin, putting his beer up to cheer.

‘You can’t show weakness in front of Derek. You know his family is known for trying to take over packs,’ Jace warned me.

“I’m fine,” I reassured Derek, as I finished off the rest of the beer.

Jace was right. I had to be careful with my words- especially around other Alphas. It was too dangerous not to.

Nicolas was happily talking to any of the guys who were willing to hear him yap about his new plans for the pack or his new wife.

Derek seemed much too observant of me. I was now cautiously keeping my sight on him, not needing him to set his eyes on my pack. For his own good and for the sake of our friendship- I was hoping he wouldn’t try anything against me or my pack.

Marcus looked like he was trying to teach his son- who was taking over his pack soon- anything he could while he had a few Alphas gathered.

I, well I was basically out of most of the conversations taking place.

My Wolf didn’t want to settle down and by that point, I was ready to get on the truck and take off.

When Eric returned, something seemed off. He was covered in that same scent that was taking over the backyard.

“Where were you?” I asked him, sitting him down in the chair next to me with more force than necessary.

“Getting the beers,” he said, as he placed the coolers on top of the table.

I frowned at him, but had to let it go.

I couldn’t really describe why I felt like ripping his throat out. My Wolf was the one telling me to do it. He wanted to fight all of the guys sitting around the table.

“I’ll be back!” Nicolas excitedly told the group. He took a long drink from his beer, before smashing the bottle in the ground.

“Finally mating with your little She-Wolf?” Robert asked, in a mocking tone.

Nicolas didn’t seem to care, which was something that got my attention.

“That’s none of your business,” Nicolas replied, before walking away.

“They haven’t mated yet?” Derek asked- with too much curiosity.

Robert grinned, but he didn’t give an answer.

We sat out there for a while longer. It was only men left. Most were drinking, making jokes, or talking about new modifications for their packs.

“We’re leaving,” I informed Robert.

I was already getting up from the table, my men following along after me.

“What? None of that. You’re staying here. I need to ask Nicolas where you’re going to stay. You’ll probably just lodge in the mansion. Derek and Marcus are taking both guest houses,” Robert said.

“It’s fine, we’ll just stay in a hotel,” I told him.

I began walking toward the front area, where my trucks were parked.

“Nicolas won’t like that. You’re in his territory and you’re our guest. It’s only right for you to stay here,” Robert insisted.

The other guy, Vincent, had taken over Robert’s position in entertaining Derek and Marcus. Both of them seemed wide awake, and were having too much fun to go to bed.

I sighed audibly, feeling like I didn’t have any other choice, even if I wanted to leave. The last thing I needed was Nicolas thinking I was rejecting his offer to start a fight- or something similar to that.

“Alright, where to?” I asked, stopping in my tracks to allow him to show me where we were sleeping.

“Let’s go inside,” he said, nodding toward the house.

Once I crossed the threshold of the door, I couldn’t take it anymore. That same scent that had been taunting my Wolf and me all night was stronger inside the house.

“What’s that?” I asked, not controlling as a growl erupted from my chest.

“Dylan, are you alright?” Jace asked, putting his hand in my arm- trying to get me to face him.

“You don’t feel that?” I asked any of them.

I could feel my claws protruding from my fingers. My eyes had probably shifted to black. If it were for my Wolf, I’d already be shifted. I was enjoying the scent too much, to give it up to my Wolf.

I took off, trying to find where the scent was strongest.

I could feel them following after me. Jace and John were asking me if I was okay. Robert and the other guys who’d walked in with him were yelling at me to stop.

When I reached the source of the scent, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes.

It was her.

She was facing away, her lips pressed against another man. He was carrying her in his hands, touching parts of her body that no one else should be touching but me.

I launched myself toward him, causing them to break apart. He landed on the ground in a heap. I didn’t have time to attack him, because I had to get back and make sure she was safe.

Once I had her in my arms, I pressed her tighter against me. Her scent was amazing- the best thing I’d had the pleasure of inhaling.

I looked into her beautiful blue eyes, which were staring back at me in recognition. She was the most beautiful creature my Wolf and I had ever seen.

I tightened my hold on her, trying to show all the other males in the room that she belonged to me.

“Mine!” I growled at the man in the ground, finally realizing that it had been Nicolas. He had tried to take her from me.

“Mate,” I heard her soft voice whisper.

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