After traveling for the past few days they had finally made it. The Dark Wood pack resided in the middle of the woods in the middle of the country. Because of how rural it was, Faolan hadn't had a chance to visit this pack before but He was remedying it now.

"Alright, we're here...now what? Theo, Faolan's Beta and best friend, sat in the driver seat driving the Honda Civic they had rented. It wasn't the most royal of vehicles  but they were trying to fly under the radar. Faolan wasn't due to arrive for another week but wanted to spend a few days royal duty free before the real work began.

"First thing's first. I'm starving. Where do we get some grub?" Theo chuckled and rolled his eyes. Both Theo and Faolan were in their late 20's. Theo had golden brown hair was built like a tree. Faolan had almost black hair and as big as Theo was, Faolan had a few more inches and a few more pounds of muscle on his friend.

"You have your priorities real straight there," Theo replies.

"What could be a higher priority than feeding the royal king?" Theo continued to shake his head.

"Alright your royal asswipe. Let's feed you before you get the hangries and start beheading everyone."

"I haven't beheaded someone in years" the friends had been together for years even before Faolan took over as King after his father's death.

"There was a McDonald's a few exits back. We could loop around," Theo suggested. Faolan was flabbergasted.

"McDonalds?!? Really? We could have that any where. No I want something local." That's when he saw the exit sign for a tavern. Perfect!

....

Faolan was famished by the time they pulled into the parking lot of The Watering-hole Tavern. To call it a tavern was generous. It looked more like an oversized stand alone shed. Still it was usually the places that looked run down that had the best food.

"You sure about this?" Theo asked. He wasn't as much as a good adventurer as Faolan was. Of course a few visits praying to the porcelain throne after a few of their more dubious food adventures will do that.

"Come in man. What's the worst that could happen?"

Faolan pulled the heavy wood door open and held it for Theo. Despite the rugged outside the inside was a warm homey welcome. Wood covered the floors and walls. Booths lined the walls while tables filled in the rest of the space except for the wall directly across from the entrance which housed a small bar area. It looked like a few locals were scattered around but otherwise it was fairly empty.

As Faolan scanned the room He was met by a pair of stern green eyes. Faolan rose to meet those eyes, and He became immediately lost in them. At first glance these eyes appeared green but the more he looked into them the more he saw the different shades of brown mixed in. It was if the goddess herself took all the colors of the forest and dropped them into these eyes.

Theo bumped into Faolan startling him which reminded him to look at the one connected to the eyes. It was a women around his own age behind the bars making what looks like a milkshake. She was on the smaller side but those jeans and denim shirt couldn't hide the curves her body promised.

Her body may have been a playground but her face was all business. She kept her reddish brown hair up in a no nonsense ponytail. Her face scrutinized the two men as if the judge whether they were worthy to be there.

"Hey. You ok man?" Theo was getting impatient waiting for Faolan move past just the entryway. What was holding him up? Before Faolan could answer him a young brunette in a black waitressing uniform bounced up to the pair.

"Welcome to The Watering-hole Tavern. You boys from out of town?" Faolan tore his eyes away from his green eyed beauty to address the waitress.

"Yeah just drove in. We're here for a few weeks. Heard this place was where we could get a good meal." The waitress brightened up to his response."

"Yes sir. Our Tavern may not be the fanciest place in town but it has the best burgers. If you want to pick a table or booth I'll bring you some menus and we'll get you all set up. My name is Susan by the way. I'll be helping you." Faolan thanked Susan the waitress then turned his attention back to the bar, but the woman who first held his interest was already gone. Pity.

"Come on man," Theo said while patting his shoulder. Let's take a seat. We can get a drink from them bar while we're here." The pair sat at the booth in the corner not far from a young woman who sat with some school books and a milkshake. Susan immediately followed with some menus and a promise to return to take their orders.

......

What the hell was an Alpha doing here. Maggie didn't like it. The pack gathering didn't start for at least another week. The Alpha was early. That couldn't be good. Maggie may not be pack but that doesn't mean she wants to see them come to harm, and with Candace in the tavern it was better to play to it safe. Time to make a call

It took only a few moments for the call to connect.

"Wolfe Construction this is Harold." Harold was the Dark Wood Pack's Beta.

"Hey Harold this is Maggie down at the tavern."

"Is Candace ok? I heard Bob gave her permission to visit."

"Oh yeah she's fine but we had a few wolves pop in the tavern. I think one of them is an Alpha. Was Bob expecting any early arrivals?" There was a pregnant pause on the other end. Although Bob had named her a friend of the pack it didn't make any of the other pack members less suspicious of her.

"Are you sure it's an Alpha? Not just a big Enforcer or possibly a Beta."

"No sir. Definitely an Alpha. No doubt about it."

"Alright I'll let Bob know. See what he says. Best to send Candace home just to be safe."

"Yes sir. I'll send her home right away." Candace was not going to be happy about this.