Episode 7

Ryan’s POV

“Taylor Brooke, daughter of David Brooke, lives on the east side of the riverbank, an Old settlement between the forest, where a cabin was built during human revolution.

Street 1247.’’ 

Brooke. 

 That's not a name I have heard. Yet I know all the families of wolves that live across this area. And the name Brooke does not ring any bell. I pick up the documents from Philip and I decide to glance at them myself. The information is perfectly stated. The land that she lives in is owned by her father. I fail to understand why she and her father will choose to live on their own in the middle of a forest. It's unsafe. Something about it just doesn't sound right. Not even a mad man would be willing to live in the middle of nowhere, unless they had something to hide. Something wasn't adding up and I was going to figure out what it was.

“Any other family?’’

“That's the only thing that was stated in the other documents. All she has is her father. But we never truly know the truth.’’ Philip answers. I scroll through the document. Page after page. The file was not very informative. And here I was, thinking that everyone who enrolled into the school needed to provide an equal share of information.

“What do you mean?’

“There is no guarantee that the information provided here is true. Think about it like this, Alpha, you have Hidden your identity because you have an agreement with the Principal. But what if a lot more students keep secrets. There is no guarantee that this information is accurate. Your mate’s father might have lied about something. Maybe that's the reason as to why her family name doesn't respond to any linkage you know about.’’

I dropped the papers on the table. My fingers find my hair and I can't help but rub it aggressively. This kind of frustration eats me alive. I hate being worried about something. Especially something that is out of my control. I am an alpha for crying out loud but my mate isn't someone I can control.

“Tell me something Philip, what would your father do if he discovered that you considered abandoning your mate because you are afraid of something you know nothing about.’’ I watch the shift in his features. For my beta, all I could do was watch his expressions. His heartbeat gives me no benefits.

“He would reprimand me and remind me that a mate is the most important gift the moon goddess can give a wolf.’’ he spoke with no hesitation.

“Then why would you imply that going after my maid is more dangerous than letting her be on her own? Do you not understand the importance of a mate Bond? Do you not realize that an alpha without his Luna is a risk that the throne should not be taking? You have been my beta and we have grown up together. I'm going to be taking over leadership in two or three months, and I expect nothing but the best from you. Your skills in combat have always impressed me, but there is more you need to learn; the risk is not only about my mate, but about the people who can find her.’’ A look of realization dawns on his features.

“The ones who can use her against you.’’ he completes the sentence.

“I met her today and my wolf is already rampant. What do you think happens when our enemies discover the connection between us? You saw her today. She doesn't look like a person who can protect herself. She needs to be in the Castle. She needs to be with me. We can work out our issues later and we can fall in love but my wolf is disoriented after meeting her. Only in her presence do I regain control. Only in her presence does my wolf calm down. We have got to find her or else I'm going to go on a rampant rail, especially if someone is hurting her.’’

The thought of someone bringing her harm enrages me. I am ready to fight anything and anyone, as long as her safety is guaranteed. As long as no one tries to hurt her. I cannot live with myself if she ever gets hurt.

“I now understand Alpha. pardon me for my dismissiveness but I must ask, what happens when you find her and she tries to run again?’’

I had been asking myself the same question for a while now. It seems to me that my mate was adamant to stay away from me.

“I'm going to punish her. No one runs from me. Especially not my woman. She belongs with me and I'll be damned if I let her run again.’’

Phillip places a hand on my shoulder and he smiles.

“Then we better get to work, Alpha.’’

 There is a smile on my face at the mention of that statement. Philip has been my one and only friend. the only person that I let myself Trust. 

I could not wish for a better beta than Philip. He is fearless and dangerous. His skills in combat impresses me and we were able to train together at the same levels. Philip and I have been right together. The unbreakable friendship between his father and my father had facilitated the hereditary position of beta from his own father and down to Phillip.

Yet there was always an underlying problem between us. The characters of both Our Fathers were the same, and that meant that the advice we were given was equally the same. Yet Phillip and I did not agree with it or the ways of our Fathers. I have watched countless times as people betray my father. I have seen the people who devised an alternative that was his downfall. But my dad has remained a great man, and he saw it coming a thousand times. I however plan to make a difference. I will give no opportunity for any of these perpetrators to betray me. There is power in vigilance.

 Prevention is better than cure. 

“We leave right now.’’

Excitement tails inside me when I say that. I just wanted to see her again, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to show her that I am ready to love and care for her. 

“What about the father?’’ Philip's question takes me out of my train of thoughts. I had not thought about that. But I didn't think it was going to be an issue.

“What about him?’’

“What if he tries to cause trouble with us, alpha? You know that my first instinct is always to protect you. I will make no apologies for who gets hurt as long as you’re….’’

“Relax Philip, not even a mad man would cause us trouble.’’ I was honestly not certain about what I had said. I knew nothing about Taylor's father but there had to be a reason why my mate chose to run from me with so much determination. 

“Every man would be proud to know that his daughter is mated to a future Alpha. I can easily have a conversation with him about the compromise he is willing to take or the riches that he desires.’’

Philip is quiet for a moment. For some reason I can sense the dense air and I know what he's thinking. But I don't want to see it. I'd rather let that idea dangle at the back of my mind. We walk in silence. Out of the school and towards the parking lot. 

Philip and I do not share a car. I figured that it would be for the best to be our own separate persons so that people wouldn't connect the dots. Having my betta with me all hours of the school has not been tiring. Because I learnt to make him my best friend before he became my second in command. Things have been quite perfect.

“Do you think we made a mistake? With our friendship?’’ He has always been the doubtful one. An over-thinker. While I don't mind it is sometimes tiring answering the same question over and over again.

“My father has always mentioned that this is not how things are done. That an alpha should not be friends with his beta, it should be a mutual relationship that only revolves around their leadership and political positions. He has told me tales about how such arrangements ended in disaster. Do you think that the same…’’

“We're going to use your car.’’ The statement buries the conversation immediately. I can't help but feel that my distance was sometimes offensive, but as an Alpha wasting my time thinking about things like this over and over again, it's not going to help me. I had made the decision and now I was going to stick to it. Doubting myself would not bring me any benefit.

“Our parents come from an era where everything had to be done in a strict and specific way. We have watched the aftermath of that. We have seen the disaster that it brings. you of all people should understand that things needed to change.’’