Chapter 2

Duncan POV:

As the Alpha of a pack, there was more to do than just lead the wolves into the hunt. Before that, I had to prepare each and every one of them for the hunt to come. If it was a wild buffalo, I had to teach the younglings the dangers of the creatures. A practice hunt was more common than people realized and it was necessary for the safety and prosperity of the pack.

Apart from that, there was also the issue of making sure that common resources like shelter, medicines, clothes were in store. I needed to account for repairs, bills, and money spent in general.

With the rise of human civilization, living in a community of wolves without associating with the outside human world was difficult. Therefore, we had to play by the human rules.

The pack even sent students to college to ensure we were up to standard with modern technology and science. If medicine advanced, the lives of our pack would go along with it.

That was my philosophy. It could be said that it was this philosophy that had led the pack to go from twelve wolves during my father’s time to increase to forty strong. This, of course, included the old and the young, who needed to be protected.

All in all, it was a heavy-duty to have on one’s shoulder.

And I was content with this life.

As I scribbled on the month’s accounts, I squinted at the numbers with apprehension. I could hear the footsteps approach my bedroom and sighed.

This had become a regular occurrence. Since I took over, slowly but steadily, more and more female wolves from the pack made their way inside my house and slid into my bed in hopes of enticing me into mating with them.

At first, I was intrigued by the prospect: that power could bring such perks. But soon, I realized, that these women were not fond of me, but the position of Alpha Female in the pack.

I finished balancing the sheets before unlocking my office door and walking slowly over to my bedroom.

Night had fallen and I was beyond tired. A few hours had passed since the footsteps approached and I had presumed whoever had the audacity to come in would have left by now.

I had been wrong.

My body stiffened when I smelled a female wolf in my room. The pungent odor of their arousal met my nose and I grimaced. This, though, was not the scent of a she-wolf in heat. This was plain lust.

And I had no interest in such women.

I turned the knob on the door and stepped into my room. I looked around, my eyes sharp despite the darkness.

Nothing looked out of place, except for the tousled sheet in which the female had definitely rolled around. I couldn’t help but sigh. “I’m too tired to entertain this nonsense. Leave before I lose my temper,” I warned.

I heard a feminine whine and scrunched my eyes closed in irritation.

Seriously, I didn’t need this right now. Why didn’t they understand that I had no interest in taking a mate, especially one which was looking for power and not the sincere heart of their mate?

Shouldn’t they be looking for their Intended Mate and not force themselves into a union that could further their position? I would never understand this concept.

“Alpha Duncan,” the whine came again. I had never thought someone’s voice could grate on my nerves. I had to remind myself not to think ill of a pack member.

“What do you want?” I hissed.

I saw the female get on all fours, wiggling her body at me. I pressed my finger to my temple and rubbed it.

The switchboard was right beside me and I couldn’t help but reach for it. I flicked the light switch on and stared at the raven-haired woman who looked startled at the blinding light in the room.

“Ruth, get off the bed,” I commanded.

Her eyes fell to the bed and her body sank down.

“Please, Alpha?” she whispered. I could see the sadness in her eyes but I knew better than to think too much about it.

“Off,” I barked.

Tears welled up in Ruth’s eyes but she remained planted.

I took a single step towards her and watched as her shoulder lifted in hope. It took a couple of steps for me to close the distance between us. I bent down over the bed and pushed her down until she watched me with a smile.

I huffed as I pulled out the bedsheet from the corner and wrapped her into a burrito before picking her up.

I could hear a cough behind me and I turned to look over my shoulder. Neo, my beta, was standing at the doorway, his fist pressed against his lips as he tried to hide his smile.

“Do you need something?” I asked gruffly.

“No, Alpha. I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he replied slyly. I threw him an icy look before brushing past him. The walk down the staircase was easy and the slight chill of the night wind hit when I walked past the door.

Standing at the end of my porch, I looked down at Ruth, who had shriveled up in humiliation. There were people still walking on the common grounds and they could clearly see the woman in my arms. I deposited her onto the cold ground before walking into my house.

I closed the door behind me.

“What did you want to discuss?” I asked, beckoning Neo into my office.

He coughed. “I’m surprised you didn’t kick her out naked,” he said mirthfully.

“We might be wolves but she came to seduce me as a human female. I didn’t want to strip her of her dignity,” I responded. “Moreover, she rubbed herself all over my sheets. I had to throw them away, anyway.”

Neo burst into laughter.

“Don’t laugh,” I gritted out through my teeth.

He sobered up immediately and nodded. “We’ve sensed some abnormal movement outside our pack border,” he announced.

“What kind of movement?” I asked, not alarmed. As long as it was not on our pack lands, it was fine.

“It looks like a rogue wolf is taking shelter in the forest about a mile out of our pack border.” His brows furrowed.

“And the suspicious activity?” I asked.

“Most of the animals in the area are migrating and seeking shelter within our land.” He grew silent.

“All because of a rogue?” It was highly unlikely that was the case. “Has it been hunting indiscriminately or something?”

Neo shook his head. “Doesn’t look like it. But the animals coming here is a threat to the young and the elderly in the pack. The predators are following the herbivores in hopes of getting bigger gains.”

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. “Ideally, we shouldn’t bother with the rogue unless they show curiosity or try to step into our lands, but because they are causing the disturbance in the eco-system, it’s better to take it out.”

Neo hummed in agreement. “How should we approach the rogue, Alpha?” Now, he was all business.

I thought about it for a moment. “If the rogue is trying to be indiscriminate, let’s make sure they are low on food and water. Stark making outlying areas and trap them in a smaller space. Once they look like they are weakened and won’t last under attack, let’s take it down.”

Neo blinked. “Do we need to be this ruthless? It’s just a lone alpha,” Neo said. He was more curious than defiant, so I allowed him an answer.

“Something is scaring those animals, and if it is that rogue, we should stay on the safe side.”

Neo’s eyes widened. “Yes, Alpha. I will talk to the Sentinels and make a team.”

“I’ll oversee the hunt simulation. Let me know once you have formed the team,” I said with a hint of coldness.

Neo bowed and hastily walked away, leaving me to my reverie.

A rogue on the loose. Women trying to crawl into my bed. And an ecological change to concern myself with.

And now, I couldn’t even sleep in my bedroom because it stank of a wolf.

Excellent.

I groaned and threw a glance at the uncomfortable sofa pushed to the corner of my office. Another night on the uncomfortable sofa awaited me. At this point, I should just change it or put on pillows to help my poor neck and back.

I’ll get arthritis sooner than getting injured from a pack-related conflict.

.

Two days had passed.

We were prepared to circle the rogue and take it into custody. The practice hunts had been successful and we had isolated the rogue in the part of the forest where it was easy for us to hide.

We surrounded the rogue on all sides. I was in my wolf form as I padded towards the tree it had taken shelter in. I looked up and felt a jolt of something in the pit of my stomach. Something I had not felt before.

What is it? I heard Neo think at me.

I shook my head and took a better look. She had used the bowels of the tree and branches from all over the area to make a makeshift shelter.

It was impressive.

Usually, wolves would sleep in caves, but this rogue seemed to act more like a human trekker.

The scent of honey and lemon permeated through the air and I snorted to blow the air away.

Are you okay? I heard Neo think, now concerned.

I’m fine, I assured him. I followed the sickly sweet scent until I could see the sunlight through the thick canopy in the distance.

It had found the clearing. Because of underuse, the land was covered in overgrown grass and snakes and bugs.

I could tell this rogue hadn’t transformed into their wolf form, so I wondered why they would venture into dangerous lands. Snake-bites were fatal, especially for rogues who didn’t have medical help at their disposal.

I shrugged it off and neared the clearing.

Surround target, I commanded.

I heard their agreement and hid myself between the trees.

From this angle, I could see a young female wading through the grass, her eyes planted on the ground. There was a hint of a smile on her face. Once she was at the center of the clearing, she tilted her head up and stared directly at the sun overhead.

For a split second, I forgot that we were on a hunt. The moment felt intrusive and I wished to look away.

Did she not feel blinded by the sun? And why did she look at it like she had never seen it before?

Move, I said despite my curiosity. The small frame didn’t scream danger, but in the wolf world, underestimating a rogue was the biggest mistake an alpha could make.

We didn’t make sound, I was sure, but she saw something.

I could hear the audible gasp that escaped her. She ducked down, hiding in the grass and I felt like laughing. Did she really think visibility was a factor in the hunt?

Wolves hunted by scent. Even in the dead of the night, we followed the scent of our prey and never let them escape.

I sensed her fear. I could smell it in the air.

Alpha, should we take human form to negotiate? I heard one of the Sentinels, a female by the name of Sylvie said.

I pondered on it for a split second. But before I could answer, the girl sprang to her feet, her eyes wide and wild.

“I am just passing by. I don’t mean any harm. Please… I was just leaving…” I saw the redness in her eyes and I felt a twinge of pain in my ribcage.

“Please… please…” she chanted.