Chapter 2: The Wolfless Girl

~Alric~

Alpha Alric and a few members of his pack flew to Bay City to eye a potential investment. While The Valmore Blood Pack had dominated many states of Eastern Dhuran, masked in the name of The Valmore Group Of Companies, Alric could not deny the growing market, west to their nation. 

He, together with his Beta, Dean Barrick, and a few of his Gammas, had flown via private jet and were now riding in a convoy towards the best hotel in the city. 

Gazing through the window of the car, Alric gasped and purred, “Eastern Dhuran is the refuge for all humans. Most of them are not aware. They live so blindly of our existence in the west.”

“You know that well, brother. Not only was it your forefather’s peace treaty with the humans, but this is... your third time here in Bay City,” Dean reminded, his face reflected a hint of mischief. 

With the recollection of his previous trips, Alric snarled at Dean, his nose flared as he warned, “Do not! Remind me.” Taking a deep breath, he added, “We are here… purely on business.”

“Right,” Dean nodded before looking out the window and he smirked. “Of course.”

“We will stick to our itinerary and leave Bay City after closing the deal with the city governor,” Alric asserted, while his large hands were buttoning his coat. 

“Are you sure? You don’t - “

“Don’t!” He growled at his Beta, knowing what he was about to suggest, his eyes turning lethal. 

“But Alric, you need a Luna, an heir - “

“Many things have changed now, Dean. Gone are the days of the old ways.” Alric gulped, he cleared his throat before suggesting, “If having no Luna and heir is the only reason for the elders to unseat me as their Alpha, then you should take my place.”

A scoff left Dean’s lips. He laughed while shaking his head. He reminded his Alpha, “Only a Valmore can be an Alpha. You know that and we all know that. Your family has ruled over our pack for hundreds of years, and that’s not going to change. The pack was named after your family. You seem to forget.”

“You have to be watchful. Your uncle has been craving to take over your position for as long as I can remember,” Dean supplemented. “Everything is fine while you are in your full strength, but time will come that you will need an heir - another Alpha to take over your responsibilities.”

“Should that time come, and you still have not found your mate, maybe you should just consider Geneva as your Luna.”

Alric sucked in a heavy breath. He closed his eyes, reflecting about the girl that had captured his heart, but knowing now that it was never going to happen, his thoughts wandered to Geneva, his childhood friend and a loyal patron of the Valmores. 

He was silent for a few seconds, his adams apple stilled as he internally debated with himself. Then, after taking it into consideration, Alric replied, “Should it come to that, then... Geneva will suffice.”

As he said those words, Alric’s expression was unfeeling and yet again, Dean swung his head in regret.

What can he do? He could not find his mate? The one that his heart craved for? Even with the girl from eight years back, there was no assurance that she was his mate, only that he desired her in words that he could not describe, and it was the same with his wolf. 

In the modern world they live in, finding a mate was rare, but being an Alpha of the biggest packs of Eastern Dhuran, he had the option of choosing any woman he wanted as his Luna. That was the original plan until he met that girl eight years back... here in Bay City. 

Over the years, he wanted to forget about that girl. He tried badly, but no matter what he did, he felt nothing. Absolutely nothing for any other women, regardless of their beauty and background.

Their cars finally arrived. It was a brief trip from the airport to the hotel. Rightly, their place of stay was the best choice. Not only was it the most recognizable five-star hotel, but it was also located within the circle of the city’s government offices. It was just what Alric needed to get things done as soon as possible. 

Their cars parked right in the driveway and his men coordinated their movements, speaking merely in their heads. They were all connected that way, being part of the same pack, they could easily mind link. 

“All clear, Alric, Dean,” one of his men said, and the rest echoed their observations. 

There was nothing to fear in West Dhuran for only humans lived in the nation, but anything could go wrong, especially since the Valmores had many business rivals, including other power packs from the east. 

“Shall we head out, oh, great Alpha?” Dean said with a tease. 

“Out here, it’s Mister Valmore to you, Dean,” Alric emphasized, his brown eyes narrowing as he turned to the hotel's entrance. 

While the Alpha’s men inspected high and low, from the towering skyrise buildings to the busy streets within the same avenue, Alric took his first step out of the vehicle. 

He put up his usual flat mask, exuding sheer dominance as he walked alongside his men. He never batted an eye towards anyone around him. As soon as he entered the hotel’s entrance, however, his nose caught a scent that made him gulp. 

Staring down and acting impassive, he sniffed again at the sweetness of Jasmine and it filled his nostrils completely. It was so refreshing, yet familiar in a way. Eight years too late, yet the scent was dear to him. 

Recalling how it all went down, anger swelled in his chest, his blood boiling in each second that passed. Still, he maintained his blank expression as he looked up to find the whereabouts of the scent. 

‘Alana,’ he whispered in his head, seeing the tall girl with long reddish hair, her blue eyes were as charming as when he remembered it from before.

Many years had passed, and the girl he once met as a bud had bloomed into a far more beautiful flower. Her face was now more alluring, her shoulders were broader, her hips were wider, her hair was longer and her breasts were fuller. 

The wolf in him growled!

‘Alana, where have you been all these years?’ He contemplated. However, after noticing how she was not at all stunned by his presence, his jaws clenched. He sucked in a breath and wondered, ‘Does she not... recognize me?’

He tucked his hands inside his jacket pocket and they formed into fists, all while trying to maintain his calm. 

The pride in him wanted to ignore her, but his wolf seemed to take control of his body and his eyes wandered in her direction. For a moment, their eyes locked. 

He felt his wolf howling inside of him, wanting to possess the flower that stood only two meters away, but after seeing how she just stared at him without recognition, he tore his eyes away from her. 

‘She is like us, but I do not sense her wolf... Strange girl... How is she even here in Western Dhuran? I guess when you are a wolfless girl, no one would force you back to your pack.” Dean mind linked with Alric, and after noticing how his Alpha did not respond, his eyes widened. Realization dawned on him and he probed, ‘The hell, Alric! Is she the one? The one from eight years ago?’

Alric ignored the words of Dean. He maintained his poker face and walked past Alana, holding his head high and proclaiming his glory. 

The hotel’s General Manager caught up in their march and was blurting out words that failed to sink into his head. He was already determined to forget about Alana when Dean suggested, ‘I guess... It’s Geneva then.’

The great Alpha of Valmore halted his steps, alerting his Beta and the rest of his men. He was emitting steam, but no one, except perhaps for Dean, knew the reason behind it. 

“Mister Valmore?” Patrick, the hotel’s General Manager asked. “Is there something wrong?”

Alric’s jaws struggled to open, but after his wolf’s convincing, he uttered, “Prior.” Swallowing his pride, he resumed, his voice deep and impressive, “Prior to coming here, I instructed to have one male attendant to be present at all times during our stay. This same person is to accompany us wherever we go while we are in the city.”

“Yes - yes, Mister Valmore.” The manager’s hand pointed to another fellow who, apparently, had been following them from behind and said, “This is John, one of our most tenured bellman and a local in Bay - “

Before the manager resumed his introduction of John, Alric decided, “I think... he is much too young, and I don’t feel the certainty in him. Can he really handle the pressure?”

His eyes narrowed as he described in an imposing tone, “Mind you… I am a very… very demanding man.”

Alric observed as John tensed after his comments, but he ignored the boy and looked back at Alana. He inhaled whatever was left of her Jasmine scent and only then did he propose, “The lady with reddish hair. She exudes command in her which is praiseworthy. Is she - “

“She is one of our Operations Supervisors, Mister Valmore. Alana Hope - Definitely one of our best. She was the one who arranged every detail of your arrival,” the manager boasted with a smile. 

“No wonder. I want her to be our aide, our guide, and our runner while we are here.” Keeping a professional yet compelling aura, he turned his gaze to Dean and said, “I want only the best so I’ll have her instead of John.”

“Absolutely, Mister Valmore. Anything you ask,” said the manager. 

After making his intentions clear, Alric turned his heel in the direction of the lift, along with his Beta and Gammas. 

The moment they arrived at the presidential suite, Alric walked towards the window panes of the living room and stood there, pondering. ‘Alana Hope... Alana Hope, so that is her name.’

When Dean came up beside him, Alric instructed, “Find out... everything about her.”