Chapter 5

BlackCreek City was small, yet big at the same time. The forest it was named after surrounded the busy city, making it beautiful with all the greenery that it grew. It was a peaceful place for both werewolves and humans alike. It took a lot to get it this way, where everyone lived in harmony. But happiness is never achieved without facing hardships as well.

At least, that's what he was taught.

"Now, before we get there," his father sat up straighter and started to straighten out his clothes. "Tell me about what you have studied of the Alphas. I don't want you going in there without having the proper knowledge."

"Alpha Nir is of the Noble Pack," Shiro started. "Calm and collected, he is known as an understanding leader and peacemaker. Alpha Roger of the Dynamic Pack is known for his bold points of view and loves telling things frankly. He despises being ran in circles with words."

"And the final pack?" his father pushed. They were approaching the community center, where all the Alphas held important meetings with each other.

"Alpha Jett of the Valor Pack," he started slowly. For some reason, that name resonated with him. There was a certain feeling it gave him when it slipped off his tongue that he couldn't quite understand at the moment. "Is an Alpha of confidence. Well known for his fighting skills as well as his ability to work well with the other packs, he strives to be the best he can be."

"Good," his father answered. "Now you are only to talk when you are spoken to, understood?"

"Yes, Alpha," he nodded. The community center was right in the middle of the city. It was the best spot for all of them to talk so that they didn't have to place any rules on who's territory to visit when these meetings took place. It was always heavily guarded. When he got out of the car, he caught onto the scents of the guards. Most of them he had fought with the day before. It seemed as if it was the Valor Pack's turn to guard.

It was fun fighting with them. Shiro hadn't fought alongside another pack before. Since he was next in line to lead, his father tried to protect him and kept him from fighting too much unless it was something dire. He especially didn't like him fighting alongside the other packs.

He had never met the Alpha of the Valor pack until then. But he would never forget how intense those orange eyes were when they met his for the first time. He wasn't expecting the Alpha to thank him for his help. It was difficult to look past your pride and accept help when you're a leader. Shiro admired him for that.

They walked into the building quickly. The other three Alphas were waiting for them. There was much to discuss.

"Remember what we talked about," his father mind linked with him. "Do not speak unless you are spoken to."

"I will do as you say," he told him. He wasn't one to ramble on anyway. He was simply happy to be there.

The door opened slowly, showing the three men sitting at the table. Alpha Nir was the first to notice them. His dark blue eyes were like the ocean at night. His dark brown hair brought the color out more. It was cut short and neatly swept on top of his head. The short beard was what gave him a look of nobility.

Alpha Roger was the next to lay his eyes on him. Those fire red eyes looked like an explosion of dynamite. His orange hair matched his fiery look. It was short like Nir's, only his beard was much longer. His moustache grew out long as well and curled at the ends. Shiro had learned from his grandfather at a time that the Dynamic Pack had Viking ancestors.

The last pair of eyes that landed on him were to a man that looked much younger than the other two. The muscular man wore a tight dress shirt, and had black hair that curled. It just barely missed his shoulders, giving him more of a wilder look than the rest of them.

But Shiro knew who he was. Those orange eyes were too intense to be anyone else. And Shiro could never forget his scent. It was all over that part of the forest that he had fought in.

They were also the only ones that could stare at him that intensely.

"Alpha Sakdah," Alpha Nir smiled. "I'm glad you were able to make it."

"But of course," his father smiled back. "I wouldn't miss such an important meeting."

The Reverence Pack was the only one that wore kimonos. It was to respect the ancestors of the pack, as they had been the first to come from overseas. While most pack members wore normal clothing for their every day use, every pack member wore one at celebrations.

The other three packs wore regular clothing. For some reason, he hadn't been able to focus on the details of his surroundings like he usually did. His gaze was drawn to the tight shirt on the younger Alpha. As much as he tried to keep his head bowed out of respect, he couldn't help but be drawn to the man.

No. He couldn't.

He had to stay in control.

But those eyes kept beckoning his to look at him. And there was something about his scent that reached out like arms to him. It was strong and thick, like fog. It drew him closer.

"Who did you bring with you, Alpha Sakdah?" the man asked. His voice was low but clear. Shiro remembered it fondly from the mind link when they fought together the day before.

"Ah," Alpha Roger smiled. "I believe we forgot to tell you the original reason for this meeting, Jett."

Those orange eyes looked away from his for a second. Instead, they looked at the other Alpha with confusion.

"I thought this was about the hunters," he raised an eyebrow.

"It is," his father announced. "However, it just so happens to be my son's eighteenth birthday." He motioned towards him. "This is Shiro Wang, the next in line for my title of Alpha of the Reverence Pack."

He shook the oldest Alpha's hands first. He had met them when he was young. And they seemed happy to see him again.

"Alpha Jett," his father said as he walked to shake his hand. "I believe you're the only one who hasn't met my son before."

"Actually," the man smiled. "I believe we met yesterday." He put out his hand and met his gaze again. "It's nice to officially meet you, Shiro."

"The pleasure's mine," he smiled. It wasn't until their hands met that he realized what was going on. Shiro wanted to pull back from the strong grip. But that would send the wrong message to everyone in the room.

He should have seen the signs: the way that he looked at him; the intensity of his stare; the way that his voice beckoned to him like a siren to a sea captain. He had studied body language and what they look like in both a political setting as well as in a normal setting. He should have seen this.

Shiro should have known that this was going to happen. The Spirit of the Moon had been giving their pack no time after their eighteenth birthday to wait for this. He should have known enough to prepare himself. For he had no idea that the spirit was that angry with him.

Instead, he let himself be transfixed with an Alpha from another pack. Another leader which could easily reject him simply because of their political positions.

Instead, he let the Spirit of the Moon trick him into thinking that today was going to be a good day. And he had fallen right into her trap. For, he had no clue that she would mate him with the Alpha of the Valor Pack.

He couldn't tell until he felt the sparks that flew from their hands. It made him want to run at him and hold him forever. To hold and be held. To love and be loved.

But he knew he couldn't.

Control. That's what Shiro had spent his whole life mastering. The mind was a tool, and a powerful one at that. Shiro used it to hide his scent. For the Alpha could easily tell what he was through that alone.

The handshake only lasted a second or two. He made sure of it. The man seemed curious about him, but Shiro could see that he didn't feel it before he had blocked his scent and his mind off to him.

His heart and soul were crushed under his own controlling tyranny. They longed to go to his mate. But he knew he couldn't. He couldn't open himself up right now. Not when they were supposed to have an important meeting. Not when he hadn't even finished his schooling, or got his title as leader of his pack.

Not with his father there.