~ Alister's POV ~
Alister left Ophelia's house feeling uneasy. The brief conversation he had with Luciana had left him with more questions than answers. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.He had wanted to talk to Ophelia about one of their pack members but Luciana's body language, especially when she tried to block his path and stop him from entering the house, Indicated that something was going on in that house and he was not to come in. He had respected her wishes, knowing that she wouldn't do that if Ophelia was not in support.
Her scent still lingered where they had touched and it was doing something to him. He grunted, shifting in his car seat as he started the car.
He drove straight to his office and was not surprised when he entered his office and saw Elijah, his Beta and best friend sitting on his desk with his eyes fixed on the computer in front of him.
" There's a reason why the door is there Alister" Elijah said dryly.
" …Yes, to prevent people like you from coming into my private space. But no, you wouldn't take the hint" he retorted.
" The reason is so you'll knock before entering Alpha and not startle people…" Elijah said ignoring his earlier statement, rolling his eyes.
" I would be an idiot to knock before entering my own office Eli, if anyone is doing the knocking, it's you…" he replied.
Elijah scoffed, looking up at him with an arched brow, " what's got you tight in your pants" he teased.
He hated it when Elijah could read him like a book. They've known each other all their lives so it was literally impossible to hide anything from the guy.
Alister sighed as he sat down in the chair across from Elijah and leaned forward.
" …that obvious?"
" Yes Alister, so spill…"
"I think your mother is up to something," Alister said, getting straight to the point.
Elijah raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"
"I just had a conversation with Luciana. She didn't say much, but the way she acted made me think that Ophelia is hiding something, she even stopped me from entering the house." Alister muttered.
Elijah whistled as he leaned back in the chair and sighed. "You know my mother. She always has a few tricks up her sleeve."
"That's what worries me," Alister said. "We need to figure out what she's up to before it's too late."
Elijah nodded in agreement. "I'll see what I can find out. But be careful, Alister. My mother is not to be underestimated."
Alister knew that Elijah was right. Ophelia was a force to be reckoned with, and she had a way of getting what she wanted. But he also knew that he had to be just as cunning if he wanted to outsmart her.
"Thanks, Elijah," Alister said, "Let me know what you find out."
" Hold on a minute" Elijah paused, picking up his phone to check the screen. " Fuck! it's your birthday today… the big twenty one" he gasped.
Alister rolled his eyes, that wasn't exactly new news, he mused. His Beta could be dramatic at times, acting like his mother.
" So…?"
" So?, You'll find your mate today…are you nervous?" Eli asked.
He wasn't about to tell Elijah that he was nervous. He couldn't imagine getting a mate when his heart was falling for Luciana. He knew the pack needed a Luna, but if he could delay finding his mate for another year, then he would.
" Nope, waited for this moment all my life…" he said dryly.
" At least be excited" Elijah said.
" I'm excited, just not overdoing it" he said, " what's the status on the border issue?" He asked, changing the topic.
If Elijah noticed the change, he didn't point it out, instead, he taped some keys on the laptop and sighed, " we have extra warriors patrolling the East border. The rogues or whoever was sighted haven't made a move yet. It probably is just some human, sight seeing or looking for adventure…" he explained.
Alister rubbed his temple, he hoped so, because he could not tackle any threat showing now. Mentally, he wasn't ready.
" We still need to be careful, increase security and inform me of any slight development" he told Elijah who nodded as he stood up.
" I will, I'll see you later" the guy said, walking towards the door. He paused, holding the door knob before turning around sharply.
" Shit!, I think they're planning a surprise birthday party for you" Elijah said with an amused look.
Oh hell!, Not another party, he groaned, remembering the last party. He could still hear Elijah laughing at him down the hall.
The fucker.
~ Luciana's POV ~The party was in full swing after they had surprised the Alpha later that evening. Alister had acted like he was surprised, but she knew better, that was not the face of someone who was surprised. He probably found out that they were planning something when he came to Ophelia's house earlier. As she discreetly looked at him, Luciana noted his appearance: a dark green shirt with rolled-up sleeves and worn jeans, bathed in the moon's glow, he looked almost otherworldly.Luciana's heart ached, knowing that in a few minutes, at midnight, the Alpha would discover his mate, who could be any of the many women enjoying the party. She scanned the crowd of women around them, knowing one of them would soon be fortunate enough to be chosen by the Alpha.While sipping his drink, Alister found something Beta Elijah had said amusing and let out a laugh. Luciana noticed his laughter and their eyes met briefly. She thought she saw a hint of affection in his eyes before he looked awa
Alister's POVAlister and Elijah were making their way towards the gates when Alister caught a strange scent. The scent was so strange that Alister grunted, indicating his discomfort. He did not want to take any chances with the stranger who carried that strange scent. He was worried that the person might be a threat to his pack, his home. He asked Elijah, "Any idea who we're meeting?" Elijah was walking beside him with a scowl, indicating that he was also not pleased with the situation. Alister's timing could not be worse. It was the night of the full moon, and he had just found his mate. The last thing he wanted to do was to meet a stranger when he could be spending his night with his mate. He was reminded of his duties as a mate, and he knew he should be marking her right now. Instead, he found himself marching towards the gates to meet a stranger. As they neared the gates, Alister couldn't help but feel uneasy about the meeting. He was unsure of what was going to happen, and h
"I'm Noah and these are my sons. It's a long story…we just need help" the man said with pleading eyes.Alister stood there, his expression contorted into a frown as he listened to the man before him. The idea of offering asylum to strangers he knew nothing about was a foreign concept to him, especially since the council was supposed to be the ones responsible for assisting those in need. Why come to his pack when they could just go to the council? It didn't make any sense.“ Then go to the council… that’s their job. To offer assistance…” he said, turning around to leave and ready to put an end to the conversation. But before he could take more than a few steps, the man's voice stopped him in his tracks."Please," Noah said, desperation lacing his tone.Alister hesitated for a moment before turning back around to face the three wolves. The man's words had piqued his curiosity, and he couldn't help but wonder why they were so insistent on seeking asylum with his pack and not many other
Luciana's POVLuciana, who was sitting on the couch, observed the scene in front of her with great interest. Ophelia, her friend and fellow pack member, was cradling one of the babies who had been crying inconsolably until Ophelia took charge. She was amazed by how effortlessly Ophelia was able to soothe the little one. She had always been a natural caregiver, even though it's been long since she was a mother. Her son Elijah was no longer a child. The baby's cries slowly subsided as Ophelia rocked him gently in her arms. After a few minutes, the baby had calmed down completely and was now sleeping soundly.Ophelia carefully handed the baby back to his mother, who was grateful for the brief respite from the constant demands of motherhood.Ophelia then turned her attention to Lucia and asked, "How are you feeling?" as she sat down beside her on the couch. Lucia shifted her weight, trying to find a comfortable position while holding Keita, her own son. "Not exactly the kind of mating
Luciana's POV"I’m sorry… I get carried away sometimes…" Ophelia apologized for crying."No, you're allowed to remember him. You don't have to apologize," Luciana said kindly.Feeling grateful for her understanding, Ophelia sighed, "Well, I'm fine. I was just thinking that Alister would be glad to have Keita as his son. He loves the boy, you could see it in his eyes." She responded.Lucia was surprised to hear this and asked, "You think so?"Ophelia nodded, "Yes, absolutely. I've seen the way he looks at Keita since the day the kid was born and the way he looks at you since the day he brought you both into the pack. He loves you and damn well loves Keita too." She said.Luciana sighed, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. She had been worried about how Alister would react to Keita, as he was not his biological son. She knew that he liked Keita, but to accept another man's child as his own son and future heir was a lot to ask, especially from an Alpha.She also worried about the rest o
Alister's POVAlister sat at his desk, his laptop screen open on the desk, as he spoke with Elder Wilson about a recent incident involving rogue wolves and the strangers he was currently helping. As he was deep in conversation, his beta Elijah entered the room, signaling that he had helped Lucia move into Alister's house. Alister couldn't help but feel guilty that he wasn't able to assist in the move due to being swamped with paperwork. He sighed, massaging his temples in frustration."I followed procedure here... they were being chased by rogues, there was no way I would have asked them to continue their journey to the council, for all we know, the rogue wolves might have followed them here…" Alister explained to the man whose face was on the screen, frustration evident in his voice.He couldn't help but feel responsible for the safety of those in his territory, and the thought of rogue wolves wreaking havoc sent shivers down his spine.Elder Wilson listened attentively on the other
Alister's POVAlister had been enjoying his peaceful slumber, wrapped in the warmth of his mate Lucia. He cherished the comfort she brought him, especially during the cold nights. However, the blaring sound of the pack alarm shattered his peaceful slumber, and he was instantly jolted awake. He had hoped that the night would go smoothly, just like the previous few nights when he had held Lucia close in his arms. Alister had never experienced such a luxurious and comforting feeling before, and he wanted to hold on to it for as long as possible, perhaps even for eternity.Lucia stirred beside him, groggily rubbing her eyes as she took note of his alarmed state. Concern etched her features as she asked "What's going on?" her voice laced with concern tooAlister quickly got out of bed, grabbing the closest pair of joggers he could find and putting them on. "I'm not sure," he replied, his voice grave. "But I'm about to find out."The night had started off with such passion and excitemen
Alister's POVAlister's heart was racing as he listened to Elijah's report. The thought of rogue wolves invading his pack's territory filled him with a sense of dread. He knew the danger they posed, not only to his pack but also to the innocent humans who lived in the nearby town. Alister had made a promise to keep them safe and he intended to keep it, no matter the cost.He knew that his pack's security measures were at their highest, with guards working around the clock and pulling double shifts to ensure that there were no loopholes in their defenses.Alister quickened his pace, running towards the East border with Elijah by his side. He tried to remain calm and collected, knowing that he had to keep his wits about him if he wanted to protect his pack. However, the thought of his people being in danger was almost too much to bear."How many of them?" he asked, his voice firm despite the anxiety creeping up on him."About twenty just crossed the East border. Don't know if there are