*** Aiden ***
I have been given an Alpha suite here in the Silver Shore territory but Roman is agitated and will not settle yet again.
As I pace the elaborately decorated room, an overwhelming unease blankets my body, a fear sits in my chest and does not abate. I have never felt anything like this before and my instincts are screaming at me to go home immediately.
I call Amber who assures me everything is ok and even Gamma Ellis has shown back up. She surmises he has been with a she-wolf due to the sheer number of scratches he has all over his body, not to mention the unfamiliar scent that he carries on his clothes.
I instruct her to continue holding the fort in my absence and she scowls down the phone before asking me when I will be home. I goad her for scowling. “Why? Are you missing your big brother?”
“No, you big idiot, I am having a party in the apartment and want to know when you will turn up like the fun sponge you are.”
Bitch!
I thought speaking to Amber would reassure and settle Roman, but he continues to whine and whimper. Mate. Our mate. She needs us. Not this again.
Come on buddy, you are killing me here. We cannot claim her, she already has a chosen mate. I hope he snaps out of this soon, but he remains in a sombre and agitated state for the rest of the evening.
Beta Preston has the adjoining room. Although it’s smaller and the views are nowhere near as beautiful, his room has a less pompous feel to it making it more comfortable and inviting.
“Are you ready, Alpha?” he asks me, but I am really not sure, I am so distracted by Roman and his unease.
“Something feels off, Preston. Roman is doing my head in, he will not settle and keeps whining about his mate,” I tell him despite my embarrassment.
“Welcome to the club my man, pull up a chair and get comfy, you’re here for the long haul now, Aidy.” Why does he look so happy about it? He must be crazy. “I can call Amber or the Gamma kid and ensure all is well at home?”
I shake my head at him because there is little point. I have already done this myself and Amber has assured me all is well, and I have no reason to doubt her.
As we go downstairs to the conference room, I hear the dulcet tone of Alpha Xavier Woodward of the Moon Stone Pack, my rival and my enemy, and although I had agreed to meet him on neutral territory to discuss our differences and to work towards an agreeable truce, I cannot help but feel annoyed by him.
Alpha Xavier Woodward is an aged and seasoned Alpha, he is older than my father and has been around since the dawn of time despite having a male heir both old enough and able enough to succeed him. Our territories share a boundary and this has been the cause of the building acrimony between me and him.
If he were not such a devious and disrespectful bastard, I could actually admire Alpha Xavier. He is a good leader and he has an impressive force with good order and training behind them. His business acumen is rivalled by none apart from my own and although I hate to say it, he has a lot of admirable qualities as a leader.
That is where the niceties end. Alpha Xavier is a thorn in my side and I am ready to declare war on his old and wrinkly ass. He has been taking liberties since I took over from my father as Alpha.
“Young Aiden, it is good of you to finally join us!” Before I can correct him on his affront in dropping my title, Preston jumps in.
“I know you’re getting old and forgetful, but the correct term is Alpha Aiden, and you will do well to remember that, old man.” On hearing his father being reprimanded, his son, Xavier Junior snaps his head up.
“Don’t you dare insult my Alpha father, mutt!” He shouts at Preston who laughs in his face, not one to back down from a challenge.
“Sit down, pretty boy, and leave the talking to the adults.”
Junior looks to his father who nods his head, telling him without words to do as he has been asked.
Standing side by side highlights the uncanny resemblance between the two: both have a thick head of dark brown hair and blue eyes and despite having been in several bust ups, some at my own hands, they both still possess straight teeth and noses.
The father and son are almost a similar height and build and share similar facial expressions and mannerisms. They are almost like clones of each other.
As Junior takes a seat at the back of the room, we continue to mutter amongst ourselves until Alpha Martin of the Silver Shore Pack invites us to sit at his table.
We are just getting to the nitty gritty when an overpowering pain takes hold of my heart and Roman tries to fight for control.
I stand up hurriedly. “I am so sorry, I have just remembered I am meant to be somewhere else.”
As I exit the room with Preston clipping my heels on the way out, Alpha Xavier growls deep and loud at me.
“You dare walk away from me, boy, from these negotiations and I swear the wrath of the Moon Stone will descend on you and yours just for your blatant disrespect of me and my station.”
I know Preston is trying to link me, but something is very wrong, and I intend to find out what. Roman snatches control and I feel my body shift into my large black wolf form as we reach the front yard.
I yelp and howl involuntarily and set off to the Onyx River territory, hoping beyond hope that whatever has Roman riled up shows itself so I can fix it.