Chapter 2 Privileged Intruder

'Alpha, are you already awake? The White Wolf trespassed over our pack's borders both last night and this morning."

The border patrol passes the most recent reports to me in the mind link. At my command, they once again had to turn a blind eye to this wolf who goes in and out of the pack at will, an unusual privilege for non-pack members. They are clearly irritated about this happening, have often complained about this order, wanting to imprison her. But I forbade it expressly. Anyone foolish enough to lay hands on her gorgeous coat, risks public execution, that is my inexorable rule.

My warriors disagreed since she is not one of us, but I don’t capitulate, never will. My word is the law in the pack as well as the region. If only they knew that pesky trespassing White Wolf is their Luna, the Luna Queen of Midnight Moon!

This report is another confirmation that she has found her way back safely.

I’m aware it’s time for me to take action, it can't go on like this any longer. And I exactly know what to do.

With renewed energy, I walk to the bathroom for a refreshing bath. Half an hour later, I return to the bedroom fully clothed. After one last check in the mirror, I descend to the main floor, making my way towards my office.

I sit behind my desk and mentally prepare for my confrontation with Jace.

'Beta, can you come to my office? I have something important to discuss with you,' I mind link him. He promptly responds with his signature humor.

'Sure, Alpha. Judging by your tone and this early hour, it must be a life-changing issue,' he teases. Hmmm, that Beta of mine has always been a joker. But why do I feel like this time, he already knows what I want to talk to him about today? Jace and I share a unique bond as we were born almost at the same time, he knows me like no other but this is suspicious.

After storming into my office, he plops in one of the guest chairs facing my desk. I suppress the unpleasant feeling of my betrayal towards him.

“Jace, we've been friends for years, you are the best Beta an Alpha King can imagine. You have represented me perfectly all these years without complaining”, I apprise him, torn with guilt. “This conversation is so annoying for me. I know I should have trusted you, but I gave my word to keep all this I’m about to tell you a secret. But now is the right time for me to confess to you. All I hope is you to understand.”

Jace was intrigued by my lengthy speech, knowing well that I don't usually communicate using so many words; there had to be something significant happening for me to do so.

"Enrick, no matter what it is, we'll make it through. I can't stay upset with you for too long. Don’t beat around the bush. What's going on? You're making me uneasy," he responds inquisitively.

With a gulp, I turn to my Beta.

"The thing is that the White Wolf wandering into our territory…."

Jace suddenly burst into inexplicable laughter, causing me to stare sheepishly at him. He gets up from the chair, grabs his stomach and hiccups around the office. Goodness, what a drama king.

“Enrick, do I look like a fool to you?”

With his hands casually at his sides, he looks at me with a sense of amusement.

“A White Wolf crosses the border in high frequency, and yet under your authority no one can obstruct it or face capital punishment. In other packs, trespassing is a serious crime and the perpetrator is actually killed without a second thought," he points out.

“I investigated this White Wolf. She always comes in without a scent, however, upon exiting, she leaves a trace of your scent in her wake. Your lacking attentiveness, my friend.”

Damn! I forgot my Beta is one hell of a smart guy too. I shut up to hear what else he knows. I have expressly forbidden anyone to investigate her. No one is allowed to follow her or track where she is going. I trust Drina and wait for her to tell me what's going on with her family.

“Initially, I assumed she was merely a mistress. You're a healthy man with needs and I don't mess around with she-wolves in the pack either. I believe those could be a nuisance when our fated mate arrives here. You know how I hate drama,” my Beta continues. “But the way you kept threatening us to leave her alone got me thinking. And this has been going on for an extended period of five years now. That is way too prolonged for just a casual fling."

He expresses his amusement by raising his eyebrows and continues thoughtfully.

“Enrick, I think the White Wolf is your fated mate. "For some unknown reason you're keeping this concealed from everyone else," he states confidently.

A feeling of relief washes over me as I realize that this is much simpler than what I anticipated.

I thank the Moon Goddess for Jace, I was already preparing for his anger and disappointment towards me.

“But Enrick, you do know that white wolves are emissaries from Selene? They are often top rankings or wolves on a special mission.”

Jace is no longer smiling, his face is serious, he is now totally my Beta and protector of the pack. “She was paired to you by the Moon Goddess?” he asks for confirmation. I nod in agreement.

“Why do I feel like something big is about to happen?” he says more to himself now. “When Selene is on a mission, only great things happen. A White Wolf and an Alpha King, a formidable mating. What is her rank, Enrick?”.

This question got me off guard.

To tell the truth, I never noticed a typical werewolf scent emanating from Drina. Even when we do a run together in wolf form, I can’t sense her rank. As an Alpha King, that would be easy for me. All I perceive is that scent of our mate bond, the mixed floral one that always makes me drunk with love. And besides that, Drina has given no hint or suggestion whatsoever that she belonged to a pack.

However, she definitely is not a rogue...