My head is nowhere near where it needs to be, considering that I called for an emergency meeting with the pack in the hall.
What the border patrol wolves discovered on our territory tonight is concerning, and should be my priority as I'm about to address my people, but I just can't seem to get Arianna out of my head.
I'd become so furious when Arianna ran away after we embraced. But the moment I laid eyes on her when I found her in that bunker, I felt so much relief that they were safe, my inner wolf becoming desperate to hold her.
I know she felt it, too. I felt her body temperature rising when I had her in my arms, and saw the softness in her eyes when she pulled back . I know I made the decision to never take a mate, and tonight's events prove that we're never safe. As the alpha, there's always a price on my head for anyone who becomes an enemy, and I know what's out there—we can never be too careful. I can't risk putting someone else in danger because of me, but I just can't seem to stop feeling drawn to Arianna.
She's irresistible, and no matter how hard I try to resist my inner wolf's urges, I just can't stop myself from wanting to be around her. Fromwantingher…
Even if I did risk being mated, Arianna isn't the esteemed, high-ranking wolf my parents will accept as my mate.
Groaning, feeling like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place again, I shift my focus back to the present, where the Moonshine wolves are gathered in the hall, and my beta opens the meeting.
“Alpha Tyler…” Brutus nods at me, and I step in front of the mic on the stage to address my pack.
Just three months ago, I'd been on this stage for my swearing-in ceremony, and I swore to protect the pack from outside harm and made an oath to myself not to put anyone else's life in danger. Now, things are looking a bit different, with Arianna back, threatening to change my entire world if I give in to my inner wolf's urges.
There's also the rogue appearance on the territory that left a dead animal as if it were trying to leave a message. It's not the first time outsiders have wandered over our borders, but they've never left a dead carcass behind.
Because we're surrounded by human towns, we get the odd group of hunters using rifles to hunt down animals as a pastime, but this was different, and I can't help but suspect that some kind of danger is on the horizon. It's an alpha trait that has me always on edge, calculating, meticulously inspecting every detail, and leaving no stone unturned.
“Moonshine Pack members,” I begin, the silence in the room deafening as everyone notices my hardened expression. “I've called you here tonight to address a concern that was discovered near our borders. It appears that a certain type of rogue werewolf had crossed our borders this evening and left a dead animal behind. It may have been an accident, or it could be a warning.” I pause to let the information sink in with the pack. “I've seen enough horrors during my time in black ops to know that nothing can be taken lightly, and we must proceed with caution. That's why we'll be securing extra safety measures around our borders. I appeal to you all to follow the hunting rotations we've set out, and report anything uncommon to the soldiers.”
With a firm nod, I step away from the mic to allow my beta to say a closing word to the pack before dismissing them from the hall. My mind races with thoughts of everything that's going on, and my inner wolf becomes more and more desperate to protect not just the pack as a whole, but Arianna.
Especially Arianna.
I thought I was content with the idea of never having a mate, even if my parents continuously breathe down my neck about taking one and siring the next generation's alpha. It's almost as if nothing I do will ever be good enough in their eyes.
Whether I choose not to have a mate or choose one who isn't of high standing like they want, I doubt they'll ever be satisfied.
I'm not Tyson.
I never will be.
Speaking of my parents, I need to inform my father about tonight's incident and warn him not to return to Portland at night.
Sighing despondently, I get my phone out and take a seat on the bench in the front row in the empty pack hall, feeling Brutus's lingering presence as he awaits further instructions.
“That will be all for tonight, Brutus,” I say, slouching and pressing my elbows onto my thighs.
“Okay, Alpha Tyler,” he replies, but still hangs nearby.
I look up to find him hesitantly opening his mouth as if he wants to say something.
“What is it, Brutus?”
He clears his throat and takes a step forward. “Is everything alright, Alpha? You look like you have a lot going on.”
“Of course, I do, Brutus. We just found traces of a mutated wolf crossing our borders. It's a lot to process.”
Brutus nods thoughtfully, his eyes lowering when he says, “What about Miss Hart?”
I sigh as the question comes, already expecting it. I'd tasked Brutus with finding Arianna when I returned from black ops and discovered she was gone. I frown when I give it some thought, wondering why she was difficult to find.
If she'd been with another man, another werewolf, surely it would have been easy to find her amongst the other packs.
I realize that I still haven't made much progress in finding out how she's been all these years since she left. Who did she have Noah with? Was he good to her?
