"Rodriguez just found his mate."
The words made every bit of sleep dissolve from Alfa's eyes. Marius voice hung in the air like leaves on a dead branch that stayed on a healthy tree; unable to fall, unable to revive.
"What?" Alfa choked out the words because his throat had closed.
"We just heard it. They're planning a party because their Alpha had found his mate."
The phone found its way to the mattress, bouncing on it once before resting face down on it. Alfa's hand remained at his ear, unaware of his phone's escape.
Every plan of getting Aria back seemed to slowly vanish into the thick fog, with him standing there, screaming, unable to hold on.
He had sent Michelle into that pack as a spy, but now... will she still do her job? Or will she turn against him?
"Alpha? Alpha?"
The voice seemed to be coming from a distant world. What had he himself done?
Alfa could blame no one but himself! He's the one who forced Aria to turn into her wolf. He's the one who put Bella into a dormant position, inside her own body, without asking Aria, or seeing any negative changes first. Now, he just sent Rodriguez a gift that would not only strengthen him but also his pack! "I'm such a fool," he said under his breath.
"Yes! Yes, you are!" Braxen agreed.
His phone rang, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was only then that he realized that his phone was no longer in his hand.
"Yes, Marius?" Alfa said, picking up the device.
"Alpha, what should we do?" Marius asked.
The question sounded vain. What could they do? Alfa couldn't just waltz in there demanding Michelle to come back! Doing so will result in someone's death. It would easily be Michelle.
Aria wouldn't come either. She would just turn into her witch form and dissappear.
He needed to trust Michelle. He didn't have any other choice!
"Don't do anything yet. We will wait," Alfa ordered. "And keep me updated."
Alfa put his phone away and jumped out of the balcony. He desperately needed to run.
His clothes fell with a messy thud on the ground under a tree, and he ran into the forest, and soon, Braxen's paws thrumped its way between trees.
He didn't have any particular destination, just ran to clear his head. The night air wisped past Braxen, hitting his eyes and ears, but he didn't care.
Soon, he was at the lake, and he jumped in without stopping, letting the cool water engulf him completely.
The splash alerted the border patrol, but their alphas scent and aura were too strong to go unnoticed. All the pack members knew about Aria, their Luna, who had disappeared overnight, and what their Alpha had done.
Most wolves were on their Luna's side, saying Alpha was clearly wrong. No wolf had the courage to say that on their alphas face.
The water soaked through Braxen's thick fur, making it impossible for him to swim, given that he had already run this far and was tired.
"Why? Why did I do this?" Alfa asked aloud.
"Because you failed to trust Bella!" Braxen replied.
"The only thing good to ever happen to me, I ruined it. What should I do?"
"Well, maybe you should talk to the one who placed a sleeping spell on her. The demon, Valac!"
"He swore never to enter our territory."
"Alfa, call him. Admit you were wrong. Or lose our mate forever!" Braxen spat, his voice laced with irony.
He jumped out of the water and shook himself to get rid of as much water as possible.
"Alfa, I think you should come now. I'm tired and want to rest!"
That was the only warning Alfa got before his wolf retreated, leaving behind a nude man.
It was already dawn when Alfa started walking back to the pack house. He took cover so that anyone who was out early wouldn't spot him with all his glory.
He had the perfect life with Aria, and he had to ruin it himself. Aria... his Aria, the zoologist who came to research about the dire wolves, and ended up becoming one.
Thirty years! That's how long he waited for his mate to show up. Well, technically, he had to wait for twenty-five, but still... and she did show up, wearing a mask.
She didn't want all this. She wanted to work as a zoologist and research on different animal species, but he, the Alpha after Moonsglow pack, Alfa Flowerew, had to force her to turn into a wolf.
He wanted to spend his life with his mate, probably have plenty pups and hand over the pack to his first born son and like his father, retire with Aria in a secluded place within the pack. That way, he would be near his son, the new Alpha in case he needs him, and stay far away from all the drama.
But now he is stuck here with no mate, no pups, and no hope of ever getting her back. His only hope turned out to be Alpha Rodriguez mate!
The irony was that he had sent her there! He didn't know whether he should laugh or cry about it! Every card he played changed the game in someone else's favor.
As a pup, he was the reason Aria lost her parents and unborn brother. Her grandfather was able to send her away, and fate brought them together once again, but he couldn't keep her.
He put Bella to sleep, the witch awakened!
He tried to talk to her, she disappeared for two weeks!
He tried to babysit her for twenty-four hours, but she still got away!
He tried talking to Rodriguez, but he didn't even listen!
She sent in a rogue spy, and she turned out to be the future rogue luna!
What the fuck should he do now? What was the moon Goddess doing?
Why?
Alfa felt his head throb. His arms and legs were beginning to get numb. He was totally naked walking through the forest in a cold day, and though the first rays of the sun were gliding up into view, he was shivering.
He hadn't eaten well in a long time, and he felt his muscles giving up. He was close to the forest edge but not close enough to reach his clothes.
"Braxen, I need you!"
"I'm calling Ronald," Braxen replied before Alfa collapsed.
All the worry and guilt had finally found a way to knock him down. Oh, Aria... if only she knew how much he needed her right now!