The alpha's last chance

Chapter two:The first encounter

POV unknown

I was not amused.

And neither was my wolf, judging by the sound of growling in the back of my head.

As I looked around me, all I could see was a crowd of hypocrits, faking submission to their alpha, or what once was their alpha.

Lately they had become nervous, agitated. Unreliable.

I looked around at my pack and although I saw many heads bowed, baring their necks in submission, I could feel the underlying rebellion brewing.

I looked at my Gamma Robert, my general, and saw the look on his face. He was ready to fight if necessary. Thank the Goddess for his unshakeable loyalty.

Something had to be done to avert this catastrophe, but I didn't know what exactly. I did however know perfectly well what the problem was.

I took over the pack from my father at the age of 18, just a few months after I shifted for the first time. My wolf Napoleon was as large as my dads wolf was. But only mine was pitch black, like my hair, in opposition of my father's wolf, who had the colours of the first wolf known, Gray and white.

Grey and white wolves are considered of a high status in our pack of the grey moon, while black wolves are rare, certainly amongst alpha's. Additionally, they are usually found in rogues.

My father was nevertheless proud of Napoleon, and he convinced the pack that the colour of our fur was nothing less than Goddess given and that they should give their future alpha a fair chance.

A few months after that, my dad was killed in a rogue attack.

I remember the pain and the consuming feeling of grief I felt when we found his broken body, but that was nothing compared to what our Luna, my mother, father's fated mate went through.

She withered away, became a shadow of herself and retreated to her room where she stayed for months.

The pack needs a Luna.

After a while, my mother found a part of her strength back. She was always a strong woman.

But things had changed, she wasn't the same anymore.

And although she tried, she never got the sparkle back she used to have when father was still around.

And the pack suffered from it.

I took a deep sigh, locked minds with my beta and walked away from the faces that did no longer have my trust.

"Moses?"

"Yes alpha", the reply came swiftly.

I'm going out tonight. Want to join?

I actually do, Moses replied. He was always into a good time, he was also my best friend.

Upon entering the house, I spotted my mother sitting in her favourite chair. She looked at me with a sweet smile and sad eyes. It still broke my heart.

Moses followed in my footsteps. Hi Luna, he said with a broad smile, I'm taking your son out for a drink. Don't wait up for us.

Luna looked at him and waved us away. Be careful boys, she said, come back safe.

I really needed to get out of there.

On the way to town, Moses put on some music. We've known each other too long to not be comfortable in each other's silence.

After a while he asked happily: so, what's the pick today? Would you like to go clubbing, brown pubbing, ...role playing? He finished with a devious smile.

I smirked. As I didn't find my mate yet, Moses was always hinting towards possible female candidates, but I honestly doubted that I would find my true mate in those surroundings, if I ever found my mate at all, that is.

Let's keep it on the low, I said. After today, I was rather into a slow evening.

Ok alpha, he said. I know just the place.

After a fair drive, Moses pulled up to a rather gloomy looking pub. Country music came muffled through the door. It was perfect.

How do you find these places, I asked. He just smiled secretively and continued to go in. I happily followed, already thinking of the first drink I'd order.

When we came in, to my surprise, the pub smelled like cinnamon and roses, instead of the expected smell of stale beer and smoke. I couldn't help but to feel a bit of admiration for the owner, he must have been putting a lot of effort in how clean his pub was kept, to cover the smell up even for a werewolves heightened sense of smell. "I only wish I could keep my pack this clean" I said to Moses remorseful. Which earned me an odd look.

What are you talking about exactly, he asked.

Well, I said, this place smells heavenly, doesn't it?

Moses gave me another odd look, but didn't reply.

Instead he ordered a beer and a shot of whisky.

As we sat at the bar, we drank in silence. Each enjoying our poison of choice. At least we sat in silence, Napoleon however seemed to be very agitated. He was prancing around in my mind with his ears to the back of his head, waving his tail around as if he was ready for a hunt, whimpering from time to time.

What the hell is the matter with you Napoleon, I asked. The only answer I got was a low growl, followed by a soft howling. I tried to push him to the back of my head. Worried his agitation would show on my face.

I didn't want Moses to notice something was off with Napoleon but I saw that he was looking at me from the corner of his eyes, with a puzzled look on his face. But before I could ask him what his problem was, a woman, who was sitting at the far end of the bar got up and started walking towards the bathroom. As she approached us, the smell of cinnamon and roses got overwhelming and I heard Napoleon howling in the back of my head. "Mate!" He shouted out. And again "Mate!".

I was too shocked to do anything but stare at her. And as she passed by, my mouth started watering.

I wanted to do something, stop her, make her notice me, but I just sat there, following her with my eyes until she disappeared from sight.

I looked back at Moses, he must have seen the whole thing. But he just stared at the place the woman came from and said:" they've put something in her drink".