The Rise of The Alpha

Chapter 3

Upon passing through the gate and entering the mansions grounds you won't right away see the mansion as there are five acres of dense oak, pine and cedar trees that surround the massive building on all sides, with a one acre distance from the edge of the house to the surrounding tree line. On that one acre there resides the mansion, a training center that is equipped with both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool and a barracks for the guards. Like the Alpha's and Beta's the guards do not reside within the mansions gates unless it is one of the annual 6-month permitted weekend stays, when not at the mansion they reside within Head Councilman Adam's territory in Canada.

As Thomas pulled up to the front steps of the mansion butlers came out to receive us and grab our luggage to carry to our rooms. After grabbing my laptop I made my way into the mansion and made my way to the kitchen for the leftovers that the head cook Khloe, undoubtedly had stashed away in the fridge somewhere. I heard the thudding footsteps of the guys trailing behind me no doubt having the same idea that I did. Opening the fridge revealed four individual containers of steak, garlic roasted potatoes and grilled corn on the cob.

"So who do you guys think is going to show up this year?" Chase asked as he shoved a second forkful of steak into his mouth, looking at both Hunter and I expectantly.

I sighed, "No doubt Oliver will since we have that business with his pack hospital. He more then likely is bringing his head doctor along with all of the building paperwork."

"Evan will be coming like he does every year to show off his disgusting brood of women he likes to parade around." Hunter chimed in with a roll of his eyes, causing Chase and Thomas both to grumble.

None of us liked Evan, we tolerated him only because he was an Alpha and according to the council's rules the way that the Alpha's ran their pack couldn't be interfered with as long as there was no continuous complaints from the pack members or unnecessary violence towards them from their 'Alpha'. Evans pack, mostly made of males, was the Spirit Wolf pack, a pack neighboring our own, who believed in "traditional" roles for men and women and they run it like it's the 1800s.

What made Evan the worst was he ran his own Harem of women, and the council allowed him to bring five of them each meeting to preform as they put it his 'basic needs', and each year he would bring different women, we never saw the same girl twice since he'd taken over from his father, even though he had a Luna who he refused to bring. And even though Evan showed up with multiple women his Beta never showed with any and if anything looked down on Evan because of how he acted. Evan's Beta was his fathers Beta, as his son, and Evan's future Beta, was away overseas at his uncle's pack training their new Beta as a pack favor.

"I wonder what the girls will be wearing this year." Chase commented as we all remembered the horrible clothing ensemble the girls were forced to wear last year. It was pretty much a bikini with a mesh covering that varied in color due to the girls apparent 'rank' in the Harem.

We all visibly shivered, checking my watch I noticed that it was near midnight, our food long gone we washed our dishes and made our way to the pack's wing of the mansion. Each pack was presented with their own wing which included a total of four rooms, each with an adjoining bathroom, and one office space for the Alpha and Beta. Saying goodnight to each other we retired to our respective rooms.

Once I closed my door I began stripping off my clothes leaving them in a small pile next to the TV stand as I made my way to the shower. I turned the handle to hot and stepped in directly under the stream of steaming water, feeling my muscles begin to relax after doing so. I sighed in relief and let my head rest against the cool tile of the shower wall, giving the water a straight path down my neck, between my shoulder blades, then in small streams across and down my back. After finishing my shower I got into a pair of my grey sweatpants and a red crewneck shirt going back into my room still drying my hair I placed the towel over the back of my rooms desk chair to allow it to dry overnight. I stretched once more before getting into bed, raising my arms above my head and clasping my hands together I began to slowly bend backwards causing the hem of my shirt to rise above my pants waistline and bare a bit of my lower abdomen to the empty room. I could once again feel my muscles stretch, after a bit I returned to a normal standing position and shook my arms out at my sides, pulling the covers on the bed back I climbed under the down covers and the second my head hit the pillow I felt sleep take me.

As I began to open my eyes I was blinded by sunlight automatically confusing me, I had just fallen asleep had I not? There was no way possible it was already sunrise. Standing up to get a better look at my surroundings the second I realized I was in a field, in an unfamiliar place. And I was shifted, Xerxes raised his snout to the sky sniffing, trying to find a scent we recognized when the overwhelming smell of vanilla and pine trees.

His eyes widened as did mine when we realized what that scent was. It was our mates, she was close. Without even being urged by me Xerxes bolted North following the direction where the scent had come from. As the scent got stronger Xerxes slowed himself to not give up his position, he wanted to study our mate before making ourselves known. After a few minutes of walking the ground began to get damp and we heard the rushing of a nearby stream, meaning the noise would conceal our presence from our mate. Peering through a bush at the edge of the stream, the dark green hiding Xerxes' black coat perfectly, our eyes rested on a pure white wolf who was drinking upstream, Xerxes allowed his tongue to fall out the side of his mouth as he gave a lopsided grin. Our mate is GORGEOUS.

She suddenly looked up and we were stunned by the eyes that locked with ours, one an electric green and one a honey brown with streaks of gold, our mate and her wolf were equal and not just that. She was also an ALPHA. She suddenly sprinted away from us with a vigor as if we had done something to spook her, confusing pulsing through our mind had us sprinting to catch up with her. When Xerxes burst through the next clearing our mate stood before us, human and fully clothed looking at us with cautious eyes.

"Shift mate." She commanded, Xerxes tilted his head at her in confusion, did our mate not know that we were also an Alpha? That her commands would not work against her mate? Still confused at her actions Xerxes decided to obey and shoved my conscience forth causing me to be thrown onto the ground when the shift was complete.

Standing up I brushed myself off and realized I was clothed in a pair of jeans and a tank top, something I would wear on a regular day in my pack. I looked at my mate, head tilted, "Where are you?" I asked questioningly, "I've searched everywhere but I've never seen you before.

"She glanced around nervously, "This isn't a good idea. Whatever thought you have going through your head it won't work." She gestured between our bodies, "This won't work." She finished. It felt like the wind was knocked out of me, she was rejecting our bond.

"And how do you know that? We haven't even met before." I growled out, taking a few steps towards her. She glanced at my feet and looked back up at me with a cold look in her eyes, one that hadn't matched her wolfs when Xerxes first saw her. Her wolfs eyes were alight with happiness, and relief.

She bared her teeth to us, "I just know your kind. Always expecting to be obeyed. And I bow to no one but the goddess." She spoke through clenched teeth.

I could feel Xerxes straining to communicate with her wolf, almost as if she were being shielded. "You're an Alpha." I stated to which she nodded as if it were obvious, "Yet you have yet to discern that I am an Alpha as well." I finished, taking another step towards her. Her eyes still revealed no emotion, as if she had taken it all and bottled it into a jar.

"So as I stated early when you clearly were not listening, this will not work." She repeated, once again gesturing between us.

I was about to take another step towards her when I began to hear the beeping of my alarm faintly at the back of my head, I shook my head a few times to disperse the sound then turned back towards my mate to find her wolf once again in place. I reached my hand out and just as her wolf was about to place her forehead against my palm, I woke up.

I sat up gasping for breath and slammed my hand down so hard on my alarm clock it split in two, I immediately called out to Hunter, Thomas and Chase through the pack link telling them all to meet me dressed and in the shared office in five minutes.

I wasted no time in hopping out of my bed, not even bothering to shower I ripped off my tank top and sweats and threw on some slacks and a button down shirt. Sliding my shoes on my feet as I leaned against my closed door, I heard the guys rushing around their rooms getting ready but I was still going to beat them to the office.

Upon entering the office I put my elbows on my knees and rested my forehead on my palms, I didn't even get her name. I cursed myself for being stupid as to not get it before I began speaking with her. She very well may not have given it as she made it clear as she thought we should forsake the bond and continue living as if we were oblivious of the others existence.

The guys all burst through the office door at the same time, Hunter however looked very much how I felt, "There's something I need to disclose with you all as I do not know how to approach the situation. Chase since you're closest to the door please make sure it is sealed and locked as I do not wish for another wolf to overhear this and take it to the council." I instructed, waiting until Chase again took a seat in front of me.

Looking between the guys I took a deep breath and began retelling them of my dream, and while Chase and Thomas sat with their mouths agape in awe, looking at Hunter I could tell he was thinking about something. After I finished describing my dream to them, Hunter finally spoke up.

"I met my mate last night as well, but she did not react as your mate did." He disclosed, giving me a confused look, "Why would your mate try and forsake the bond? Was she not elated to have found you? It makes no sense." He finished shaking his head. I closed my eyes remembering the fond look that I received from her wolf, "She wanted to forsake it, her wolf did not." I replied, "Now since you met your mate and said your experience was different I'm going to assume she was elated to meet you and wanted to see you in person as soon as possible?" I questioned Hunter. With a sad smile he shook his head, "Yes she was happy bit she refused to disclose her name and the name of the pack in which she resides." I tilted my head, perhaps since our experiences were so similar there was a chance that our mates resided within the same pack.

A knock sounded at my door, "Breakfast is being served in the Dining Hall." A butler's muffled voice spoke to us through our door.

"We'll continue this discussion later tonight after dinner." I stated standing up and making my way out of the office and towards the Dining Hall with Hunter, Chase and Thomas following me.

Upon entering the hall I noticed that all the Alpha's were here, everyone except Evan. I sent a confused glance to Hunter as I took my place at the head of the table and him taking his place to my left with Chase and Thomas sitting next to him.

Before I even had the chance to speak up and ask where Evan could be a butler came in with a piece of paper, "Alpha Evan's appearance has been delayed to an urgent personal matter that needed immediate attention and after providing the council with sufficient evidence that he has no urgent business with any packs have agreed with his request." The butler folded the sheet of paper and look up the table to me, "Alpha Evan will be here Sunday for breakfast." And with that he walked out. Immediately murmurs sprouted throughout the table, others questioning each other about what reason could Evan use to get out of the meeting that the council gave him two days to figure it out. Some speculated that perhaps he got a human pregnant and was dealing with the wrath of his father, as humans were looked down on in his pack. After a few minutes without a cease in whispering I decided I wanted to enjoy my breakfast in peace and made my way from the table and to the training yard, more specifically the boxing equipment that rested in the middle of the gym. The council failed to provide us with a ring as they believed it could cause issues between Alpha's if one took losing too far.

"So what do you think about Evan not being here?" Hunter asked me as he began walking in stride next to me, plate in hand as well. I turned to see that Chase and Thomas had stopped their journey in the training yard at the weight lifting area.

"It wouldn't matter much what I think, the council always has a final say in matters regardless." I replied shrugging my shoulders as I sat down into a metal chair that was next to a punching bag that would be completely destroyed after I worked my frustrations out on it.

"Well he must not have wanted your opinion in the matter at all if he felt the need to go directly over your head and to Adam's." He said, placing an empty plate on the chair next to me. I looked up as he squared up to begin his assault on his punching bag of choice.

"Do you think that our mates could be from the same pack? Perhaps that was why their dream appearances were identical?" I questioned, placing my plate down onto my seat as I positioned myself in front of my chosen punching bag.

Hunter paused, placing his hand out to stop the punching bag from moving, "I considered it. I assume they've had a conversation similar to ours." He said as he squared up and began hitting it again. As the next few hours passed I pondered on what Hunter said, and if our mates were indeed from the same pack, if they did have a conversation about it I'm sure that it wasn't as similar as he thought. Though my mates wolf may have wanted the connection we did she appeared to have despised it. Hunter expressed that though his mate wanted their bond she still seemed to shy away from it, though not as forcefully as mine had.

Hunter and I were raised to cherish the bond and though I was the only one of the two of us to be tempted by someone other then my mate I still believed that there was a way to make her see the bond in the way I was taught to. I had only chosen Jane after my father made it clear he was ready to hand over the pack but would not do so unless I found my mate or took Jane in her place since it was clear that though we weren't mates, we were forming a bond of our own, and at the time the council had been pushing my father to step down since I was of age and able.

Hunter placed his hand on my shoulder causing me to pause, turning to look at him I realized the sun was higher in the sky, "The guys have headed inside for lunch. We should eat too so that way we're not starving during the meeting." Hunter said as he turned and began walking towards the building.

"Yeah, you're right, let's get going." I replied, following him towards the mansion where I could hear the rest of the Alpha's, Beta's and their guards hollering and joking around inside.

Upon reaching the door Hunter opened it and went inside, which caused an immediate hush to surge through the mess hall. When I entered the building I could feel all eyes were on me but I chose not to acknowledge anyone and made my way to the buffet table with Hunter following behind me. After piling our plates high with steak, pizza and pasta we made our way towards the head of the table.

As we sat down I heard the doors open to my right and I saw Hunter looking on with confusion. Turning my head to address whoever had just walked in I was met with the four members of the council. Immediately I stood and bowed slightly prompting everyone else to do the same as well.

Adam, the head of the council gestured for everyone to sit, "We are going to be staying here with you all for the rest of the weekend." He spoke, projecting his voice so all Alpha's could hear. Directing his attention back to me he spoke again, "Since your mate has yet to make herself known we have decided to introduce you to the mate we have chosen for you to wed if you have not found her in two years time." With that council member Adam stepped aside and I was met with golden honey eyes belonging to a person I assumed to be dead.

I felt a growl tear through my throat, causing her eyes to widen as I stood, "You expect me to marry her?" I shouted at the council, "I sent her to you to be judged and hopefully killed yet you allowed her to live?" I felt Xerxes snarl as well when her wolf tried to reach out, causing her to cower away in fear.

Adams face formed into an expression that a parent would wear when scolding a child, "Jane is the most qualified female that we were able to find. As well as the fact that you two had a begun to form a bond before so I'm sure it would not take much for that bond to be nurtured back to life." He stated staring at my infuriated stance with his arms crossed.

Hunter stood, "She betrayed him once, and you all are going to reward her by offering her the title of Luna? It makes no sense." He questioned, meeting the eyes of all the council members, "She would not benefit our pack. She would tear it apart." After he finished his statement he sat down. I looked over at him, Hunter was my bestfriend all right.

"We have already taken this into consideration." council member Desmond said stepping forward, "Which is why come the end of this weekend Jane will be accompanied by council members Henry and Nelson," he said, nodding at the other two council members, "back to your pack lands with you so she may be reacquainted with everyone. And should your mate appear within the next two years Jane also has a right to challenge her for the title of Luna." Desmond finished walking over and taking a seat at the council council and Jane sat down. I grabbed my plate and stood, headed to my office. Before I left I turned and faced the other members reserved table which had an added seat for Jane.

I didn't even bother to stay in the mess hall after the Alphas, "I'll be holding the group meeting in the office located in my wing of the mansion in one hour." With that I turned and walked out followed by Hunter, Chase and Thomas. I could feel Jane's eyes on my back until the door closed. Not one word was uttered between us as we made our way to my office the guys were obviously tense, for good reason too I could feel my anger leaving me in waves. The aura was so strong the mansion staff were left quivering in fear after we had passed by them.

Upon reaching our office I threw the door open and walked immediately to my desk where my cell phone was charging and saw I had multiple missed calls and voicemails from both Liam and David causing me to curse under my breath. I picked up the phone and clicked on Liam's name which automatically started to dial his number. I put the phone on speaker and placed it on my desk while gesturing for the guys to gather around.

"Thank god you called me back dude!" Liam's voice came through the other end, "I don't know what's going on but a whole bunch of council guards just got here this afternoon and they've been working on what looks like a house?" He said questioningly, "Care to inform me on what I missed? I tried to refuse them but they wouldn't take no for an answer and I'm pretty sure the guy in charge was ready to break the gate down."

I ran my hand down the front of my face, "There's no easy way to say this Liam but two of the council members will be returning with us this time with the bride they have chosen for me to see to it that she gets reacquainted to the pack properly and without incident. On top of that Hunter and I were both visited by our mates in some type of dream state but they refused to tell us who they were." I blurted out at once because I knew if I gave him the opportunity to talk again I would more then likely not get another word in.

There was silence on his end for a bit before David's voice came through, "What do you mean reacquainted? She's from the pack? How is that possible the council hasn't been here to collect anyone?" Hunter and I shared a glance, it was very likely that Liam and David would react the way that we did when we were first told.

Taking a deep breath I answered the question that David left hanging in the air, "The council has chosen Jane to be my bride should my mate fail to appear in two years time. And if she does appear Jane now also has a right to challenge her for the title of Luna." I said, leaning back into my desk chair as I was met with growls from Liam and David as well as a snarl from Xerxes.

"You can't be serious. Why would the council even consider her when you gave her to them for treason? She should've received the death penalty." Liam said, I could hear the frustration in his voice. No one was happy that Jane would be back, some pack members that she had befriended might be because I didn't give them any reason for why she left they believed that she just ran away.

"They believe that since we were beginning to form a bond that it will be easily rekindled, and without my mate making herself known I have no choice but to go along with this until she appears and even then in Jane can choose to challenge her." I replied leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands. I looked up at the wall and noticed that lunch would soon be coming to an end, "Alright we have to go. I'll keep you guys updated but as far as I know Jane will be returning with us on Monday." I told them as I hung up the phone.

Getting up I grabbed my suitcase and led Hunter and I out of our personal office, leaving Chase and Thomas to do whatever they wished until the meeting was over, and down the hall to the secondary meeting room. Walking in I made my way to my seat at the head of the table and pulled my binder full of copies of emails and mail from other Alphas and placed it on the table in front of me. After a few minutes they began to file in, binders in hand as well.

After the last Alpha came in, as the door was about to shut I saw a red manicured hand grab the door and I heard Hunter huff in frustration. The door was pulled open and Jane walked in followed by councilman Henry, they walked around the room and sat behind me to my left in two chairs I hadn't even noticed had been placed there.

"Councilman this meeting is supposed to be strictly for Alphas and their Betas. I don't believe someone who has a past accusation of treason against her pack should be allowed in here to hear official pack business." I stated, staring directly at her, challenging her to speak against my word. She had an icy look in her eyes, one that I was not familiar with, but she chose to look to Henry who gave me a disgusted look.

"As your possible future Luna she has the right to sit in on any meeting as she would be attending them in the future if your mate does not appear or win the challenge should Jane choose to challenge her." He finished with a matter of fact tone turning to look at her, "What would you like dear? We could sit and listen in on the meeting or we can always take you down to the arena and have Bane spar with you?" He asked her as he turned in his seat to face her.

She looked up at me and smiled, "I'll sit through the meeting Councilman, there will be plenty of time tomorrow to spar with Bane. You're right I will need to know this for future meetings." She said with finality, crossing her ankles and leaning back into her seat, arms crossed as she tried to emphasize her breasts but that only succeeded in earning her a snarl from Xerxes and Gaelan.

Henry looked at me with a matter of fact expression on his face, "There is your answer Alpha Cole. Feel free to begin the meeting whenever."

I rolled my eyes and faced the Alpha's, officially beginning the meeting. We went over the basics, a few Alphas address their concerns about the rogue population moving further north. Which I assured would be handled and that I would be sending some warriors to train their men and tech guys to advance their border security. I kept an eye on Jane out of the corner of my eye and she was indeed paying attention to the meeting and appeared to be hanging onto every word.

By the end of the meeting she hadn't said a word but her and Henry had been continuously whispering throughout which was very distracting but they managed to get through quite a bit of business and I was right when I guessed that Oliver would want to discuss the pack hospital blue prints and we set up a time for him to come to my personal office after dinner.

As the meeting wrapped up Jane began to approach me when Hunter blocked her path, "He doesn't have time you today. I doubt that he ever will but any concerns take them through your councilmen and have one of them request a private audience. You are not permitted into our wing and if we, or our guards find you snooping." He paused to take a step forward but still spoke loud enough for the remaining Alphas in the room to hear, "I will personally deal out your treason sentence since the council cannot be trusted to do their jobs accurately." With a snarl at him from Henry at the blatant disrespect Hunter turned on his heel, grabbed his suitcase and followed me out of the meeting room.

Arriving back at our wing Chase and Thomas tried to approach me, more then likely they had heard about Jane's appearance at the meeting but I stopped them with a raised hand, "I'm going to get some rest before dinner. Chase you're to follow Hunter and Thomas you can sit outside my door. Do not let anyone disturb me." I said loosening my tie, pulling my door open and collapsing onto my bed asleep.