THE MASKED MATE

CHAPTER TWO

KAEL

“Alpha it seems that the alpha of the Ray Sinn Pack, Alpha Konan” Mikal, my beta said head bowed. “What happened?” I asked “He was stabbed with wolf’s bane, a rogue attack I hear” he said and I scoffed. “This is the third rogue attack, you think it’s the same rouge we’ve been hunting down?”

“Yes Alpha sources say it’s the handiwork of the masked rogue” he said.

We are in the middle of a war and this rogue, whoever they were, was a problem. Well attacking alphas was one thing, but she was selling information between warring packs to the highest bidders, fueling greedy alphas with the hope of success and therefore destroying any hope of a diplomatic end to the war.

All it takes is a glimpse into the weakness of another party to turn feral. Knowing you own the trump card. But that was the thing the people she worked for, that is, Neutral Intelligence Network were exactly that neutral.

As long as you could pay they delivered information to the pack. The rogues had no interest in whoever won or lost the war after all they are pack rejects. They could set two packs against themselves armed with the supposed ‘element of surprise’ making them circle themselves like headless chickens and then strike, pointlessly losing numerous lives.

“Is the Alpha dead?” I asked and Mikal shook his head “No alpha, he is just paralyzed as a result of the wolf’s bane being in his system for too long. They say it took half a day for his warriors to find him in the Wild Lands and so the toxins were fused with his blood.

It would be a miracle if he were to ever walk again. Alpha Konan was known for his cheap trick, only members of his pack were famous for using wolf’s bane in combat and I was nothing if not sure that his plans were backfired against him. This did nothing to sate my curiosity, who was this masked rogue and apart from the money, what did they stand to gain?

“And how do we get in contact with this said masked rogue?” I asked. The sooner we put a stop to this the better. The only way for this war to end was through peace. I scoffed not like I believed that anyways but a man could hope. Anyways such peace would not be achieved if someone was busy selling out information on warring packs, fueling them with more confidence for war. I knew that if this war is not ended quickly, more packs will fall and a single pack will keep on amassing more colonies until they are strong enough to battle my pack and I’d be dammed if I lose control of the pack while I’m alpha.

“I’ve reached out to the Neutral Intelligence Network on numerous occasions, but they said the Masked Rogue will not have any interactions with the Dark Fang Pack” Mikal said. Now that seemed personal. I have never had any interactions with this informant, nor is my pack affiliated with her. “Everyone has a price Mikal you just have to figure out what” I said and he bowed “Yes Alpha’.

“What is it I hear Kael Blackthorn!”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the loud screech of my mother. “You’re dismissed Mikal” I waved off and he bowed slightly “yes alpha”

“Luna Lira” He acknowledged her on his way out.

“If this has anything to do with what I think it does I’ll say it for the last time mother I’m not choosing Amirah or anyone else for that matter as my chosen mate” I said.

“But son the Crestbridge Pack is a good pack. Strengthening alliance in this time will better equip us for the war” she said. “Exactly mother it is because it is a war that I will not choose a mate for myself. It is important that I put my all into protecting my pack and I can’t afford to have a mate mum, she’d be a liability” I replied.

And I know that was a flimsy reply but it was a whole lot better than for me to tell her that I’m waiting for the one, if they were even out there. It wasn’t much I just wanted someone that was made socially for me whom I could call my own.

“Oh for heaven’s sake Kael that is not an excuse! You need to choose a Luna. I can’t do this forever” she said and I heaved a sigh “You’re right mum and I’m sorry. I’ll think it through but not right now” I replied, hopefully my reply would be enough to keep her sated for now until she found a new potential Luna to set me up with.

‘So how have you been mum?’ I asked

“I see what you’re trying to do”

“Is it working?”

Mum chuckled shaking her head fondly, “it’s been many years past and you’re still as cheeky as you were when you were little, before-“She choked a sob. Oh no, why did this have to happen now?

Úm… sorry” I mumbled patting her awkwardly on her back. I was equipped to fight flawlessly in hand combat, trained to develop a high resistance to wolves bane, trained in wolf combat but comforting a sobbing woman that I was what one would call a novice in the area.

“I miss your father and I miss Evan” she said and my face hardened.

Another day to be reminded that I wasn’t meant to be alpha. That was all Evan, the perfect son, the perfect family when I was satisfied with being in the shadows until the faithful day where we had to… no! I wouldn’t think about that not now, so much time had passed.

All that I could do was protect our legacy, al that dad and Evan had worked for. And I could do that by ensuring that there is an end to this war be it through peaceful means or by slaughtering the other packs and bringing them all to their knees.

“I miss them too mum” I replied