Their Switched Wolves

That Night

Lucas POV

Alice's pack is a large one too. As we get closer, I can't help but look around curiously because it is so different from mine. The air is fragrant with lavender scent, and the field is covered in purple shades. It is somehow relaxing and beautiful. I wish Kayla had been there. I'm sure she would like to see this. I signed deeply, thinking of her.

Mika saw how I was looking at the lavender farms and explained that although the fields are currently in bloom, they will soon be gone. According to what I understand from what he said, it all depends on the amount of rainfall; however, typically, they bloom from the end of June until August. Now that it's July, the fields will soon be harvested.

Lavender is typically harvested by the Black Orchid Pack, who then transport it to various businesses. Some are connected to the extraction of essence for various uses, while others are connected to decoration or perfumery.

The Black Orchids, from which Alice's Pack gets its name, are another famous feature. Somehow, Alice's family was able to maintain a small plantation of these plants. Due to their rarity, their oil is very expensive and in high demand. Their wealth comes from these businesses.

As you walk along the path, you can find little houses that must belong to the Omegas, dispersed throughout this pack.

My pack is different. Despite the fact that the farms and industries are spread throughout the area, all of the homes are near to one another. We did this for two main reasons. The first is that it is much easier in the event of an attack if everything is in one location, defenses and werewolves included. The residential area is protected by some barrier defenses that can prevent any kind of surprise attack. The enemy would have to have been in our territory for a long time before they could get to the houses.

The second is the proximity this creates between the various members. If everyone lives in the same area, they get to know each other and establish relationships among themselves. There is proximity among all the members; we are a true community.

I'm not saying that this is a better option than the Alice's Pack, they are just different. Mine is the perfect option for me.

I was moved by Alice's delight at seeing her friends. I've never seen her like this before; she's cheerful and happy, and I somehow think that alone makes the trip worthwhile.

Mika welcomed us with the utmost friendliness and without probing questions. This is typical of a beta, who is skilled at waiting patiently for information and for the right time to act. Simon, on the other hand, gave us a wary glance. However, I'm rejoicing we found them both, because Alice is happy too.

Knowing that there might be an enemy in this pack makes me feel uneasy. All signals are picked up and analysed by my instincts; I'm fully alert.

My eyes and nose are drawn to the sweat gland juices, and my hearing is concentrated on the heartbeat.

I don't like having this feeling of doubting everyone and everything; I feel like a werewolf polygraph.

Alpha Vincent Cadell and I had already crossed paths at a number of gatherings and meetings, but I had never had the chance to speak with him. I wonder how he would receive us.

We got to our destination, and I asked them to park and stand by their cars because I asked the pack house in front of us.

Anthony, Mika, Alice, and I exit the vehicle and walk over to the house.

Two men in their 50s, Alice's father and his beta, are standing at the door. They are both casually dressed, but their athletic builds, stature, and posture reveal that they are of high rank.

Beta Lancaster rushed up to Alice as soon as he saw her and gave her a heartfelt hug. I can tell he really likes Alice because he displayed affection in a way that high-ranking individuals rarely do.

I worked hard to contain my laughter when he referred to her as a pumpkin. Not for a joke, but rather because it's not just my mother who still refers to us by our childhood nicknames and believes we'll never grow up. Lancaster does the same with Alice. This intimacy is pleasant, and I can almost feel my heart warming; Alice deserved a little love.

When the Beta walked away from Alice, I could see the stains her tears had left on his t-shirt.

Alice turned to face her father, who remained immobile. He is staring at her with what appears to be fear emanating from his eyes.

"Alice? Is that really you?" His voice falters a little at the questions he asks. Usually, when someone doesn't believe what they see but is happy, the expressions reveal that as well. In this case, the only thing I can read is confusion and fear. These are not the usual reactions of someone who is doubtful but happy.

Alice advances a little more than two steps. She must be perplexed as well. I can see how she looks at her father, hoping that he will act, approach her, or show willingness to embrace her, but nothing happens.

I can see the hurt in Alice's eyes as her happy tears give way to tears of rejection. When I observe her in this manner, my heart aches. I want to command that father to move and speak. The Alpha in me wants to growl at him. But i can´t!

The daughter's steps are slow and full of confusion.

"In the starry sky there... "At last, Alpha Vincent speaks, "I don't understand what he expects from it, but Alice answers him immediately. There must be something between them.

"There is a bright star watching over us, Mom." Her father's shoulders shook slightly. He opens his arms finally, and Alice runs to them. That sentence feels like it was some kind of confirmation he needed about her. Something is going on here. I feel my uneasiness rising. Aric is on alert and restless.

Vincent hugs her, smelling her, and a small tear falls on his already wrinkled face. He cleans it as soon as it gets to the middle of his cheek.

"I'm sorry, Alice, I'm sorry! I should be the one protecting you, and I'm the one who put you in the hands of the enemy!" He says in full emotion. He turns away from Alice, looking her up and down.

"You smell different." He tells her, raising an eyebrow and waiting for Alice to respond.

"Because she doesn't have her wolf. She's recovering!" I said, and all eyes now came toward me. I have to say wolf, because if I say the name, I'll let us fail. I sign. This pretense is harder than i thought.

"Alpha Dolivo!" Vincent says in surprise, as if only now aware of my presence. "How rude of me!" He apologizes and heads in my direction to greet me. I can see the questions dancing in his eyes, but he doesn't ask anything. Alice finishes the introductions, helping the atmosphere, and Alpha Vincent invites us into his home.

He has a sizable waiting area, as you might anticipate. Several images of a woman who vaguely resembles Alice, who i presume is her mother, are displayed on the walls. I also see pictures of their family when Alice was a young puppy. But there are no pictures of her as an adult; it's strange, I think.

As the regent Alpha indicated, we took a seat on the couch. Omegas appear with trays of refreshments and snacks, place them on the table, and then fade away, giving us privacy to talk.

"What happened to Mia?" he asks immediately, bluntly.

"I'm not sure. Lancaster dropped me off at the room, the one Royal Beta Adam had indicated. The following morning, I awoke in a house I didn't recognize." Alice drank some water, took a goblet, and continued.

"Both inside and outside the house, there were numerous dead werewolves. I had to eat because I was so weak and i needed to be stronger, so I left the area to look for food. I thought Mia wasn´t with me because i was too weak, but she hadn´t come to her full state yet." Alice is nervous, but she didn´t let it interfere.

"I was chased by enemies; I had to follow the river to get away from them. When I entered Alpha Lucas' domain, his brother, Jacob, discovered me. Lucas received me well, and he is helping me. He is a perfect gentleman." Since Alice only withheld certain details rather than outright lying, her version is clever. I know she wanted to say I'm her mate, but it's best not to say it right now.

"Alpha Dolivo, I sincerely thank you and I owe you a debt of gratitude." The father of Alice gazes at me and says, "Something in him makes me uneasy. I can feel he is being honest now, but I can't trust him.

"Lucas, you can call me Lucas." I suggest it, as I have always preferred to be called by my first name. Dolivo is the name they called my father. I want to create my own identity.

"Lancaster, what happened that night?" Alice asks the question we all long for. Lancaster is calm, and he smiles at Alice before telling her the tale.

"I left you in your room while your father called and requested my assistance with a few things. I went to the room I was given, and remained there while we spoke on the phone. I heard some noises, so I went to check it out, after ending the phone call. A group of rogue warriors were engaged in combat with the royal guard. Some Alphas and Betas, including myself, emerged to see what was happening, and some started to fight too. In danger and unable to leave you alone, I sprinted to your room. It was deserted. I looked all over the house, but I didn't find you." He took deep breaths. This was hard for him to remember. His face is full of sadness.

"The battle was becoming increasingly bloodier, I had to fight a number of rogues to be able to go outside, to the fields, in an effort to find your scent. I ventured to the border after the scent, desobeying the rules. I was trying to find the trail, but I got lost its trail in the middle of the vegetation. Several royal warriors were leaving the kingdom and escaping, as I was making my way back. The Kingdom, according to them, had been seized. I went to the closest pack and asked for assistance. I spent the entire day searching for you, but it was too risky. Your father told me to come back because I could find no evidence of you anywhere." Lancaster speaks the truth; his heart rate has remained within the normal range for someone telling the truth. There were no spikes of tachycardia; he didn't blink too often, and his eyes stayed focused on Alice's all the time, without fear.

"The next day I sent information about your disappearance to all the packs." Again, what he says is correct. Smith received information about the disappearance.

"Dad, what now? Are you going to support the new King?" Alpha Vincent is in complete discomfort. I can feel it in the way he moves and especially in the cardiac spikes I hear.

He appears to be at a loss for what to do as he exasperatedly runs his hands through his hair. He rises and walks over to the window. I could see his veins sticking out because of how firmly his hands were pressing against the wall.

"I have always been loyal to King Arthur, and so have I been to King Leon." His voice is hard and he is breathing heavily.

"And now what, Dad?" Alice continued to push for a clear position. Lancaster seems surprised by his Alpha's behavior. The notes of confusion and surprise can be felt in the way he watches him.

"I don't know now. I have to think hard about what's best for Pack." He answers, still looking at the view from the window. He is clearly hiding something, and I don't like it a bit.

Don't trust him. Aric warned me, and I was close to growling, but I could manage it.

"Why?" Alice tried again to insist on a concrete answer.

"Because I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive Leon!" he answered in a hard voice.