Marked By The Billionaire Alpha

chapter 7

Alvarez

"Arrgh!!" I groaned in pain as cold water splashed my body.

What in God's name was going on? I growled in anger and sat up. My stomach burned in pain and I rubbed my eyes to take in my surroundings.

Someone was laying next to me on the floor, unconscious. Gilbert?

"Alvarez." I looked up to see one of the pack's warriors with guilt all over his face.

"What the the f**k happened to me?" I growled in anger and he shook in fear, bowing his head quickly.

"My apologies, Alvarez. I mistook you to be an enemy."

My frown deepened. "Enemy? What's going on?"

"Our pack has been under attack ever since your father passed away at the last full moon. We are defenseless without an Alpha, making us prone to the attacks of our enemies. We've all been waiting patiently for your return but Waldo passed a vote in the council that if you didn't return from your tours before the next full moon, your cousin, Martin would take your place and the council members agreed."

I rubbed the nape of my neck which burnt harshly as I pondered on what he said. It made sense. The reason for my delay came from putting my company in order. I had dragged out everything so long that the council was ready to vote my reckless and alcoholic cousin in place of me.

"How long have these attacks been going on?"

"I said since your father's death."

Yeah, yeah. That's what he said. I ran my hands through my hair in frustration not knowing where to start from. Well, I can start from leaving this place. I looked around to see we were in a makeshift tent.

The pack was really at war!

Gilbert made a noise beside me and I shook him. "Bro, get your ass up."

The warrior gave me a weird look and I realised I had let human language slip. Nobody would think otherwise though, they all know I'm an adventurous wolf and may assume I've picked it up from any of the werewolf regions.

"I thought I had died. I was shot." Gilbert said as he sat up and stared at me.

"Yes you were. Wolfsbane tranquilizer dart. This warrior was on the brink of torturing us to get information."

I didn't have to ask to figure out why and how everything had played out.

"Seriously?" He groaned and staggered to his feet. "let's get the f**k out of here then, wait… is there a fight in the pack?" He asked as he turned back to me.

I gave him a vile look and shook my head at his carelessness. "You're ready to run out there without knowing what's at stake. No, keep going." I said with sarcasm.

Gilbert turned to the warrior. "What's going on?" He asked and the warrior told him exactly what he had said to me.

"Damn! That's bloody." Gilbert grinned as he faced me back.

I growled at him and stood to my feet. Leave it for Gilbert to be excited at the mention of war. I don't blame him though. He's a skilled fighter and warrior so he gets excited when it's time to display his skills.

"Don't be a fool Gilbert. We can't walk into the open without a plan. We don't know what's going on out there."

"The rest of the warriors are scouting for any threats. When they report back, we will guard you back to the pack house safely."

"We are under lockdown for a while then." Gilbert pulled out a chair that was stacked in a corner and sat. "Get yourself a seat, Alvarez. The future Alpha shouldn't be sitting on this dirt ground."

The warrior quickly took out one and brought it to me while muttering apologies.

"I'll be back. Let me go check on the orders." He said and made his way out of the tent.

"This is…"

I held up my hand, cutting Gilbert from speaking further. "Don't."

I want to soak up the silence. I haven't even had the time to mentally prepare myself for this new leadership yet I was going to start by ending a war which started after my father's death. The role of an Alpha was nothing compared to the leadership position in a company.

"Alvarez, you would be fine. I've got your back." He said, and I cursed inwardly.

Can't he take a hint for goodness sake?

"I've always thought of what this day would be like and to be honest, nothing prepared me for this kind of welcome." He kept on talking then laughed like he had cracked a joke.

"Shut up." I said.

"You know you're going to make a good Alpha. This war, it ends now. That's why you've got a skilled fighter like me beside you."

I swear, I'm going to rip off his head myself.

"Alvarez, it's all clear." The warrior yelled from outside the tent and I walked out before I could do something to Gilbert that I would later regret.

A car was waiting for us. Some warriors joined us as Gilbert and I got in.

I still hadn't done enough mental preparation when we arrived at the pack house, and Gilbert made it more difficult with his nonstop yappings on how we would end the war. I really can't wait for him to go back to the human world. He was such a pain in my ass.

At the thought of the human world, I remembered my strange human mate. There was still a lot I couldn't wrap my head around. There was no way I could find out unless I asked questions, but it was now impossible upon my return in the Blackstone pack. I tried to get a hint about her parents but there was zero lead on that too. The background check I ran on her yielded to nothing too. There were records of her foster parents like she told me, but nothing to trace her to some other werewolves who may have happened to stumble into the werewolf world like Gilbert and I.

I also knew for a fact that she didn't recognise me as mates. From what I've been told, mates recognise each other when they meet. Unless she masked it, but that's impossible considering how strong the mate bond is. To make matters more complicated, there was no werewolf scent on her.

"Alvarez!" I looked up to see Waldo, the beta of the pack who had served my father approaching us. I got out of the car as the reality of my new life hit me hard.

"Or should I call you, Alpha Alvarez?" He laughed out loud as he came to my side. "You look different and refreshed. That's good."

"Good morning, Sir."

He laughed a big laugh again and slapped me on my back the way elders do and I was beginning to wonder what brought his excitement. The pack was at war from all I've heard and he was laughing!

"Good to have you back, son. Your coronation would begin at dusk. We have no time to waste because this madness in the pack has to end."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and glanced at Gilbert who was looking around. The next Alpha wasn't prepared for his first fight, but Gilbert had my back as he had said. He may annoy me most times, but I was glad to have him beside me.