An Alpha’s Revenge

Chapter Three

Eleanor’s POV

I looked over at my packed bags, wondering to myself how the alpha’s annual meeting came so quickly. Alpha Evan had sent me a letter a week ago with all the details to meet with him before we went to Blood Moon Pack with all the other alphas in the area. That was where the big meeting was taking place this year. Every year, the alphas took turns hosting. I would host in a few years, but this year was all about Alpha Alexander and his territory.

Though I hadn’t ever offically met Alexander, I had heard many rumors about this alpha. We had also gone to the same high school many years ago. He had been several grades ahead of me, so I hadn't payed attention to him or any of the other 'big shots' during that time. It was highschool, and ridiculous.

I did know, however, that he had taken over the pack only a few years ago after his father’s sudden passing and that he made a few big changes very quickly. The pack hadn’t been thrilled about those changes, and some speculated that he had his father killed just to take over. With the way I lost my parents, I couldn’t believe any child was capable of cold blooded murder. I heard that Alexander was considered very strong, and some said too strong. His pack didn’t mingle much with the others. However, it was a known fact that he took in rogue wolves, and that made everyone worried. Rogues were rogues for a reason: whether they disobeyed an alpha or cheated on a high ranking mate or killed a fellow pack member, the result of being banned from a pack meant you did something to deserve it. Most alphas here in the Pacific Northwest didn’t banish a wolf to rogue-hood for any light misdemeanor. So, for Alpha Alexander to take in those rogues was not only risky, but it was also unheard of. Some of the other alphas frowned upon this practice and made themselves rivals with the pack, but I couldn’t afford any rivalries. I had to keep a low profile and keep what few friends I had. Since my pack was so small after our demise years ago, I had to tread carefully around everyone else. I just needed to play nice until my pack was strong enough to take on the packs I didn’t care for. Unfortunately for me, a few alphas used this to their advantage, and I had to just take it.

For years, Alpha Robert of the White Stream Pack had abused his power over us. He’d make insane ‘requests’ and demands under the guise of friendship. But I knew what it was. It was extortion because I couldn’t say no. Not yet. But when we were ready, I’d make our packs rivals and come after him. I already had a plan formulating, but Xavier wasn’t sure we could handle it yet. I had hoped to declare us rivals this year; however, I knew how wise it was to listen to my head of security, and I trusted him without doubt. I relished the idea of slapping that smug smile off Robert’s face.

A knock on my door startled me out of my revelry.

“Alpha,” I heard Angel on the other side.

I picked up my bags and opened the door. “I’m ready,” I said. She was dressed in a cute off-the-shoulder pink top with tight jeans and white sneakers. I felt my insecurities heightened when I looked down at my own raggy AC/DC t-shirt and baggy jeans. I swallowed my feelings to push them down. Now was not the time. I gave her and Max a smile as she smiled back at me, and Max took my bags from me.

“Where’s Ryan?” I asked, as I peered around them.

Angel turned on her heel to walk toward the elevator and replied, “He’s getting the car ready for us. Everything’s all set.”

I nodded once and followed. I felt safe taking Angel, my Beta, her mate, Max, and Ryan, my Gamma to the meeting with me. And I was also glad to know that the pack would be safe in Xavier’s paws during this weekend.

We got out of the elevator and walked to the garage from the house. Ryan saw us and waved. He stood in front of a black Cadillac SUV and opened the front passenger’s door for me.

“Thank you, Ryan,” I said to him as I slid into the seat.

He nodded and replied, “Alpha.” Then he closed the door.

I heard the trunk door shut, followed by Angel and Max getting into the backseat.

“Who’s ready for a road trip?” Angel shouted with her hands in the air.

Max grinned at her and said, “I brought snacks!”

Ryan and I laughed as we pulled out from the garage and began our way to the rendezvous point Evan had sent me in the letter.

“You have the coordinates?” I asked Ryan, who nodded in response.

“Cool!” Angel exclaimed. “But do you have the tunes while we get there?” she then giggled, taking out her iPhone.

Everyone groaned as she connected her phone to the stereo, but she just gave us all the stink eye.

“Hey! My music is the jam! I’d like to see someone else come up with something better,” she shouted with a grin.

We all stayed silent, knowing that none of the rest of us could agree on any one else’s music. So, for the next several hours, we listened to the latest hits from Drake to Doja Cat to Billie Eilish.

I drifted in and out of sleep. Blood. A dark figure. The flashing of silver. Pain. Screams. Wait, these were my screams. Laughter. “You’re not quite ready, but I can’t wait to see what you become,” I heard whispered into my ear.

A rough shake from Ryan brought me back to reality as he pulled into the dirt parking lot. I rubbed my eyes and looked out the window, the sun had started to set behind the trees. I shoved the memories back into the deep recesses of my mind. I didn’t have time to dwell on this right now. I opened the car down and hopped out, arching my back and bending at the waist to stretch the stiffness from my joints.

“How are you doing, Ryan? You okay after the drive?” I asked, as he came around the front of the car to me.

“I’m doing just fine, Alpha,” he replied with a grin.

I returned the smile and looked around the empty parking lot. “Looks like we beat Evan. I hope he isn’t too far away,” I said.

I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering as the wind blew over us.

“Here,” Ryan said, as he put his jacket over my shoulders. “You never seem to bring a jacket, did you know that?” he smiled.

I shook my head with a grin. “You would think after spending most of my life here that I’d get used to just carrying one around. I swear the weather is bi-polar here in Oregon.”

He laughed into my ear and then pointed down the road. “Look,” he said, “I bet that’s Alpha Evan’s.”

Nodding, I watched as the car slowly pulled into the parking lot and shut off. Alpha Evan stepped out with two others.

I stiffened as I sniffed the air.

What is that? Rae, can you sense that as well?

Yes. It smells like-

Freshly baked cookies, I know.

But something-

Is off about the smell. Like I can’t quite fully get a breath. Why is that?

I don’t know, but we need to be on our guard.

I nodded to myself and came face to face with who I remembered as Charles, Evan’s son. He looked straight out of a magazine. The kind where the editors clearly airbrushed all the blemishes off the model, except, there was no editing in real life. He was tall, and I meant very tall, like around 6’5” tall. And his smile made me catch my breath, even in the dimming light. His blond hair and icy blue eyes totally captivated me, and I had to force myself to blink out of the stupor I found myself in. I caught Evan looking at me with a faint smile on his face. The smell became more powerful, but musky as Charles approached us with Evan and another wolf I didn’t recognize. He had clearly worked on himself since I saw him last in high school. I definitely didn't remember him looking like this. Then again, I never payed attention to boys in high school. I knew that he had hung out in the alpha group, but everything else I had shoved back into the recesses of my mind. No one truly needed to relive their high school days.

“Alpha,” I said and bowed my head quickly.

The three repeated the same greeting to me.

“Alpha Ella, this is my son,” Evan gestured at Charles, “the soon-to-be-alpha, and my Beta, Matthew,” Evan pointed to the other wolf.

I nodded at each and introduced my team as well. I couldn’t keep my eyes away from Charles. Is this what the mate bond felt like? I can’t explain the feeling as anything else. I hadn’t ever experienced anything like this.

I watched as Charles took a step forward, his pupils large and dark as he sniffed the air. Evan put a hand up to stop Charles, and he seemed to clear his head.

Don’t give in, El. I can feel our desire for him and his wolf. We must not give in until we understand what this is.

I felt Rae growl in my head.

“Alpha Ella?” Charles asked.

“Hmm?”

“My father asked if you had a pleasant trip, and if you’re ready for the Alpha meeting,” he repeated for me.

“Oh,” I hid my embarrassment. “Yes, Ryan did an excellent job getting us safely here, and I’m looking forward to getting things settled for this upcoming year.”

Evan clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “Wonderful to hear. Now, should we get to business? To the reason I asked you to meet us here?”

“Yes, please. I’m dying to know the plan,” I said. From the corner of my eye, I saw that Charles had not taken his eyes off me. For some reason, it made me feel uncomfortable.

I listened to Evan give me the plan details, while I kept a side eye on Charles. I couldn’t say I was happy to feel the mate bond, if that truly was what I was feeling. But if it was the mate bond, then I had to end things before they even began. I would do it this weekend at the meeting. It would be the perfect time, and really, the only time.

When Evan finished laying out his ideas, I thanked him and told him we would see that at the meeting. We bowed our heads to each other, and I thought I saw Charles take a step closer to us. But I moved back and motioned for my people to get into our vehicle without a second glance back. I heard Evan’s car star, and we both drove off into the night.

“Sounds like a good plan, Alpha, no?” Max asked as we neared the Blood Moon pack territory just an hour or so more of driving.

“Yeah,” I said absentmindedly.

Max and Angel frowned. “You okay?” Angel asked.

“Hmm? Yeah. Just a lot on my mind. Also, I didn’t realize that Blood Moon was so close to us. They practically touch our southern border. When did that happen?”

“Oh that,” Ryan piped up. “Just recently. Xavier and I, along with our dads, were going to mention it the other day, but too many things came up and you didn’t want to be disturbed before the meeting. They took over a smaller pack and claimed the territory. It was actually very civil. More like Blood Moon just incorporated them into their territory. Not even a single drop of blood shed.”

“Guess I’m glad no one got hurt,” I said quietly to the window.

I pursed my lips at this. Blood Moon was expanding again? This wasn’t too much of a surprise, though. They had been growing rapidly over the years. I had been so distracted by my quest to figure out who had murdered my parents that I stopped paying attention to what was happening around us. I mentally kicked myself. It was my job as alpha to stay on top of things, and I had failed. Even if it was a small thing, it could lead to worse. I couldn’t let this happen again. My pack was everything to me.

Rae, help me be a better alpha.

I felt her chuckle. That’s a long list, alpha.

Sometimes, I swear you’re useless.

And sometimes, I wonder why I’m stuck with you too.

I laughed and felt Rae’s mirth as well.

Ryan and Max made a few jokes I wasn’t listening to, and then Ryan announced that we had arrived. I swallowed once, and got out of the car.