The Alpha and His Hunter Mate

2• Traitor

Aiden’s POV

I'm seated in my office, holding the pack's blueprint, and marking out the borders needing extra patrols.

Damn human hunters are growing in numbers day by day. Their attacks on werewolf packs have greatly increased in recent months just as their hatred for our kind.

As the alpha of the Springfield pack, it is my duty to ensure the protection of my pack members from these heartless human hunters.

Guilt pricks me as I think about my duty. If only I had taken them this seriously ten years ago, then I would still have my father with me.

My mind travels back to that night in the dark forest. My first meeting with the hunters. The night I lost my father.

That incident changed fourteen years old me. Changed my outlook.

I'm no longer that careless, spineless teenager. I lost every form of humanity in me that night.

Now, my heart is cold. Merciless. Callous. Especially when dealing with the hunters.

I'm distracted from the blueprints as I hear the door to my office creak open. I can tell by the treads who just entered my office.

“Alpha, there has been another attack!” Raymond announces with frantic urgency in his voice as he rushes into my office.

I immediately cast my gaze on my beta.

“It's a c*****e, Aiden. There is nothing left of the Kaira pack. Not a single werewolf was left alive.” He reports, pulling out one of the two seats opposite my desk and occupying it.

My jaws tick.

“When did this happen?”

“Two weeks ago. But I fear that it may have been longer. Communication lines to the Kaira pack have been down for a month.”

“A whole month?!”

“I'm afraid so alpha.”

“And there was no effort to fix the damn thing?”

“It wasn't from our end, alpha. There was nothing we could do.”

I thump my fist hard against my table top, clenching my jaw as I stare ahead at nothing. Rage consumes me.

Losing so many werewolves like this is something I can never come to terms with.

“By the moon goddess, if I get to lay my hands on any one of those damn hunters, I'll rip those sickly human creatures to pieces!”

I return my attention to Raymond. Like me, his grief and hate is expressive on his features.

“Inform our neighbouring packs of these incidents. Let them know so they can be better prepared. If we need to go to war, then war we will.” I instruct.

Raymond nods again. “I have informed every alpha on our radar.” He pauses. “But I can't reach the Coaster pack. Communication to them keeps bouncing back.”

I take a moment to consider the information, before I instruct him to go there himself. The Coaster pack is an ally. An ally I can't afford to lose.

“Take a few patrols and head out there. If we can get to the alpha of the Coaster pack before those hunters do, then we can prevent more deaths.”

Raymond nods before he stands from his seat. “I'll do just that, alpha.”

I nod at him and watch him exit my office.

Raymond and I grew up together. We were childhood friends from infancy. His father was my father's beta. Being of beta blood, Raymond was to become my beta once I took over as alpha. And that's exactly what happened.

Raymond is more than just my beta. He's my friend and brother. Someone I confidently trust. For Raymond, I'm willing to go far lengths.

And Raymond, he'd die for me. I'm certain of his loyalty.

It doesn't take long before Raymomd gathers the troop and departs. As soon as they leave, I call my patrols at the borders and inform them of the extra security details and how I want it implemented.

I go about my day's activity as alpha. I'm about to go inspect a new building project on my pack land when I felt a sudden jab of pain.

A snap.

“We've just lost a pack member.” Ryes, my wolf tells me.

I hardly have time to deal with the pain when I feel another snap. Another pack member.

Something is wrong.

Immediately, I mind-link the border patrols. Everything is fine from their response.

Quickly, my mind travels to the troop, my beta, Raymond! The hairs on my neck stand and I have an ominous feeling.

I try to open a mind link with Raymond, but it doesn't pull through. Not a good sign.

I retract and head back to the pack house. I mind-link Ivan, my gamma.

“Ivan, prepare a troop. We need to head out to the Coaster pack. I think Raymond is in trouble. I'm heading back to the pack house. I'll join you shortly.”

“Yes, alpha.” Ivan says immediately.

My long stride breaks into a sprint. Ivan and the troop are already waiting by the time I reach. We waste no time as I lead the troop out.

We reach the borders of the Coaster pack and the smell of death is the first thing that greets us.

“Hunters!” I sneer.

I sniff the air. “They are still here.” Ryes says.

I signal to Ivan. He understands my sign language and moves to my side, signalling four other warriors to come with us.

To the rest of the troop, I lift two fingers and circle it in the air. They understand my meaning and begin to move silently, rounding up the pack while Ivan and I forge ahead into the pack house.

As we step inside the pack house of the Coaster pack, I sight a human hunter. He doesn't see me.

Subtly, I move near the hunter. My hand wraps around his mouth to muffle his scream, as my claws dig into its jugular. The hunter falls dead within seconds.

I hear a thud behind me. I turn in the direction. Ivan has just taken out another one. I nod my approval and signal that we continue.

We take out all the humans we find in the pack house. As we weave through the house, I see some of my warriors dead.

Raymond!

I haven't felt his bond snap yet. That only means he's still alive.

I move through the upper part of the house. I enter a room. The window here allows me to scan the back area of the house.

I align my back against the wall, using two fingers, I shift the shutters. I stiffen as my eyes catch it.

Raymond is on the floor. A female hunter approaches him and drives her silver spear into his heart.

Ryes howls in my head as he feels Raymond’s bond snap.

I clench my jaw. I'll kill her!

I climb back down and head for the back door. There, I find a wounded hunter sprawling in the fall. There's fear in her eyes as she stares at me.

I hold her captive, and lead her out of the house through the backdoor.

Just as we step out, Raymond's killer twists her spear out of Raymond's heart. I bite down on my jaw.

Sensing the wolves around her, she clutches her spear and primed to fight my warriors that have surrounded her.

“Drop it.” I tell her. “Drop it or she dies.”

She holds my gaze for a moment, seeing the determination in my eyes, she gives in and lowers her silver spear.

I instruct my men to seize her. Once she's on her knees and bound, I bury my claws into my captive so she can watch her own die like I did my beta.

She screams in agony, swearing to kill me.

I smirk, scoffing at her threat. Only if she survives this.

I move to her, my intention clear; to end her.

But as I move closer, I squint, my nose flares and I'm hit with a strange sweet smell. Lavender, wild roses and jasmine.

Ryes jumps excitedly in my head.

Mate! Mate! He sings.

No! This can't be!

I ball my fist as I stand in front of her.

“Traitor!”