The Silver Wolf

An Interesting Theory

TANNER POV

We arrived at Black Moon about two hours later. I helped some of the omegas get our guests situated and fed, and then went in search of my mother. I found her in her room, looking out the window.

"Tanner dear, come here." She didn't even turn around to face me.

"Yes, mother?" I asked once I made it to her side.

"Who are all the extra people you brought with you?"

"They are some members of a neighboring pack that needed some help."

"Which pack?" She kept her eyes focused on the people outside. I cleared my throat uncomfortably.

"Silver Crescent." She turned towards me. I knew that look in her eyes. She was mad beyond reason.

"Why would you bring that murderous pack here? Are you trying to get us all killed?"

"No, mother. The luna of Silver Crescent is my mate. She needed help." Hearing who my mate was enraged her more.

"No, you will reject her. She will not be the luna of this pack. She shouldn't be a leader of any pack. The council should've killed her after her father died." I growled lowly.

"Choose your words carefully. That's my mate you're speaking of. And I have no intention of rejecting her." I turned and walked out.

The rest of the day went smooth. The Silver Crescent members seemed to be adjusting well and getting along with the members of my pack.

Morning came with a loud pounding on my door.

"Go away!" I yell, hoping to get more sleep. It was a futile mission as the pounding started again.

"Alpha, wake up! You're needed somewhere." Ken's voice sounds through my door, with urgency. I roll out of bad and make my way to the door. I opened it and saw a very disheveled Ken, out of breath with messy hair.

"What's going on?"

"Council. Member. Here. Meeting. Now." He states panting between each word.

"Take a minute and catch your breath, man. What is happening?" I'm worried, and it shows. After a minute or two, he stands up straight.

"There's a council member here. They want a meeting with you now."

I run to my closet, put on some clothes, fix my hair, and brush my teeth. Then I ran out the door following Ken to my office. I take a minute to compose myself before walking in.

"Ah, Alpha Tanner, how wonderful of you to finally grace me with your presence." He says sarcastically. I could never stand this man, why he made the council I have no idea. He was put in as a member after Laina's father died. Something about the one he replaced being in on what happened.

"Councilman Neves, I wish I could say it was a pleasure. What brings you out my way?" I ask while sitting behind my desk, as he also takes his seat.

"I just had something to run by you." He paused, probably waiting to see if I'll say something. "Well, it's come to our attention that your mate is none other than Luna Adalaina. Is this correct?"

"It is." I state simply.

"Well, we as a council have discussed that if the rumors of you two being mates was correct, that you need you to reject her."

"Why?" I'm trying hard not to show emotion because in this case, should I do so, he has the upper hand.

"Well, we believe that the rogue issue her pack is having right now is part of a bigger plan. And should anything happen yo her, we wouldn't want you to be affected as well." I don't say anything. "We don't know the exact relationship her mother had with the late alpha king, but if they just so happen to be siblings, she can lay claim to the throne if something happens to King Leith. We have proof that King Leith is paying the rogues to attack her pack, kidnap her, and kill her."

"If they're siblings, why would he do that?" I'm confused. He said there's proof it's him, but why, from the little I saw of their interactions, he seems to adore her and vise versa.

"He has no heir yet. Should something happen to him and his mate, she could lay claim to the throne. Especially now that she's found her mate, she could have a child before he and his mate do. In order to preserve his line and his throne, he would need to take out any other possible heirs." Well, that makes sense. I'll have to call and speak with her after this.

"That is an interesting theory councilman. I will consider rejecting her, but I will not do so out of self-preservation. I will need to speak with her first. But I do agree. It seems plausible it could be him behind it."

"Of course, Alpha. Thank you for your time. Now, I must go. I have other appointments for the day." He bowed and left.

Quickly, I called Adalaina, I told her the theory that the council has. She didn't believe it for one second and claimed her brother would never do such a thing. She hung up without hearing anything else I had to say. For a while, I could feel her emotions, and then she blocked me out.

The next morning, I was at her packlands waiting for entry, with Dustin in the passenger seat. The guards said that since they weren't expecting me, they'd have to clear my entry. It seems a little overkill to me, but I guess constantly being attacked would put anyone on edge. A few minutes later a huge gray wolf came running up to the gates. If that's Adalaina, dang, her wolf is huge.

The wolf disappeared behind some trees, and then out came Leith.

"What are you doing here, Alpha Tanner?" He spat angrily.

"I had a disagreement with Laina, and she shut me out. I wanted to come and check on her and, if possible, fix our misunderstanding." He looked at me for a moment before speaking again.

"You may enter the pack, but Alpha, she went for a run after your disagreement." I cut him off. What does this have to do with her shutting me out?

"OK, so?"

"She never came back. She's been missing since yesterday." My face paled, and Dustin hopped out of the car and took off.