Scent Of A Stranger

Rhea Everwood The first thing I registered was the gentle warmth of the sun on my face, followed by the even warmer pressure of lips against mine. A soft sigh escaped me as I stirred, my eyes fluttering open to meet Mason’s, already wide and twinkling with mischief. “Good morning, my love,” he murmured, he was propped up on one elbow beside me, his dark hair a delightful mess that made my heart flutter. I chuckled, “Morning, Alpha. Already plotting trouble, I see.” I reached up, tracing the strong line of his jaw. “Or merely seeking an unfair advantage in the waking world?” He leaned in, pressing another kiss to my lips, deeper this time, “Just admiring my beautiful Luna. And perhaps, hoping for a very, very slow start to the day.” His hand slipped beneath my silk nightgown, his fingers warm against my skin, sending a delicious shiver through me. “Mason…” I breathed, my heart thrumming. His eyes were dark with desire. Just as his lips were about to claim mine again, a knock echoed from our chamber door, shattering the intimate bubble we’d built. I sighed while Mason groaned, pulling back with a disgruntled frown. “Enter!” I called out. The door opened and one of the guards stepped inside, “Alpha Mason, Luna Rhea. Forgive the interruption, we’ve just apprehended a rogue around the western border, and we are certain he’s one of those responsible for the recent killings around the pack lands.” “Understood. Take him to the council chambers, inform the elders and we’ll be there shortly.” “Yes, Alpha.” The guard replied, retreated, and closed the door behind him. Without a word, we both stood up from the bed to get ready, As soon as we were done, we made our way towards the council chambers where the elders are already seated. The rogue was chained down, he looked dirty and dishevelled, his shaggy hair obscuring most of his face, but a sneer was clearly visible on his lips. His clothes were torn, and there were fresh scuff marks on his wrists where the chains bit into his skin, but he seemed utterly unconcerned by his predicament. Mason sat on his throne and I took my place on the smaller, yet equally elegant, throne beside him, my gaze never leaving the rogue. “So,” Mason began, “You are the one. The one who has been terrorizing our lands, spilling the blood of our kin?” The rogue slowly lifted his head, his eyes, glinting with madness, locked onto Mason’s. A low, guttural laugh escaped him. “Oh, yes,” the rogue rasped, “That would be me. And so many more.” He gestured vaguely with his head at the chains binding him. “You kill me, others will rise. It’s only just begun, Alpha. You haven’t seen anything yet.” A wave of murmurs rippled through the elders. Mason’s jaw tightened, his anger flared, “Who leads you?” he demanded, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. “Who is behind this reign of terror?” The rogue’s sneer widened, revealing yellowed teeth. His eyes, still fixed on Mason, seemed to bore into him with a knowing, almost pitying intensity. “Who leads us?” he repeated slowly, savouring the words. He then leaned forward, his voice dropping, “No one knows better than you, Alpha. No one.” My breath hitched, I looked at Mason, expecting to see his usual unwavering hardened face but I saw a subtle falter in his expression. The rogue chuckled again, and Mason pointed at the guard filled with rage, “Take him to the dungeon. I will question him myself later.” The guards moved quickly to drag him, the rogue offered no resistance, only a satisfied, lingering smirk directed at Mason as he was pulled away, “No one knows better than you, Alpha. No one.” He continued chanting. Mason didn’t say another word, no one dared say anything, I was too stunned to talk too but he suddenly stood up from his throne. “I’m going to the border,” he announced, “I need to check the patrols, ensure our defenses are heightened who knows if there are more people like him hanging around.” He turned to leave, not even waiting for a response. My mouth opened to ask him to wait, to talk about what just happened, about the rogue’s words but he was already out of the council hall. I took a deep, steadying breath. I would find answers myself like I always did. I rose from my throne, offering a reassuring nod to the elders, “I’ll be in my study, Everyone can return to their duties now, the court is dismissed.” I went inside my study trying to bury myself in work but it seemed impossible, This was the first time in three years, I had ruled alongside Mason, ever since our marriage had been arranged, then the discovery of our mate bond that I felt utterly confused. I was the daughter of the old alpha who had no son and Mason was his beta’s son, our fathers deemed it fit we get married, it wasn’t a problem because I like him and I found out he was my mate, I have a blood of a true alpha running through me, but Mason had proved several times to be a great alpha or so I had thought. It made no sense what the rogue said, there was no way Mason would be involved in something like this, my fingers traced the familiar lines of a map detailing our south-eastern border, the very area that had been hardest hit by the recent killings. Suddenly a soft knock sounded at my study door, “Come in,” I called and the door opened. Kai stepped inside, he had been my personal guard for years even before I became the luna, “Luna,” he said, “I have a message for you. It was delivered anonymously to the guardhouse, with strict instructions that it be given only to you, and confidentially.” My brow furrowed. Anonymous? That was unusual. I extended my hand. “Thank you, Kai. You’re dismissed.” He placed the file in my hand, his gaze briefly meeting mine before he nodded and left, closing the door softly behind him. I stared at the plain file. No sender, no recipient whatsoever, my heart began to pound a little faster. Taking a deep breath, I broke the seal and opened the file. there was no letter inside, just a series of documents, photographs, and what looked like internal pack reports. My eyes scanned the first page. It was a ledger entry, detailing large sums of money transferred from a secure pack account, an account I didn’t recognize to several offshore accounts. Beside it were photographs, grainy photos of figures meeting in shadowed alleys, some vaguely familiar. Still confused I opened it again and saw reports, detailed records of pack members who had died over the past two months, victims of the mysterious killings claiming dozens of lives. “What’s this,” I muttered opening the last page with the thought of showing it to Mason when he comes back but I was met with something that made my blood run cold. A clearer photo of Mason and some men in the dark, discussing something, I saw the other picture and there was the rogue that was just caught with Mason, looking like they were planning something. My hand flew to my mouth, stifling a gasp, the file slipped from my numb fingers, scattering its damning contents across my desk. I stared at the papers, my world shattering around me How could Mason be involved in the mystery happening in the pack for the past two months?