The Female Alpha

Chapter 3 Continued

Draco’s Point of View

My brother Drago was furious, and I couldn’t blame him—Smithy had crossed a line. “Dude, I’m sorry,” I linked to Drago. I had hoped with our years of friendship, Smithy would’ve been respectful towards Rose but I should have known better. Smithy used to be charming, but after being forced to reject his mate—a human girl—he’d transformed into a reckless womanizer.

Drago stormed out of the bar to cool off before he did something rash while Rose, as always, had shown her diplomatic skills, handling Smithy’s crude remarks with composure. The “date” ended 15 minutes later and Rose found the perfect time to excuse herself. “Thank you for having lunch with me, but let’s not do this again anytime soon. Our personalities just don’t click,” she’d said, smiling in that mesmerizing way of hers.

I loved Rose like a sister. Watching her grow up and mature had been a privilege, especially since I didn’t leave the pack until a year ago. With all my training done online, I’d been there through every challenge and triumph compared to my siblings.

As soon as we walked out, I joked, “Bro, you smell wretched. Did you go dumpster diving?”

“Just tried that gym down the street,” Drago smirked. “It was lame as your jokes,” he added, tone lighter.

Turning to Rose, his voice softened. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine” Rose's eyes lit up when she looked at my brother, how had I not realized before?

“Oh Come on, Drago! Don’t you trust me to look after her?” I teased breaking the awkward moment.

Drago ignored me, opening Rose’s door with a formality that spoke volumes about his feelings for her.

Getting in the car I wondered just how could I help Rose with Drago when suddenly it hit me. “Hey, Dia, you busy?” I linked my sister.

“Yes, I am. Is it dire?” she replied quickly.

“Not exactly. But it involves our Luna and your brother’s love life.”

“Let me finish this check-up, and I’m all yours,” she responded, as eager as I hoped she’d be.

Rose drove us back to the pack house and headed straight inside to check the preparations. Our first stop was the pups, hard at work preparing baskets for the visitors. We had nearly two hundred clan representatives arriving, each with several companions—meaning we’d host around a thousand guests.

The pups worked diligently, assembling gift baskets, and Rose’s face lit up. “Wow, you’re doing an amazing job!” she praised, patting their heads. “You’re the pride and future of the Stars, my little darlings.”

Anyone questioning our loyalty to Rose would understand if they saw moments like this. She was always present—at the hospital, changing bandages, holding a pup’s hand, grieving with loved ones, or working in the fields. Like her mother before her, she believed no task was too small, a value she carried from a young age. While her power wasn’t always on display, her unwavering dedication commanded our loyalty and respect.

After spending time with the pups, Rose headed for her dress fitting with Mina. Mina,in her early thirties, was like a big sister to many of us, paired perfectly with her mate, Lance, who joined us from Germany after the attack. Though Lance came off as aloof initially, he became an essential part of our pack alongside Mina. They complemented each other perfectly—Zane in jewelry design, Mina in fashion, each piece enhancing the other’s work.

“Draco, what are you still doing in here?” Mina’s stern voice broke through my thoughts.

I looked at her as if she were crazy. “Doing checks with Rose, obviously.”

“Not now. Rose needs to change, and as a beta, you’re out. Even Drago has already walked out, and he’s blind. It’s called respecting a woman’s dignity,” Mina said with a huff.

“Alright, alright. No need to be so feisty,” I muttered, backing toward the door. Mina slammed it shut behind me, and Drago couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“Shut up. Not like I meant anything by it,” I protested, pouting.

Before I could tease him more, Dia linked me. “Alright, what’s going on?”

“Did you know Rose asked Drago to be her mate and Alpha of our pack?” I asked.

“What?! When did that happen? And what did he say?” She sounded both intrigued and giddy.

“She asked after her sixteenth birthday, and he said no,” I replied, enjoying the buildup.

“What is he thinking? He’s loved her forever, and he already rejected his destined mate. Why?” she demanded.

“Drago says he wants her to find her destined mate and believes our future Alpha shouldn’t be ‘damaged.’ When I tried to talk to him, he just shut me down,” I added, feigning hurt.

“Oh, that’s such a weak excuse. I’ll have a word with him tonight,” she said, clearly frustrated.

I smirked, pleased with the results.

The fitting took about forty-five minutes, and then we headed to the hotel where most of the events would take place. Alpha Benjamin had instructed that only our pack could enter, that way we could showcase our strength to visiting clans. Riley, our patrol captain, was stationed at the front entrance, her team securing other exits.

Riley spotted us as we approached. “My Luna,” she greeted Rose with a slight bow.

“Anything to report, Riley?” Rose asked, hugging her friend.

“Sasa came by with her clique earlier, demanding entry. We denied her, of course, and she left in a fury,” Riley reported, looking slightly amused.

“Next time, link me. If she sees me, she’ll probably leave,” Drago chuckled.

Watching Sasa and Drago interact was entertaining. They were rejected mates, and though Sasa spun a narrative painting herself as the victim, Drago continued to treat her as if she didn’t exist.

Inside, we inspected packages of decorations and supplies. The theme was a night sky, representing our clan’s enduring strength. Each clan had a similar hotel in their territory, complete with luxury suites and amenities. By keeping certain areas off-limits, we upheld secrecy for human guests.

By eleven that night, our preparations were complete, and we finally returned to the pack house.

Diana’s Point of View

“Look what the wolf dragged in,” I smirked, watching my best friend and brothers as they walked up the steps to the pack house.

“Hey, Dia!” Rose smiled, jumping into my arms for a hug. “You’re up late. Is everything okay?”

“Nah, I just wanted to go on a run with my brother Drago,” I said, stroking her hair. The air was still, laced with the earthy scent of autumn leaves and the faint, musky scent of pine needles.

“Why me? Shouldn’t you go on a run with your husband, Zane?” Drago asked, looking at me with suspicion.

“He’s already asleep, and I don’t want to wake him,” I pouted, hoping to guilt him into it.

“I’ll go with you, Dia,” Rose said eagerly.

“No, you won’t,” my brothers and I replied in unison.

Rose’s hopeful expression fell, and her pout made my heart ache. “You only have four more days, and then you won’t have to hide Celeste from the world anymore,” I said sympathetically. The pack had unanimously agreed that Rose could only shift in the pack house until she was strong enough to avoid potential conflict with other clans, and only she and her wolf, Celeste, seemed bothered by it.

As we headed into the trees, the moonlight slipped through the branches, casting an otherworldly glow on the forest floor. Shadows shifted across our path, creating a blend of familiarity and foreboding as we neared the edge of the Shadow territory. “Hey, don’t be too sad. What if I told you I wanted to talk to Drago about the thing you asked for a month ago? If he agrees, I’ll let you,” I offered Rose.

“Really!?” she asked, immediately perking up.

“Really. Now go get some sleep,” I said, grabbing Drago’s hand to lead him into the woods.

At the forest’s edge, we each slipped behind a tree to undress and shift. When we emerged, Drago’s wolf, Pedro, was a striking sight: three times the size of a regular wolf, his coat as dark as the shadows cast by the trees, his silver-mist eyes nearly glowing in the dim light. My own wolf, Kayla, was the opposite—her fur a pure white that gleamed under the moon, with silver eyes that mirrored his.

We started running, our paws silent against the ground as we weaved through the thickening forest. The air grew heavier as we approached the northeast, where the trees grew denser near the Shadow border. It was quiet, almost ominous, save for the rustle of leaves and the distant cry of a nightbird.

"We’re alone now. You going to tell me what’s wrong?” Drago linked, his voice a soft hum in my mind.

“I don’t know where to start. Do you want the good news, the bad news, or the nagging questions?” I teased, glancing at him.

“For the love of the moon. Draco told you what Rose said earlier, didn’t he?” he replied, irritation clear.

“The nagging questions it is, then,” I laughed.

“When we get back, I’m going to send a picture showing what a slob he is to the entire community,” he growled.

“I can’t believe you or Rose didn’t tell me. I knew she had a crush on you growing up, and I thought it would fade, but it hasn’t,” I said, slowing my pace slightly as we reached the border, where the forest deepened, shadows darkening between the trees like silent watchers. “At first, I thought maybe she just liked you because you saved her, but it’s clear that’s not the case. Not after I found out why Fredrick and his father really had a falling out…”

I was cut off as Drago halted, his ears flicking in my direction. “Wait, you know why they had a falling out?” he asked, his voice tense.

“I do, but I swore I would never tell anyone, not even her betas,” I said, treading carefully.

“How bad did he hurt her?” he asked quietly, a mix of anger and sadness reflected in his silver eyes.

The trees around us seemed to press closer, their branches whispering in the wind as I replied, “Alpha Benjamin nearly killed his son over it… and agreed to keep our packs distant so no one would find out”

“What did he do!? Drago’s eyes flashed with fury as he paced, his paws crunching leaves underfoot.

“She’s free to choose,” I said knowing he would understand. “Look, she has plans to get even this weekend” I tried to reason, but he barely listened, too lost in thought and anger.

Damn, I had to say something to calm him down… Oh yes that.

“Hey, I’m pregnant, but I may not keep it,” I suddenly linked as loudly as I could, hoping to shake him from his fury.

He stopped and turned, growling.

“Okay, kidding about the not keeping it part. I am six weeks pregnant though,” I linked calmly accomplishing my diversion.

His body relaxed, and he nuzzled me, his anger melting. “Dia, that’s amazing! Who else knows?”

“No one—you’re the first. We wanted to share the good news when we settled back in our home but I am sure Zane will forgive me, as you need an anchor.” I nuzzled him back.

“You’re a brat, Dia,” he teased.

“Yes, I am. Are you calm enough for us to continue?” I nudged him forward, and we resumed our run.

“My point is that everyone in the pack knows you have feelings for her. I get you’re afraid she asked out of pity, but that’s far from the truth. She respects you. My plea to you is not to push her feelings aside and to think about her offer seriously. And before I forget—don’t even think about marking a random female rogue,” I added, throwing him a sideways glance.

He stopped so abruptly that I nearly collided with him. “How did you know?” he asked, eyes wide.

“Oh, please. There isn’t a single thing the three of you can hide from me,” I linked smugly.

Drago seemed lost in thought again, his gaze lingering on the dark forest ahead. I let the quiet settle, letting him process before finally sharing the last bit.

“Dia, what’s the bad news?” he finally asked, bracing himself.

“Rose asked me to cover for her so she could sneak out to find her mother’s necklace and journal,” I explained, watching his face shift to worry.

“That’s dangerous! Please tell me you said no,” he pressed.

“Of course, I said no and warned her I’d tell you if she persisted. But she has her mind set on it,” I said.

He sighed, a weighty resignation settling over him. The wind picked up, carrying the distant howl of a beast from the Stars’s abandoned territory, a reminder of the danger Rose would face.

“I’m hoping you’ll look for it instead—strongest and stealthiest in the pack and all.” I nudged him, knowing he wouldn’t refuse.

“You knew I’d say yes, didn’t you, Dia?” he linked, the faintest smile in his voice.

“More like I hoped,” I linked, nuzzling him goodnight as I turned leaving him at the border line alone.