CALIFF
“Good morning, everyone.” I breathed as I looked at my enforcers, guards, hunters, scouts, and non-enforcers head of the family. “I apologize for the short notice, but this couldn’t wait. While we were out for a run, we encountered two unknown wounded individuals at our border. They are in the infirmary as we speak. We found another family wanting to cross our border and asking for our protection and safety.”
“Alpha.” One of my father’s closest friends raised his hand. Sometimes, he could be abstruse, but nothing that I could handle. “Maybe this is another trap from barbarous to spy on us, then catch us off guard and attack us in our sleep.”
“If you could let us finish, Maddock. We’re considering possible scenarios, but we can’t jump to a conclusion right away. We will have an open forum in a few minutes.”
“My apology, Alpha. Go ahead.”
“He’s always like that,” Lyon whispered to Shadow, sitting beside me.
“As I was saying, we found a family from the south. I haven’t gotten more information from him. Shadow.” I looked at my mate. “She captured a werewolf on their way. He’s in the cell right now. I will do my best to get information from all of them and find out who attacked Moon Side Pack. I promised transparency since I sat down as your Alpha five years ago. So, I will not hold back information regarding the safety of this pack.” I look at Duke to my left. “Duke.”
“Effective this morning, Alpha has initiated a curfew.”
Everyone gushed, obviously having no idea how serious this matter was.
“Working individuals will continue on their working hours. For the night shift, keep their link and phone open all the time. Parents with students, including college, please tell your children to be at the compound before seven in the evening. Anyone caught without a valid reason will receive punishment. Three repeated offenses will result in demotion worse, banishment. This is a warning for everyone who will take this situation lightly. Pups remain inside the home once it gets dark. This is just a temporary curfew. Everything will return to normal once the imminent threat is resolved.”
“Lyon?”
“Thank you, Alpha. Effective immediately, enforcers, scouts, and hunters will be doubled their duty from seven to seven. You are allowed to use stun guns and weapons in case of threats outside the perimeter. Keep your link open at all times, take weapons with you, and be focused. No distractions. Our location might be compromised after those refugees arrive in our territory. Males and females capable of guarding the compound are very much welcome to stay up all night. If you want to register your name, just visit my office.”
“Shadow.”
She smiled at me before she looked at everyone. “I’m Shadow to those who haven’t known me. I can’t confirm if those attackers have any connection with the people responsible for drugging me before I arrived here, but I myself will volunteer to help guard the compound from the intruders. If there is an emergency during the curfew, I’m here to help.”
“What a rogue can possibly do? Spread your stinks to the intruders?”
“Watch your tone, Homer!” Lyon growled at that bully. I hadn’t given him much attention, but he would get it in due time. “This is a serious matter. And you’re sitting before your Alpha.”
My jaw locked hard. If only Shadow allowed me to tell everyone who she was to me, this matter wouldn’t have escalated.
“It’s okay, Lyon.” She patted Lyon’s hand before she faced the audience. Despite being judged and questioning her loyalty, I admired her calmness and compassion. “I know everyone hates me. You can hate me all you want, but that doesn’t stop me from helping all of you. That’s why I am here. Don’t worry. I don’t keep grudges because I am here not just to be a part of this pack but to be of service.”
I wanted to say something, but Shadow squeezed my thigh under the table.
“If you sense something odd, even if it seems irrelevant outside, at work, or in the school, inform us immediately.”
“Alpha, may I?” Maddock raised his hand again.
“You may ask questions. One at a time,” I said firmly in my authoritative alpha tone. “Go ahead, Maddock.”
“What if she’s the reason why there are attackers out there sending us a message?”
“We will deal with it,” I answered shortly.
“What if they won’t stop until they get her?” Maddock followed up with another question.
“Jeez,” Duke muttered under his breath. Kindra couldn’t help but get amused.
My eyes narrowed at him. “I will deal with them. We protect our own, don’t we?”
“If the matter gets out of hand, we will just hand her to them. One life over everyone in the pack, right?” A scout at the back said.
Lyon stood up. “How did you become a scout if you are a coward yourself? Didn’t the Alpha just say we protect our own? What if one of your family is on the brink of death, and she’s the only one who is there to save her? And she chooses not to because that’s how you acted in front of Shadow. What do you do then?”
The enforcer shut up.
“Any questions?” I almost got a short fuse for how they treated my mate.
“What service does she offer?” It was Rocket, the one who bullied Shadow in the kitchen. I would make sure his smirk would be gone today.
Duke was about to answer, but Shadow decided to answer for herself. “Look, everyone hates me for what I did to Zack. I was a rogue for a long time because I chose that path. I didn’t regret a bit living with humans. And honestly, they are better, treat me better, and my adopted father raised me to be who I am. What I did with Zack was wrong, and none of us should do what I did. I paid the price up until now. I can still smell the stink of your anger and even the arousal among you. I feel the hatred in your chest. Sorry to say that, but this matter we are facing is not a joke. What I saw this morning shouldn’t be taken for granted. If you want to hate me, take it somewhere else, but not in this meeting.”
“My question-”
d”Sit. Down!” My voice thundered, vibrating the entire room. Everyone gasped and went silent so that I could hear their breathing. I rose from my seat and pointed at him. “You disrespect her. You just disrespect me. Do you understand that punishment for minding your Alpha? Know your place, pup, because I won’t hesitate to cut your tail and pull out your fang if you don’t learn your mistake today.”
“I’m sorry, Alpha.” He bowed down.
“Apologize to her, pup.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Her name?”
“Shadow. I’m sorry, Shadow.”
I remained standing. “If any of you wants to ask questions related to this matter at hand, speak, or this meeting is dismissed, but if someone from this audience will come and ask me related to this subject matter, they will stay outside the compound until this issue is over. Speak!”
The woman in the middle raised her hand. “Alpha, since our border patrols have to work twelve hours, my friends, the five of us. We want to help prepare and pack their food. I am sure the cooks already have a lot of work in the kitchen. That is if it is okay with you.”
“That’s good.” Shadow smiled. “Thank you.”
“I will assign the delivery guys. Since you, pups, have nothing to do but question the capability of people sitting before you. You will deliver the food to these amazing ladies to the patrols at ten in the evening. Everyday.” I glared at them and made sure they understood their assignment.
Duke wrote it down. “Homer, Rocket. You’re tasked as delivery boys. You’re done with your school assignment before ten, right? If you have any complaints, Alpha is here.”
“Yes, Beta. We will do it.”
“I can’t hear you. You were loud earlier. Stand up,” Duke said.
Kindra shook in her seat as she tried to hide her laughter.
The two bullies stood up. “Yes, Alpha. Yes, Beta.”
“Anything else?” When they went silent, I concluded, “Today’s meeting is adjourned.”
***
“I told you. We should tell everyone.” I joined her in bed, sitting Indian-style with her phone.
She was too engrossed with whatever she was scrolling on the screen, probably updating herself with what was trending online.
“Shadow. I’m talking to you.” I ran my fingers on her thigh, making her jerk.
“I heard you, but still. I’m not ready. Let them underestimate me. I don’t care. I do my job, I’m not hurting anyone, and I’m happy with that life.”
“Until when?” I moved closer to her and traced kisses on her knee.
“You will know,” she said, pushing my head away. “Stop it.”
“Did you really smell someone’s arousal?”
“Yeah. A female. One of those bullies is sleeping with her.”
I snorted. “Well, as long as they don’t break the rule, I don’t give a shit.”
“I’m calling Kent.”
“Go ahead.” I lay my head on her lap. “On the speaker, please?”
“You can hear it.”
“Just do it, Shadow.” I ran my fingers on her exposed leg. “You did well today. We’ll wait for the report of the interrogation.”
“Kent? It’s me.”
“Of course, honey. I know your voice. Oh, my God. I missed you so much. How are you? Where are you? Are you okay?” He sounded happy and worried at the same time. “I’m so glad to hear your voice.”
“First, I missed you too. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m good. Really good. I’m with the pack now. It’s more like a clan, actually. It’s bigger than the pack if that makes sense. And I want you to stop worrying about me. Just think of this like I’m moving to an apartment somewhere because I found a job. A cool job, Kent.”
“I can’t help it. I really wanna see you.”
“Okay.” She must have pressed the video call button. “Can you see me?” She angled her face at the camera. “Oh, my god. I’m so happy to see you. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m healing. It barely hurt. Are you coming back?” There was a hesitation in his voice.
“I can visit you, or you can come and visit me.”
“What are you doing there?”
“What if I tell you I found someone?” There was joy in her voice, making me smile.
There was a long pause before Kent spoke again. “You found him? Your mate?”
“What made you so sure it’s him?” She chuckled.
“Well, you never dated women. You only have one date, as far as I can remember.”
I groaned, wishing I could unhear it.
“Do you remember Califf Stone?”
“Yeah. I met him in New York over a business meeting. He invested, honey. The deal went well. He said he’s an Alpha. Is he your Alpha? Of course, he is. He assigned some werewolves to protect me in the hospital. There are two guys also watching over me that sometimes creeps me out.”
Shadow chuckled. “They won’t harm you, Kent.”
“I know. So tell about your mate.”
“Well, you met him already.”
“Wait. The Alpha is your mate?” he asked in surprise.
“Give it to me,” I ordered Shadow. Of course, she didn’t like my tone.
She glared down. “You sit down and join me.”
I sat beside Shadow. “Good to see you again, Kent.”
“My God.” His mouth hung open. “Did you know before we met?”
“The first time I saw her picture, I had a feeling, but not until I smelled her scent.”
“Is that real?”
“Yes. We haven’t-”
She covered my mouth, glaring at me. “You don’t have to tell him the details.”
I pulled her hand on my mouth. “I wasn’t going to.”
“I can see it now.” Kent laughed softly. “Shadow has never been interested in men or even women. And it’s just a surprise that she hasn’t punched you because I thought she hated men.”
“Oh, she already punched me and threw me against the wall.”
“Honey, treat your mate better than yourself. And this is forever. Divorce is not applied. And Alpha Califf, she’s the only thing I have. Please treat her with respect and give her the love she deserves. You have my blessings to marry or mate her or whatever you two plan to seal the bond.”