It was getting harder to hide the fact that the Luna was missing. I knew that this time would come, I had expected it two months ago when my hair was still freshly cut and my beard neatly shaven.
I had not bothered about my appearance, and all the dreams I have had in recent times were filled with gory images of Pandora and the triplets.
Most times, she was crying beside a grave, other times she was eating the babies or just stabbing them. Each time I woke up with a start and my heart threatening to burst out of my chest.
“Alpha” I heard Griffin’s quiet voice.
“Griffin. Why did I not hear you come in?” I frowned my face disapprovingly at the sudden intrusion.
“Alpha, I truly apologize for that, but I have been at the door for almost ten minutes. I have also been knocking. I knew you were in here, so when I did not hear you answer my calls, I rushed in to check if you were fine. I even called your cell phone multiple times.” He explained apologetically even though he had not done anything wrong.
“That’s fine. What do you want?” I asked him, angry at myself for losing my consciousness like that.
If I got myself harmed in any way, I would never be able to get Pandora and the kids back. She should be five months and a few days gone by now. It has been 2 excruciating months without her, and I began to loathe myself for not protecting what was mine better.
I had anticipated being available for Pandora, even helping her carry the baby if I could, which I obviously couldn’t, but I knew that I did not also want her to be alone.
“The Wolves are back. They got in two nights ago but…”
Griffin began to say, but his voice trailed off, and I knew exactly why. Two nights ago, I had drunk so much and was dead drunk. I slept beneath the stairs, screaming Pandora’s name.
Griffin had come in and met me that way, he was the one who had managed to carry me upstairs to my room and helped me get settled for the night.
“Alright. I understand.” I said, too ashamed of myself to admit that I was a drunk and weak Alpha a few days ago in front of my most trusted man.
“They did not see anything and I had them waiting outside so you could come out to meet them. I took you upstairs and told them that you had retired for the night with the Luna. They understood things from there and decided to reschedule for tomorrow. The mission they went for was successful, which means that the packs will all have to come together to celebrate them. Deliberations on that will be made tomorrow at the Pack head’s meeting.” Griffin reported curtly and promptly.
“Thank you, Griffin. What time is the meeting?” I asked him, even though I was more grateful than I was showing.
He had saved my reputation as an Alpha. No one would respect a supreme Alpha who drinks in a stupor and can get sneaked upon.
“You are welcome, Alpha.” He replied and looked down awkwardly. I never asked Griffin personal questions about himself.
All I knew about him was that Dad brought him to the palace one time and said that he had just lost his mother in a clash with another park.
Nobody had asked so many questions, but I heard Mom and Dad arguing loudly in their room that night. It was the first time that I ever heard them fight, it was also the beginning of many fights after that night.
Griffin kept to himself a lot and even though mom was a nice and calm woman, I noticed that she was a bit hostile towards him.
Thinking about it just now, I remembered asking her one night after she refused to let him eat with the rest of us at the table.
I asked Mom why she was not kind to Griffin, she only replied to me coldly that I would not understand. Surprisingly, I never thought too much of it until now.
“Griffin, do you know why mom was mean to you all those years? Never really figured out why. You both were really cool people apart, but together has always been a disaster.” I asked him all of a sudden, I saw the way he was startled and became almost too sure that something was going on somewhere.
“Oh…I don’t truly know. I lived in a pack close to yours. My mom died, and your dad came to pick me up from mine. They seemed to have known each other somehow.” He said, and I knew that he was hiding something else from me.
“That does not explain why she was mean to you. Anyway, don’t bother yourself about that. It was probably just women’s jealous nature. Anything on Pandora yet? Did Uncle Joe say anything new?” I asked him, refusing to hope for anything positive, as all the other times have been met with heart-wrenching disappointment.
“Not yet Alpha. Although, there’s a rumor that she might be on the other side of the boundary fence. We might need to make a public notice, Alpha, it is the only way we can reach an audience. I have combed every pack on this side of the boundary fence. She is not here.” he suggested and for one tiny second I hoped that she was really on the other side of the fence.
“I met an Alpha from the other pack a few weeks ago. I asked the Alpha’s sister to join our Weapons and Machinery Team. She said she was excited to join, but I have not seen her since.”
“Maybe I could go and see that Alpha. I think his name is Alpha Wilson. Remind me to extend an invitation to them. It is time we start mingling with the parks at the boundary fence.” I agreed and heaved sadly.
I really need to find Pandora and my babies, I was hanging onto my sanity by a thread and daily, the thread threatens to snap.