Chapter 3 Trading Information

• ~Mark~
• I know that being a ranked member is a lot of work, but I never considered how disruptive being an Alpha can be. Here I am, trying to seduce my pregnant mate, and I’m being called away. I don’t regret coming here or tying my life with Jenna; it can just be a lot of work sometimes. I understand why she didn’t want the role, even though she’d be an amazing Alpha. I imagine I could be a good Luna and wouldn’t have an issue in that role.
• I run out the back of the pack house, and the minute my feet hit the ground, I shift into my wolf. We bound through the forest, heading to the Western border. When I get there, I have three warriors waiting for me. I shift back and walk up to the group. They nod to me, and I nod back. “What’s going on here?”
• “Sir, we found Jimmy out here. He was on the border. It looks like he’s had his blood drained.” I walk toward the body and see how pale it is. There’s a message written on his body.
• “What’s that say?” The warriors look at each other before looking back at me.
• “It says, ‘You’re next’.” I look at the men in front of me, searching for answers that I know they don’t have. The Moonlight Pack is a peaceful one. Don’t get it twisted; we are ready to defend ourselves at any time, but we get along with everyone. We have pacts with the neighboring packs, and there’s never a bad word said about us. This message paints a different picture, which I don’t understand.
• “Get Jimmy’s body ready for burial. Search for clues; send a tracker to see what they can find. I will contact the family. We need to figure out what this is all about.” The warriors nod in response and turn away to go back to the packhouse.
• I make a detour and stop at Jimmy’s parent’s house. He only has his father and a sister left; his mother passed a few years ago. I owe it to them to have a face-to-face conversation. As the Alpha, it’s on me to break this type of news to pack members.
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• Shit! That was rough! I’ve never had to break news like that before, and I hope I never have to again. I know I probably will have to carry that burden again; it comes with the title. Jimmy’s father was upset, and rightly so. His sister was devastated. I stayed to calm them for a bit and then headed to the packhouse.
• I rush up to my office to make some notes about what happened. My door opens, and her scent makes me smile through this tragedy. “I heard what happened.” Jenna pushes my chair back and sits on my lap. I wrap my arms around her and place my head on her shoulder.
• “It was bad, and I don’t know how it happened. I thought we were good with all the surrounding packs, and I never heard of any past rival.” Jenna strokes my back, calming me.
• “All that’s true. Could it have something to do with Emerald Lake? You guys had a lot of drama before you left, and there was that mess after.” I didn’t consider that. Truth be told, I haven’t spoken to anyone from there for a while now. I haven’t even told anyone that Jenna is pregnant. Alpha duties are consuming, and I just haven’t made the time.
• “If it is about that…I don’t see how it would end up here. I didn’t really have any issues with anyone.”
• “Call your sister and see what’s going on over there.” Pulling the phone closer, I use one hand to dial my sister’s number. The call connects with a lot of noise on the other end.
• “Hel…..DAMN! Stop Vonte! Can’t you see I’m on the phone?! D’ I swear you better not, or you’ll pay later!” I move the phone away from my ear and wait for the quiet to come. “Hello? Hey, big brother.” I bring the phone back and shake my head at Jenna’s snicker.
• “Hey, sis. I won’t ask what that’s about. It sounds like a lot.”
• “You know how the mate bond can be.” I nod my head in agreement, and then her words register with me. My little sister found her mate?! A low growl erupts from my lips, and Jenna slaps my arm.
• “Mate bond? Who is this asshole? Why didn’t you tell me you found your mate? I haven’t even talked to him yet, so how do you know he’s worthy?” Lynn sighs on the line.
• “My bad for not telling you. Things have been crazy over here. Yes, I found my MATES; you don’t need to check them out. I’m not a baby. I can figure people out all by myself. I am a Beta, after all.”
• “I’m an Alpha and your older brother. It’s my job to make sure you’re taken care of. I have to check this gu-” My eyes get big, and my mouth drops open. “Did….did you say mates?! As in more than one?!”
• “Uh, duh, dumbass. That’s usually what it means when you put a ‘s’ at the end of a word.” I roll my eyes. I see my sister is still the same, sharp-tongued girl as always.
• “We will get back to all of that, trust me. That isn’t what I called for, though. Hey, you said things have been crazy there. What’s been going on?” The story Lynn tells me is absolutely nuts; if I didn’t know her, I’d think she was lying. “So Aida has turned vamp, and she killed Adela? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
• “I saw it with my own eyes. Everyone is pretty down over here, with Adela dying and all. She was a bitch, but she was still family to them, you know.” Jenna leans into me. “But what does that have to do with what you called about?”
• “I’m not sure, but it may be related. We found a body today, one of the warriors. His blood was drained….”