Help Meet

SINBAD I walked into the woods at the borders of the pack. Nothing was working for me this past few days. I was frustrated enough with the fact that I had put my mate in jail, all be it unwillingly, now to make it worse she's missing. Sue has been harping on the fact that we should have killed her instead of giving the witch a chance to escape. I am so close to loosing my head and doing something to her only she will regret. "Khloe" I called into the forest. "Young alpha" she replied. A shadow emerged from the trees. Petite, slim figure, curly red hair and round glasses that rested on the tip of her nose, she looked utterly harmless. But the simple appearance didn't hide her arrogant aura, then again maybe she didn't bother to hide it, afterall she's a master of disguises. Someone I had planted in Sue's circle to monitor both the bothersome girl and her father. "What did you find?" "I was with Sue all through the night, she didn't take the girl...the future Luna, neither was she able to contact anyone who could" "Heh you couldn't have been with her every second of the night now could you?" "...no but—do you really think the beta's family is in contact with the witches?" "Will you know if she was? It's a suspicion" "We cannot condemn them based on a suspicion!" "Who do you work for!" "You sir" her head was tilted downwards, not in a show of submission but amusement. I had my back turned to her, my head raised to stare at the moon. It was especially bright tonight. I could feel her expressions. It's not something a werewolf should be able to do but I could. I could picture her every expression even if she was a mile away. Sometimes I feel like I am half of another being, I just don't know what it is, just like the moon. Half, a glowing orb, and the other half shrouded in darkness that consumes all around. "Will you ever betray me Khloe?" "Huh?" She sounded startled. My eyes was still on the moon but I could feel her arrogance crack a bit, she looked confused. I patiently repeated my question "will you ever betray me Khloe?" "Of course not!" He decisive answer caught me off guard. I turned to her, her aura was a faint green. She was telling the truth. My eyes softened but my words were still cold "that's good, you can't bear the consequences anyway" There was silence. I could hear the crickets, a lonely hooting owl. And the soft thud of patrolling guards. "I hate you" her fists were clenched, she took a deep breath and slowly released them— squared her shoulders and continued "but you have my weakness, so do not worry I know where I stand" I nodded, satisfied. "Keep watching the beta's home, inform me of anything remotely odd" There was silence then "I wonder how your father will react to you bringing a witch into his pack" I paused thoughtfully. How else would he react? Angry? Betrayed? Disappointed? Heck I might even lose my title, but she is much too naive if she thinks that can threaten me. I walked away not even bothering to reply. I still have a missing mate to find. *** The pack was in a state of lockdown. So I wasn't surprised to see it was like a ghost town. Only ranked wolves were allowed outside. After Aria's disappearance or escape—as everyone else takes it to be—there has been an alarming rise in feral sighting. Just a few days ago a small pack a few miles away were turned, out of a few hundred only twenty odd number of the pack members escaped. I knew they will have no choice but to end up as packless rogues, unless a pack takes them in. Father seemed to have aged a lot more these few days. He had called to the higher packs for help. We had yet to receive a reply. I raised a fist and knocked on the study door. There was a pause "Come in" I pushed the door open and walked in he was seated behind a large mahogany table. It looked somewhat crooked. It was one of the furnitures my mom, the late luna made before they had me. After I was born and old enough to walk she'd take me to her small workshop, she always boasted that she could carve an angel. I remember father had teased her that it'd probably look like a demon instead. We shared a laugh. It was few months before she fell ill. It felt like time fast forwarded and next thing I knew she was gone. I blinked away the sting in my eyes and focused on the weary man behind the table. "Dad" I called out. Sometimes I felt sad that I couldn't comfort him much. He had always said he wished I was a girl. Daughters were cute. Sons were brutish. I laughed at the memory. "What's funny?" He asked. He was still buried in the reports he was reading. "Nothing...just a thought" "Mmm" he gave a shrug "what do you need" "Do I have to need something to see my old man?" Very much used to it I accurately dodged a flying projectile aimed at my head "Who did you call old!?" Dad retorted. I laughed in amusement before placing my hands on the table. I studied his face "I'm not kidding dad, this whole thing is taking a toll on you, you seem to have restarted aging" Dad shook his head, it's not like he can ignore the whole thing but I didn't want him to work himself to the bone. Besides as future Alpha I can share his burdens but he seemed to be holding out on me. "Dad..." "The higher packs replied" he interrupted me, I frowned but caught on to his message "They did? Well what did they say will they send backup? We need as much men as..." His deep voice was dark "They will send representatives to take stock of the situation" I was interrupted yet again, but this time I was in no mood to be offended. "Representatives? To take stock of the situation!? What the heck!?" "You heard me" he took off his glasses and rubbed his glabella. "They... they're clearly holding us out!" "You think?" His voice was dry "What a joke they probably don't want to get too involved, make a show of assistance, whilst watching for a chance to swoop in and take all the credit" "Accurate as always son, I just don't understand, this whole mess will affect them sooner of later! Isn't it better to join hands and deal with it before it gets out of hands?" "They won't care to join hands with a small pack like ours" "Anyway they will be here by next week" "Oh..." My mind wandered "dad about Ar..." In the end I couldn't bear to ask him when I saw the dark circles. "I will prepare accommodation for their arrival" He nodded "Thank you"