No Choice But To Wait

Sinbad was exhausted before the clock struck noon. He didn't know running the pack would be this tiring. His wounds and the aftereffects of the drug he took didn't help matters. He hid from the captain of guards and took a short walk to clear his head. Half of his responsibilities should have fallen on Beta Charl, but for all he did, that man might as well not exist. Aside from running the Pack's businesses and dipping his toes in money, he wasn't interested in anything else concerning the pack. His walk took him to Aria's home. He looked at the house, silent and undisturbed. He couldn't believe that after going through all that, he still couldn't find Aria. He turned to leave when his ears twitched. There were sounds coming from the house. He walked towards it. He pushed the door, and it swung open. Who dared to trespass on private property, especially when everyone knew his mate had lived here? The sounds were coming from the kitchen. He entered to see a strange man stirring something in the pot. The man removed the spoon and shook its contents into his hands. "Mmm, delicious... you know where I come from it's not polite to stare at a man while he's cooking." Sinbad startled; the man hadn't turned, so how did he see him? "And where you come from, is it polite to trespass on private property... and also use their kitchen?" Lev shrugged, "I was given express permission by the owners of the house; I would hardly call that trespassing." "Owners... of the house?" "Mhm." "And... where are they?" Sinbad asked. His heart tightened in anticipation, especially as he heard footsteps headed towards the kitchen. He looked at the door, not willing to blink lest he missed her. A shadow was cast, and a tall lanky youth walked in. "You..." Sinbad stuttered. He looked behind the boy, but there was no one else. "You're Aria's brother, right?" Jerry was momentarily surprised to see Sinbad; when that faded, he scoffed and ignored him. He still remembered being locked up in chains, and Sinbad not helping them. "Where's your sister?" Jerry thought of the wizard Ares. Compared to this Sinbad who couldn't even get them out of prison, he preferred Ares who had protected him from a powerful witch. "My sister? Oh, she's on a trip with her boyfriend," he replied maliciously. Sinbad must have lagged for a second because he stared at him foolishly. He came to a minute later, "What boyfriend?" he demanded. Jerry shrugged, "You know, the person she's dating, her lover, babe, boo, that sort of thing." There was a sudden sound of loud slurping. The duo turned to the source. Lev waved the spatula, "Oh, don't mind me, go on." Sinbad asked Jerry, "Who is this 'boyfriend'?" Jerry smiled fondly, making sure to exaggerate, "Only the strongest wizard ever; he's tall and handsome. Aria asked him out, he agreed, and now they're dating." Lev was speechless. Jerry didn't know how close he was to the truth. If not for a sneak attack in the past causing Ares to take the form of a child, no one could easily surpass him in terms of the use of magic. Sinbad clenched his fists in anger. Clang, clang, clang. Lev stopped hitting the pot when he got their attention. He pointed at the three bowls of piping hot stew, "Pork belly stew, anyone?" Jerry snatched a bowl, but Sinbad didn't move. "You look famished; grab one, and I'll tell you everything." Sinbad reluctantly did. The stew finished before Lev's story did. Jerry swallowed his third helping then belched in satisfaction. "I'm going to take a nap," he announced. He ignored Sinbad and walked upstairs to his room. Sinbad asked Lev at the end of his narration, "So they're going to find her sister?" "Mhm." Lev cleared the table and did the dishes. "And that Ares... are they really dating?" Lev smirked, "They are certainly attracted to each other." *** Sinbad noted that he had spent quite some time at Aria's home. So he headed to the office once he left. The pack was gradually emptied; thankfully, he didn't have to oversee the whole thing. He noticed someone seated in his father's seat once he walked in. The chubby person turned the seat left and right. "Beta Charl, care to explain why you're warming my father's seat?" The swinging seat stopped. Beta Charl's chubby face smiled up at him, "The Alpha had been injured; it's only right that I, as his Beta, take command." Sinbad sneered, "And since when have you taken an interest in the running of the pack? Do you even have basic knowledge of how the pack is run?" "Well, there was never a need for me to learn, and I was so busy managing the Pack's businesses and dealings with the humans that I barely had time for anything else." Sinbad scoffed, "There is no need for you to worry yourself; my many years of training were to prepare me for times like this." Sinbad walked to the other side of the table; he gripped the chair's armrest. "If you would please stand up, I would like to continue my duties." Beta Charl's face stiffened, but not for long; he stood up from the chair with a hearty laugh. He didn't even twitch when Sinbad kicked the chair away and opted to stand. "It is true what they say; the younger generation is bound to surpass us." "Anything else, Beta?" Sinbad asked drily. He didn't feel like entertaining the annoying man much longer. "Unfortunately, I will be leaving with the pack to the safe zone." Sinbad grunted. That didn't sound so unfortunate. But he still jabbed, "So you're running away." "Not true; see, since the pack can't do without a beta, it is only right that the future Beta take charge while I'm gone." Sinbad's eyelids twitched. "Future Beta? You don't mean..." "My daughter and your fiancée." Sinbad glared up at him. "I don't recall getting engaged." Beta Charl laughed, "Oh, this is something your father and I discussed; the mating ceremony should have been held a while ago... But you lost your head over a little witch." "Unless you wish your daughter to be thoroughly disappointed, then I suggest you forget it." "A marriage is what the pack needs to put it in better spirits; it will strengthen the pack too." "A hardworking Beta would be better," Sinbad shot back. Beta Charl smiled with a slight bow of his head, "Then, I'll send her in." As soon as Beta Charl left, someone knocked. "Who is it?" Sinbad asked. He was afraid she was already around. "Captain of the guards, sir." "Come in." The captain entered and bowed, "We searched the residence of Alpha Nath and found a body hidden in a room." Sinbad cringed, "Who is it?" "Khloe Blair, a student at Lupus Academy." "W-what?"