Betrayal

SINBAD "Dammit," Alpha Kain, my father, growled. His black-as-night wolf stretched, sniffing the air. My grey wolf crouched behind him, watching, listening. "Its scent was concealed; the feral has escaped." Typically, ferals didn't have scents. But the few we captured were infused with a special poison. It was a painless, slow killer, but most importantly, it gave off a rancid stench that could not be easily concealed. The plan was to let one or two ferals escape and then track them to their nest. But the scent was covered. Without it, we were blind. "Do you think a witch helped them, father?" Father's eyes turned red. He hated witches... even more than he hated ferals. After all, witches enchant ferals. Ferals were born from a witch's curse, turning perfectly normal shifters into raving beasts. "If there's a witch on the loose, then we should return, Alpha," one of the wolves said through the pack link. "He's right, father. We can't risk running into a witch. We can't have either of us being turned," I added. Alpha Kain growled into the night. He knew they were right. "A-alpha?" another wolf whimpered. "Speak!" He was thoroughly vexed. "Why don't we seek a witch's help?" When the Alpha did not reply, he continued weakly, "It's better to fight fire with fire." Alpha Kain's wolf turned to the wolf. The small brown figure was completely dwarfed by Alpha Kain's larger one. Alpha Kain sniffed. "Why is a sniveling fool in border patrol?" The small wolf shrunk even further. He was shaking. A blue wolf stepped forward. "He is a new recruit, Alpha." "Are all our recruits so pathetic?" "Father!" "What?" "You're upset, relax." There was a stare-down between the present and future Alpha. Alpha Kain sighed and turned away first. His eyes fell on the sniveling wolf. "Name?" "..." "Name!" "Huh? A-Aiden, sir!" "I will be watching you, Aiden. You better improve. Our pack cannot afford to have a spineless wolf protecting it in these troubled times." He turned. "Let's return." His wolf disappeared into the dark night. I cast a sympathetic glance at Aiden before going after my father. I caught up to him near the pack house. "Father, his idea about getting a witch..." "Forget it. If you fight fire with fire, the fire will only grow. Remember, witches are not to be trusted—I should know—I trusted one once." "Who?" "Forget it—just remember." After grabbing a quick power nap, I left for school. I knew I was going to be late. Being the future Alpha didn't exempt me from discipline. But the teachers subconsciously tended to overlook my shortcomings. Besides, I wasn't a delinquent. They all knew that if I'm late, then it's because I'm dealing with pack matters. Our pack was by no means the largest or most powerful. We just barely squeezed into the top ten in the country. But that didn't make me any less busy, especially with the rising growth in ferals and their slow but steady immunity to our poisons. I was beyond tired. I walked into class to take my seat, hopefully sleep through this one since it was just a revision class for last semester. But from the door, I noticed a small bundle in my seat. On closer look, it was a girl, although pretty, she had the body of a middle schooler. But then again, I couldn't really tell under her baggy outfit. The annoying bug, Sue, sat in her usual place, smirking at her in schadenfreude. I'd be grateful that someone took the much-hated position beside Sue, but for some reason, I really wanted to mess with the new girl. When I got closer, I felt my wolf stir. My eyes darkened. The girl stared at me as I approached her. I could see the appreciation in her eyes as she checked me out. And for once, I didn't dislike it. She was human; I could see that. But there was this aura around her that begged to differ. But I didn't care, whatever she was, it was fine... as long as she wasn't a witch. After all, she's my mate. After the class ended, I looked for her, but she made a quick escape. I chuckled; she was too cute. I didn't try to find her; besides, we will have a whole lifetime together. "Babe," a voice that gave me goosebumps cooed. Sue held my hand before I could even leave the class. Her assets pressed against my arm. Your normal man would be tempted. I wasn't before and won't be now, especially after finding my mate. Besides, I knew they were fake. I knew her since we were kids. She was a flat kid. The only reason I tolerated her antics was that her dad was the beta, and the pack's main fund source. Father was too busy dealing with pack problems to manage our several businesses, so her father, the beta, took over. I know he launders our money. But father ignored it. When I become Alpha, I'll deal with him. But for now, I looked down at Sue. "What?" I won't be mean to her, but I won't be nice either. "You will be coming to my Halloween party, right?" She blinked her eyes at me. Party? Just so she can show off as my future bride. She never hid her greed to become my Luna, but that will never happen. A rejection was at the tip of my tongue when I thought of someone. "Invite Aria, and I will think about it." With that, I walked away. I was excited at the thought of seeing Aria tonight, although I wasn't sure she would even come. I went to the party anyway. I waited for some time; I saw her and her siblings. They didn't wear any costumes. Neither did I; I thought it was childish. I dropped my drink to talk to them when I saw Sue saying something to them, then she left. I had a bad feeling. Maybe I shouldn't have asked her to invite Aria. I saw them leave. I was annoyed; it seemed like Sue kicked them out of the party. I wanted to stop them but decided against it. I didn't want Sue to pick on them any further. So imagine my surprise when my dad called me to go down to the feral holding. It was an enchanted path that led to the room where the ferals were locked up in. There was a crowd at the entrance already. Father and Sue were at the front. The door opened. My heart constricted. It was Aria's brother. Didn't they leave? Her sister came out after, and two pack warriors swiftly held them down. Aria followed. She turned to her siblings and saw them subdued. Her eyes widened in shock and anger. A third warrior pushed her down. I clenched my fist to resist the urge to kick him off her. That's when I felt it. I looked at her in shock. Her aura had changed. Earlier, it was a faint warm feeling. But now, it was raging. She was glowing a dark shade of red. Somehow, I felt betrayed. She was a witch. Why? And how? How could the moon goddess give me a witch as a mate? Then Sue stepped on her hand. I felt a pain in mine, and my mind cleared. Witch or not, she was mine. "Stop!" I commanded. She tried to protest, but her voice was drowned out by the power in my voice. "Kneel," I ordered, unleashing the aura of one with alpha blood. My tone brooked no argument. She fell to her knees under the pressure. Father glanced at me, acknowledging my authority. Then he asked for them to be taken away. I could see the plea in her eyes, but my father's warning glance stopped me from moving. My knuckles turned white from how hard I clenched my fist.