*Fang's PoV*

A while ago...

Fang sat in the main room of his tent with the few of the elders and his three Betas. The discussion about the lone wolf being spotted in Waterwoods had been going on for some time and Bane was the last to speak on the topic, "The investigation comes to only one conclusion, after observing all the evidence, Sylvie brought the man here."

One of the elders said in his shrill voice, "But Sylvie is a daughter of the minister. Why would she do such crimes? Such an innocent she was."

Another old lady joined in, "Yes, I doubt it is some outsider's work. Wasn't the girl who came here from Winterwells? I doubt she must have plotted this against our Alpha as Sylvie was pretty close to our Alpha."

"Sylvie could have been our Luna," added the previous elder.

Fang, who was lost in his own thoughts, something that was happening quite a lot recently, turned to look at them with a certain threatening sternness in his eyes. The people in the big room of the tent went silent by just the look he carried. Everyone knew how much Fang hated the topic of finding the Luna of the pack that was the highest position a girl held with no efforts but simply marrying the Alpha.

Fang's debauchery was known to all and also the fact he hated girls who wanted to just slip in his bed without wanting to do anything. Sylvie was one of them. The only difference was she was being useful to Fang for his personal gains from her grandfather.

But he had his soulmate now, and anything that came as a thorn in his path was not needed anymore.

Fang motioned Bane with a jerk of his head, and Bane was quick to get up, "This meet is dismissed, the conclusions have been drawn if anyone still has to say or blame anyone then you are free to stand against our Alpha... Rest can leave."

The elders did not like being treated like this, but they had got used to it since Fang's rule.

In no time, the room was cleared with Bane and Lindsey, who were leaving for the last. When they left, Lindsey had turned back and went to where Fang was. She was not just the Beta of Waterwoods, but also one of the elders here, given Lindsey, was the previous Luna of this village pack. Her husband was the Alpha before Fang ascended the position. In other words, Lindsey was Fang's foster mother, a relation which only surfaced when in private.

"Fang," Lindsey called out to Fang. It was rare for her to do that, and it only meant she was here as his mother.

Fang, who was filling himself a glass of whisky, hummed in question. It had been a long time since he had felt his soulmate being injured and the helplessness was irritating. More than everything, the drinks were keeping his head straight, so did not act on the brimming desires after he had marked Selene. Her supple skin under his touch was nothing less to paradise, and he wanted more of it.

Lindsey walked to where Fang was, "You seem lost Fang, did you like Sylvie so much that her absence is making you irritable?"

Fang gulped the entire glass in a go and snickered before filling himself another glass. Lindsey was concerned about his drinking habits at times whenever his nerves did not settle down, but she knew better than stopping him.

It was another two glasses, after which Fang finally asked, "What do girls want from their partner?"

Lindsey's eyes went wide in shock hearing the question. If she was the one drinking right now, all her drink would have come out like a sprinkler in the field. Fang had never bothered or cared about how he acted with a girl, how narcissistic or how rough it was, it was no bother to him what the girl felt. So this question came as a big shock to Lindsey, who had been closely observing Fang.

Lindsey scratched her forehead, "um... well... You see Fang girls like to have doted on a lot. But that is something many can offer."

Fang creased his brows, looking at the drink that he was swirling in his hand, "I understand everyone has a special need, but what if a girl doesn't accept you even after you give that important desire to them?"

Lindsey was having a tough time digesting this conversation. Since when did Fang start bothering about such things? She doubted it was even about Sylvie because that girl used to be flying around Fang like a bee around a flower and Fang used to always dismiss her. But she was happy that Fang was finally thinking of a girl. Waterwoods would a Luna soon, a daughter-in-law for herself.

"Well Fang," Lindsey continued, "girls like flowers and rainbows." Fang gave her an irritated look and Lindsey immediately raised her hand in defence, realising she had spoken a language he doesn't like.

"That is the last thing I would be doing, lets talk about something other than materialistic stuff," Fang gulped down his drink and filled another glass for himself.

Lindsey thought a lot before answering this time. Even she did not have a right answer to that, as she did not know how much to speak before Fang's anger was triggered. "Look Fang, for starters. Girls like the good boys who understand them," she, said, doubtfully waiting for him to, react but he was listening carefully. "They like it when their partner is kind and gentle and say show them how much they care about their significant other. Women have their side of the story as well and you have to listen to it from them, ask for it."

Fang took the final sip and thumped the glass on the table. Determination laced his eyes, he knew exactly well what he needed to do.

"That was great advice," Fang remarked. "Now go out. I have some things to take care of."

Lindsey held a faint smile on her face, "Alright, alright. All the best!"

But Fang did not pay any heed to her words and the excitement she showed he simply rolled his eyes before picking up his phone and dialling the number that he had memories the moment he had read in his soulmate's mind.

The phone call did not go as he had planned with Selene. He wanted to know what bothered the girl and what different can he do. It was odd for one's soulmate to be this distant even after marking. Although they would be inseparable after the bond but he did not have the patience for that. Nevertheless, Fang did not want to force anything else onto her when she was already making this big fuss out of the mark that he had done without asking her.

He checked the time on his clock, and it was nearing ten. He called Channing next which was picked up in one ring itself, "Yes Fang?"

"Isn't your birthday tomorrow?" Fang asked, coming straight to the point.

Channing chuckled at the other end, "Yes, it is. Do you want to meet me by the crooked tree like every year and celebrate?"

Fang smiled, remembering the times when he had doted on this person. It was an idiotic thing to do, but Fang always took care of Channing from a very young age. It was customary for them both to celebrate each other's birthday at twelve sharp in the night on top of the crooked tree with a lot of drinks till the next morning Channing was left with his mindless drunken state to return home with. "There a change in plan," Fang said.

Channing, on the other end of the line, was trimming his beard when he stopped midway. Half of his face looked smooth, while another half still had a beard. "What? did you get some urgent call from the castle?"

Fang clicked his tongue in a way to say a no. "Actually, how about you take care of the northern border so I can sneak into Winterwells."

"What!" Channing was quick to shout.

Fang sighed on the other end before Channing could start yapping about dangerous it would be. "Let's meet at Selene's house. It is well renovated now so we can celebrate more comfortably."

There was a silence that fell as Channing remembered how Selene had told him that the house was renovated by Fang.

Although Channing had accepted the fact that Fang was Selene's soulmate, the hurt was still fresh. "Okay," Channing replied in a rather monotonous voice before going back to trimming his beard. It did not take Fang even a second to understand that Channing had known about him being Selene's soulmate, and Fang wanted to keep it that way.

"Very well let's meet there at twelve," Fang added. "And about the border, it would be lovely if you could clear it for me now so I could spend some time with Selene as well."

Fang knew his words were salt on Channing's wounds but it was better this, than keeping it easy. Fang preferred Channing to move out of the way on his own.

"I will, give me twenty minutes," Channing said a dry smile came to settle on his lips.

Fang chimed on the other end, "That's great, see you at twelve then."

"Yes, see you at twelve," Channing's response was barely audible before Fang cut the call and Channing held the phone by ear a minute longer than that.

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Author's Note: I have been busy with a family event that is currently ongoing and I barely got any time to write, so apologies about not being able to update properly. Thank you for the patience you guys show