Another 3 months later

"Alpha, what do we do with the trespassing rogues? It's as if they're trying to tempt us into attacking them," Azrael voiced as he walked in my office.

Putting down my paperwork and glasses, I study my beta for a few moments. Letting out a sigh, I rub my temples; eyes closed. These rogues, or rather Fortrista's army have been provoking us to attack them these last few months. However, I've been testing the waters.

I've been waiting for Rhea to wake up from the coma, but we could only hold them back for so long. Sooner or later, we will need to attack and end Fortrista once and for all. On the other hand, the warriors won't have enough confidence knowing that the Luna of the pack may or may not wake up.

They needed the support of Rhea, since Luna's were basically a mother to the pack. The warriors wouldn't do any good without both their Alpha and Luna by their side.

Debating on my decisions, I finally decide.

"Azrael, hold them back for as long as you can. We have to buy time," I instructed, my words rolling out smoothly.

It's been quite a while since I've seen Theo. However, the therapy with him had helped me quite well. Over time, I was able to go back and talk normally. I was able to touch people easily more and have them touch me to certain limits.

Ever since the group therapy happened, I never saw Gaia again.

Azrael bowed his head, turning back to leave my office before saying, "Make sure you head down to pack dinner. You've been cooped up in this office for too long, an Alpha needs to be eating with his pack. With or without our Luna, we must show others that the pack is still strong."

I nodded at his suggestion, standing up from my seat and following him out.

As I trotted down the stairs with Azrael, I start to smell an arousal. No, multiple arousals. By the time we both reached downstairs, nearly all of the unmated females started staring at us hungrily. Some were on the ground panting heavily, while the unmated males stared at them with longing.

Confused, my head tilts to Azrael, "What's going on?"

Azrael seemed flustered as I was, surprised at the situation.

He clears his throat, sounding awkward, "With all due respect Alpha, I forgot about the heat for the females today. If I knew, I wouldn't have called you down to dinner."

He continued, "All the females are in heat since it's halfway in the year, you wouldn't know this because you've never been with a woman besides Luna Rhea. However, they are looking at us like that because we're producing a ton of testosterone due to the possibility of our mates being in heat. Along with us being in high ranks, they know we'll produce strong pups."

A flush of embarrassment flooded through me.

If all these unmated females were in heat, it meant they were horny for some-

my wolf, Apollo added in.

'That's not what I meant! Use a cleaner word!' I fired back.

he growled out before cutting off the link.

I rushed into action, the thought of my mate being in heat and not being by my side worrying me. Before I ran to the hospital, I ordered all the pack members in a deep voice, "Dinner is cancelled! Those who are unmated or are in heat, save yourselves for your mate. Once you meet your mate, you'll deeply regret not saving yourself for them!"

The pack members froze at my command, still shocked that I'm talking. It's been six months that I've stopped being mute, how are they not used to it yet?

Finally, their wolves were obeying my wishes, as they held their humans back. They took control of them to go back into their rooms, locking it and staying safe for the week.

The unmated males also went back into their rooms, making sure to stay away from anyone in heat.

However, one female stayed behind. She stared at me hungrily, not caring that I had a mate. She strutted up to me, her eyes a mixture of black and green.

This female was known as Hera, if I recall. It seemed as if she was having a troubled battle with her wolf, since her wolf wanted to obey my command while her human didn't.

Hera trailed a finger down my chest, purring. She looked deep in my eye, grinning slightly. A small movement in the corner of my eye had my attention, seeing Azrael there trying to stop her.

I held a hand in the air, telling him I would handle it. He obeyed, but stayed in that lunge position in caution.

Drifting my eyes back to the horny female, she panted out, "Alpha, it hurts. Please satisfy me. Take me as you wish. It's too much. We'll create strong pups, I promise."

I growled, my eyes turning pitch black. Not in arousal but in anger, especially having another females hand on me. Only Rhea could touch me like this, no one else.

Seething out, I roughly grab the trailing female's finger before she could go down to where my manhood was. She stared at me in shock as I tightened my grip on her hand.

With a hiss, I bellow, "Do not touch me without permission. I ordered you to go to your room and wait for your heat to be over. I understand you're in pain, but you would regret this after. Your Luna would not be happy with you if you continued. Go. Now."

She caved in, finally showing her neck in submission before jumping upstairs and into her room.

I sighed, thanking the moon goddess that Hera listened. Azrael flashed me a grin before heading back into his room, where I assume that his mate, Coco, was waiting.

Suddenly, pain spread through my entire body. My head feeling like it's being crushed, insides twisting up as something snapped inside. I tried to reach out for her only to come to a dead end, as if the bond never existed.

Apollo howled out, in pain,

I obliged, racing towards the pack hospital. Before I could get to her room, the surgeon that I saw yesterday halted me.

With sputtering words, he grabbed my shoulders, "Alpha, don't go in there. She's--!"

I didn't care though, I only shrugged him off. Reaching the door handle, I wrenched it open with a bang. What I saw would scar me forever, the remains of my world crumbling beneath my feet.

The heart beat monitor that connected to Rhea was flatlined. Doctors scurried to try to revive her with their machines, but to no prevail.

My mate is dead, and I never got to tell her how much I loved her.