***Ryker***

My two hundred pack members (pups not included) chattered away in the open meeting pack grounds awaiting my speech. I stood on the podium stage made of oaken woods. Behind me, my beta stood alongside Theodore and his father Pete who wasn't even supposed to be standing on the rostrum.

He was the first born of my grandfather Zaid Manoa and my grand mother Marie Manoa. I hadn't met her, was told that she passed on even before my dad became the Alpha. As if that was not enough, shortly after my grand mum's death, uncle's mate of one year went missing shortly after giving birth to my cousin Theo.

Following the loss of his mate, granddad went stark raving mad for a few day after which he died. It was common for mates to run mad after the loss of their other mate and would shortly die after that.

Now Pete had to deal with the loss of both his parents and the sudden disappearance of his mated wife. He couldn't take it and he eventually went rogue and would remain unseen for years until Theo turned 15 years.

Initially everyone in the pack questioned his return and the state of his mind. Even as a six year old kid, I still remember how my mum kept on telling my dad that something was wrong with Uncle Pete. However, the doubts soon became a thing in the past as he correlated with the pack just like he had before the tragedy.

So when he fled the pack, the Steel Pack needed an Alpha and in return the title fell to the able hands of my dad Lionel.

According to tradition my uncle was the rightful Alpha but he refused to assume his duties by fleeing away. He showed no interest in the title after his return and even if he had, the elders would have never agreed to it.

My mind continued to relive the past and after a while it steered away the thoughts, to those of the little witch. I hadn't seen her for three days, a long time if you ask me. My Beta had suggested that she was going through something similar like me and that she needed some time alone to figure things out.

Jayson had pointed out that she had been spending time with his mate Janette. The little witch needed friends and I was glad she had found one in my best friends mate.

Speaking of her, my eyes sort out my little witch among the crowd. She stood at the front with Janette beside her. They seemed to be engaged in a pretty serious conversation, unaware of the scowls directed at them by the surrounding pack members.

As if feeling my eyes on her, she lifted her face up, zeroing on my profile on the podium. Her unwavering stare invoked catchy vivid memories from the nook of my brain. A picture of my mouth between her thighs back at the hospital was brought forth in my mind.

The reminiscence of the taste of her arousal that day prompted me to move my tongue across my lips. My eyes didn't seize connecting with hers as I remembered her sweet moans. My cock enlarged at the thoughts, pressing the front of my zipper painfully.

My little witch must have noticed because her gazed shifted downwards towards my fly piece. As if detecting the attention from our unknowing mate, my length grew impossibly harder. The utter exhibit of my unequivocal sexual desires had my little mouse fidgeting on her feet.

'Why don't you make this quick for the both of you? ' My Beta's whisper broke my eye contact with Tamara.

'What? ' I wanted to act irritated so that he'd just leave me alone.

'Janette just mind linked me that she can catch a whiff of Tamara's arousal. It won't be long before the rest of us do if you don't control your animalistic desires.' He paused, lowering his voice more.

'Alpha. ' He mocked.

'Ahem! ' I cleared my throat, getting the attention from both my pack members and my beast. He was wiggling his tail around and about in pure bliss.

She is beautiful, she stands out among all the females here. My wolf stated, panting like he was in heat.

I know now shut up and let me finish up what brought us here. I couldn't do it with him making such comments about her.

But she clearly feels something for us. He stubbornly continued disturbing me.

Yeah but she doesn't even know that she's our mate, is she? That was meant to shut him up and it successfully did.

The whole pack had directed their eyes on me quietly, probably not knowing about the argument I was having with my beast.

'Good morning, I understand that most of you know why I called all of you here. ' I paused, listening to their assuring and ardent yeses.

'I just want to clear things up about the two papers that have been discovered in the pack grounds. Firstly, we do not know who has been leaving them in those places but we are obviously looking into that. Secondly, you are required to be observant of any odd behaviour of any pack member and lastly be careful and let us do our work. '

I stopped for a while waiting to see whether any question would surface.

'Are we in danger Alpha ? ' Uncle Pete asked and I swear I could detect a hint of distaste in the title Alpha.

'Even if we are, we are the Steel Moon Pack.' I answered his question in a calm voice. I knew he wanted to rile me up and I couldn't give him the satisfaction.

'Dismissed. ' The sound of many footsteps could be heard as everyone went their own way. Some talked as they did so while others stayed quiet, probably aware of the imminent danger.

Surprisingly, my little mouse remained behind with Janette. I really thought she would leave before everyone else as she always did. Without much thought, I strode towards them, with Jayson stringing along with me.

'Janette, Tamara. ' I addressed them.

'Alpha. ' They bowed in unison, displaying respect for their leader. I couldn't help but feel that Tamara wasn't supposed to do that.

Of course she isn't supposed to do that, she's your equal. My animal invaded my thoughts again making his presence known by obviously praising Tamara.

'I didn't like you Tamara.. '

'Jayson. ' I cut off with a warning, one more vile word about her and I wouldn't be responsible for my beasts actions.

'But I thought about it and my mate here, ' He paused, pulling a smiling Janette on his side.

'made me realise that you are a wonderful selfless person. I mean you risked your life for her. Not to mention the amount of pack members you have healed despite their remarks about you. ' He paused again, extending his hand to hers.

My beast growled at the mere thought of her touching another male. In an instant, I jumped in between them to stop the handshake from happening.

Tamara threw a questioning look my way, while Jayson and his mate smiled knowingly. 'As I was saying Tamara, will you please consider starting over with me, as friends? ' Jayson continued.

'Of course yes and thank you. ' She politely stated.

'We'll leave now, Tamara don't forget about our plans tomorrow. ' Janette called out to her as they left, leaving the two of us in the middle of the meeting grounds.

'Tamara. '

'Alpha. ' We both talked at the same time.

'You go first. ' I urged her.

'I need to tell you something Alpha. ' She stated in a hushed voice, as if she was afraid someone was listening in on us.

'What is it Tamara? '

'The force. ' She paused, dipping her hand in the side pocket of her blue denim trousers.

'What are you talking about? ' Why was she being this hesitant with me, I couldn't help but feel that something was wrong somewhere.

'I was wrenched across the forest floor near the southern creek in the wee hours today. '

'What were you even doing there alone that early in the morning? You can't even see in the dark. ' Her admittance made my beast worry for her.

'It doesn't matter because...' She dragged the word, her eyes looking at anywhere but me.

'The invisible power landed my body near this. ' She took out a piece of paper from her pocket and even though I could only see the back of the paper, I knew exactly what it was.

'FOR YOU'

This one was different because I could detect a scent on it.

It smelled like peach, very distinctive and sweet.

'This is Monica's perfume. ' I muttered in disbelief. Had she been the one behind all this? But why would she do it?

'And you know that because?' Tamara asked crossing her arms across her chest.

'She only uses it on her undergarments. ' I paused, my beast raging at my next words.

'And I would know because I fucked her. ' I watched as Tamara closed her eyes and when she opened them

All hell broke loose