Chapter 5

• Lance's view.
• When I get to David's house, loud music is playing and I can hear people inside shouting and cheering. I let out a sigh. My younger brother is having a great time at college. He's been acting like it's one big party.
• I know because my brother does it. One of the benefits of being the Alpha's younger brother. He doesn't have to stay with the pack like I do. Instead, he can let loose and have fun. I'm a little bit jealous, but I know this is the way it has to be. Not him, but me. I was born to be the leader. I am in charge of taking care of my pack.
• I go to the door and knock. I don't have to knock because the door is open. People are drinking and standing around in the hall. There are some people and some werewolves. As I walk in, they don't pay any attention to me. Everyone is drunk. No one would have cared or even noticed if anyone had walked in.
• I'm going to have to talk to David about this. Even though Highland is a neutral town, that doesn't mean that rogues can't attack it. He needs to pay more attention to security.
• As the Alpha's brother, he is a target for any wolf who doesn't like me. They could hurt him and then use that to hurt me. You can't be the leader of a big, successful pack like mine and not have enemies.
• David can't be seen as my weak link just because he is David.
• I ignore the drunk people at the party as I walk through the house, determined to find my brother. When I walk by a group of girls, they all turn and look at me. All of them are she-wolf, and they can tell I'm an Alpha. A tall blonde walks up to me and opens her mouth to talk. She has a warm smile on her face that makes me want to talk to her. I don't pay attention to her and hurry past the group.
• I'm used to the effect I have on she-wolf that aren't with a mate. I'm not so stupid to think that they care about me as a person. I know that they just want to get an Alpha.
• "Alpha," someone behind me says in a breathy voice. She says "Alpha" a little louder. She touched my arm with her hand.
• I can't keep ignoring her, so I turn back around. I know the blonde she-wolf as Karena, the daughter of my gamma.
• Hello, Karena. I didn't know that you went to school here.
• She seems angry. "I've been here a year, and David and I are in a lot of the same classes."
• Does she really think that what she does is that important to me? There are more than 300 wolves in my pack, so I can't know everything about their lives. I tell her that I would like to end this conversation quickly. "David, I'm here to talk to you. Can you tell me where he is?
• Her face gets happier, and her hand touches my chest. "Let me show you where he is. I'll know where he is."
• "Thanks a lot."
• I follow her as she moves slowly across the room. "I didn't know you were in Highland until now. David didn't bring it up.
• "He doesn't know, so this is a surprise."
• She looks at me by turning her head. "So, do the rumors hold water? Are you going to take over the Scarlet Moon Pack?"
• I don't answer her question because she shouldn't be asking her Alpha about pack business.
• As we walk into the kitchen, I see my brother standing on a table with about twenty other people around him. He is holding a big jug of beer, which he starts to drink while everyone watches.
• I'm sad. David is being careless as usual. Five pints of beer can fit in the glass. No human should be able to drink that much alcohol, but it's no problem for a werewolf. If he isn't careful, the humans there will start to be suspicious of him because of how he acts. David is too busy having fun to think about what will happen after he does something.
• As he finishes his drink, people start to cheer, and he turns to face them with a big smile on his face to take in their praise. He gets my attention. He jumps down from the table and walks toward me. He looks surprised to see me.
• I put my arms around him and whisper. "We need to talk, but in private."
• "Come with me outside."
• "Thank you, Karena," I say as I send her away.
• "But...." She says, "I'm sorry, but I'm already leaving with David."
• We leave through the back door and see more people smoking and drinking. "So, Karena got you in a corner?"
• She said she would help me find you.
• "I bet she did," he says with a smirk. "She's pretty sure she wants to hook up with one of our family members, and since she hasn't been able to get me, so..."
• "I'm not interested in her at all."
• "I know, but she's pretty persistent," he says.
• "Let's forget about her. I want to talk to you about more important things."
• He agrees. At the end of the garden, there is a forest. When I'm sure no one else can hear us, I say.
• "What's going on, David? When I got there, the door was open, so I was able to walk right in. Anyone could have been me. Someone who wants to hurt you. You need to pay more attention."
• "It's fine, no rogues will attack us in Highland. It belongs to neither side."
• "This town is full of bad people. Do you really believe that they won't all attack you? You know better than anyone what they can do."
• "I don't like them any more than you do, but the ones who live here are different. They don't bother anyone because they know better.
• I can't believe it. "I wish so. Things are changing, and the Wild Wolves Pack is getting ready to move. Their alpha has said that he is the king of the rogues. He has been hiring a lot of people, getting the worst criminals to join his "pack." They are killers who only want to get rid of the packs."
• "I hadn't heard anything about that."
• "All of the pack leaders have agreed to keep quiet about these new developments for now. We don't want to make anyone worried. But it won't be long until everyone knows. He's getting more aggressive and taking over more weaker packs.
• The Scarlet Moon Pack's alpha has finally agreed to let me take over. He knows that the Lavage Wolves would kill them if they didn't have my warriors to protect them.
• Taking over the pack will slow him down for a while, but it doesn't mean I can stop him. Having all these rogues running around the town just gives him a way in. How many of them would volunteer to help him get the packs down? You can't count on them."
• "When do you take over the pack for real?"
• "Chris is putting the last touches on things today. Today, the old alpha will leave."
• "Good for you!" David grabs me and gives me a hug. "I'm so excited to tell my friends. I will help and support you in any way you need, brother."
• My younger brother may care more about going out to parties than helping me run the pack, but he is always loyal.
• "That's good, because I want to be more involved with the town and the university. We need to be able to find and get rid of any threats, and your knowledge of this place will help."