Chapter 2 Privileged Intruder

• 'Alpha, are you already awake? The White Wolf has crossed our pack border again last night and this morning.'
• The border patrol passes the latest reports to me in the mind link. At my command, they once again had to turn a blind eye to this wolf who goes in and out of the pack at will, an unusual privilege for non-pack members. They are clearly irritated about this happening, have often complained about this order, wanting to imprison her. But I forbade it expressly. Whoever dares even touch a hair on her beautiful head risks public execution, that is my inexorable rule.
• My warriors disagreed since she is not one of us, but I don’t capitulate, never will. My word is the law in the pack as well as the region. If only they knew that pesky trespassing White Wolf is their Luna, the Luna Queen of Midnight Moon!
• This report is another confirmation that she has found her way back safely.
• I’m aware it’s time for me to take action, it can't go on like this any longer. And I exactly know what to do.
• With renewed energy, I walk to the bathroom for a refreshing bath. Half an hour later, I return to the bedroom fully clothed. After one last check in the mirror, I head to the ground floor to reach my office.
• I sit behind my desk and mentally prepare for my confrontation with Jace.
• 'Beta, can you come to my office? I have something important to discuss with you,' I mind link him. He doesn't make me wait long for his response. 'Sure, Alpha. Judging by your tone and this early hour, it must be a life-changing issue,' he teases. Hmmm, that Beta of mine has always been a joker. But why do I feel like this time, he already knows the subject I want to talk to him about today? Jace and I were born almost at the same time, he knows me like no other but this is suspicious.
• After storming into my office, he plops in one of the guest chairs in front of my desk. I suppress the unpleasant feeling of my betrayal towards him.
• “Jace, we've been friends for years, you are the best Beta an Alpha King can imagine. You have represented me perfectly all these years without complaining”, I apprise him, torn with guilt. “This conversation is so annoying for me. I know I should have trusted you, but I gave my word to keep all this I’m about to tell you a secret. But now is the right time for me to confess to you. All I hope is you to understand.” My long speech mostly caught Jace's attention. Usually, I don't communicate with this multitude of words, so he understands there must be something important going on.
• “Enrick, whatever it is, we'll get through it. You know I can't be mad at you for long. So, spit it out, man. Don't beat around the bush. You are making me nervous”, he answers curiously. I swallow and look at my Beta. “You see, that White Wolf crossing our border...,” I begin hesitantly.
• Jace suddenly starts laughing uncontrollably, causing me to stare sheepishly at him. He gets up from the chair, grabs his stomach and hiccups around the office. Goodness, what a drama king.
• “Enrick, do I look like a fool to you?” He gazes at me amusedly with his hands on his sides. “A White Wolf crosses the border in high frequency, and you’ve authoritarian forbid anyone to hinder her, under the threat of the death penalty. In other packs, trespassing is a serious crime and the perpetrator is actually killed without a second thought," he points out.
• “I investigated this White Wolf. She always comes in without a scent, but when leaving, she takes a trail of yours with her. You are not really mindful, man.” Damn! I forgot my Beta is one hell of a smart guy too. I shut up to hear what else he knows. I have expressly forbidden anyone to investigate her. No one is allowed to follow her or track where she is going. I trust Drina and wait for her to tell me what's going on with her family.
• “At first, I thought she was just a mistress. You're a healthy guy with needs and I don't mess around with she-wolves in the pack either. I believe those could be a nuisance when our fated mate arrives here. You know how I hate drama,” my Beta continues. “But the way you kept threatening us to leave her alone got me thinking. And this has been going on for five long years. That's too long for a fling." He raises his eyebrows in amusement. “Enrick, I think the White Wolf is your fated mate. For some reason, you keep that a secret," he states confidently.
• I sigh with relief. This is going way easier than I thought. I thank the Moon Goddess for Jace, I was already preparing for his anger and disappointment. “But Enrick, you do know that white wolves are emissaries from Selene? They are often top rankings or wolves on a special mission.”
• Jace is no longer smiling, his face is serious, he is now totally my Beta and protector of the pack. “She was paired to you by the Moon Goddess?” he asks for confirmation. I nod in agreement.
• “Why do I feel like something big is about to happen?” he says more to himself now. “When Selene is on a mission, only great things happen. A White Wolf and an Alpha King. What is her rank, Enrick?”.
• This question got me off guard.
• To be honest, I never noticed a typical werewolf scent on Drina. Even when we do a run together in wolf form, I can’t sense her rank. As an Alpha King, that would be easy for me. All I perceive is that scent of our mate bond, the mixed floral one that always makes me drunk with love. And besides that, Drina never once indicated she belonged to a pack.
• But she surely isn't a rogue...