Chapter 2 Unraveling

• Declan’s POV
• After just finishing one meeting, my Beta Marley texted to inform me that the next appointment I had scheduled had been relocated to Allen's Diner. It was apparently on neutral territory; the Black Moon Alpha didn't want to meet on my turf. Pussy, I thought as I stuffed my phone back into my pocket and adjusted my tie as I walked to the elevator. When the elevator doors closed, I walked into it and pressed the bottom floor button. I stood there watching the buttons and the floors fall. It came to a halt halfway down, the doors opening. I grumbled, irritated. Two women, one with red hair and one with blonde hair, were both incredibly gorgeous. One of them, the redhead, I recognized.
• Miranda belonged to the Pack. The other was an unknown person, and a short stumpy man from the tech floor followed them in. They took a step back when they realized who I was. They lowered their heads to look at the floor. "I'm sorry, Boss," the man said. I believe his name was Fenris. I recall him visiting my workplace to upgrade the PCs. I pressed the button to close the doors. Listening, I heard them exhale just as the doors closed entirely. I looked down at my Rolex watch, which read 2:30 PM. Shit! I knew I was going to be late.
• My Beta was waiting for me in the entryway, holding my keys. He threw them at me. I swiftly caught them and hurled them back at him. "You drive; I have no idea where this location is." I walked out to my black Bentley, climbed into the passenger seat, and rolled down the window. We were driving to the south of my Pack's area when I felt my wolf stir, attempting to come forward.
• "What's the matter with you, Tyler?" I inquired. He did not respond. I could tell he was worried. Maybe this meeting wasn't such a good idea, I reasoned. When I felt him pressing against my flesh, I knew my eyes had changed because I let out a roar, ordering him to stop.
• My Beta maneuvered the car to the curb. "Are you okay, boss?" he inquired. My wolf was fighting for control of my hair, which was spreading across my arms.
• That's when the most enticing aroma hit me. I took a peek around; we were parked in front of an elementary school. I got out of the car since I couldn't see anyone. My wolf immediately calmed down, relieved that we had come to a halt. I looked across the street at the primary school, then up the street. I couldn't see anything but trees along the footpaths and a gathering of women waiting at the school gate, none of them stood out to my wolf and were unmistakably human. As I was walking back in, the breeze changed and the delicious aroma intensified. It smelled like strawberries and lemon, and it made my mouth swim.
• My Beta came out, looking at me suspiciously, and that's when I noticed her. She was hiding behind a tree near the school's entrance. Her brown hair was tied back into a ponytail. I wished I could run my fingers through it. She had an hourglass body as well. I looked at her back, hoping she'd turn around; she was wearing jeans and a basic white top with long legs. "MINE, MATE." I grumbled. Tyler said the same thing in my head.
• Marley smiled, a wise expression on his face. I was about to cross the street when the bell rang and the little child leaped into her arms. I snarled and came to a halt before crossing.
• I hurriedly got back in the car, turning my back on her.
• "What are you up to?" Marley, who was staring at me in surprise, questioned. "Go grab her," she says.
• "What exactly do you expect me to do?" "She has a child," I pointed out.
• "First and foremost, you don't know if she has a child. Second, I don't believe she'd be old enough to have a child who is already in school," he said.
• "Fine," I retorted, "cancel my appointments and follow her." I watched Marley send a few messages quickly before pulling out from the curb to follow her. My wolf desired her. She was quite attractive, but I am not one to split up a family.
• I felt my jeans getting a touch too tight as I watched her hips and arse flex as she came inside the diner. I adjusted them, the foolish bleeding beast thinking wicked thoughts about what he was going to do to her.
• My gaze followed her through the window of the diner where I was meant to be meeting. The tiny girl dashed over to a woman sitting in a booth. Marley and I watched as she walked to the back, then returned with an apron and a glass jug of water, filling a glass and presenting it to the little girl. She must have realized I was staring at her because she abruptly rose up and looked about suspiciously.
• "So, what are your plans?"
• "Drop me back to my office and come back to babysit her for the time being." "Try to figure out which Pack she belongs to," I told him. Before taking me back to my office, Marley nodded.
• My wolf wouldn't stop attempting to come forward the entire journey back, begging me to go back and claim the girl. I took the elevator to the 20th floor, where my office is located. My wolf lunges forward, causing me to collide with the elevator walls, fighting for control.
• "Sit down, Tyler, or I'll reject her," I yelled. The notion of rejecting her generated a sharp agony in my chest and restricted my lungs. How could she make such an impact on me without even speaking to her? My secretary came sprinting over to me as I stepped into the corridor. She was a lovely girl, not very attractive, and quite a plain Jane in my opinion. She was a stick figure with no arse or boobs, but she was good at her job.
• "I couldn't stop him, Sir. "He said it was urgent, and he's in your office," she added, her face filled with worry.
• "Who is?" I inquired, agitated.
• "His name is Logan, sir," he says. I nodded and threw open my office door, staring at Alpha Logan. I had postponed my meeting with the Black Moon Alpha earlier because I didn't think he'd have the guts to come to my office.
• He was seated behind my desk in my seat when I walked in, his biceps bulging from his shirt. It appeared absurd as if it belonged to his younger sister. He cracked his knuckles as he looked up at me, a sneer on his face.
• "Alpha, you've returned," he said. I growled at him, warily.
• "I am, indeed. "Now get the fuck out of my seat," I yelled at him. He raised his hands in surrender before climbing out of my seat and leaning against the glass, looking down at the street. I relaxed back in my chair before asking Melody, my secretary, to make coffee and bring it in.
• "Logan, what can I do for you?" "What prompted your sudden interest in meeting with me?" I inquired.
• He hissed, "That's Alpha to you."
• "Please don't push me, Logan. You've entered my domain. You may have one of the city's strongest Packs, but you know as well as I do that you can't compete with me or my Pack. "What the fuck do you want now?" I used my Alpha voice to force him to surrender.
• "I'm sure you've heard about the renegade strikes on my borders. I require assistance. Too many of my warriors are dying. My soldiers continue to push them back, but they keep coming."
• "Do you dare to come to my territory, challenge me in my office, and then seek my assistance?" I laughed and shook my head. "You've got guts. "What am I getting out of this?"
• "What exactly do you want?" he inquired.
• "There is nothing you can give me clearly." I don't require anything, and I don't want to get involved in your gang conflicts or the drug trade. I'll do this as a favor for now, but know that if I ever need something, you'll be there. Understood?”
• Alpha Logan nodded and extended his hand for me to shake. "Sure," he said.
• "All right, I'll organize my Beta to send some of my guys over to guard the border." Inform your team that they should be prepared. I shall declare war if any of your Pack attacks one of my men."