30

SIN

I slipped into the large hall we often gathered for meetings. It was situated beside the palace building and it was a building of its own. Anyone that didn't know about us werewolves, especially the humans, would think the building was a large warehouse because it was built that way. Since I came back to Merene, I had renovated it making it look a bit new on the inside.

Whereas on the outside, anyone could tell it had been existing for a long time because of the structure that was beaten by the extreme weather. I crinkle my nose as the scent of acrylic paint drifted into it.

I walked towards the round table, sat on the vacant chair that was far from the others, which signalled I was the leader. I clutched my hands together, setting them in front of me on the table and glanced around.

I believe everyone in the pack was present. No one dares defied an order whenever I wanted them to gather for a meeting. Not even my mother, the dowager queen.

I wasn't strict, but it had been a rule that was laid down for every pack member to heed to the call of the Alpha except those that had called in sick.

I caught a glimpse of my mother, she was close to a small door that led to the infirmary.

She was speaking to a Theta. They were the medic of the pack. They assisted in childbirth, healing of injured members and they were very much respected. I strained my ears whilst trying to gather what they were saying, but it was in a hushed voice and I wondered what she was talking about.

Perhaps, they were sick werewolves she was watching over. Even though she was a Beta, she oversaw the other members welfare, which made her a guardian or they could be called an epsilon.

Guardians or epsilon didn't only oversee the welfare of members, they also wade of intruders and they were skilled warriors.

Before anyone, one could attain that rank, the person should have been a Zeta, a lead warrior before the position would be given to them.

I glanced away from her to concentrate on people that had gathered around.

"So…" I said, raising my brows.

"Yeah, before I proceed with what we had spoken about, how was it? I didn't know you were that fast in getting…"

"Shut up Laurent," I groaned. "Or I'll make you."

He snorted, chuckling.

It wasn't like it would be the first time we were bickering. We usually have a sibling squabble which usually ends in the infirmary.

People never really understood the reason we were often at loggerhead, they just assumed we were acting childish. I had heard that a lot even though no one could say that to my face.

Mother often berated us and tried to make us settle each time we fought when young.

It wasn't so now. I'd rather do things I loathed than letting Laurent Anger me and making up with him after.

Besides, it wasn't like after we made up with each other, he would stop being the annoying little brother he was.

"Whatever," Laurent said, rolling his eyes. "So, before you came we were talking about your wife."

I narrowed my eyes whilst staring at the cheeky grin on his face. My hand balled into fists and he lifted his hands, chuckling.

"I didn't mean it that way." He added, swiftly.

"Better not," I mumbled. "I wouldn't have anyone talking about her in my presence."

Because siblings or not, meeting or not, I was ready to pummel his face.

After what had happened to Artemisia, I didn't want anyone making a joke about her.

My lips twisted whilst the last word played over again in my mind. I didn't care about her. But since she was attacked, seeing her helpless bruised body makes me want to go into a rage.

I didn't know what was going on with me, but I believe I was mad at the person that had come to have his way with her and not the emotion surging through me for her.

Laurent sighed. His face turned serious and he picked up a pen that was lying on the table beside a map.

"Whilst doing the cleaning up, Jax noticed a marking on the delivery man that attacked her." He pushed a paper towards me and I clutched it.

I grimaced whilst staring at the drawing. I couldn't forget the sign even if I was to be asleep. It was the same I had seen, and the reason I fled to Merene.

I had thought they were after me. Now it was certain, they wanted Artemisia. But why?

"That's a good question," Laurent stated.

"Stop being nosy, I didn't say you could read my thoughts!" I glared at him.

I wasn't the only one with the ability to read thoughts in the pack. Laurent had the gift too, making it two of us. But mine was more pronounced than his. He could only read thoughts if he concentrated harder.

But I could read and as well infiltrate the person's mind.

"I didn't read your thoughts." He retorted. "You were thinking out loud." He drawled, then began to sing the song.

"I wonder if you children could do without an argument a day." Mother tutted whilst walking towards us.

"I need the assistance of three Phis and 4 Epsilons." She said, then began calling out names.

"Where is Ally?"

"Who knows? Perhaps, she's spooning with someone somewhere." Laurent said.

"And oh, pun intended." He added.

Mother sent him a withering look, then glanced at me. "It's your responsibility to look after everyone in the Pack, including your younger ones." She said through a mind link.

"There is a role for that," I dismissed.

She huffed, walking away.

Why did everyone think it was my job to look after everyone? No, not everyone. My mother, particularly!

Yeah, every pack member was responsible for the wellbeing of each other, but she believed I should look after everyone whereas it was the job of the Epsilon, Theta and Phi.

Ally was a Delta. Deltas were the messenger of the pack. They risk their lives to go between allies and even sometimes the axis. It was a dangerous position because anyone that didn't have the skills of communicating effectively with people or a peace-loving person wouldn't be able to join as they could get killed In their first assignment.

Ally was also part of the Phi and Theta. She was part of the Phi due to her children loving nature whilst the Theta, she had medical knowledge because she had been to medical school.

Now, she was nowhere to be found.

Only gods know where she had rushed off to. Glimpsing the smirk on Laurent's face and his offhand comment, meant he knew where she had gone.

He was closer to her, even to mother than I was since I had been away for a long while.

It was a surprise I was chosen as the Alpha. I had sworn to protect everyone with my last breath. I wasn't backing out of the oath. Not even the yearning that had begun due to Artemisia's presence could stop that.

Regardless, they needed to cut me some slacks instead of being on my neck at all times!

"What are we going to do about the intruders?" Melvin, a Zeta asked.

"For now," I began, then paused. I glanced at everyone to ensure their attention was on me. "We are going to strategize whilst observing what is going on in the environment. I'm sorry I haven't been observant, I will try harder this time."

They nodded and Laurent leaned into me. "It was because of Artemisia, I know that. I wonder if she's as sweet as she appears."

I gritted my teeth but didn't respond to him.

"We need to gather here by this time tomorrow for another meeting. We are not complete at the moment, I need everyone gathered here." I stated, glancing at Laurent, my second in command.

It was his job to gather everyone around in the pack whenever a crucial meeting was being called. Also, he acted as my representative whenever I was absent. That makes him my Beta.

"Of course, Alpha. Everyone will be here by this time tomorrow at his Lordship Order."

I rolled my eyes at his teasing tone. "For today we need to be at alert," I said, then went on positioning every werewolf, from the Beta to Omega, in the four corners of Merene.

Merene was a large town. I had toured everywhere possible, even being to the dangerous towns where werewolves weren't supposed to be.

I had come out safely. I only hoped we could wade off the impending doom that seemed to be approaching with full force.