DNA

Alpha Zayne Steele POV

I'm no saint. I may be trying to make up for my father's mistakes, to reclaim the good name our community once had. I sit and facepalm helplessly, thinking it's no wonder Alpha Thornton would not pay us any thought or take us seriously.

And this faction only seems to be growing. Every god darn time we close one outpost down, another one pops up, and someone very high up is calling the shots. I need to get to the head of the problem and get more resources.

Knowing this, I fundamentally believe if Alpha Thornton and I join forces, we can eradicate these man-made creatures from off the face of the earth, get to the head, ending this once and for all.

Just the same, I am alone in this fight; my men are dying trying to keep the borders safe from these creatures. Plus, more men are lost out there on the field during missions.

I cannot have these creatures gaining access and running a mock in my community, nor can I risk losing any more of my men on the field. I can't help but feel a bit stuck.

Then there are the hunters that hunt our kind and the humans that experiment on our kind. That's why the bite of those 'things' the humans created is deadly to our kind.

Only because humans made a potent mixture and modified the creature's DNA, that very same potent mixture is lethal to werewolves, and the results, when one is infected, look like an incurable disease.

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair while nursing a drink in my other hand. I realized as I was now lounging on the couch in my office, we were up against a lot, and though I feel stuck right now, I cannot give up trying.

I just can't and am willing to do anything to keep my people and the humans safe.

Though humans are responsible for making such a creature, all humans are not guilty of this. Some humans know of our existence and live in peace and harmony with the werewolf kind. We can co-exist peacefully.

Not all humans want to have one up on us. Only a few feel threatened in some way. They somehow have it in their minds that all magical beings are out to destroy them.

Or it could be good ole pride, not being able to accept that there are beings stronger, faster, more intelligent, and more powerful than they are.

Nevertheless, needless to say, the lengths this faction will go seem endless and without remorse. This is why all the other humans are at risk, and I will try to protect them as best I can. Imagine that humans are more at risk because of their own kind. What a laugh.

Who do you think these people experiment on?

They are kidnapping innocent people off the streets in the name of their endgame. Whatever that is!

At first, were the homeless people living on the streets and they were so defenseless. Now they up their game, snatching as many unknowing citizens as possible, primarily the lower class, who are also vulnerable.

They are the monsters, and they call us monsters, I scoff.

Somewhat calmer now, I mind-linked my beta; we have a lot to discuss.

Soon enough, Mekhi knocked on the door. I sensed him even before he stepped onto the property. "Come in," I hollered.

While he did, I refilled my drink, took a seat behind my now-cleared desk, leaned back again, and stretched out my feet on top of the desk, ensuring I was as comfortable as possible.

Then I hit him with the first question after he greeted me and asked, "What's up?"

"Tell me... how are the borders?"

"Nothing concerning. Just got word from Nathanial (Lead Warrior)," he answers, relaxing into a chair and getting comfortable as he looks at my desk and around the room, then lands on the hole in the wall but says nothing about it. He was used to my outbursts by now.

I nodded, "And how are the businesses?"

"The clubs, the dealerships, and both restaurants are thriving," he says with a smile.

I gave a swift nod. This was good news. With all that was going on, I thank the Goddess; our survival income was steady.

"OK, tell me, how are the gardens, our crops?" feeling optimistic, I eyed him curiously.

"Coming along great, the farmers had a slight hiccup today though… some bees got out," Mekhi explains with a slight frown.

"What is it?" I asked, repositioning my feet, wanting to know why the frown.

"I think the pups are playing around the bees again!" Mekhi answers, sounding and looking a bit worried.

I held a smile at the corner of my lips as I pictured them at it. Those pups, they are such troublemakers. "Don't worry; I will chat with the little pups at our next football game tomorrow afternoon after school," I nodded, reassuring him.

"OK," Mekhi relaxed his tense shoulders while still thinking deeply.

I am sure he believes his little brother was one of the little troublemakers. The last time this happened, one of the bees stung little Michael. He had a bad allergic reaction to it. Mekhi was just worried about him. "How are the stocks in the kitchen," I asked him in an attempt to change the subject.

He snaps out of his thoughts and looks at me before explaining, "Good, good, it's good. We are fully stocked. It will be a few more weeks before a supply run is needed."

I nodded, "And the people, any bad reports? How are things?"

Leaning back on the sofa, he rubs his face and answers, "Oh, everyone is just fine, and the last rescues seem to be assimilating well, most of them as usual, opting to stay and not return home, while some took their leave as they left loved ones behind."

I nod, fully comprehending...

He then chuckles before saying, "And the usual disturbances from the Smiths. The loud arguing and then the loud crashes and loud moaning and grunting. You know, the usual all the way around."

I laugh heartily, mood-lifting a bit more, "the Smiths,' I say as I rub my stubble chin. "When would we find our mate and get to experience things on that level, huh," I joke, "heard being with your mate is not the same. It's insanely different, by far."

He chuckles and says, "I know, right? I would love to meet my mate, but do you think they are still out there? Given what we are up against and the many wolf communities that have fallen thus far?"

"Have a little faith, my brother. However, I must admit, you do have a point", I responded warily, but refused to give up hope.

"You bet I do...I would love to hold out too, but now I believe maybe it's time I mate with someone. I don't know...."

"What? Are you going to start dating?" I interrupted him.

"Yes, exactly that! I would date them first and get to know them the human way." He says calmly.

"Wow, you are serious about this?" I asked, suddenly shocked by this because he sounded serious.

"I mean, I am not saying tomorrow, but you know, eventually— maybe. Maybe someone will come along with the right chemistry, and we will hit it off. Or it might just be my mate that comes along," he says like he really thought this through.

"I hope for the latter," I butted in.

"We will see, but just think about it. I am here for either option at this point," Mekhi says.

I didn't want to, honestly...

"Uh huh," not wanting to dwell on the fact that my mate seems nonexistent and I am Twenty-Five, I steered the conversation back to the Smiths. I told Mekhi I would talk seriously with them about this matter. Usually, I don't like intervening in these matters, but when it's affecting the masses, I have to.

If nothing else but to end it, coming to some kind of solution.

"So tell me, the spies, did they come back with anything we can use to our advantage on the mission tomorrow?"

"No, not really, and there is more security now because this outpost has four guard towers from the usual one guard tower. One guard with an automatic machine gun posted in each," Mekhi answers, annoyed they added more security.

"Hmm," I mulled that bit of information over. More security is never good for us.

We discussed the basics of our tactical plan.

Then I added, "This next mission, I want to be there. I want to take a closer look at their documents and whatever information we can get our hands on.