Chapter 11
Bryan's POV
"Alpha,"
Being here in the Silver Moon pack was becoming a serious pain in my butt. The only thing that made it feel worth it was my mate. Just thinking about Ciara brought a smile to my face.
I didn't know her all that well but I was intrigued by her and I wanted to know her better. Orion didn't value her or pay attention to her but I knew I could give her all the love she deserved.
Being so close to her and not being able to hold her and show that I owned her was killing me slowly. I would kill for a chance to be with her the way I should be with my mate and I wasn't talking about sex. For years I had hoped to find her, had searched everywhere in hopes that she would be out there somewhere.
Along the way, I lost hope that she even existed. I just decided to settle for any unmated female willing to satisfy me. I scrubbed my hands over my face and closed my eyes. Orion was a fool for neglecting her like this and how was he even beating the mate bond?
I was an Alpha and yet I couldn't resist it most of the time. I was just holding myself back because I remembered she didn't know about the bond because she didn't have her wolf yet.
Fuck!
"Alpha?"
"What?" I yelled in irritation and sighed when I realized it was just my Beta trying to get my attention. How long had he been standing there for?"Where is it?" I asked, stretching my hands to receive the document I asked him to pick up from my office. He stretched it out to me and I collected it, immediately opening it to glance through it.
"How's the pack?" I asked him as I read through the file. It was a report on the recent changes to the security plans I already had on the ground. I had asked the Gamma and Delta to sit with the Beta and think about what could be done to improve and tighten security, especially since the recent rogue attacks that have been happening in other packs. Since becoming an Alpha, I began to respect my father more. I still hated him for not being a better father when I was growing up but I could at least respect what a great leader he was. His pack was the strongest in our community and it was a testament to his hard work and dedication. It's too bad that's what he spent all his time on while I was growing up and he was never there to protect me from Orion or his mother.
"Alpha?"
I looked up at him and he gulped making me frown. "Out with it," I was already irritated with this whole mate situation, I didn't need him adding to it.
I was probably being a tad bit too harsh but I didn't care. I didn't have all day and whatever he had to say could wait if he didn't dare to say it.
"The council of elders sent word to the pack,"
That caught my attention.
What did those old geezers want with me?
I never really understood why the community allowed them to interfere in pack affairs because they weren't even high-ranked wolves.
"They gave you two weeks to find a Luna after which they would pick a Luna for you."
I blinked shock and different emotions flooded through me. I couldn't name them and I didn't want to, there were more important things at hand.A Luna? Two weeks? Since when did the Council of Elders have a say in the relationships of the Alphas? Are they even allowed to do that?
"I'm sorry Alpha,"
I ignored him, focusing on my thoughts. What was he apologizing for? It wasn't like he was the one that was giving me two weeks to pick out a Luna. Did those old geezers think picking a Luna was so easy?
My Luna should be someone I found worthy to rule alongside me in my pack as my partner and other half. A Luna was as good as the Alpha in most cases and that's why most wolves settled for their mates as their Lunas because they were two halves that would make a whole. Who better to choose to rule by your side?
Unfortunately, I couldn't do that because my mate didn't even know I was her mate. I scrubbed my hands over my face and ran them through my hair afterwards. When I got the Alpha position, I never thought there would be an ultimatum on me to pick a Luna.
I should probably visit them. I could not and would not allow them to force me to pick some random person. I wanted to wait for Ciara, she was the only woman I wanted at the moment. Until she got her wolf and recognized the bond, I was doomed to never be in her life.
"Fuck!" I swore loudly and glared at my Beta who was now avoiding my gaze. "I have checked the document and confirmed the operation so let things take effect immediately," I told him dismissing him and he bowed and rose to his feet, shaking like a leaf.
I struggled to get my anger under control but it was a lost cause. Those old geezers were testing me.
"Alpha?"
"What?!" I yelled at him and he shook, the force of my tone sending his wolf into instant submission. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and counted to 5. He wasn't responsible for my situation, he didn't deserve this. "I'm sorry, I am just really irritated right now and would like to be alone," I told him and he nodded but remained where he was.
"Ryder," I warned, my tone deadly and he gulped.
"Forgive me Alpha,"
I frowned and stepped back when he fell to his knees in front of me, reaching out for my legs. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I told the elders that you had found your mate." He stammered and I almost missed what he said.
"You did what??????????!"
How the hell did he find out about Clara? I was going to kill him.