Natasha Alpha of Howl Pack above

Danny POV

Brandon thrusts in and out of me, moaning loud; it's not painful, far from it. He doesn't press my arms into the mattress this time, so there will be no bruising. It's alright, but still, I bit my lips hard, trying not to cry.

When we got upstairs, he was shouting about how Julius had been unfair, and I understood why he was so agitated, and I tried to calm him down, but... He wanted me to blow him off, and after Jordan, I knew that this one thing would never happen no matter what. I said I didn't want to, and he... 

He was irritated but didn't comment and only told me to lie on my stomach. No caressing, no kissing, no touching. He prepared me, put some lube on his shaft, and started pounding into me. It's not painful; it's just... empty. I don't feel much when he is inside me, not now, not before.

We started having sex regularly after two days in here, and we have it every day, and it's, I have no idea why, but I don't feel good; I feel like I'm not with him but looking at everything from somewhere else. When Brandon comes home, I'm happy, I like when he kisses me or takes my hand into his from time to time, but I can't just shake off the feeling that I'm not his mate but something that bothers him.

I tried to talk with him about it once, and he shrugged it off, saying that I exaggerated. He claims that it is normal to have doubts, plus as a human, I don't feel the bond so strong, but it will be better with time. Maybe he is right. He is my marked mate; I love him, I must love him; mates love each other!

Brandon starts trembling much more, and I know his peak is close, but when he spills and falls on top of me, I don't feel a thing like it didn't happen, like it was meaningless. He rolls off me and smacks my ass hard.

"At least at this one thing, Bruce and I are on the same page; your ass is beyond anything else," he jokes, standing up.

"What do you mean?" I ask; I feel something cold in my stomach, something I don't want to feel.

"Nothing, it's just there is nothing like the ass of your mate," he blinks at me and goes toward the door. "I will go for a run; see you soon."

I manage to get up from the bed and go to the bathroom as I scrub myself more eagerly than usual. When Brandon returns, I don't sleep yet; I patiently wait for him to shower and lie next to me. As always, he doesn't cuddle me and quickly falls asleep. I don't want to sleep, not because I'm not tired but because my nightmares have returned recently, Jordan once again haunts my dreams, and I'm scared to close my eyes. When I had to deal with it in the past, my parents and my sister held me in my sleep, which helped. It was customary for them when I used to wake them up during the night, saying that I had terrible dreams. Not even once they got angry and tell me to get a grip.

After two hours, I know there is no point in it, so I silently get up and leave the bedroom, taking my sketchbook from the desk. Sitting on the porch in the dim light, I start drawing; it always helps. I don't know how much time I spend there just filling page after page, and I don't care. It helps; I feel much better.

Suddenly, a big black wolf emerges from the shadows; his green eyes are almost mesmerizing as he slowly walks in my direction. I have no idea who it is, but I don't feel afraid; I'm used to wolves around me, and I don't know why, but I feel I'm not sure what. Fondness? Amazement?

He comes closer slowly, gently nuzzling me, rubbing his big body on my small one, and I melt in his touch. I suddenly feel the calmness I think I've never felt before. When he stops, he enters the house on walks directly into Julius's room. I observe him as he lays on his bed and shifts into Julius. But to my biggest surprise, Julius seems asleep. 

Was he asleep all this time when his wolf was walking around? How is it even possible?

Julius POV

Chen is pushing my wheelchair into the packhouse, it's early afternoon, but we all need to talk seriously.

Natasha is sitting behind her desk, Gamma and Preston are taking their usual spots, Brandon, as the head of patrols units, is also here, along with two or three trackers and Alyssa, our pack doctor.

"Alright, since we have you all here, let's get to the business. First, we had an alarming incident a week ago and still have no answer about the preparator."

"Two warriors claimed that they smelt rogue; they were sure it was an omega which is very rare, they followed it to the swamp when they lost track but heard howling, and when they entered it, they were sedated. I checked, but there was no sign later of an omega or anybody else. I think that whoever it was probably already moved somewhere far away," Brandon says.

"But the problem was it was for sure hunters' poison, and as you all know, no hunter was spotted in this state in 10 years; strange is also that the warriors weren't killed. We can't actually report it as a hunter's attack because they were left unharmed, and as you know, that's not how hunters work. So all of this is strange." Chen says, a little annoyed; just like me, he doesn't agree with ignoring it as unimportant.

"As a result of my journey, I can confirm that more or less all the packs have struggled with the same problem recently," Preston decides to speak" And it's a rising number of rogues; for now, there is no major incident, but still I recommend doubling the patrols and also extend them a little. As you know, as a pack, we are slightly isolated from other packs' territory, and our lands are surrounded by the human environment, which rogues usually choose to cross. So I think it will be a good idea to include at least the two nearby cities, especially the pack's children attend Middle and High School in one of them."

"Not a bad idea," Natasha says. "See to it as soon as possible, Preston, but I want no engagement with the rogues unless they are feral or you are provoked. I know one of the Alphas suggested killing all the rogues the same moment they were spotted. I don't allow it unless there is a provocation or threat."

"Whose idea was that?" I ask. I'm not a big fan of rogues myself, but I can't accept killing somebody solely cause they pass by close to the borders."

"Ravenswood Pack, their Alpha is not in good shape since his Luna's death; I'd say he is getting more and more brutal," says Preston in a dead tone.

I think about it for a moment, I remember Alpha Ravenswood as someone very tough but also cruel, yet he never had bloodthirsty ideas like this before, but people change, especially if they lose a mate.

"Next thing, we must also intensify the warriors' training. Preston, you are the Head Warrior, but I want this task handed to Julius." Natasha finishes, and both Preston and Brandon frown.

"I thought Brandon could take care of it," Preston starts, but Natasha cuts him short.

"Brandon lacks experience, and Julius doesn't, and I made my decision."

I glance at my uncle, he doesn't seem happy, but he is an old warrior, so he understands, but I also look at Brandon and see that he is furious. I understand him; I know he is young and ambitious, and for sure, he wants to prove himself.

"Oh, and Julius, come with me today to talk with Mae; she must be informed. Plus, I haven't seen her in a while."

I nod in understanding; I haven't been in Mae's bar since Danny arrived; I guess I was too busy. As everybody is dismissed, Natasha takes the car, and we leave the packhouse.

"May I ask you why you don't want to give Brandon a more important task?"

Natasha sighs; I know she feels irritated.

"I know your uncle wants him to take his place sooner or later, but he refuses to see what I see. The biggest problem with Brandon isn't the lack of experience but the lack of care. When he fights in the group, he doesn't care about his fellow warriors, he is in charge of patrols, and yet I got complaints that he changes their schedule depending on how often and with who he wants to drink. Even in this incident, we wouldn't know about the poison if Chen didn't bother himself by asking more questions. Brandon instantly decided that our warriors were just weak and stupid because an Omega deceived them. I also got complaints from the Omegas that Brandon and his bunch of friends are very often disrespectful, and don't forget how Mae forbade them to enter her bar together three years ago ever again. Since then, Brandon seems to do good, but I have a feeling it's just Preston holding him on the shorter leash, not because of his improvement."

"I do agree Brandon is not ready yet, but maybe he needs more trust from our side?" I say hesitantly, but Natasha gives me a stern look.

"Brandon isn't a child anymore; he is a grown-up and has to be treated as a grown-up. There is no point in having strength if you don't know how to use it effectively. How are things going between him and Danny?"

"Normal, I think. You know I'm the last person in the world who should serve as an example of good mating," I say. I am a little bit sad. No matter how much time passes, it still pains me.

Natasha doesn't comment; I guess she doesn't want to awaken my demons. The rest of the ride we spend in silence. For some reason, I can't shake off the feeling that Natasha is so harsh with Brandon because of something I'm unaware of. As soon as we enter the human city, I think uncle Preston had a good idea of taking it under closer surveillance. My son goes to school here, and some of the pack members work here, but besides Mae, nobody else knows about Howl Pack and werewolves, and it must stay that way no matter what. More rogues in human territory mean that the risk of something happening is increasing significantly, and we can't let it happen no matter what.

It's early evening, so Mae's bar isn't full yet, and it is usually packed, especially on Saturday; she has this gift for creating an excellent environment to sit and chill out. As Natasha pushes my wheelchair inside, I see Mae behind the bar; she smiles at us.

"Haven't seen you in some time. How are you?"

"Actually can we talk alone?" asks Natasha coming closer to her.

"Okay, let's go to my office."

As we go there, we are greeted by a big mastiff, I have nothing against dogs, but this particular one always makes me tense without any reason.

"Doggy, out of my office now!" Mae shouts jokingly, "This is no place for a butt's licker!"

The dog stretches himself and yaws before slowly leaving, not impressed by her shouting.

"So what's so important that the Alpha herself decided to pay me a visit?" Mae asks, sitting and pointing in the direction of the second chair in the room.

"Do I have a reason to talk to with old friend?" asks Natasha. "I'm an awful friend; I only come when I want something."

"Since you know you are at fault, try to fix it. But seriously, what's wrong?"

"There are more rogues here most recently, so we've decided to include this town in our patrol area; I think you should know that because I want their changing spot close to your bar since..."

"Since it's placed on the city's outskirts, I understand and won't argue. But more rogues are not so recent events, so what more happened?" Mae gives us both a stern look, making Natasha smirks.

"Two of our warriors have been sedated recently with hunter's poison, and as you know, no hunter has been seen around here for a decade, so it's disturbing."

"And that bothers you? Hunters were defeated long ago, but they can still live somewhere; it's not like you killed them all. But my question is, what bothers you? If rogues attacked them, would it bother you the same?"

"Mae, it bothers me because I don't understand what and why it happened, so...  water seems calm, but there still can be crocodiles. "

For a moment, they both look at themselves, and I have a feeling they are considering their options.

"As you both know, I don't live alone, and this is quite a crowded place. Make sure that your guards will keep a necessary distance. My nephew has recently mentioned that he spotted two people very close to the house. You guys made him worried. You must understand that customers sneaking around the bar after leaving can be seen as something suspicious," says Mae.

"And because of him, we lost the rogue, but I promise to keep the distance. We are talking right now only about precaution."

"That's one way to put it, Natasha, your late mate Thomas made a deal with me. I hope you will honor it. I don't want to be involved; here is not a pack territory."

"Mae I just want to ask you to have your eyes and ears wide open, after all, you were once a Luna of Howl Pack," says Natasha.