The Alpha's Beastly Luna

Chapter 7

(Sterling)

***Four Years Later***

My wolf Apollo kept his head low to the ground. His black and brown paws silently creeping forward as the stench of rogues mixed with blood wafted towards us.

'Looks like there were three of them.' My Beta Archie mind-linked, making my eyes dart towards him as his grey wolf cleared the brush the same time I did.

'That's the third time this month.' He continued just as Apollo caught another scent mixed with the rogues.

It was already starting to fade, but something about the lilly and snow smell intrigued us.

'Sterling.' Apollo began, prompting me to sigh heavily.

'For godess' sake, please don't start this again.' I grumbled, knowing he was about to go on the mate rant.

'It could be possible that she's a rogue. That's why we haven't met her in any of the surrounding packs!' He boomed, being just as passionate about this theory today as he was last time.

'Buddy, you know I want to meet our mate just as much as you do, but it's been nine years, and we still haven't found her. Maybe dad is-'

'Don't even say it.' Apollo snarled, loathing the mere mention of taking a chosen mate.

But I'm 27 now. I've been Alpha of Silver Fang for four years. Eventually, we will need an heir. Silver Fang has grown into one of the strongest packs in the region, and with that comes the pressure of other packs trying to test that.

Luckily, we have surrounded our borders with like-minded allies who seem to share the same morals and beliefs as we do.

I am actually friends with all three of the Alpha's that run those packs. We were childhood friends and have kept that bond until adulthood. They have all found their Luna's and most even have pups now. All but me.

It's frustrating. Not just because our pack suffers because of it, but also the sheer emptiness that comes with it. And yet, I have somehow managed to remain faithful to my future Luna, never letting another woman touch me in that way.

Not for a lack of trying either, on their part, of course. My ash brown hair, golden skin, and amber eyes seem to appeal to them. Of course I keep in shape, I'm an alpha after all, towering at my 6' 4" height. The only problem is that women just don't appeal to me. For a moment there when I was a teenager, I wondered if I was into dudes or something, but nope. It's neither.

Maybe I'm just not meant to have a mate.

'Bullshit. Our mate is coming, and when we meet her, you will understand why we haven't been attracted to anyone else.' Apollo stated proudly like he knew the f*****g girl personally.

'Do you know something I don't Apollo?' I mumbled into the link, but when he didn't respond, I started to think maybe he f*****g did.

'Alpha sir! We have a survivor!' My gamma Hunter linked, making Apollo turn towards where he was before racing over there.

That's when we came upon a small pile of branches, and beneath them was a rogue. His chest and throat were slashed open as he let out a rattling breath, letting us know he didn't have much life left in him. In fact, it seemed like he was dying right this second.

'Put him out of his misery.' I commanded, watching Hunter brown wolf, Scout nod towards me once.

Suddenly, the Rogue opened his mouth, like he was going to speak.

"The b-beast." He croaked, the words almost incoherent as Hunter quickly shifted into his human form.

"What did you say?" He asked the rogue once more, seeing his head turn as his bloodshot eyes settled right onto me.

"Beware of the beast." And with that, he started to scream, making Hunter jump as the rougue turned delirious before choking on the blood oozing from his throat.

Apollo swiped his paw out, slashing across the rogues chest and ending his life in seconds, not wanting to watch him drown in his own blood.

"Well, that was creepy as fuck." Hunter grumbled before standing and rubbing the back of his neck.

Archie was the next to shift back before I did the same.

"Beast? Do you think this can be the same wolf Crimson Peak was talking about?" Archie asked curiously, before glancing around as a few of our other warriors who came with us began surveying the area more.

Two weeks ago, Alpha Fisher from Crimson Peak called to warn us about a massive white wolf seen prowling just outside of their borders. The thing was too fast to catch up to, and hasn't been seen since. But that wouldn't be the first time someone had seen it over the years. It's almost become a myth at this point. A story parents tell their pups to keep them from wandering off too far.

But white wolves on their own are rare, so why would one be all the way out here?

"Possibly. All I know is that something strange is going on. We might need to come up with a plan to try and trap the thing. It could be a wolf gone feral. If it's even the same creature doing all of this." I stated, knowing something had to be done, and soon.

We have the pack banquet coming up, and I know for a fact my Dad is going to try and invite every unmated she wolf in a 500-mile radius. If my mate is one of those women, I don't want there to be any type of threat that could possibly harm her or any other wolf that crosses our borders.

"Now that everything is handled, shall we head back and-" Hunter began.

"Continue with our training?" I interrupted, causing my friend to frown.

"I was going to say get a drink... but yeah, sure. Sounds greaaat." He mumbled, making me smile brightly before slapping him on the back.

"I can't, gotta meet Fern at the doctors. We get to hear the pups heartbeat today." Archie explained excitedly, making happiness rise up inside of me.

Okay, it was a little weird at first that my best friend was mated with my sister, but I'm happy for them.

I won't lie and say I'm a tiny bit jealous. Only because I wish I could be like that too with my own mate.

At least Hunter hasn't found his mate either. Considering he is only 22, it's still pretty early, but I swear everyone else finds their mate the moment they get their damn wolf.

'You sound so bitter, Sterling. Our mate will be more than worth the wait.' Apollo had to chime in, making me sigh heavily before nodding to my beta.

"Go ahead and take off then. I'm sure Fern will end up kicking my ass if you are late." I mumbled, knowing my sister all too well. She always gets on me about working Archie too hard. But he's the one who's a f*****g perfectionist! I'm not the one making him stay late because he is labeling s**t. That's on him.

"Thanks, Alpha, see you tonight at dinner." Archie added before shifting back to his wolf, Koda and taking off.

After Archie was gone, I began to look around once more, feeling like I was missing something as I started to walk towards the other two rogues that were already found dead when we got here.

"Do you really think it could be some type of beast? I mean, you remember the stories our parents used to tell us. How the beast of wrath comes at night, killing those with a guilty conscious while they sleep. That's how my parents got me to never tell a damn lie. Even now I still don't." My gamma mumbled, glancing around suspiciously as I saw a visible chill tremble through him. He was so damn superstitious I swear. Even so, the kid was still my best warrior and tough as nails.

"Those are just fairytales Hunt. Whatever this thing is, I'm sure it breathes and bleeds just like the rest of us, and if it bleeds, that means it can be killed." I stated darkly, looking down at the large paw print pressed into the mud. The size three times bigger than my own.

One thing I do know is that I will catch this thing... whatever it is.