Page 4 of Fated to the Rogue

“Don’t worry about it. It’s part of the job.” She winked at me.

“Did Dad say what he needed me for?”

“I think it has something to do with the Alpha meeting Wind Howlers will be hosting tonight.”

I was thoughtful for a moment. Even though I wasn’t officially leader yet, my father always informed me about everything going on with our pack. But for some reason, I hadn’t heard of this meeting until now.

“Well, I better not keep him waiting.” I waved at my friends as I ran up ahead. “See you tomorrow at training!”

As I headed towards the main building, I wondered what the meeting was about. Judging by how sudden it was, I had a feeling it couldn’t be good.

2 | Trouble

Idrew in a long breath as I stood in front of the main building, taking a moment to organize my thoughts before heading into my father’s office. Although I had been born and raised inside of this very house, it never looked less than majestic to me - an incredible three-story building located at the highest point of the hill at the heart of the village. It was entirely decorated in Wind Howlers’ traditional colors; its forest-green shaded wooden exterior harmonized quite well with the tall, rectangular golden windows that allowed the sunlight to illuminate the many halls and rooms.

It was the center of all the action, as well as the home for the Elite members. While any pack member was allowed on the first floor, where they could gather and enjoy various entertainment options, the other two were for exclusive use of the four highest ranking wolves and their families. On the second floor, the two rooms on the left were reserved to the Gammas, and the two on the right were meant for the Deltas.

The top floor was divided in two wings, the left one consisting of the Alpha chambers, while the right one was designated to the Betas. The Alpha’s office had also been built there; right above the large entrance door made of wood and glass.

Once I felt ready, I stepped inside and walked up the stairs until I reached the third floor. Out of respect, I knocked on thedoor, not bothering to identify myself; Dad could tell it was me just by my scent.

“Come in, Zephyr!” he yelled from the other side.

I promptly pushed the door open. “Alexandra said you wanted to see me?”

“Yes. Take a seat.” He gestured towards the chair in front of him.

As I walked in, I noticed he wasn’t the only one in the room. He was seated behind his desk, with his back to the golden floor-to-ceiling window. Beta Warrick was to his right, while my mother was to his left. She smiled sweetly at me, but my father simply kept his usual frown.

“There are a few things I want to discuss with you.” Dad cleared his throat, raising his voice. “Beta Warrick said you disobeyed him in today’s hunt. Have you forgotten your place in the hierarchy? You are my son, and the future of this pack! How can you be so reckless?” He clenched his teeth, trying to look more intimidating. I knew it was just a façade though; one that never lasted too long.

“Oh, my grumpy condor…don’t be so harsh with him.” My mother pouted, catching his attention by placing her hand over his. When her blue eyes, serene as the sea, locked on his dark brown ones, they melted into a caramel color.

From the day I was born, Mom had spoiled me rotten, which is why Dad was stricter with me, hoping to balance the way she constantly protected me. She was caring and kind-hearted by nature, but those qualities were a lot more intense towards me. Our strong bond could be explained by a tragic health problem she had right after giving birth to me, making her unable to bear any more pups. I felt for her because I knew she wanted to have many children, but I wouldn’t complain about the extra attention.

“My sweet dove, he has to be punished for his behavior!” he whisper-yelled, as if I couldn’t hear him. “He will be Alpha soon. How can he lead our wolves if he doesn’t abide by the rules?”

“It was a one-time incident,” Mom insisted. “You know Zeze has been training all his life for the Alpha position. He has always dedicated himself to his duties, not once slacking off when it came to the safety and well-being of Wind Howlers.” My father squinted his eyes at me thoughtfully, but he couldn’t keep his ruthless Alpha guise for much longer.

With a sigh, he continued. “Fine. Moving on…” He pulled a few papers from the top drawer of his wooden desk. “As you know, because Beta Warrick has no heirs, you will be allowed to choose your second-in-command tomorrow after your First Shift Ceremony.”

The Elite titles were a birthright; they were always passed on to the current members’ first-born pup. Sadly, Warrick’s fated partner had passed away two decades ago, before they could have heirs. He could have taken a chosen mate, but he refused, remaining loyal to his deceased lover and her memory. For the first years after her death, his grief made him so weak he was constantly in and out of the hospital. But like the strong Beta he was, he managed to pull through and continued to serve our pack to the best of his abilities.

“Last time we talked, you said you wanted Malin Shepherd as your Beta.” Dad’s voice echoed through the room again, pulling me from my thoughts. “Is that your final decision?”

“Yes, father.”

“Despite his bloodline, the boy has potential. He’ll make a fine Beta.” Warrick nodded in approval.

“Alright. With that out of the way, let me tell you the main reason why I called you here.” My father handed me the papers, proceeding to explain what they were about before I even had a chance to read it. “A last-minute Alpha meeting was scheduledthis morning, and Wind Howlers was chosen to host it. I think it’s important for you to come with me this time.”

“Why? What is it about?”

He glanced at his digital clock, immediately rising from his seat. “You’ll find out in a minute. We should get going.”

Dad placed his firm hand on my shoulder, guiding me towards the exit. Although Mom and Warrick would usually tag along in every important gathering, I noticed they remained in their seats. On second thought, it made sense for them to stay behind; since urgent meetings didn’t have a lot of time to be organized, only one representative from each pack was invited to come.

My old man stayed silent all the way to the Event Hall, located right beside the main building. Even though my curiosity was trying to get the best of me, I held onto my restraint, keeping all of my questions to myself.

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