Sarise smoothed her dress down, smiling at her ensemble as she pulled the door to her private quarters open and walked into the hallway.
Outside a single man stood leaning against the wall and she stopped, raising an eyebrow at him as he pushed himself off the wall and smiled at her.
"Sarise?" He asked and she nodded.
"And you are?"
"Donovan." He answered, taking a step towards her and holding out his hand. "Jacobs' Beta."
She shook his hand, looking over him slowly before she turned to walk down the corridor.
"Why is the Intelligence Alpha sending his Beta to wait outside my room?" She questioned and Donovan chuckled from beside her.
"Jacob merely wished that you were escorted to this morning's meeting." He answered, smiling at her when she looked at him.
"How considerate of him." Sarise drooled, rolling her eyes. "Is he too important to escort his mate himself?"
Donovan chuckled again, clasping his hands behind his back as they walked.
"Jacob has been in a meeting with the King since dawn." He answered and Sarise turned to look at him.
"Why wasn't I..." She started to say as she stopped walking and Donovan shook his head lightly.
"A private meeting among the Alphas." He responded, indicating they walk again. "The Beta's have just arrived and The Queen is set to arrive shortly." He smiled at her.
"You're currently the Queen's Beta so I'm told."
"Correct." She answered, smoothing her dress down again.
"Given that it was a private meeting among the Alphas, your presence wasn't required." He added, smiling as a scowl crossed her face.
Something Sarise hated more than being treated like an inferior due to where she came from, was being treated like an inferior due to her gender.
"I see Jacob was right about your temper." Donovan added with a chuckle as they reached the conference room.
He reached out to pull the handle down, pushing the door open and stepping into the room, holding it open for Sarise as she walked in.
Jacob glanced up at her before he turned his attention back to the map, tapping it as he spoke quietly to Noah.
"Morning Sarise." Amelia smiled, standing from the couch she sat on and walking over to peck her cheek lightly.
"Am I late?" Sarise asked and Amelia shook her head.
"No, I've not long arrived myself." She answered, watching the men gathered around the table.
Donovan walked up to Jacob, whispering something in his ear to which Jacob nodded to before Donovan walked away and out of the office.
There were two others in the room that Sarise didn't know, yet she smiled at Elijah who stood beside Noah looking over the maps on the desk.
"Sarise." Amelia said lightly, pulling her across the room. "This is Anderson, Beta of War Pack."
"Sarise." Anderson said with a stunning smile as he shook her hand. "A pleasure."
Amelia directed Sarise's attention to another who stood in the room.
"And Jericho, Beta of Power Pack."
"Jericho." Sarise said with a smile, taking his hand and shaking it.
"I'm told you're the Queen's Beta." Jericho stated and a chuckle echoed through the room.
Sarise turned to see Xander looking at her before he turned to Jericho.
"And apparently the mate of the Intelligence Alpha himself." Xander added, touching his finger to his nose as he chuckled.
"Ahhhh," Jericho said with a smile, looking at Sarise lightly.
"Can we continue with matters at hand please Xander?" Jacob snapped lightly, straightening and looking at Xander. "I swear you've been less attentive than normal this morning."
"That's because this meeting started far too early." Xander stated waving his hand dismissively at Jacob as he yawned theatrically.
"Yes, and he probably had to pry himself from between a pretty set of legs when he got up." Noah joked, causing Xander to frown. "You know how grumpy he gets when we disturb his early morning romps."
"Nothing like that at all." Xander answered, glancing at Amelia. "For some reason most of the lovely ladies here refuse my charms." Noah chuckled, glancing at Amelia.
"Seems your chat worked." He said lightly, causing Amelia to laugh.
"Can we please get to matters at hand?" Jacob sighed in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.
"Calm down Jackie boy." Xander laughed, hip bumping him. "We're listening."
"Has something changed?" Sarise asked, looking at Noah.
"Braaka crossed the border of the Royal Pack last night." Noah stated, his eyes turning gold as his temper flared. Amelia walked up to him, wrapping her arm in his. "He was chased out, but it's concerning that he was able to cross over at all."
"So, he's managed to crossed two pack borders virtually undetected." Sarise whispered, walking up and looking at the map.
"Crossing through the Zones is a simple enough feat in all reality." Jacob said from beside her and Sarise nodded, looking up at him.
"Given they're not linked to the bloodline of the reigning Alphas." She added and Jacob nodded.
"Yet crossing a pack borders is a completely different story." He continued, tapping the map on the desk. "The Alphas should have noticed the instant he crossed the borders into their respective packs, yet they didn't."
"How far did he make it into the Royal Pack?" Sarise asked, looking up at Noah who stood behind the desk.
"Far enough." He snarled lightly.
"And you never noticed?" She asked, hearing a low growl from Noah in response.
"He was several kilometres into the pack before Noah picked up on the fact a rogue had cross the border." Jacob interjected, trying to sooth Noah's temper and Sarise turned to him.
"Several kilometres?" She breathed, her eyes wide with surprise and Jacob nodded. "You're sure it was Braaka?"
"The footage from the body cameras the guards carry confirmed it was him." Merric added, throwing a photo in front of Sarise.
She instantly recognised Braaka, her nose scrunching up in anger at the sight of him.
"How is it possible he got uglier?" Sarise muttered, earning a chuckle from Amelia. "Goddess he was a waste of sperm. His mother should have swallowed."
She tossed the photo away and hearing chuckles around her as she looked at the maps that was spread across the desk, thinking as she looked over them.
"I'd also like to know how is he crossing the Zones." Xander growled from the centre of the room, throwing himself onto a couch as he looked at the assembled Alphas. "Even though it's not linked to the Alphas the Regulatory Guards should..."
"You forget he was a regulatory guard." Amelia pointed out. "They tend to look after their own."
"Perhaps we should be looking into that as well." Merric said lightly. "It's a direct challenge to the king's authority if..."
"I think we need to focus our attention on how he's getting across the pack borders without the Alphas detecting him." Sarise interrupted, looking at each of the people in the room. "Have you even entertained the notion that he's working with the humans?"
Jacob raised an eyebrow at her when she looked at him.
"He's just some spiteful man who believes Amelia should be his." Xander snorted from the couch and Sarise turned to look at him. "It's not unheard of for people to alter their scent in order..."
"But no recorded cases of that tricking an Alpha, especially when it comes to a rogue." Sarise added and folding her arms across her breasts as Jacob looked at the map on the table, tapping his chin in thought. "Rogues trigger the border spells the instant they cross over."
"You're overthinking it." Xander called, leaning back on the couch.
"You're being complacent." Sarise pointed out, causing Merric to chuckle.
Xander's eyes snapped to her and he frowned.
"Careful." He growled lightly and Sarise rolled her eyes.
"Or what, you'll come over here and ravage my hand with your lips while flashing me your come to bed eyes?" She snapped, turning her back to him as she turned her attention back to the map. "I assume sexual advances is your universal answer to someone disagreeing with you."
She heard a low growl and turned, seeing Xander had stood, his eyes glowing silver as his wolf tried to claw forward.
Yet it wasn't Xander who had growled, it was Jacob who stood glaring at Xander with burning lavender eyes.
"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦." Jacob's voice rang out in her mind. "𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘢𝘤𝘬."
He turned to her and Sarise snorted, turning back to the map.
Damn mate bond she growled, of course she had forgotten he could speak to her telepathically.
She heard him chuckle in her mind and she glanced at him, throwing him a glare before turning back to the map.
"If you two are done flirting." Xander called, walking up to the desk and giving Jacob a hip bump before he walked to stand beside Noah. "Why don't you put your over-educated brains together and figure this out."
"Anyone would think you're jealous that Jacob gets to have her instead of you Xander." Amelia joked and Xander snorted.
"I'm sure I could find better." He answered and Sarise's eyes snapped to his, the hackles of her wolf rising.
"𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘭𝘧!" Jacob snapped in her mind, his hand touching hers.
Her gaze snapped to his as sparks surged through her.
"Goddess, enough with the flirting." Xander groaned and Jacob turned to him.
"I'm merely telling my mate to rein in her wolf before she attempted to jump over the desk and rip your throat out." Jacob stated, turning to the map and looking at it.
Xander looked over at Sarise, his eyes flashing silver for a moment before he walked back to the couch.
"Yet Sarise is right." Jacob continued and everyone turned to look at him. "There has to be some reason a rogue can now cross the borders." He looked at Noah. "Are you in contact with Kimber?"
Noah raised an eyebrow as Jacob turned his attention back to the map.
"Why?"
"I think I need to speak with her." Jacob stated, tapping his chin in thought. "We need to figure out if it's magic or something else that he's using to cross the borders. As Sarise pointed out it could be human technology he's using." He looked up at Noah. "Also, how many others are able to do the same? If one man can surely, there will be others." Noah frowned.
"How many wolves have we banished over the years." Noah said lightly, leaning on the desk as he looked at the maps. "If they were able to cross the borders..."
Not only could they be dealing with a war between Humans and Wolves but also a potential uprising of rogues against the packs.
"I'm sure it won't come to that." Jacob added, looking up at Noah. "But I need you to contact Kimber. Ask her to come to Intelligence Pack as soon as possible."
Noah nodded, running his hand through his hair with frustration.
"Very well." Noah stated. "You'll look into that other matter for me?"
"Leave it with me." Jacob answered with a light nod.
"You're heading back already?" Merric asked and Jacob looked at him.
"As soon as we're done here." He answered, tapping his chin again as he looked at the map. "I believe I have some information back at the pack that may be useful to us. I merely need to locate it."
"I'll contact Kimber then." Noah stated and Jacob looked up. "I'll call you when I have confirmation of what day she'll be at Intelligence Pack." Jacob nodded.
"My gratitude." He said lightly, looking at the other Alphas. "I assume you'll both contact me if you notice any movement on your borders?" Both men nodded.
"Good." Jacob stated, stepping back from the desk. "I hate to cut this short." He threw a glance at Xander. "Given how much I miss Xander's charming company, but..." He looked back at Noah. "There is an issue back at the pack I must deal with." Noah nodded as Jacob turned to Sarise. "Be ready within the hour."
"For?" She questioned, hearing Xander chuckle.
"Coz you're heading off with him love." Xander joked and Sarise turned to him. "Off to play happy mates."
"Do you have an off switch?" She grumped and to her surprise it was Jacob that chuckled.
"If he did, trust me I would use it constantly." He stated, turning to Noah and inclining his head before wrapping his arm around Sarise's waist and pulled her from the room.
She was unaware of what had happened until he had led her down the corridor and instantly pulled from him.
"What the heck!" She snapped, glaring at him. "You can't just assume..."
"You're not a stupid woman Sarise." Jacob pointed out as he spoke in a calm voice. "You're more than aware of how the mate bond works." She frowned up at him. "We haven't rejected each other and with every passing minute the bond grows stronger."
"I don't..." She began but he continued.
"You're more than aware that if you stay here, you'll be suffering from bond sickness within a few days." He stated and Sarise folded her arms across her chest.
"As will you." She pointed out and Jacob inclined his head.
"Yes, but I'm an Alpha, we're able to stave off the sickness for a longer period of time." He said lightly, giving her a mocking smile. "Not too mention now you've found your mate you'll go on heat at the next full moon."
She gulped lightly at the thought of going on heat.
"Of course." Jacob continued, inclining his head again. "It is your decision. Do as you wish to do, I will not force you to come." He turned, walking down the hallway. "However, as I said I'll be gone in an hour, with or without you."
Sarise ground her teeth as he walked away from her, flicking his jacket aside to push one hand into his pants pocket.
Who the hell did this man think he was!
She went to yell out to him when a hand touched hers and to her surprise, she found Xander.
"Can we speak?" He asked and she raised her eyebrows at him, causing him to chuckle.
"Nothing untoward I assure you." He added throwing his hands up defensively as he smiled. "I respect my friendship with Jacob too much."
"You two are friends?" She said mockingly and Xander laughed, pulling a door beside them open and waving her into one of the many entertaining rooms.
"Surprisingly enough yes." He said as she walked into the room. "All of us get on quite well, but then again we've known each other since we were children." He indicated she sit as he lowered himself onto the couch.
"Why did you..."
"You have to excuse Jacob's attitude." Xander said lightly, putting his left ankle on his knee and looking at her. "He has always been clinical, analysing every situation he finds himself in." He shrugged. "And indifferent to affection and the idea having a mate."
"I don't see..."
"His parents were not true mates." Xander stated. "They were choice mates, but very much in love at the time of their mating."
"Why do I feel there is a however." Sarise pointed out and Xander chuckled lightly.
"Because there is." He said lightly. "When he was thirteen his mother came across her true mate and left to be with him, leaving behind not just Jacob but his three-year-old sister. It had a profound effect on him, tore his family apart." He shrugged.
"She never returned and he hasn't bothered to speak to her since, even with her efforts to contact him. Swore he would never have a mate because of the whole affair."
"One can't make that assumption..." Sarise began and Xander shook his head.
"He barely leaves the Pack." Xander stated. "Doesn't like to meet new people, sticking to the group he knows. If you don't meet people there is no risk of finding your mate. He holes himself up in the Alpha Mansion back in Intelligence Pack in order to avoid contact with new people."
"He's become withdrawn and indifferent over the years." Xander continued. "After he took over as Alpha from his father his behaviour became worse." He shook his head.
"The fact he chuckled in there before was a surprise to all of us who know him well, he hasn't laughed much since he was thirteen; Goddess he barely smiles."
"I don't think..." Sarise began but Xander shook his head, putting both feet on the floor and clasping his hand between his knees as he spoke to her.
"He's the oldest of us and that fact that he's nearly thirty and still to even name a choice mate concerns us." Xander said lightly.
Sarise was surprised to hear her mate was nearly thirty given he didn't look much over twenty-five, yet wolves aged differently.
Given his age he was more than ready to mate, yet she had only just turned twenty-three and there were still things she wanted to see and do, things that having a mate put a damper on.
Kahal, the Immortal of Fate chose who werewolves were mated to, whether it be their own kind or a human.
Most meet their mates when they were in their mid twenties, though it was not unheard of for mates to meet in their teens.
It was however uncommon for wolves to be unmated so late into their twenties.
"You could be the thing that saves Jacob from himself." Xander added and Sarise looked at him.
"I think you're giving me too much credit." She laughed lightly and Xander shrugged, slowly standing and offering her his hand.
"Maybe." He said, pulling her to her feet. "Yet he hasn't rejected you, which show something, shows he's at least willing to try." He gave her a smile.
"Now I suggest you pack what you need." He touched the side of his nose with his forefinger. "Jacob wasn't kidding when he said he'd be leaving in an hour."