PARKER
I was still smiling from our conversation as I whipped down the road in my motorcycle. Her big blue doe eyes were going to be my undoing. I drove a lot slower as I daydreamed on the way back to the pack house. I was savoring each moment that I got to spend with her.
I made it back to the house later than everyone else, I hope my dad wasn't going to be upset. He told us all through the mind link he had important news that he needed to share as soon as we got back. The elders and my father were sitting around the conference table in his office along with his beta and their mates. My mother greeted me with a hug and so did my little sister when I entered the room.
"Your late" My father stated in his alpha voice, I fought the urge to roll my eyes at him.
"Sorry dad, got held up at school." I shrugged, picking my little sister up as she giggled.
"Now that everyone is here," My father looked amongst us, shooting me a disappointed look. "there is a rogue closing in on our territory."
My stomach twisted into knots, had they figured out Luce?
"We have reason to believe this rogue had something to do with the death of the student from Parkers school."
That kid they found, I didn't know him but his reputation proceeded him and I knew he wasn't a good guy. This had to have been something else.
"What makes you think that?" I questioned. I needed to figure out everything that they knew.
"There was a wolf''s scent I didn't recognize near the crime scene. I scoped things out just to make sure, but I was surprised when I picked up on a rogues scent."
It had to be a different wolf, there was no way that it could be Luce. I was going to have to be even more careful visiting with her later.
"With that being said" my dad continued, "I intend on increasing patrols around our perimeter. I want to make sure they aren't crossing through our territory under our noses."
All of the elders nodded in agreement. "Parker" He said, drawing my attention back to him "I want you to take the lead on sniffing out this rogue. Take your beta out and go see if you can't track them down."
This was the perfect moment that I could use to sneak away, "No offense to your opinion father," I had to play this cool, "but it would be easier for me track alone. I don't want to contaminate anymore scent trails." I countered, hoping this would be enough to let me go alone. I could go talk with Luce and have time to check things out.
He nodded in agreement. "If everyone could give me a moment with my son." It wasn't a request, everyone quickly scurried out of the room. I kissed the top of my little sisters head before I told her to go on.
My father leaned against the dark oak table, his brown hair had started to grey at the sides. His eyes looked tired and he was starting to get thin.
"I think its important for you to become a leader" He looked at me proudly and gripped my shoulder gently.
"I've been trying to be a leader." I stated, he knew this was something I've wanted my entire life.
"You've been doing a good job son," He smiled at me, "I think I might retire early and have you take over as alpha. But only when you're fully ready."
I sucked in a breath, I never thought he'd step down. I always assumed he would die before I would be alpha of our pack. I could protect Luce if I was alpha.
"You're serious?" I asked still hopeful this wasn't some sick joke.
He nodded again, "Yes this is why I want you to take over finding this rogue. If you can bring them to me dead or alive, whatever is easier for you" He chuckled at his own sick joke. "If you can handle this, I'll consider stepping down in order for you to take over."
I replayed his words carefully in my head before I responded. He would consider stepping down? I knew I would have to bring him a body in order for him to actually consider this. Despite him being my father, I thought of him as a cold and calculating sadist who had no regard for human life. That's why I wanted to be alpha, to give our pack a chance to grow and actually flourish under a stable leader.
"Ill make you proud" that was all I could manage to say to him.
"I know you will son." He turned his back to me, and coughed hard. He quickly wiped his hand on his pants, but the glimpse I saw looked like it had been bloody. "Go find the rogue" without another glance from him he turned and left me standing in the empty room.
I looked around at what would hopefully be mine soon, the flickering light from the fireplace made the shadows dance across the wall. I ran my fingers along the oak table picturing myself sitting at the head of the table. I knew that I didn't have a choice, I had to succeed in order to protect the people closest to me.
I found myself wandering through the pack house, I was still too nervous to text Luce. The way she made me feel scared me.
"Parker" Averys voice pulled me from my thoughts as she fell into step beside me.
"What's up?" I asked, annoyed as her arm brushed mine.
Avery was my beta's little sister, but despite my numerous amounts of rejections she still continued to pursue me. She didn't want to accept or believe that I was waiting for my mate for my first relationship. I couldn't tell her off though because my Beta, Jacob, would be livid with me for being mean to his kid sister. Honestly, in many ways she felt like my annoying kid sister too.
"Where you going?" She asked.
"Why are you so nosy?" I snapped.
She just laughed, "So what did that girl want?"
I pulled her into the first room on our left, it was one of the guest rooms that was currently unoccupied. I pushed her up against the wall and held her by her throat. I don't know what came over me or why I was so protective over Luce. She struggled against my grip, trying to pry my hand from her throat.
"Do not mention her ever again" I hissed, releasing her as she shriveled onto the floor.
She coughed catching her breath. "What the hell parker?" She looked at me distraught through the curtain of her brown hair that covered her face.
I tensed just realizing what I had done. "Avery" I looked into her eyes and saw her expression soften, I didn't want to be manipulative but I would if it meant keeping Luce safe. Especially from my father. "Please do not mention her again, you know the consequences if my father finds out."
Her eyes widened at the though. The last time my father caught me fraternizing with a human, he had whipped me so hard in front of the entire pack. He beat me repeatedly until the wounds stopped healing, I laid their in my own blood for hours until I was finally able to move.
She nodded once and I knew she wouldn't talk about it again. I extended her my hand and lifted her up off of the floor just as her brother Jacob rounded the corner. His sandy blonde hair had gotten long and hung in his brown eyes, he brushed the hair out of his face.
"How'd the meeting go?" He asked
I shrugged, "We have some stuff to talk about later. But now my dad needs my help so I'll be back later."
I pulled out my phone and texted Luce, I needed to see her. After what felt like forever but in reality was only few minutes she texted me her address. I hopped on my bike and sped off, leaving the pack house as a silhouette in the distance. Her house was dangerously close to our main pack house and was situated in the middle of our lands.