*Kayden's POV*
Kayden was very young for an Alpha when he took over the Dark Wood pack. He was 18 when he took over. Usually, an Alpha would only take over the pack when they found their true mate, but Kayden had to step up and eradicate the tyrant Darren from the pack. He was running the pack into the ground, starting wars with every pack he came across over trivial things.
Kayden's father was beta and so the pack passed to him, but his father was not interested in the Alpha position and chose to pass the title onto his son Kayden. Kayden accepted and set about restoring the pack's legacy and reputation by holding meetings of diplomacy. He was being pressured to take a wife as Luna by his father to strengthen the pack, but Kayden was determined to wait for his true mate the moon goddess had destined him to be with.
He was on his way home from an important meeting in North America. He needed the packs in that area to choose to be allies to the Dark Wood pack. The meeting had gone well. He had been courteous and diplomatic to all the pack members and had managed to get their Alpha to agree to be their ally. Of course, the Alpha had asked about the chances of Kayden marrying his daughter and taking her as his Luna. This he had to cautiously navigate as he did not want to offend the Alpha but still decline the offer.
He had received a phone call from his beta Daniel, that the wife of the previous Alpha's children had returned to their pack, and she had taken them in. Of course he had no problem with this but when the son arrived, he had a strategic meeting with him, as the arrival of a son with Alpha blood, to their pack was an unwelcome disturbance. Evan however had pledged allegiance and joined their pack which put Kayden's mind at rest.
He was at the airport about to board his jet, when he received the call that Geraldine's daughter had arrived in the pack as well. Now he would have to meet with her and Geraldine and figure out where the girl stood on the laws of his pack and whether she would challenge him for the Alpha title.
He did not know why Geraldine had wished to stay in his pack when the Alpha passed. He had heard she was previously mated to an Alpha from another pack, and he had taken another wife when she left. Maybe that was it he thought to himself. Although he couldn't figure out why she didn't send for the children when Darren had passed. What woman would leave their children knowing they could be safe in her current pack with her?
Kayden shook the thought from his mind. After all the woman had never caused him any troubles and she was an excellent cook. She had volunteered for the position as pack chef when he took over and he had granted her the title. She lived in her own lodgings on the pack grounds instead of the packhouse. She said she preferred this, as the packhouse was where the Darren had kept her imprisoned when she failed to produce an heir.
Kayden groaned when he remembered the added paperwork, he would have to fill out now they had a refugee pack member from another pack. He would also have to reach out to her old Alpha and smooth things out. This wasn't needed when the son arrived as the father didn't want him back. Something told him he wouldn't be as lenient when yet another heir disappeared out from under his nose.
The plane ride was peaceful. The perks of a private jet, he thought to himself. When he became Alpha, the pack's finances were in ruin. Thanks to Kayden's business mind, he had managed to invest in some good business ventures and restored the pack to its former greatness. Thankfully now all the pack members had good-paying jobs and lived decent comfortable lives.
He disembarked from the jet and greeted his beta who was waiting for him. "Hey Daniel, managed to blow up the packhouse yet?" he joked. "Hey, you laugh but I run a tight ship…except for the occasional fires in the orphanage, I haven't managed to figure out who gave them the fireworks yet", Daniel replied.
Together they laughed and caught up on pack affairs on the way home to the Dark Wood pack. "What is Geraldine's daughter like?", Kayden asked Daniel. "Quiet" he replied. "She seemed unnerved when Geraldine told her the story and hasn't really spoken much since". Kayden found this interesting as Geraldine's story never sat right with him. To learn her daughter was unnerved by her story as well gave him food for thought.
Kayden had known Daniel since he was a child. They were best friends for years and trained together. It was a no-brainer when he became Alpha who to choose as his beta. Daniel was the perfect fit. He had never let Kayden down and always went above and beyond his duties.
They arrived back at the pack and Kayden was exhausted. Dodging wedding proposals and gaining allies took the energy right out of you. He exited his car as the driver took his bags and he caught a scent that was unfamiliar but smelt divine. He could smell roses mixed with freshly baked bread and he knew what it meant. His mate. But who and where? He had to know. He needed to know.