Three weeks earlier
*Jonas*
I slowly open my eyes as the warm light shines through the window. And like every morning, my first thought is, so this is it, this is what it's like being the future alpha. I stretch and yawn as I sit up in the giant bed. It is made from the finest oak wood and draped in blue silk.
The room is big and lavish. There is nothing I really want for. Yup, life is pretty sweet.
"Don't go, Jonas.” A soft sleepy voice sounds from my left side, and a slim hand slides up my chest as the cute brunette leans over, tangling her legs with mine. "Stay a little longer."
What was her name again ? She is one of the girls from the pack, an omega, who normally works cleaning the rooms and serving the food. It doesn't really matter I guess. It is nothing but a distraction.
"Oydis, don't think he is all yours.'' The petite blonde on my right says; That is her name, Oydis, and the blond is Toril. The redhead still sleeping is called Maarit. The blonde leaned in purring in my ear. "But she is right; stay a little longer, Jonas.”
I untangle myself from them, sending them a warm smile. "Sorry ladies, I got things to do. But please stay as long as you need … and please change the bedding."
They whine and pout as I pull on my clothes, blowing them a kiss before leaving the room.
Walking down the hallway, I sigh, looking in one of the big mirrors. Why do I even do this? Truth is I am bored, being me is boring as hell. I am seeking to distract my mind, to quench some kind of hunger burning inside me, but so far, no luck ... nothing seems to help and I am starting to wonder if all of my life will feel like this.
My wolf Cana is trying to be all philosophical about finding our true selves and the right path. ‘And stop whoring like a cat in heat.’
“I did not hear you complain last night”. I retort in a low voice. “It was not a complaining sound I heard.”
Cana huffs and turns his head, ignoring me.
As I make my way into the dining hall, I spot my friends Kemen and Hardwin at a table and make my way there. At least I have good friends here. "Morning gentlemen."
"Morning ? Kemen is already on his second breakfast," Hardwin says, looking up from his book. "But I guess it was late before you got to sleep."
"Brunch Hardwin, it is called brunch". Kemen says putting a piece of bacon in his mouth. "So come on, was it the blonde, the brunette or the redhead that kept you up half the night ?"
I flop down at the table, waving a serving girl over, giving her my order. "Or ? What on earth do you mean by; or, Kemen ? I had no idea I needed to choose."
Kemen throws his head back laughing happily and slaps me on the shoulder. Hardwin just shakes his head and returns to his book.
The girl returns with the food, and I start eating. "So, what are your plans for today ?"
"Well, lunch, then afternoon snacks and then dinner and maybe a small night munchie," Kemen says, and Hardwin just holds up his book.
They seem content with doing this every day, waiting for the time when Our time comes to run the pack, and I am starting to wonder if it is me that there is something wrong with. "Don't you miss doing something ?"
"Like what ? Going through the omega girls half a dozen at a time ?" Hardwin asks from behind his book and Kemen laughs, slapping my shoulder again.
"No, like I don't know.. doing something. Go on quests, fighting rogues, feeling … alive ?" I say running a hand through my hair. My wolf Cana agrees.
Kemen looks at his plate of food, then he shrugs. "Well not really I think ... Now is the time to relax. Soon enough you will be alpha and we have to work for our food".
"Well I will go do something, anything ... See you later". I get up, leaving my food half eaten.
‘Kemen will probably finish it off.’ Cana laughs in my head and knows my friend; I laugh softly because Cana is right.
I need to do something, I am slowly going insane with boredom here. Waiting just doesn't sit well with me, I can't be content with eating or reading books all day.
Sometimes I feel my father doesn’t find me good enough to be the next alpha. Okay, so I do not look like the typical alpha, I am only standing 5’6, and while in rather great shape, I am not a bulging mountain of muscles, but rather lean and sinew. However I am stronger than I look.
At least I enjoy working out and I find a quiet place in one of the gardens, training my agility and strength. Trying to keep sharp. It gives me something to do and it clears my mind and I never know when I will have use for it.
I pressure myself on speed, pushing for faster moves and higher jumps. It feels good to move, to feel my muscles flex and stretch. I am so focused that I don't hear the man before he clears his throat right behind me. "Master Jonas, Alpha Fenris has summoned you.”
"Okay, thank you," I say watching the man leave. What does my father want with me ? I wipe the sweat off my forehead and make my way towards his office.
I have always been loyal to my Alpha and to the pack. I had hoped that when I turned eighteen my father would start letting me have more responsibilities, but it never happened and now I am twenty-three and mostly still treated as a teen. Honestly I don't really agree with a lot of things my father does and he isn't exactly my favorite person.
"Jonas, my boy," My father’s voice greets me as I enter his office. "Come here, come here, we got things to discuss."
"Morning father, what can I do for you ?" I ask, closing the door behind me. Thinking that he seems in an unusually good mood today.
He waves for me to come over. “Morning ? Some of us have been working for hours. You are wasting your time on fun and useless women. That is why I called you here. I need your help."
My help ? With what? I can’t really see how his half scolding and needing my help fits together.
He nods and smiles, like he knows what I am thinking. "I am going to a meeting with the other Alphas … to discuss the problem with the rogues."
“And what do you need me to do ?” Is he finally going to ask me to stop up and act as Alpha while he is gone ?
‘Don’t get your hopes up, you’ll just get our tail in a twist.’ Cana warns.
My father gives me a smile. “I need you to take some of …,” I wait, holding my breath. “… Your mothers responsibilities so she can help Beta Connor lead the pack.”
I feel myself deflate and Cana mumbles. ‘Told you … hate it … but told you.’
“Sure dad,” I sigh.
“And I have another thing to tell you,” He says, “About my meeting.”
This time I do not care to get my hopes up. “What is it ?”
“I plan to find you a chosen mate,” He holds up his hand as I am about to object. “It is time you find a future Luna … and as you don’t seem to have a true mate, you need to take a chosen one.”
One week later*Jonas*I am out running with a couple of other guys when I pick up a cry for help over the pack's mind link. And instantly know it is my father. ‘Rogues …. Anyone … help.’‘This way,’ Cana instantly tells the other wolves, and we turn, falling into formations as we speed through the forest towards the river.My heart is pumping, and cold flashes are running down our spine. As I have already pointed out, my father is not really my favorite person, but I wish no harm upon him, and I know how dangerous these rogues are. We need to get there fast.All I get from my father are incomprehe
12 days later*Jonas*The meeting with the other alphas went okay, even if I felt they were talking a bit over my head at times. It might just be that I am still young and not an experienced Alpha, and that most of them don't really know me. At least I am trying no to read too much into it. I just really wish my father would have let me participate more.But at least they want to do something about the rogues. Everyone is outraged about what they did to my father. And personally I want revenge, not that I had the biggest love for him but he was after all my dad and my Alpha. We are having another meeting next week.“Damn numbers,” I mumble.
Next day*Typhon*“Your highness ?” One of the young women asks, as she comes into the cave. She looks timid, but it’s very clearly an act, everything else about her tells me that.What was her name, something flowery I think. I breathe in, she smells faintly of roses, mint and female arousal. No it was no Rose. “What is it, Peony ?”“I was wondering if there is something I could do for you, to make sure you are kind to us,” She bites her lip, as her eyes scan over me. “Anything at all”.“Anything at all ?” I ask, giving her a cheeky smile and leaning forward in my seat. So she thinks she can sleep her way to special treatment.
*Typhon*“Jones no, you can't stay here,” His sister says, as he hugs her goodbye. She is giving me a sideways glare. “You never know what he will do to you”.“It can’t be worse than whatnhe might do to you,” He says softly, touching her cheek.‘If only he knew right,’ Cerberus chuckles with a weird wolfish sound.I smile to myself. ‘He will, but on that account we are not gonna do anything he doesn't want.’‘But he is gonna want it, right ?’ Cerberus says. ‘Cause I like his scent, and the way he looks … Oh and that perky ass too.&r
*Jonas*I breathe in, calming my anger and telling myself that I should not be too sassy, it is probably best if I stay on his good side.The man looks dangerous, and even if he had clearly felt bad about searching me against my will, I am not really doubting that he might hurt me if he feels it is needed to protect his pack.‘I bet his wolf is dangerous too … and huge,’ Cana whispers in a weird tone I can’t really read.I shake my head internally. ‘What does that even matter ?’‘Just saying,’ He chuckles like it is somehow fun, like I have time for his shenanigans.If you can call this a pack, I mean they are rogues, rejected by their own p
*Jonas*So, I cough all through the night.And when the sun starts rising, sending reddish light into my cell, I am still coughing.Dawn turns to morning and the sky turns bright blue, which I notice when I check on my water collected. It is still there on the ledge but empty, too bad my sore throat could really have used some water. On the other hand it would have soothed it, so probably better for my plan this way.Upside, it has worked just as intended. My voice is completely gone, all I can produce is tiny squeaks.So with a croak that would make any frog jealous the so called King can ask me anything he wants, in my
*Typhon* I am stomping down to the kitchen, huffing with annoyance. Damn, I am getting too old for this. Okay, so thirty-five might not really be old, but going through the things I have, the heartbreak I have suffered, and living as a rogue, it makes you feel ancient. Closing my eyes for a moment I remind myself that it is in the past. I had a mate, he is no longer my mate, he is no longer anything to me but a painful memory. I do not want a repeat, I do not want a new mate, and especially not this little annoying Alpha. Part of me regrets making the exchange, the girls would not have had my emotions in an uproar and my body reeling like this. On the other hand, I can’t help but … what? I am not even really sure.
*Jonas*Okay, so I am enjoying this a bit too much, but so far my plan is working. The arrogant rogue believes that I can’t talk, so for now I can’t really see what he can do.‘I think there is a lot he can do’. Cana mumbles.‘I wish my sore throat and lost voice was passed on to you’. I tell him.I hear my captor’s heavy footsteps move down the hallway and I swallow any trace of my smile, getting ready, so as soon as he unlocks the door I am back to coughing.“I have something for you little Alpha,” His voice is a little too chee