Happy Claw

                Alpha Zane of Midnight Moon POV

                Claw has been restless all morning. He sniffs around, dances merrily and sometimes looks at me with his eyes flashing. He's clearly upbeat, and if I were a gambler, I'd swear I'd hit the jackpot today.

                But since he and I are one, his enthusiasm affects me very much. After days of hard work preparing for this conference, I could really use some positive motivation to start this day. So, I drain some of Claw's energy to fuel my human body.

I am dressed to the nines as I leave my suite in the packhouse. My mood is at its best thanks to my wolf, and I know I am ready for anything that might come out of this meeting. All the Alphas are present, some of them having brought their Betas, against the rules. Alpha Gorgio is sending his Luna, Eclipse Howl is dealing with the humans who are about to destroy their forests and contaminate the sources of fresh water in their lust for the precious metal.

                The King and Queen are also back this year.

King Jasper is an authoritarian perfectionist. It is hard to please this Lycan. But no one can deny his reign over the packs, and the progress in social and financial policy is clear for all to see. The werewolves are much happier now and are seizing the opportunities for personal development with both hands. Pack members are now less dependent on humans for their health and education.

When I arrive at the hotel where the conference is due to start in a few hours, Claw jumps up straight away. He stares through my eyes, intently watching every movement around us.

                "What's up, wolf? You've been up all morning. May I help you with anything? A she-wolf, perhaps? We haven't got any for ages," I teasingly say.

                ‘No! Thanks. Keep it in your pants,’ he growls at me. For all your life!

Claw and I are best friends, he is a real advantage to my leadership. I owe my success to him, and I am not afraid to tell him so. But for several months now, he has refused to cooperate on sex. He thinks we should stop having so many bed partners if we don't want to get into trouble.

I've reluctantly agreed to that because having sex without my wolf also enjoying it doesn't make much sense. Fighting Claw and trying to work on a pussy at the same time is impossible. So, here we are, celibate for several months and I suspect it is starting to break Claw. I smile at him, thinking of Sybille, who just last night threw herself at our feet, but I had to turn away.

                ‘What!’ I growl back.

‘Human. Much more beauty awaits us than these sluts. We're going for a gem'. My smile becomes a frown at his words. 'When you enjoyed them all these years, I didn't hear you complain that they were sluts. Are you a paranoiac now?' I scold him.

                But he doesn't even bother to answer, staring ahead again, greedily taking in the surroundings as if he were coming here for the first time.

                I roll my eyes and step into the lobby. The receptionist rushes towards me. But this time I sense a scent with her, Goddess, it is exquisite and makes me stagger for a moment. I, Zane Mancini, the most feared Alpha in this hemisphere, am momentarily unsure of myself.  I take another sniff at the scent of the woman standing in front of me.

"Alpha, welcome. The last guest has just arrived. Now all the packs are present and the activities can begin on time." Adoringly, she raises her eyes to me, lowering them seductively to my lips. I know what she wants, this is not the first time she has offered me her services. But this time she has captured my attention, there is something about her that I want.

Of course, I know that this exotic scent is not hers. Its owner must have been near her, it is still fresh, so the person must be among the guests. I grab her wrist and pull her toward the desk.

"Which unmated she-wolf showed up here? Where is she?" I don't know where the words came from, how I could have come up with the idea that the scent belonged to an unmated she-wolf. Claw must be responsible.

                "I'm the only unmated she-wolf here, and you are the unmated Alpha," she tells me in a low voice as she blinks her eyes. "Is there something you want, my strong Alpha?"

Reluctantly, I tear my eyes away from the lobby they were so intently inspecting and land them on the receptionist. "I don't have time for your nonsense. Check the guest list and tell me which unmated woman has checked in here in the last two hours," I order her in an Alpha tone.

Fear flashes in her eyes, she swallows hard and runs behind the counter. She consults her desktop for a few seconds and then turns back to me.

                "Luna Ariel is the only female registered as a guest. But she is fully mated to Alpha Gorgio of Eclipse Howl and obviously deeply in love with him," she fills me in. "The other women are waitresses and workers.

                And then I lose my patience. The scent is real and I want more of it. I must have more of it, it is my life preserver to stay alive. I bang my fist hard on the table, everything on it falls to the floor.              

                My Beta Eric comes running, probably warned by someone in the mind link that I was about to lose it.

                "Zane, Zane, no! We don't do that, man". My best friend and confidant grabs me over the shoulder from behind and pulls me away, into the lift. "What happened? What are you looking for?"

                "A scent. Eric, I am telling you, I think my mate is here. And that stupid receptionist is slowing me down and tries to get laid. I should have ripped her head off, the idiot," I pant angrily.

                "Your mate? Zane, there are no women here except for the hotel staff you have known all your life," he grumbles. "Or yes, the Queen and Luna Ariel are present. But they can never be your fated. They both already have a mate". He looks at me as if I have gone mad.

                "Are you saying I am seeing ghosts? Your Luna is here at last, and you don't believe me? Did you forget that we waited three years for her, that we need her for the pack?" With flaming eyes, I look into his.

                "Believe me, Zane. I think I am more excited about her than you are. But I don't want you to be disappointed. Come, let's make a final inspection tour. If she's here, you'll meet her at the conference in an hour, you can't miss her.”

                I take a deep breath, Eric is right. I need to be patient. A little distraction will help me sort things out.

So, we head back to the meeting room, ready to receive Midnight Moon's guests..