Chapter One

Rose

"You can't keep this up, Alpha." An elderly wolf spoke up. His skin sagged under his eyes, and age spots littered his face. That was Richard Stanton; I had every inch of his face memorized by now. I knew them all now so well. Every freckle, scar, and liver spot on their faces.

How many times had we been dragged into this room? How many times had we left our pack territory for this? How many times did the council try to deter my mate? Too many. They were wasting their breath and our time. This whole song and dance was getting old.

I licked my index finger and turned a page in my book. How was I suppose to catch up on my reading with such nonsense going on? At any second, I knew I would be dragged into their conversation. Just give me a couple of more paragraphs...please.

"Why do you say that, Stanton?" Orion crossed the room and slammed his hands against the council's table. The noise reverberated throughout the room. Every single member jumped in their seats; the tension in the room was palatable.

I watched Richard Stanton's adam's apple dance as he visibly gulped. Goddess, how did this man deal with Alphas? His eyes pleaded with me to do something, anything. The older man wanted me to pull my mate back, to call him off. That's not how Orion and I were, though. I was not his keeper. If Richard kept this up, he would turn into my mate's prey, and that would not be good for any of us.

I sighed and snapped my book shut. Richard Stanton, Doris Fleet, James Price, Charles White, and George Hughes all whipped their heads towards me. Orion was not fazed; he knew I was losing my patience.

"Why should Orion stop?" I stood up and slowly traversed the room. My heels clicked on the breathtaking Minton tiled floor; every step echoed in the chamber, only adding to the tension. Noone dared to look at me once I was up on my feet. No more looks of pleading.

"Luna Rose, you know that this has gone on long enough." Doris Fleet almost whispered. Her eyes dropped to her hands in her lap. Her fingers were adorned with chunky costume jewelry. Unconsciously Doris twisted and twirled her rings around her pudgy fingers.

"It's been over a year and a half since I was kidnapped and almost two years since my original pack was burned down." I let my hand graze Orion's arm, enjoying the lovely sparks, as I walked past him to the window. I pushed the royal blue crushed velvet curtain out of the way as I glanced down at the garden. Oh, how I wish I was out there instead of in here.

"We know. We are so sorry that you have been through so much." Offered James Price. That was the wrong thing to say. I dropped the curtain immediately and pinched the bridge of my nose.

Orion had told them not to let Silver Crescent host the Starlight Carnival, but they didn't listen. Even before we were mates, he was fighting for my friends and family. Orion knew it was a bad idea; he proved to be correct. Then in his hour of need, they did nothing yet again. They pretty much left me for dead in the hands of Kroll.

"Your apologies won't bring back the dead." I turned back toward council members. "You want him to stop hunting down the Fallen Moon rogues. What about when he turned to you for help when I was kidnapped?"

I watched all five of the council members shift uncomfortably in their seats. You could have heard a pin drop in the room. None of them wanted to admit that they hadn't valued my life. Well, at least until they realized I was a blessed wolf. Now I was somebody to them.

"I already found nine of the rogues that got away that night." Orion broke the silence as he rose back to his full height. He was an intimidating specimen, that was for sure.

"You killed three of them." Richard choked out. As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew he had fucked up. Orion's nostrils flared furiously.

"Richard..." George Hughes finally spoke up, trying to tell his fellow councilmen to shut up with his eyes. "Alpha Orion, we appreciate what you and your pack have done. You cleared your region of so many rogues. We just worry that you won't know when to stop. We are just trying to preserve the peace."

Ugh, the wrong choice of words, George. I watched my mate's face twisted in disgust and annoyance.

In a flash, I was beside Orion, slithering my arm around his. At my touch, his muscles relaxed as he gave into the mate bond.

"I know when to stop. Once Mister Clay is found. I will stop." Orion's fingers roughly rubbed against his face.

"Don't you have a witch who can track people in your pack? Why can't she help you?" Doris questioned; I was getting really tired of watching her garish pink lips move.

"Leave Pru out of this discussion." I snapped. "She has helped us track down every other rogue. She has done more to secure our safety than you have."

Pru had done so much for us. She didn't have to help us, but she did. Pru stalked those cowards in their own shadows. They never knew she was watching. The rogues really should have known and taken preventative measures. After all, they held her captive too. Pru was a trinket in a crazed wolf's collection, just like me. The only one clever enough to hide from Pru was Mister Clay. It was like he had vanished off of the face of the earth without a trace.

"I mean no offense, Luna. I did not mean to insult your pack member. I'm sure she is doing her best." Doris held up her hands in surrender. "I think that we are getting nowhere today. How about we call it quits for today? Let's set up another meeting in a few weeks."

"Yes, let's." Of course, all the councilmen jumped on that idea. They didn't want to admit that they had fucked up.

As soon as another meeting was set up, we were on the move. Orion and I hastily gathered our belongings and almost ran out of that stuffy room. We only stopped in the corridor just long enough for me to kick off my heels. We were like kids being let out of school for their summer break.

I glanced over my shoulder at the southern regions councilmen's office. I was impressed with this place the first time I saw it, but now it had lost all of its sparkle and charm. The columns on the face of the building now felt almost like a prison every time we entered.

Orion's hand reached out to grasp mine in his. I smiled at the delightful sparks that warmed my skin. We walked in a comfortable silence towards his SUV. We were ready to get the hell out of here.

"How many more times do you think they will make us come back here?" I finally spoke as we reached the car, and Orion opened my door for me. I tossed my black heels into the floorboard, wishing I had brought something to change into. The emerald dress I was wearing was beautiful, but I missed my ribs not being crushed.

"Until we finally track down Clay." Orion ducked his head into the vehicle to place a tender kiss on my lips before walking around to the driver's side and climbing in.

This is what we had been doing for over a year. We were so close to being done with this chapter of our lives. I was ready for it to be over. The only thing that stood in our way right now was Mister Clay.