The Big Bad Wolf Mate

After our relaxing time in the woods, we went back to the pack house and I called my father again. On the third ring and still no answer, I was about to hang up when an exhausted sounding voice came over the speaker.

“Alpha Watson.”

“Father, are you ok? You sound tired.”

“Hello, Ember. I’m ok, just been practicing with the warriors. Anderson has been helping me direct them and since I wasn't the one doing it for so long, the training has been a little rough on me but nothing I can't handle." He said chuckling on the other end.

"Yeah, it is a lot. There were days where I didn't think I could handle it but determination always got me through it. Just remember the reason you're doing it and you will push through." I smiled hoping my encouragement would give him a little hope.

"I'm not a spring chicken anymore, Em. Those warriors are young, rugged and have stamina for days, how would it look to them if their Alpha couldn't run into battle with them because he was out of shape? It won't be easy but I know I can get on their level. Maybe when you come visit you can give me a few tips?"

"I can definitely show you some things and Bishop wouldn't mind either."

"I cannot wait to meet him and neither can your mother. How about you come by next week? Anderson will be taking the guards to neighboring packs to assess our perimeters and do some scouting, just in case the Rogue's come back. That will be the perfect time for you to visit."

"I will talk to Bishop but I think we can make it work."

"Well, I need to go but let me know about next week so we can get your room ready."

"Ok Father, goodbye."

As I hung up the phone, Bishop returned to the room with a tray of food. He placed it on the desk and said, "Where you able to get in touch with your father?"

"Yes, he had been with the warriors all morning. He suggested we go visit next week while some of his members are away."

"That shouldn't be a problem. The sooner we meet, the sooner we can have the ceremony and finally start our life together."

Standing from my chair, I walked around the corner of the desk and straight into his arms. He held me close to his chest and kissed the top of my forehead. Inhaling deeply as I closed my eyes, I felt total peace wash over me. All the hesitation and frustrations that I had been feeling for the past few months were finally fading. Being with Bishop had eased my worries and helped me realize where I was most needed, right here.

"That sounds amazing." I said looking deeply into his eyes.

His phone rang, just as he was about to kiss me and he released a low growl before saying, "Don't move."

He reached around me, still holding onto me and picked it up saying, "Alpha Sloan."

The vibrations from his deep, stern voice traveled through my body making me freeze in my spot. His body went rigid and I tried to get out of his hold when he gripped me tightly, keeping me right where I was. He looked down at me and something in his eyes told me the call was important.

Releasing me, he placed the phone on speaker and hung the handpiece up before saying, "Duston, I have you on speaker, Ember is here with me."

"Alpha, Luna." He said then paused slightly before speaking again. "There's been an attack on the Silver Pine Pack to our East. The small village was taken over by prowlers and completely burned to the ground."

Bishop closed his eyes and slammed his hands onto the desk making everything on it fall down. I placed my hand on his chest, hoping to help reign in his wolf when he asked, "Are there any survivors?" His voice was strained and the veins in his neck were popping out with every clench of his jaw.

"That's the strange part, no one was hurt. They set everything on fire as a warning. They said the wolves left them with a message."

We looked at each other as we waited for Duston to tell us what the message was when Deacon came barging into the room with a note in his hand. "They left them, this."

He handed the charred piece of paper to Bishop as Duston ended the call. He looked over the words with his eyebrows furrowed as Deacon paced back and forth in the room.

Watching them both, I felt a little lost and said, "Will someone tell me what it said?"

"They told the pack's Alpha that he had to give over command of the pack to them or the next time they come, they would kill them all." He threw the note on his desk and ran his hand through his hair as Deacon stared at him.

"Who exactly are they working for?" I asked still just as lost as I was when he read the message.

Without saying a word, Bishop picked up the phone once again and made a call. "Winston, you were right."

Confusion flooded me at his words. Why would he be calling Winston at a time like this? Shouldn't he be organizing a search for these filthy animals and taking care of the problem now? He never needed help killing them before, so what was the issue now?

Again, he placed the call on speakerphone as Winston started talking. "Where was the attack?" His voice was full of anger and Bishop was shaking he was so furious. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Then it all came back to me, the way Bishop reacted in Canada when they had their meeting, this had to be what they were worried about.

"Our allies to the East. It's a small pack, just like you said."

Before he could answer I said, "What is going on? Did you two know this would happen?" My eyes were on fire with the outrage building inside me and the fact that they never said anything especially if people were in danger.

"Red, calm down."

"Calm down? You two knew this could happen or knew something and didn't say anything? Now an innocent group of people are homeless because no one warned them."

"Ember, we weren't sure this would happen. There had been random attacks happening over the last few years but none of them were connected, until the last few had the same outcome. The prowlers made their presence known, they were becoming more brazen in their attacks and they were leaving a message for the members. Either give over power or they would take over, hostilely."

"But you know who they are so why aren't you doing something about it?"

"We don't know who is orchestrating this whole thing. The prowlers are being given instructions and once they make contact with the pack, most of them just roll over and give in. There have only been a few that refused and their packs were brutally attacked."

I looked up at Bishop as he starred at the phone. I didn’t know what it all meant but I had a feeling things were about to become extremely complicated.

I'm glad Ember was overreacting about her father not answering the phone but I wonder if she felt a little cocky when he said he couldn't handle the warriors. I think she handled it well though giving him a little advice and not gloating.

What is with the prowler attacks? Could it really be related to what Bishop and Winston are talking about or is it something else? Will Ember try something stupid and go out without telling anyone or will she wait to find out what's really going on before rushing out and trying to find these prowlers?