Callox sat in his chair, feeling anger bubbling inside him. He growled at one of his guards, his patience almost gone. "Take care of the rogues at the border, or I'll rip your head off."
"Yes, Alpha," the guard replied, bowing before quickly leaving the room.
Once alone, Callox ran his hands through his hair, returning to his chair with frustration. It had been weeks since that night at his bar, and the feelings from it still lingered. His wolf was restless, and an uneasy feeling weighed on him.
The people in the Alpha's main quarters had been irritating him lately. It was hard to tell if the problem was them or himself.
"Where's Ava?" he barked, his voice echoing through the room.
Ava, his gamma, was not only his second-in-command but also the sister of his best friend, Cole. With Cole away on a mission, Ava was there to help him manage the pack.
Callox could not believe that a strong Alpha like himself had not yet found his mate. All of his friends had already paired off, and the hope of finding his own was starting to fade. Would he ever meet her?
Just then, the door swung open, and Ava walked in, her face bright with a smile. "Hey, Callox! What's up?"
He met her smile with a frown. "I'm not in the mood for jokes, Ava. Any updates on the rogues?"
Her smile wavered at his tone, but she quickly nodded, seriousness replacing her cheerfulness. "I've got everything under control, Alpha. But I have to ask, what's going on with you? You've been on edge for weeks."
Callox leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced. "Just waiting for Cole to come back, I guess. Dealing with these rogues."
Ava raised an eyebrow. "That’s not everything, Callox. You know I can sense when something's bothering you. What is it?"
There was no escaping Ava when she wanted to know something. She flashed him a stubborn smile and sat down. At first, he hesitated to share what was bothering him, but maybe spilling it would lighten the load.
"You know what's been keeping me on edge..."
"Right." She nodded, looking a bit disappointed. "Your mate… what do you want to do about it?"
"I can’t wait another day without her. If I can't find her, then I have to consider a chosen mate."
"If you weren't so annoying, I might have suggested a marriage between us."
He couldn't tell if she was joking but shook his head. That would never work. Cole and Ava were the closest thing to family he had, and he did not want to complicate things with a risky situation.
Seeing his mood, Ava shifted to a more serious demeanor. "You've been Alpha for years. Whether you have a mate or not, you can still lead this pack. There are plenty of Alphas who have ruled without mates for years. If you feel like a chosen mate would be fine, that's your choice, but nothing compares to the bond with your true mate."
"I am an Alpha. I shouldn't be the last one to find a mate—"
"It's not that terrible," she interjected, gesturing to herself proudly. "I have no mate, and I am still here."
"We're not the same. You aren't an Alpha."
"Ouch. But lucky you, you can have any lady you want in the pack."
"I am not interested in being with every woman in the pack. I already have that kind of life in my bar; I don’t want to bring it to something as important as my pack."
The conversation was becoming dull, and his annoyance grew. As an Alpha, he had met many beautiful women who were suitable for any male wolf, but none of them felt right for him. The thought of choosing someone as his mate felt tiresome and unnecessary.
For the past two weeks, however, he couldn't stop thinking about one particular girl.
His little kitten, as he fondly referred to her in his thoughts. He momentarily lost himself in that memory, recalling a moment that was both exhilarating and indescribable.
There she was, eyes closed as he held her gently by the neck, while his fingers explored where they shouldn’t have. The anticipation warmth surged through him.
She responded to him, arching her back to invite him to continue. His wolf was restless, desiring nothing more than to take her completely.
He could remember the sensation of touching her, brushing against her softly before moving deeper, eliciting soft moans as she expressed her pleasure.
“Ah, please! Yes!” she begged, lost in ecstasy, urging him to give in to their desires.
"Callox!" Ava's voice snapped him out of his reverie, her skeptical gaze landing on him ask me what happened—"
A night he wished to relive as often as possible now faded into memory.
"I was with a girl on Monday, and I need you to help me find her. That's the task I have for you."
Del frowned at him. "And how do you expect me to find your 'one-night angel'?"
"Check the records at my bar. There should be something useful there. I need to deal with a traitor," he replied, trying to focus on the task at hand rather than the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind.