His Reluctant Luna

Lucian -

Daniel and I stood facing the one-way mirror. His Betas had been constantly interrogating those rogue wolves since they regained consciousness. Daniel's pack was one of those lucky ones who had captured a few of these rogues alive. I had arrived at the Reds as soon as I got the news. I was curious to get a good look at them.

The betas took turns beating them up again and again, but they remained tight- lipped, stubborn, and grinned mockingly at them. Daniel had become so frustrated by their constant defiance, that he finally ordered them to be chained. The rogues were dangling from the ceiling in solid silver manacles.

The silver burned their skin and drained their strength, keeping their bodies from healing and regenerating. Splotches of bruises marred their skins, blood oozed freely from cuts and gashes they sustained from their beatings. They deserved worse, but he wanted to avoid killing them yet. We had to keep them alive to get information about their leader.

Just thinking of what happened yesterday made me want to go in there and kill them all. My wolf had the same idea. Unfortunately, finding their leader was more important than personal gain, before the violence escalated further and got the attention of human authorities.

"Their scent is a bit off!" I commented.

"Yes, they smell similar to those women. I can bet these abominations have been genetically engineered." Daniel replied, grimly.

Different rogue weres had banded together under some crazy fellow, who dared to attack Alpha females.

"At least the Alpha Council is now convinced about your claim. These rogues are just like the abominations other Alphas encountered." Daniel added, he was also shaken by the attack on my sister and his mate, Lenora.

She was attacked while on a run. Fortunately, she wasn't alone, and my sister is a tough fighter.

There were no new killings of humans that we knew of.

"Do you presume their leader did all that in the beginning to get the attention of the Alpha Council, get us off the track, then attack our mates?" I asked.

"He probably thought that capturing Alpha females was an easy game. I am glad it isn't." Daniel said angrily.

The other Alphas were now busy interrogating their own captured rogues. Although the Task Force met to share all information they extracted, they were not any closer to discovering the rogue's lair.

I believed that they were not holed up in only one spot. They kept several hiding places. Finding one would be a great break in our investigation, and put us a step closer to finding the identity of our nemesis.

"Call me if they disclose anything useful," Daniel said and turned back in disgust. I have had enough of their torture, so I followed him out.

"Have you found an abandoned vehicle near your territory?" I asked Daniel as we climbed out of the basement.

"A vehicle?"

"They must have used some form of vehicle to get onto our land, if not, then they travelled here as wolves. They would have left a scent trail that we could track. Although I don't think they would have travelled as wolves, I am sure you would find an abandoned vehicle within a few miles of your park boundaries. We can trace their owners and maybe find some clue."

"Good point, I will ask my betas to look for any abandoned vehicle."

"How are things at your place ?" Daniel asked. "With all the tumult, injured Betas, and the interrogations, I forgot to ask about Alice."

"She is fine, doing better than expected, I suppose. Though, there has been another complication. It may or may not be connected to this. Zaiden, my Beta's son. He is back, he was present during the attack and saved my mate."

Daniel stopped walking and faced me with a horrified expression. "That's fucked up!"

"Yeah, it's complicated! Anyway, forget about it. Where is Lenora? I will leave once I have met her."

***************

Alice -

I stood and watched, a few members of the pack paraded past us, inspecting the new person sitting in the kitchen dining room. Several females seemed very excited to see the new wolf and checked out the tall blonde boy sitting by himself. I had to laugh internally at that, it seemed pack life was already looking up for Zaiden.

He had been released from the clinic and I had to decide where to put him, without endangering his and the pack's safety.

"Zaiden," I called, "where are you spending the night?"

"He can stay with me and Dallas, we have a spare room," Katherine said, smiling at Zaiden.noveldrama

"It's been a long time since I saw you, aunt Katherine. I missed you." Zaiden said softly.

"I missed you too, Zaiden," Katherine smiled back at him while putting the salad on his plate.

"And I missed your food as well," Zaiden excitedly grabbed many fried chicken pieces from the platter.

"You know you will have to face the official interrogation. I have no idea, how bad that's going to be." I said while exchanging a concerned look with Katherine.

"It's fine! I have nothing to hide, and I am used to getting beaten up," he shrugged casually.

"What?" I gasped, Katherine was equally appalled.

Zaiden stopped eating and looked at us," Don't worry, I just meant that I am used to violence. I am a beta, after all." He grinned at me, I felt he was lying.

We shifted topics and Zaiden explained, how he wanted to become a doctor, and hoped that the Crimson Shadow pack would help him in becoming one. Overall, he seemed to be a harmless young wolf. I began to wonder if Killian and Zina were indeed his real parents.

'Alice, what's going on? Are you ok? Where are you?' Lucian spoke through my mental link?

'Lucian, are you back? I'm just fine, having lunch with Katherine, what's wrong?' I said, trying to calm my growling mate.

'I can sense you, Alice, I felt your fear,' he responded.

'It was just in a bit of a shock, I am fine and following all the safety rules.'

'Where are you? I'll come to you,' he said hastily.

It wasn't long before Lucian strode through the huge dining room. There was sudden panic and all heads turned towards him, then bowed down. It was apparent that he was in a bad mood and no one wanted to get on his bad side.

Zaiden was suddenly grabbed and hauled up by Lucian.

"Why are you here with my mate?" Lucian growled. His face was red with fury. "Lucian stop! "I was holding his arm, begging him to free Zaiden.

"It's not his fault, I asked him to have lunch with us. Please, let him go."

Lucian stared at me for a moment, and I glared back at him. He straightened his

shoulders and, to my surprise, left Zaiden's neck.

"Alpha, it's an honour........" Zaiden started to say.

"We are going for the interrogation now!" Lucian growled, then gestured at Damon.

Damon and other betas grabbed Zaiden by his arm.

"Wait, where are you taking him?" I asked, panicked.

"To the basement, of course."

"A conference room would be appropriate, Alpha Lucian," I told my mate.

"Dont test my patience, Alice. I will get this information by the quickest means possible," Lucian said stoically, pointing downstairs.

I knew what was in the basement. The rooms they used to torture information out

of the rogues. He expected to make Zaiden talk the same way. That was wrong and I shouted at Lucian.

"He has saved my life, is that how you plan to repay him?"

"That is yet to be determined."

"The conference rooms will work just as well, Alpha Lucian. I cannot let you do

what you are thinking," I said, getting right in front of Lucian.

I could not, in good conscience, allow him to torture someone who had saved my

life. It wasn't right, and he'd not be happy with himself afterwards.

His behaviour immediately was so out of character. Whatever his reasons, I

refused to let him make a mistake he would regret.

"Are you challenging me, mate ?" Lucian asked, looking down at me.

"I have no desire to fight you. I only request we do this in the conference room,

please." I answered calmly.

'Please Lucian,' I sent into his mind and his green eyes bore into me.

'Try the conference room. What you are thinking of doing is not right.' I said in his mind again.

Lucian held my gaze for several moments and then shifted his eyes back to Damon.

"Take him to the conference room," he commanded.

I turned to look at our prisoner. Zaiden shuddered visibly and his face was ashen.

He knew enough to know what we were discussing. I hoped that my conviction regarding his innocence was right.