You Promised Me, Alpha!

A Spell

Still Alpha Romero’s POV

From the raised stage, I stared over the pack that had responded in large numbers to my father's call for this meeting.

There was much speculation about Louise’s disappearance, her parents sat in the front row. Their eyes were red-rimmed; it was clear they were grieving for their daughter.

The meeting hadn't started yet, so I headed down the stairs to Head Warrior Henry, his mate, and their son. Mykel was my best friend, and when his father retired, he would succeed him.

As I approached them, I could almost feel their aura turning hostile, but they suppressed it. Humiliating the future Alpha would not work in their favor.

"Head Warrior, auntie. I am so sorry for what happened," I apologized. "I did not behave like a gentleman; I should have taken Louise home. And then we would know where she was now." The regret in my voice was genuine; I had known these people all my life. It was definitely embarrassing to admit that I had casual s*x with their daughter.

"Is she your fated mate?" the man before me asked now, somewhat reproachfully. I could understand his reaction; Louise was his only daughter, and of course, protecting her image was his top priority.

"I don't know that, uncle. You know it's not until I'm 21 that I can find out who my mate is," I reminded him. "But we had a connection and planned to continue our relationship. This whole issue embarrasses me." I felt the couple relaxing now; I had shifted the blame of their dissolute daughter on myself. Everyone in the pack knew that Louise wasn't choosy about whom she slept with and therefore tended to ignore my part in her disappearance.

When I got back to the stage, my parents were just arriving with Beta Eric in their wake. My father's face was expressionless as I read the usual adoration in my mother's eyes. Dad immediately took the microphone and did the usual pleasantries.

"Eclipse Howl, I only have one son and although I'd like him to present me with his Luna in three years, things haven't really been working out with his love life recently," Alpha Thoseo, my father, started hilariously, obviously to ease the tension in the room. "Every she-wolf he approaches for a date so far either moves out of the pack or avoids him. And that brings me to Louise, the daughter of our head warrior."

All eyes fell on me now, many full of pity, a few judgmental.

At the back of the room, there was a group of unmated she-wolves eagerly gazing at me. All wished to be my Luna when the time came, but shied away from having anything to do with me for now. It was my father's authority that kept the pack from coming up with a nickname for me because of my failures.

Just now, Jace rushed in and sat next to me, richly late for the meeting. Taking a sniff, I knew exactly the reason for his late arrival. Shaking my head along, this Beta just couldn't seem to stay away from the she-wolves. Now that I was out of reach, they focused fully on Jace, who was enjoying all the attention and making sure he was getting good at it.

"I think I have a candidate. She's great to put on the act for us," he whispered to me enthusiastically. I rolled my eyes.

"Did you still find time for that in the middle of your busy schedule?" I dryly remarked. "Is she your latest flavor of the month?" He chuckled and leaned back.

"No, I don’t stay that long. And she would only cause more problems for us. Never mix business with pleasure, it always ends badly. But this one I’m telling you about is reliable and definitely talented. And you know her."

"Will you finally tell me her name, Beta?" I asked skeptically. He knew I was terribly curious about this plan and obviously wanted to keep the suspense going for me.

"Meg. Megan Smith, the Principal's daughter!" He sounded reproachful as if he expected me to have guessed long ago. Frowning, I turned to him; my Beta really thought I could read minds.

"Look, she's sitting in the third row wearing a deep pink blouse. Loriann is sitting next to her, you know her too, that perpetually silent girl," he chuckled, beckoning with his eyes.

I turned in the direction he was pointing and indeed I saw Meg sitting there, listening intently to my father. And when I looked next to her, I saw Lori there relaxed as always. My breath stilled the longer my eyes stayed on her. There was something mysterious about this girl, but I couldn't put my finger on it. She was low-key, was always in Meg's company, and had never risen to prominence. She went about her business quietly in the pack, I was sure few really knew her.

A sigh of alarm spilled through the room, I tore my gaze from Lori and looked at my father. I missed his last comment, but I was sure he'd repeat it if it was that important enough.

"Beta Eric, the Head Warrior, and I have come to the conclusion that a spell must be active here. We have studied all the collected material from the investigation. Someone may have hired a witch to make my son's life miserable, probably out of jealousy," I heard Dad explain hard. "But we are going to get to the bottom of it. We'll get Xanna, the white witch, to come here and expose the person."

He paused his speech for a moment to let his words sink into the audience.

“Whomever it may be doing this, come to me yourself and confess. You have until tomorrow afternoon to do so. After that, the consequences are your responsibility,” he added venomously.

I blinked a few times, never having thought of this option.

"Jace!" I whispered disconcertedly. But when I looked beside me, I saw him staring at the Alpha with his jaw on the floor….