The Alpha Rogue and the Geek

Chapter 4

“The invitation still stands, Alpha Ash” reiterated Dean.

“We would be more than happy to welcome you in River Moon Pack,Ash.” Added Taylor.

“If he joins a pack, it should be the Black Moon pack, his legitimate pack. I can train you so that you take over in a couple of years. You are the rightful heir, Ash” declared Mitchell.

Alpha Mitchell is the second cousin of Ash. Their fathers were cousins and leadership of the Black Moon pack naturally fell into the hands of Alpha Mitchell’s father after Alexander was banished and turned rogue for his crimes.

Just like Dean, Mitchell already asked Ash, numerous times, to join his pack. But Ash respectfully declined the offers every single time.

“Thank you to both of you but I cannot accept your offers. Alpha Mitchell, you have been doing a great job leading the Black Moon pack and to me and to your pack members, you are their rightful Alpha. Anyway, it is not in my nature to stick around in our place for too long.”

“Alpha Ash, you are a werewolf, it is in your nature to belong to a pack, not just live alone in the wild.” Pitched Alpha David, insinuating himself into the discussion between Ash, Dean and Mitchell.

All the Alphas and Lunas were gathered in a conference room, putting the final touches to their speeches, and getting ready for the ceremony. They were all baffled by Ash’s insistence on leaving, Goddess know where, as soon as the ceremony ended.

“I still think you should stick around. You never know, you might like the pack life. Your mom and brother and sisters would be happy to spend more time with you” Suggested Taylor.

“I know I am leaving them in perfect hands. And I cannot thank you enough Luna Taylor for welcoming my sisters into your pack with open arms.”

“We are honored to have your sisters as River Moon pack members. After all, it is thanks to your sisters’ persistent that we are here today.” Added Dean smiling.

Indeed, by following their brother and pleading for him to stop this nonsense, the sisters opened the door to a discussion between the rogues and the Silver and River moon leaders. This discussion unveiled the truth and pushed all concerned parties to start a new page.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the ceremony will start in a few minutes. Let’s march to the stage.” Proposed Liam.

The Idaho pack leaders headed towards the stage, erected in the garden, as their Lunas joined the crowd assembling around the stage.

At the same time, a few feet away, Charlotte and Bella drove back, with all the food and drinks salvaged from the broke-down catering van.

“Oh s**t! We are late!” said Bella, seeing everyone heading to the gardens and getting ready for the ceremony.

“Do not worry. The caterer personnel are with us, and they will help us set the food while the ceremony in ongoing. Let’s divide I conquer: I handle the bar, you take care of the food.”

“Nope. Not gonna happen! You will end up “sampling” all the alcohol and set up nothing. I will take the bar.” declared Bella as she grabbed a first package of bottles.

“You are a horrible friend Bella Bailey!” whined Charlotte playfully.

“I am doing that for your own good.” Replied Bella laughing as she walked towards the gardens.

She had to do a couple of back and forth to get all the bottles and was busy setting up the layout on the bar when Charlotte mind-linked her.

“Bella, there is a hottie checking you out on your right.”

“The hottie is a rogue Char. If anything his scent is aggressing my nostrils.” Complained Bella.

“Stop discriminating against rogues and talk with him. I like his bad boy vibes Bella! Go for it!”

“Not gonna happen Char…. What… wait a minute.”

“What is happening?”

Bella could not believe it. She is catching an intoxicating scent, a scent of vanilla like this morning at breakfast but mixed with pinecone smell… Pinecones after a rain in the forest to be exact! Her favorite scent in the world. She used to run to the forest every time it rained in order to breathe and inhale the beautiful smell of soaked greeneries.

Her wolf Gaya was pacing relentlessly in her head.

“Gaya what is happening?”

“Bella, our mate is here!”

“No way! Are you sure!”

“Positive!”

So, this amazing scent is my mate’s scent? Bella was happily surprised by how the Moon goddess got it right. This scent is a combination of her favorite aromas, this scent felt like home for her.

“Char… I… I think I can smell my mate.”  Updated Bella through the mind-link.

“Noooo! Don’t tell me it is the bad boy rogue standing on your right!”

“No, not him.” Huffed Bella as she rolled her eyes.

“The scent seems to be coming from my left… from the people standing at the front, next to the stage.” She added.

“So, what are you waiting for?”

“I have to finish setting the bar and anyway I think it is better to wait for the ceremony to end. I do not want to disturb anyone.”

“I cannot believe you! By Moon Goddess Bella if you do not move your ass and go search for your mate, I will drag you there myself and disturb the entire ceremony.” Ordered Charlotte, facepalming herself at how dense her best friend can be.

“Okay. Okay! Calm down! I will go.”

Bella walked closer to the stage and scrutinized the spectators, trying to identify who is her mate.

“So? Did you find him?”

“Do not stress me Char. You know that my sense of smell is my weak point. I need more time to concentrate and track this exhilarating scent.”

Bella was disappointed because she could not see her mate in the audience.

“Did you look at the stage? Maybe your mate is an Alpha. There are some unmated Alphas up there.” Suggested Charlotte.

Bella doubted she could be mated to an Alpha. She comes from a Gamma family and usually only Betas and Alphas are mated to Alphas. But curiosity got the best of her, and Bella raised her eyes to check the stage when her eyes locked on a breathtaking man.

He looked young, maybe a couple of years old of her and was sporting a cool skater haircut with long messy fringes in the front. His eyes were dark brown, and they commended respect. Actually, his whole aura was intimidating yet attractive. She was already drawn to him, and the soulmate bond was pushing her to walk closer to the stage and get a better look at her mate.

Bella never saw him before. She tried to guess which pack he might be leading when she saw a girl standing next to him and leaning in to whisper in his ears. Bella had to control her wolf from running on stage and punching this girl sending her flying away from her mate.

“I just met the guy, and you are already jealous!” Bella scolded her wolf.

“… And Alpha Ash, thank you for leading the rogues into this new era”. Alpha Liam was addressing the audience and the alphas.

Her mate is a Rogue! The leader of the Rogue! The Alpha Rogue who wanted to remain a Rogue! This cannot be happening. There is no way Bella would go rogue just because her mate wanted to lead such a depraved life.

Bella did not have time to dwell on this devastating news as she noticed the rogue raising his nose and sniffing the air.

Fuck Fuckiry f**k! Bella turned her back to the stage, and to her mate as she closed her eyes trying to control her emotions.

He cannot see me… He cannot see me… she chanted trying to reassure herself that even if her mate might have caught a glimpse of her scent, he cannot know it was her scent.

She looked around her, thinking of a way out, and noticed that the pack members were not just standing there listening to the Alphas’ speeches. Some were mingling, others were walking around, some were coming in, others were leaving…

If she played her cards right, she might be able to leave without raising any suspicion.

But where would she go? If he smelled her scent, he would come for her, right? Or maybe not... He is a rogue after all; he might not want a mate since he wanted to continue living on the road.

Yes, maybe she is panicking for nothing. She tried to relax but caught some movement with her side eye.

Her smelling sense might not be strong, but all her other senses are fully developed. She felt some of the rogues scrutinizing the crowd. Did he already mind-link his people to look for his mate? No one is walking towards her yet, which means her mate did not see her.

“Did you find him?” asked Charlotte through the mind-link.

Bella did not have time to answer her friend. She was trying to come up with a plan. She thought that she can still run away. But to go where? If they are scanning the crowd, her mate might not stop until they find her. What is she going to do? She cannot stay held up in her room forever. She needed a thorough plan, but she did not have time to think.

She started wandering around, talking with some of her friends, and walking further away from the stage, eyeing the packhouse entrance. She tried to be as discreet as possible but was startled when someone grabbed her wrist.

“No! I was so close! Please Moon Goddess” gasped Bella, begging the Moon Goddess to free her from this mate bond.