The Alpha's Ghost Bride

Chapter 10 – The Rogue scent

Alpha Jake

I stood in the shadows of the Crest Moon Pack mansion, watching the gathering with quiet intensity. Jay—that was who I had to be today. No one would recognize me, not with the mask and the way I carried myself.

The disguise worked flawlessly, but my mission was far from over. I had to blend in, observe, and continue investigating. My enemies were hiding in plain sight, and I needed to uncover who they were before it was too late.

Gary said, "We need to add more names to the list of suspects. Lyndon, Sheldon, Triston—the former elders. We saw them very happy to see you having a funeral. They had motives when your father died, remember? Just like Elder Marlon, Victor, and Simon. Any of them could have wanted the Alpha position."

I nodded, my jaw tight. "We need evidence, though. If one of them is behind the attack, we need to prove it."

Gary’s gaze drifted to the front, where Megan stood, pale and fragile, like a flower wilting in the shadows. "Look at her," he murmured. "No one wants to be a ghost bride. She looks like she was forced into this."

I swallowed hard. I had noticed it too—the sorrow in her eyes, the way her shoulders sagged as though she carried the weight of the world on them. "I feel her pain," I admitted quietly.

Gary glanced at me, something unreadable in his eyes. "Yeah, so what if she’s our mate? Could explain why we feel her pain like that."

I tensed. "I’m not sure if she’s ordinary. There’s something… different about her."

Gary sniffed the air and frowned. "Well, she doesn’t smell like she has a wolf. If she has one, we surely smell and feel it, but she looks powerless and weak."

I exhaled slowly. "I’ll find out more later. I’ll approach her as Jay, pretend I’m one of my own warriors. It’s too risky to let her know who I am right now."

Gary nodded in agreement. "You’re right. If she can be trusted, you’ll need to find out without revealing yourself. Be careful. You don’t want to give too much away. We still have no idea who is the enemy and who is the are."

I turned my attention to Lucas, focusing on our mental link. "Lucas," I started, "I need your help. I’m going to meet Megan as Jay. Can you take her to her new room, make sure she’s settled in?"

Lucas’s voice came through clear and respectful. "Understood, Alpha. I’ll take care of her, and you can do what you need with your bride."

Gary’s quiet laughter echoed in my mind. "Sounds like fun."

I mentally shook my head, trying to stay focused. "We need to figure out if she can be trusted. Focus, both of you. Don’t get ahead of yourselves."

After our brief exchange, I slipped the blue potion ball into my mouth, chewing it until I felt the familiar tingle that cloaked me in invisibility. I moved up the grand staircase, being hidden in the shadows. My thoughts kept returning to Megan. She was vulnerable, confused. But I had to know where her loyalties lay.

I reached the third floor and saw Lucas guiding her. Megan’s steps were hesitant, and her eyes darted around as though she expected danger at every corner. Lucas stopped in front of the center door. "This is your room," he said gently, gesturing to the left. "That’s Alpha Jake’s room. And the one on the right is mine."

Megan’s eyes widened when she saw her new room. It wasn’t just a room—it was practically a complete house. I watched as her lips parted in astonishment, her hands shaking slightly as she stepped inside.

"From now on, no one can hurt you here," Lucas reassured her.

Tears glistened in Megan’s eyes as she wiped them away. "Thank you," she whispered. "I didn’t expect this."

Lucas handed her a box. "There’s a new phone in there. My number’s saved. If you need anything, call me."

For the first time, Megan smiled, a soft, broken smile. "Thank you," she said again, her voice trembling.

Lucas nodded, his tone kind. "I’ll send Cindy to you later. She’ll be your personal maid. For now, rest."

I watched silently as Lucas left, leaving Megan alone in the room. Her exhaustion was clear as she sank onto the plush chair, her body tense.

Gary’s whisper cut through my thoughts, "There’s something in the closet."

I stiffened, my senses sharp. I moved closer, following the faint pull of danger that lingered in the air. The scent of a rogue werewolf filled my nostrils. I opened the closet door carefully, searching for any signs of a threat.

Gary’s voice came through urgently. "I’m sensing a rogue presence. It’s strong."

I scanned the room, my eyes narrowing. "That means someone inside the pack is helping them."

Gary’s concern matched my own. "If a rogue’s in the mansion, we’re dealing with an inside job. We need to tread carefully."

I clenched my fists, anger surging through me. "Someone here is betraying the pack. They’re working with the rogues against me."

Gary’s voice was firm. "We can’t reveal too much yet. If we move too soon, we’ll alert them."

I took a deep breath, trying to control the fury that bubbled beneath the surface. "I need to figure out who’s behind this. I’ll keep an eye on the guests, see if anyone shows signs of collusion."

Gary’s warning echoed in my mind. "Don’t get careless, this is bigger than we thought. It seems not only one, but maybe a group is the one who wants to steal the throne."

I nodded, my mind racing. I had to uncover the traitor within the pack. The rogue scent still lingered, faint but unmistakable, but before I could investigate further, a noise behind me froze me in place.

I spun around just as the door to Megan’s room creaked open slowly. A shadowy figure stepped into the room, and my breath caught in my throat.

The figure moved silently, slipping further into the darkness.