Elijah POV
“…a ghost.”
“I know what it sounds like, Alpha,” Terry said, scratching the back of his head, “But there’s not really another explanation. I mean, she was just one wolf, but she was unlike anything I’d ever seen! She had these big, glowing purple eyes- and when I tried to hold my ground, it was like she called the night to back her up. And then, this big eye opened right over us- I mean, it was bigger than us!”
I massaged my temples. I didn’t have time for ghost stories- I had to see Rosalia off in less than an hour, and again, my head was throbbing like nothing else. Without her around to ease my tensions, I wasn’t sure what I could do about it either, other than bother the medics.
The last migraine medicine they tried on me made me completely unable to do even the barest basic paperwork; my vision swam so badly the words ran together and my body barely wanted to move. I wasn’t exactly overeager to try the next best thing.
“Right,” I said, pushing myself up out of my chair. “I’ll add investigate ghost sighting on my list of high priority tasks.”
“Alpha, I’m serious- I wasn’t alone, my partner and I both saw her! And she could talk to us! What’s up with that?” he said.
I frowned. A ghost sighting from one young gamma was a joke- a ghost sighting from a young gamma and his more experienced partner was maybe a concern. “I want written statements out of both you and your partner on my desk by the end of the day. I’ll follow up when I see what’s written.”
Relief flooded his expression. “Thank you, Alpha. This expansion is getting… weird. Already.”
I could tell as much.
I’d ordered the charms and things collected from the zoning site, and they were… odd to say the least. I’d emailed the local coven already with photos attached, but they had yet to get back with me. I didn’t blame them- I couldn’t remember a time my father ever collaborated with them.
Though there was someone that had helped him once- in the early days of our pack. A shame I hadn't been able to find her contact information, or even her name.
“Alright. Get some rest today and be ready for your next shift,” I said. “We’ll pull you away from the zoning site for now, until we can be assured that it’s clear. And I’ll issue a strict warning to stay within pack borders after dusk.”
He nodded, “Thank you Alpha. Truly.”
I stood from my seat and followed him out, heading upstairs to take another dose of Excedrin. Human medicines didn’t work as well on werewolves, but for the time being, it was what I had.
My suite had been cleaned of all traces of Rosalia. My personal desk had been turned into a make-up counter, but she’d taken back her mirror and all her products. The clothes she kept in my closet were gone, and her underwear was left in my drawer. It was hard not to feel a little bitter, but I was doing my best to swallow it. At least, until we parted ways.
Her mate, Beta Miguel Ricar, was a very well known man. He had a lot of connections in a lot of packs, and was said to be so powerful he could easily seize the title of Alpha if he so desired, but he respected his Alpha too much to do so. It was a good match for Rosalia, who was diligent and kind.
I lay down, setting an alarm for the time I was supposed to see her off and let myself doze off.
I had the strangest dream.
I was in the woods, outside of our territory. There was a girl who smelled like smoke and sage, with beautiful violet eyes that seemed to glow in the moonlight.
Those eyes reflected my loneliness so well, I could fall into them and never return.
She was calling out for me, reaching out like she needed me desperately, yet something in the shadows had a grip on her. No- the shadows themselves had a grip on her, like a giant fist wrapped around her waist, holding her in place, refusing to let her meet me halfway.
I ran for her, but as I ran, the ground began disappearing under my feet. I found myself falling into a pit that swallowed light, and I remained in that pit until Jerome shook me awake.
“Dude, what the f**k?” he said, when I finally jerked awake, bolting upright. “It was almost like you’d stopped breathing there for a minute.”
I felt sweaty and sick. “I had the weirdest dream,” I said, rubbing my forehead. My headache had subsided a bit. “There was this girl with purple eyes… in the woods… and a pit?”
Jerome looked at me like I’d lost it- and I couldn’t blame him. Maybe I had.
“Right. Well. Rosalia’s mate is here to pick her up. You should probably go say your final goodbyes.”
I bolted upright, “What? He shouldn’t be here until…” I looked at my phone. My alarms had both gone off, but I’d slept through them. It was actually an hour past the time he’d been scheduled to pick her up.
I ran a hand through my hair and jogged down the stairs to the landing of the packhouse, where Rosalia was in her father’s tear-filled embrace. “I’ll miss you so much, my little rosebud. Call whenever you feel like. And visit often!”
“I will, papa,” she said, squeezing him back. The Beta’s assistants were loading her suitcases into the back of her car, and when she caught my scent in the breeze, she stiffened and turned towards me.
It had been four days since the New Moon Ball. She hadn’t crossed my path once in that time, focusing her energy on saying goodbye to her friends and family, packing, and settling any and all last minute business. She hadn’t collected her things herself, rather, asked an omega girl to come gather it for her. It had been an insult, but one I understood.
“Just came to say goodbye,” I said, offering the brightest smile I could manage.
She bit her lip and approached. “Elijah, I know you’re next. I feel it in my heart so deeply,” she said, reaching her hand out for mine.
I took it delicately, well aware that her mate was looking at me like I’d just made love to her in front of him. “Sure,” I said. “Don’t you worry about me. Put all your energy into building your new life over there. I hope he makes you happy.”
“He will,” she said, so full of confidence that I couldn’t help but believe her. “Elijah, we were such fools to think we could replace our fated mates. The bond is… it’s so much unlike anything I expected, and yet, it’s everything everyone has said it is. It’s beautiful, and powerful, and…” she held her cheeks, blushing. “You’ll learn when you meet your mate.”
“Sure,” I said, again. I didn’t want to tell her that, without my Plan B, I was adrift without hope.
She lingered for a moment, then started to turn away from me.
I started to leave myself, knowing I wouldn’t be able to watch her get into that car with another man. I was surprised to feel her throw her arms around my waist, burying her face in my side. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, squeezing me tightly. “I’m so sorry to leave you alone.”
If I weren’t numb, that might have elicited an emotional response from me.
Instead, I patted the top of her head. “Don’t be. Go live your life. I wish you the very best.”
She pulled herself away and nodded, wiping away a rogue tear. “I’ll visit.”
I didn’t turn to face her as I uttered the words, “I, Alpha Elijah Wilde, release you from your pack obligations and duties, Rosalia Parker. You are no longer a member of the Jade Moon Pack.”
The severing of the bond was a painful event, but I didn’t allow myself to flinch. Rosalia staggered on her feet, clutching her chest. It hurt me to hurt her, but it was necessary for her to change packs. I went inside the packhouse and breezed through the entry hall to the kitchens, then out the back patio doors. I started speeding up, then jogging, then sprinting. I considered shifting, but didn’t want to shred my clothes.
Instead, I just kept moving in a straight line, until I found myself in the area being zoned for clearing. The trees due to be cut down were spray-painted with red Xs, and little flags were planted where strange objects had been found.
“Alpha,” one of the workers greeted, waving as if surprised to see me. His nose wrinkled a bit as he took in my attire, “Strange outfit for a jog.”
“Yeah, well,” I looked down at myself. I was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Not exactly what my father might have called Alpha Attire, and certainly not something someone might expect a jogger to wear. “The urge just struck, I guess,” I lied.
“Are you here to look into the mountain ghost?” he pressed. “I can show you exactly where Terry and Jay saw her.”
While I didn’t necessarily want to see this Mountain Ghost, it was as good a cover as I was going to get. “Yeah,” I lied. “Take me by there, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course!” he said, beaming. He proceeded to chatter my ear off about the problems they’d been having. Perfectly good power tools malfunctioning, tools disappearing after falling out of sight for mere seconds- and accidents. Already, three wolves had to take the day off because of injuries sustained before they’d even started chopping trees.
I had been half-listening at first, but it was starting to sound more serious. Werewolves weren’t easily injured. Maybe this land was cursed.
Father had warned us away from the mountain in the past.
“This is the spot,” the omega builder said, motioning.
There was a scent in the air.
Smoke and sage.
Just like my dream.
I waved him away. “I’ll look around on my own. You should get back to work. And make sure I get a copy of any accidents that occur. Even if they’re minor.”
“Yes, Alpha,” he said, nodding his head before turning and leaving.
I tried to follow the scent.
It felt like it permeated this space. And though the area wasn’t our territory, it almost seemed as though it was someone else’s- which was impossible. A territory needed an Alpha to keep its boundaries secured. And I would know if there were another wolf pack this near.
Wolves were highly territorial- so much so, that it was unheard of for territories to be within miles of each other, much less nearly overlapping like this.
Something wasn’t right.
I walked up the path to the peak and noticed a bunch of painted signs directing people back down the mountain. I’d never been up this far, but I was certain that they weren’t my father’s doing either.
And there was that scent concentrated around them- smoke and sage.
My steps hurried, and I noticed my heart pounding in my chest. It wasn’t fear or apprehension, though.
It was excitement.
Or, at least, I thought it was. Until my vision blurred, and the ground moved away below me. I barely felt myself hit the ground, but I could hear distinctive footsteps approaching. Just as I was slipping into unconsciousness, I heard a soft voice mutter, “You again?”