Derek's POV
The next day, while I was engrossed in work at the packhouse, Alvin approached me with a cheerful look in his eyes.
He was a wizard when it came to getting things done. According to him, he headed straight to the Council of Elders right after I gave the order, handing Hope Ranch over to the Silver Moon Pack the very day.
To boost credibility, he even had the Council of Elders inform Tabitha about it.
I gave him a thumbs-up after he finished his words.
"Alpha Derek, I'm sure Tabitha'll be grateful about it." His voice was dripping with glee.
I remained silent, just tapping my fingers on the desk, the sound crisp and clear.
I wasn't sure how I felt, actually. Part of me wanted Tabitha to see I was helping out, yet another part didn't wanna admit I gave a damn about her feelings.
Masking the turmoil in my mind, I instructed Alvin, "Fetch me Matthew's report. I needa review the details again."
A few days ago, I had located Matthew and even got in touch with him.
I even sent him John's pathology report.
Apart from giving some solid advice, he also agreed to take the lead in John's surgery.
The only problem was, he was in LA, not Seattle.
So I planned to head there myself, just to make sure nothing went wrong.
Alvin promptly handed me the report, saying, "I've got everything lined up with Matthew. Now we just gotta sort your flight and itinerary."
I examined the report, nodding as I replied, "Make it quick. I wanna get moving ASAP."
Tabitha was gonna be stoked seeing Matthew.
Catching myself smiling at the thought, I quickly dismissed it.
Why the hell would I care about if she'd be happy?
I was just doing it to keep her on a short leash, to twist the knife a bit more.
Just as Alvin was about to book the flight, Rolf burst in, his face etched with urgency.
"Alpha Derek, we've got rogue thieves," he told me.
I waved him off with a flick of my hand. "Report to me after you handle it."
We'd got a huge turf, so rogues pop up now and then. But it was no big deal, as our guards were tough as nails.
To my surprise, Rolf didn't budge. "It happened in the northwest corner, the off-limits area," he piped up.
I immediately sprang to my feet. It was where Randall was buried—the reason why I forbid any pack members from going there.
"Let's go!" I shouted, running out of the door with him.
We hustled through the pack's domain, our steps echoing in the silence.
The moon bathed the land in a silver light, guiding our way.
Soon, we spotted rogue tracks.
Rolf and I shared a look—no words needed as years of teamwork had forged an unspoken bond.
We split up, creeping up on the unwelcome guests.
Suddenly, a shadow lunged at me from a corner.
I dodged, clawing the rogue's face hard.
Yelping in pain, it stumbled back.
I turned my head and saw Rolf fighting another. We were like hunters in the night.
After a rough tussle, I took one down, leaving it lying still at my feet.
About to help Rolf, I let my guard down.
Seizing the chance, a rogue, lurking in the dark, struck from behind with silent ferocity.
A searing pain shot through my shoulder as it clawed through my clothes, tearing my skin.
I roared, unleashing my Alpha aura out of rage.
It tried to fight, but in the face of my power, resistance was pointless.
So it just fled, leaving its friends.
I stood there panting, the sting of the wound sharp and fresh.
"Check the area. Make sure there are no more rogues," I commanded.
While Rolf left to carry out my order, I limped to Randall's grave, enduring the pain.
He was the former Beta's son, Elena's brother. And he died protecting me.
Looking at the photo on the gravestone, I was filled with guilt and respect. "Randall, rest assured. I vow to look after your family. And I'll never break it."
The night's gentle breeze played upon my cheeks, like a whisper of his reply.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to Rolf, ordering, "Beef up the patrols here. Keep it secure."
Rolf nodded solemnly. "I'm on it."
Back at the packhouse, I saw Kamp standing before my desk. Hearing my footsteps, he turned around and said, "Let me dress your wound."
I waved my hand, refusing, "It's fine." It was okay for me to handle a minor injury like this on my own.
Just as I was heading back to my room, Alvin rushed in, worry written all over his face.
"Matthew ghosted us," he said.