FINN

The moonbinding ceremony is just this night. The night where wolves meet to get that much anticipated physical contact with their mates and can not wait to spend the rest of their lives with them.

“Funny how I don’t bond well with my mate. She sees me like some kind of intimidating and arrogant Alpha but I don’t blame her. She is still very young to feel the mate bond.” The file laid open on my desk, names of packs I manage as the Alpha king staring right into my face.

“Philip,” I called the omega boy I have somehow come to like. “Alpha Finn,” Philip rushed over and bowed in respect. “How many packs are we supposed to visit today?” Philip prepares my schedules whenever Julien happens to be busy with other stuff.

“Considering we have the moonbinding ceremony this evening, all schedules for today have been postponed until everything is done with.” I nodded at his thoughtfulness.

For about a year or two now I’ve been unable to join in the moonbinding ceremony and that’s because I know my mate is still quite young and I wouldn’t be paired with anyone. One other reason is because I want to protect my mate from my mistresses, most especially Camille. Camile happens to be my first mistress and we met during the moonbinding four years ago. We both were quite unlucky and decided to not drown in sadness but cheer each other up. She is not bad looking but kinda scary when she gets angry.

“I’d like to borrow you for a second Alpha.” That was the sweet yet emotionless voice of Camille. “What is so urgent that requires my attention?” I usually have this cold domineer whenever I am around her and I realized she enjoyed that part of me.

“I bet you wouldn’t like everyone in the pack or out to know of the murder that just happened.” My eyes darted straight to hers, brows furrowing in confusion and ear drums spinning.

“What did you just say?” I got out of my seat this time around. Murder is a serious and dangerous crime around this area. Anyone caught in such an act gets served with two things — Death and….Death. “You might need your ears washed if you didn’t hear that.” Camille bluntly said and shrugged right after.

“Do not insult my intelligence." I was overwhelmed, confused and somehow, anger was brewing within. “Then act like your intelligence. I said what I said. Take it anyhow you want to.” Just like that she turned to leave, her heel making an annoying clicking sound but she stopped halfway to the exit. “If you care to know, the location is the hallway… just in the open.” She vanished just like she came in.

A murder? Ever since I took over the pack there is hardly any news about a crime but today, this hits hard. Who was murdered and why?

After realizing I had already wasted enough time, I dragged my feet to the kitchen lost in thought about this whole murder case but one thing surprised me. Camille was not one to report crimes and not do anything about it. I will give her an accolade for being just like me but well…kind of more than me but has some sort of humanity when it comes to certain things. I mean this is murder for Christ sake and she could have just helped the victim! My mind kept telling me this could be a joke but my wolf said otherwise.

“Camille will never joke about stuff like this Finn.” My wolf, Damien, refuted. “Just maintain that Alpha aura, get in there and see what to do next.” I nodded, putting all thoughts aside and headed to the kitchen. About ten steps later, Freya walked past me as though I was invisible.

“A bow of respect wouldn’t kill you, Freya.” I angrily said, stupidly expecting she will turn and do the needful but who the hell I’m I to get that from Freya Moonstone, that arrogant annoying little sister of my best friend Julien. To the world, she was naive and got walked over but when it comes to me, her arrogance and stubborness is all over the place. It took me some minutes to realize she was also headed the same way I was. Could it be that she has also heard about the murder? On a second thought, she didn’t look like someone who has.

“You know that mate of ours is no fool to walk into a murder. I bet she is not even aware.” Damien defended. “ You know her friend is stationed at the kitchen and that route leads to the kitchen too, remember?” I nodded in agreement. I’ve had Freya followed for the past three years when she was brought in by Julien. My wolf and I had become so restless the night after she was introduced to us by my Beta and best friend as his…sister. Damn! I finally got a mate but she is a freaking child and I don’t do kids. I’m no pedophile in fact, I hate pedos with all my heart and wouldn’t hesitate to punish them but thankfully, I’ve not had an encounter with a case like that.

“Zara!” A scream tore through the hallway and I recognized that voice to be that of Miss Phyllis. That was my cue that something was indeed wrong. I gave Philip the kind of sign whenever I needed him to go ahead of me. I strode towards the kitchen with the same aura I carry everywhere. Even though this is murder, I can’t be seen running around like a mad Alpha. I don’t want that as my history later when I’m dead and gone.

The next scene? The very innocent looking Freya sat on the floor looking detached and out of the world with blood soaked hands.Then my gaze moved to Zara laying in almost dried blood, eyes dilated and face pale. From a single glance you could tell she was already gone and nothing was ever going to save her.

“What happened here?!” My presence brought silence to the hallway. The whispers seized and Freya turned to look at me with a look of recognition in her eyes. I knew she felt it too… the same feeling I had when I met her. She finally recognized me as her mate but this time, in an unexpected situation.

“She murdered my Zara. My innocent baby!” Miss Phylis screamed, her voice laced with pain. “Freya murdered her!” I could sense the hatred coming from her at the mention of Freya but something was wrong. I could sense foul play but I just couldn’t place my hand on it.

“Freya walked past you moments ago. Do you think she did what you are staring at?” My wolf was at it again and of course he wasn’t wrong. There is a loop somewhere I need to fix but for the meantime, I will do what everyone in the pack will expect from their Alpha. Without wasting much time or even trying to listen to Freya’s side of the story, I did the most stupid thing ever.

“We will follow the normal procedure, Freya. Investigation– Interrogation and Judgement.” That wasn’t what I wanted but there is nothing I can do. “To the dungeon now!”

My command seems to have knocked something in her. Freya stared at me with an expression I couldn’t read but this was me protecting my pack instead of my mate. The biggest mistake of my entire life.

Just when we all thought everything was over, Julien pushed through the crowd, looking all sweaty and gasping for breath.

“What did I just–” Just then, his eyes darted to the already dead Zara. Slowly, he moved closer to Zara’s body, dropped onto his knees and screamed.

“MATE!” Julien growled in despair. The day was dark, as dark as the blood moon.