FATAL CLAIM

Chapter 6

DYLAN

I stared at Aubrey as she spoke to the Alpha and Luna, she said she was ready to tell us what had happened. After we had found her, she had returned to her pack for some time to be alone.

"When I found out Ace was my mate, I got scared and thought that he would use me against the pack, so I rejected him and ran," she explained. "I was never a part of this pack, so my ties never broke off with my own pack as my parents had willingly sent me here, I know I should have said something when I returned nine months ago, but I hope you understand I needed time away," she sighed.

"But where have you been all these months? Your parents told us you left months ago," Serena asked her.

"I was with my parents for a few months, then I went out into the human territories just to clear my mind," She shrugged.

Adrian had not said a word through all of it and just gave a curt nod.

"And Luna," she turned to Serena. "I know that we didn't really start off on the right foot, but I never meant to get between you two," she gestured towards Adrian and Serena smiled in response.

"It's okay," Serena responded and I sighed in relief. Thank god there's no more drama between them. I looked at Adrian and he seemed to be in deep thoughts.

Once Serena had excused herself and Aubrey to take to her room, I raised my brow at him. Daniel wasn't here, otherwise he would have already made a remark on Adrian's long face.

"What's wrong?" I sighed.

"Why is she back now?"

"What are you-" he cut me off before I could finish.

"She could have come back months ago, why now?"

"As she said, she just needed time to clear her head," I shrugged and he sighed as he leaned back in his seat.

I think he thought she had a motive to come back here but I doubted that. Nobody knew Ace was still alive besides Adrian, Serena, Daniel, Ric and myself. But her timings were off. It had been nine months after all.

"Just, keep an eye on her," Adrian gestured at the door and I nodded.

"I'll ask Ric to do that, he'll do it better then any of us," I chuckled. Adrian nodded his head with a smile. He must have been thinking of how Ric shifts into different animals to spy on people. He really had it all.

"Anyways, I should go back to the borders," I stood up, Adrian nodded before I walked out of his office. 

I was heading towards the front door but Aubrey called out my name from her doorway as I was passing by.

"Hey," I smiled awkwardly. I had never been close to Aubrey but we did talk sometimes before she had gone missing.

"How's Caterina?" She asked and I cleared my throat.

"I wouldn't know, she's no longer a part of this pack," I replied with a cold edge to my voice and she nodded her head.

"And the girl in the woods.." she trailed off and I smiled.

"Just a friend," I replied.

"Right," she nodded.

"Well, I have to head out, but you should get some rest," I said before walking out.

I walked back to the borders, and sent the guard I had called away.

Aubrey's questions unsettled me, either she really didn't know anything or she knew everything. She mentioned going into the human territories, as far as I knew, that's where Caterina had decided to go to. Maybe they met.

I guarded the borders till sunrise, Max came along to takeover and I walked back to the pack house. My room was on the last floor, along with the alpha and gammas. Daniel had moved out though since the birth of his kids. I'm sure the alpha and luna would move soon as well. Adrian had been thinking about it, but I'm not sure when he's going to do it.

I passed by their room, the door was wide open and I halted in my step.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I stared at the huge mess on the bed.

"Well, Adrian was working late, so I decided to sort some of his paperwork," she shrugged.

"At 4 in the morning?" I ran my hand through my hair as I looked at all the papers scattered around her room.

"I couldn't sleep," she replied without looking up from the file she had her nose buried in.

"Are you okay?" I asked with confusion.

"Yes if course!" She replied. "I've made two piles," she pointed at the floor. "The new arrivals from the royal household, and the men who found their mates from other packs. The second one is all the unmated females whose mates are in other packs," She explained.

"Uhuh..." I trailed off, not exactly getting her point.

She sighed as she threw me a deadpanned look. "The big gathering Adrian has kept next month, I want to invite a lot of people so these unmated wolves can find their respective mates," she shrugged.

"You're tryna get rid of them?" I laughed.

"No," she laughed. "There's the third pile," she pointed at the scattered files on the floor. "Those are deceased pack members who never found their mates," She replied. "And I think it's not fair that they never got a chance to look for their mate, that's why, when Adrian will accept his place as the Alpha king next month, I want packs from everywhere to join," She said.

"Not a bad idea, but you're going to have to convince Adrian," I commented.

"That won't be hard," She smirked and I shook my head.

"I feel bad for him," I laughed.

"No need, he's going to agree, this pack needs space for new arrivals," she said and I did agree with her.

Since Adrian was first in line for the throne, his father entire pack fell upon us, and it's become really tough. Besides that, the second in line wasn't of much use.

"I'm going to bed, but have fun," I pointed at the mess before entering my own room.

I had put on clothes when I had bought Aubrey here, so I decided to just sleep in these. I picked up my phone to see a message from Mia. She was asking if everything was okay.

I smiled at the screen as I thought back to what happened tonight. She really was crazy. And I felt bad for a her betrothed. The poor guy has no idea what a handful he's about to receive.

I replied to her messages, informing her that everything was okay and she didn't have to worry about anything.

'At least he's getting someone,' My wolf chuckled referring to Ryan and I shook my head.

'Did I not tell you to get all these ideas out of your head?' I sighed.

'What? She's pretty to look at,' He grinned.

'Go back to sulking, you're better that way,' I groaned.

I blocked him out, as I shut my eyes to let sleep over come me.