The Alpha's Rebel

Chapter 42

I've started running a lap around the pack border every morning in my wolf form. The fifty miles has provided an excellent way to release pent up stress I've accumulated through the night and start my days off right. Sometimes Lea joins me when her main training focus for the day is cardio, but on days when she doesn't, Maddox does. After my run, I head to the training facility and train with Lea, Maddox, or both.

We haven't heard anything from the High Council or the Wild Fangs, and Maddox and I are both barely hanging on to the sliver of hope we had when we talked to Etta. Our anxiety it increasing, and we're not the only ones.

Now that the pack knows about the hunter, everyone's on edge. There haven't been any more arrows, and no one else has been murdered, but no one thinks for a second that the hunter is gone. Lea has upped training for the entire pack in the hopes that, if the time comes, they can defend themselves to the best of their abilities. When she's not training with me, she's busy overseeing training of the rest of the pack.

I spend a lot of time with Maddox in his office, calling other alphas to see if they know anything about hunters, or in the library, scrounging every book for any mention of hunters are how to hide our scent. Both tasks have failed tremendously, and since calling Etta, we haven't made any sort of breakthrough.

It's been pure and utter torture.

I feel helpless, like I'm failing my entire pack.

I'm sitting alone in the library right now, a dozen books splayed out on the table in front of me with nothing of use to me. I've been at it for hours, and I'm becoming agitated and antsy. I need to move. Do something. Anything.

Another run sounds like a great idea, so I put the books back where I found them all and head outside. I shift into my wolf and take off for the border, planning to check in with border control to see how they're doing and if they've found anything.

The first guard I stop at is Matthew. Ever since Jude died, he's been on his A game (not that he wasn't already); he only takes a break when absolutely necessary and is constantly checking in on the pack members he is in charge of. Knowing how seriously he is taking the threat of the hunter has released a hell of a lot of weight for Maddox and I. Of the endless list of things we have on our plate, knowing our border patrol is doing exactly what they need to be doing is one thing we don't have to worry about.

I shift back into my human form when I reach Matthew. "Hey, Luna," he greets with a smile, bowing his head. The greeting is quick, his attention quickly returning to the forest beyond our pack border.

I grin, "Matthew, how many times do I have to tell you to not call me luna. I'm way too young for that."

Matthew chuckles, the interaction one that we share almost every day. Despite calling me Harper once when we first met, he's reverted back to luna. Whether it be out of respect or just to give me a hard time since I still feel uncomfortable with the title, who the fuck knows?

I do think it's just him giving me shit though.

"How are things?" I ask, a serious tone settling over both of us.

"Nothing new to report."

A frown takes over my face, my eyebrows scrunching to meet in the middle.

"I know," he agrees, understanding the frustration in my expression.

"I hate needing to have more guards on duty. It just puts more of you in danger," I say quietly, the familiar bubble of anger in my stomach growing. Anger at the need to put people I'm supposed to protect in danger in order to protect them and everyone else. "I would trade places with all of you in a heartbeat if I could."