Raised Among Alphas

30 - Something Changed

Alora POV

My squad and I finished our run in about two hours as usual. On our way back, when we were near Kasthor's patrol zone, I caught an unusual scent. Someone was out here not too long ago. The smell resembled the ones from the Forest wolves, someone I had been near before, but I couldn't quite pinpoint whom.

Whoever he was, none of our guests should be this far near the border. The pack grounds and training zones are all at least four miles away from this point. Kasthor must have slept in because his scent wasn't here yet. Hangover problems most likely. 

I couldn't walk away from the odd situation before me, so I followed the trail of the misplaced scent all the way to the edge of the border. I could tell the smell crossed beyond the southern border, past the unclaimed lands, in the direction of the human realm.

Unacceptable. None of our guests should be crossing the border without notice, and I am sure as hell that nobody notified me. Maybe since it crossed from Kasthor's zone, he would know something, but I know Jathred would never allow an unaccompanied crossing.

I mind-linked Kasthor. He had just started his morning run. Apparently, he had a worse hangover than the rest of us. Intoxication heals faster when you have your mate around. The poor man was already at a disadvantage. I told him I would continue to investigate the area and he should keep an eye out in his zone in case there was another point of exit.

Next, I contacted the guards from the nearest posts, but not one of the three saw anything nor heard anyone. That was upsetting. How could they not notice anyone? The post was only three hundred yards away. Any wolf should be able to see and hear a huge wolf crossing the border. We can't have such situations happening ever, in the middle of a war, having trespassers all over our border without our guards noticing anything. The incompetence was outrageous.

Finally, I contacted the one man I didn't want to... Jathred.

As I expected, he never allowed such crossing, nor was he informed about it. If there's one thing I hate to do, it is contact Jathred with problems I can't solve by myself. I could tell he was mad at the suspicious insolence of our guest. What's even worse, the guest belonged to the pack of my mate... my future pack. I might as well stand up for the task and solve this issue, assuming the position destiny had for me.

"Jathred, there's nobody out here anymore, and whoever left did it alone. There's no danger in sight. I will rush back and talk to Becker, I'm sure there's an explanation. Let me handle this." I mind-linked him from the border and regrouped my squad to run straight to the pack house. At a reasonable speed, we were there in ten minutes.

I only stopped at my squad's shack, on the far corner of the training grounds. In there, we keep our clothes, water, and personal belongings and have access to showers. I hopped in the shower for a quick rinse. The green dress I picked this morning was hung on my cubicle, and as soon as I was ready I walked back to the pack house following the scent that delightes my lungs. Finding Becker was easier than finding my own head.

He was in his bedroom, and I could tell he was inside with Sophia. As much as I like her, I can't help but feel a shiver of jealousy passing through my veins, knowing they are alone and together in the same room. 

Well, any intention I had of approaching him politely left my soul in a second. I knocked loudly, tempted to break down the damn door that gifted them the privacy I dreaded. I shouldn't even have to knock. Becker should've been able to tell I was coming to him.

I heard the footsteps from the other side of the room approaching the door. Becker opened the door only wide enough to show his face. He seemed cautious and offended at my intrusion, but the very first thing I noticed was that he was shirtless. Why?