Fate: The Alpha King and His Unexpected Mate

Chapter Twenty-Six

Lexi

My little victory was short-lived when I noticed that Marc was receiving a mind link. If someone was contacting him during practice, it likely meant one of the warriors on patrol was trying to reach him. I had a feeling it had something to do with Zach, and I was not happy about it. The link ended quickly, and we stood up.

"Jared, you and Liam stay here and continue training. It doesn't sound like anything will happen, but I would rather take precautions. Lexi and Daniel, we are needed at the northeast border."

Liam gave me a quick kiss before he shifted into trainer mode. Marc grabbed my hand, and we made our way to the border with Daniel. I didn't realize how close the gym was to the border until we saw the warrior and a few other wolves after only walking for maybe five minutes.

You could smell the rogue, but like the others, this one didn't look like a typical rogue. And this one was a female. She was definitely a warrior, built like Jen and me. Her dark hair was cut short, a clear indication that she had seen her fair share of fights. What could have driven her to go rogue and join Zach? I was taken by surprise when she bared her neck to us.

"Alpha King. Luna. I come with a message."

Daniel and I positioned ourselves on either side of Marc. I could feel Marc's alpha power radiating towards her. He must not have used it with the other rogues. Granted, those rogues had decided to fight. I noticed Marc reining in his power, allowing the rogue to stand straight.

"Thank you. As I mentioned, I come with a message. Zach wants to speak with both of you."

"I would love nothing more than to have a face-to-face conversation with my cousin. Where is he staying these days?"

The rogue had a mischievous smirk on her face. Zach was not here, and it wouldn't be easy to find out where he was. However, Marc's uncle would be arriving in a few days, and hopefully, we could piece together a timeline of Zach's whereabouts.

"Not so fast, Alpha King. It will happen on his terms, when he deems it appropriate," she said.

"Fine. Let him know we agree. I don't want to see you near my pack again unless you are with him," I replied.

She nodded and took off. I doubted we would see her again. The warrior returned to patrolling, leaving Marc, Daniel, and me at the border. Daniel was communicating with someone, probably Jared, to let him know everything was fine. Marc was gazing in the direction the rogue had gone. I walked up to him and took his hand.

"What are you thinking?" I asked.

He took a deep breath and exhaled before looking at me. He didn't seem as concerned as I expected. I was nervous about the fact that we didn't know when this conversation with Zach would take place. I was sure it was about me, but I didn't like being caught off guard.

"If Zach had an ulterior motive right now, he wouldn't have sent just one rogue. If he wants to have this conversation on his own terms, so be it. We will prepare as if it were happening tomorrow, since it very well could. There's nothing more we can do. I'll check if any of the alphas near my uncle's pack have gotten back to me. I'm going to change and head to my office. Daniel, you go meet up with Jared and Liam. Fill them in. Little Wolf, why don't you go shower and change? My mother, Jack, and Jess will be in the kitchen when you're ready."

I nodded, and we all headed back to the gym. Daniel left us as we continued to the pack house. We went upstairs, and both entered the bathroom. However, I was puzzled when Marc didn't head for the shower. Instead, he went to the huge jacuzzi tub that I had been wanting to use.

I watched as he began filling the tub with water and scented bubbles. After kissing me on the forehead, he made his way to the shower. I quickly removed my training clothes and slipped into the warm water. I lowered myself until only my head was above the water. The warmth felt wonderful on my muscles, and I couldn't help but laugh at the scent of the blueberry bubbles.

Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to relax for a few minutes. I heard Marc exit the shower, but didn't hear anything else, so he must have changed and gone straight to his office. I promised myself that I would get out in five minutes. However, it must have taken longer than that because my incredible dream involving my mates was abruptly interrupted by a mind link.

'You better get out of that tub and come down here. There's only one blueberry muffin left, and I'm about to eat it.'

Jess was a dramatic person, but she always knew how to motivate me. After draining the water from the bath, I found a robe that Marc must have left out for me and headed towards the closet. Since I was only meeting with Maggie, Jack, and Jess, I decided to dress in business casual attire. I chose a pair of dark blue jeggings, a flowing emerald-colored tank top, and a black cardigan. I slipped on a pair of black flats before returning to the bathroom.

I towel dried my hair and quickly braided it. Then, I applied some mascara and eyeliner before grabbing my phone. As I descended the stairs and entered the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and blueberry muffins filled the air. I knew I could count on them.

In the kitchen, Jess handed me a cup of coffee and a muffin, rolling her eyes playfully as I accepted them. We made our way to the dining room table. Maggie was already seated, surrounded by various papers and her open laptop. Jack followed us, carrying a tray of muffins and the coffee pot. It was clear that the discussion about my Luna Ceremony would take some time.

While sipping my coffee, Maggie began discussing the list of decisions I needed to make. The color scheme, guest list, and type of food were all topics to consider. It reminded me of planning a wedding, with the only difference being that, instead of sealing our union with a kiss, we would need to mix our blood. This act would solidify my position as Luna and make me an official member of the pack. Jess and Liam would also need to mix their blood to become pack members, but their ceremony would be quicker, as I had additional vows to recite.

I quickly made my decisions. I chose emerald and silver as the color scheme to represent Marc as the Alpha King. The only non-pack members who needed to be present were my parents, as well as Jess and Liam's parents. I entrusted the choice of food to Jack, as I trusted her judgment. The last important decision was what I would wear. Glancing at Maggie's laptop screen, I knew I didn't need to look any further.

"There, Maggie. That dress on your screen. That is the dress I need for this weekend."

I looked at Maggie and noticed tears in her eyes. She got up and walked around the table to give me a hug. I was taken aback but gave her a tight squeeze. When she pulled away, I watched as she did something on her laptop. When she turned the screen towards me, I realized why she was so emotional.

"The dress that you picked is almost exactly like the one I wore for my Luna Ceremony."