Page 22 of Fated Alpha Protector

That's when an unfamiliar yet sweet scent infiltrates my nostrils.

My head turns automatically in the direction of the scent. Though faint, it's enough to spark my curiosity. But just as quickly as it appeared, it fades.

I put my head back in the task at hand, distracting myself from external forces. Like the strange scent.

Or what I'd done with Mia Alverez last night…

Training ensues with the first recruit being a young werewolf in his first year. Our sparring proves promising, but there's a lot of work to do.

If Nightwalker has any chance of winning the war against whatever lurks out there, we need to be better prepared.

‘Jarrod, take over,’ I instruct the Delta as I step out of the fighting ring. I nod at the Beta, who follows me to the back of the bleachers.

‘Do a headcount at the end of the day,’ I tell Liam through the mind link. ‘We'll develop a new fighting strategy based on our new numbers.’

Liam nods his wolf head. ‘Are you leaving already, Alpha?’

I snarl in response to his question. I'm never this abrupt when it comes to leadership.

It's only because I can't be entirely honest with the Beta. My best friend and closest confidante knows me better than anyone.

And I can't tell him that I slept with the Blackclaw Omega who now resides in Nightwalker land. No one even knows that she's from Blackclaw.

Just that she's Anastasia's guest. A visitor who'll soon leave.

Liam surrenders and heads back to the fighting ring. Finally alone, I head to the dressing room and shift just outside. I head in and climb into the shower stall, relieved when the spray washes away my worries for the day.

I still haven't quite figured out why last night happened. After all, I've never really been one to entertain baser desires. Or give into carnal pleasures just for the sake of pleasure.

It'd been a strict belief I held onto up until last night… finding my fated mate was my only quest.

But something happened last night. Something I can’t explain. As I step out of the shower, wrapping a towel on my hips, I get it.

But…

It can't be.

“Hello, Son,” Father greets me as he emerges from the left corridor. He's wearing a million-dollar smile.

He's just gotten back from Hawaii.

“How're you doing, Dad?!” I greet back, pulling him into a hug. It's been two weeks since he and our mother left for vacation.

And since then, I'd brought a Blackclaw Omega to live in Overton.

“Great!” He pats my back. “We had a great time.” Dad leans back and stares warily into my eyes. “We heard about the war.”

“I'm glad you and Mom are back,” I tell my father with a pat on his shoulder. I turn to the lockers to get a clean pair of clothes. “We don't know what we're facing, and it's unsafe out there.”

“We're glad we're back too,” Dad assures. “Your mother has already begun preparing dinner for tonight.”

“Of course,” I chuckle as I throw on a sweater. “But we're five tonight.”

“Five?” Dad asks with a quizzical frown. “Are we expecting Liam for dinner?”

I shake my head. “Liam is too busy preparing for his wedding,” I remind Dad with a chuckle. “We're having a friend of Ana's over. A wolf she went to college with.”

“Ah, I see,” Father jests. “Let me get going. Your mother asked me to pick up bell peppers from the market.”

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