Page 7 of Mate to the Alpha Predator

"He would be hot if he wasn't scaring the very devils outta me." Ismena conceded reluctantly.

"He sure didn't scare me. Poor man didn't do anything scary at all, it's not his fault that God and Creation favored him really well." Her eyes took on a dreamy look, "I'll totally shag him if I was into bad guys."

"Alright, enough daydreaming. Let's get this to the trunk, my arms are aching." Ismena walked towards her trunk as she addressed her friend. Sandra is right, the man didn't do anything particularly scary at all.

He had on black sunglasses but she knows that he'd been looking at her. Watching her. Pointedly.

And, there's something about the way he was looking at her...

Shivers sizzled down her spine.

KING'S TOWER, NATURIAH.

"How was your trip, Alphose? I hope you have good news for me from the Oklahoma branch?" Wolfariane's deep voice was calm, but the emptiness of the Meeting Hall made his voice echo through the big space.

Alphose walked towards one of the chairs out of the twelve empty, golden, high chairs that surrounded the huge roundtable which dominated the center of the big Meeting Hall. Whenever there is a general specie meeting, the high chairs are filled up by the twelve Alphas and leaders of each species, while the huge throne-chair at the head of the table is occupied by their King, Wolfariane.

Sitting three-empty chairs away from Wolfariane, Alphose cleared his throat, "Sadly, I don't, Alpha King. In the meeting, I had with Josiah and his pack, there is a lot of uncertainties in the agricultural market, and with the new regulations the company is undergoing, it isn't helping our credit market. Nector and Co. Limited Company, our competitors, are coming up fast in the international market."

"Josiah and his Cougars are finding it hard getting things in control? That's disappointing." Wolfariane's displeasure showed clearly on his strong chiseled face. "What about our New York branch?"

"Not good news from there either, Alpha King. Cronus and his pack have been busy in the last few weeks trying to get back control of the lower market. The sales of the new plant growth fertilizer products have been stuck, and seed treatments keep falling in the market. They have been developing business strategies to regulate this problem, which so far, have not worked. But, they are not giving up." Alphose hated being the bearer of bad news, but he had no choice.

Silence descended after his report. He can see the wheels turning in the head of the Alpha King even without the drumming of his fingers rhythmically on the arm of his throne.

Time passed. The Alpha King couldn't sit any longer, so he rose from his chair and began pacing in slow steady steps. Even such simple unconscious movement portrayed a lethal predatory action.

He toyed with the huge diamond ring in his middle finger. The ring has two golden pearls like a crown attached to it. Always outstanding and sprankled most times, it's also very precious to Wolfariane.

When he spoke, that displeasure is still clear in his voice. "So, let me get this straight. What you are trying to tell me is that among all my companies scattered all over the world, two out of five of the most powerful, largest and most successful of them all, led by the strongest, most powerful, and best Alphas of our species, are having serious business problems that haven't be solved?"

Here goes nothing. "Unfortunately, yes, Alpha King." He paused, "But there's still time for them to solve it right. Cronus is already—"

"I will be going over to New York City myself. Get the jet ready, and tell Cronus to await my arrival." Wolfariane declared authoritatively.

Alphose was shocked about his decision. "But, you do not like leaving Naturiah." And with good reasons too. One of them being, that the Alpha King has no liking for 'normal' humans at all.

That's an understatement. He hates them.

"I do not like it." He stated, matter-of-factly. "But, obviously, I cannot leave these problems unattended . I have to be there myself. I will go to New York City first. Get the jet ready."

"I will do that as soon as possible." Alphose rose from his chair.

Wolfariane walked to his chair and lowered himself down on the elaborated throne. He leaned back relaxingly, picked up a pen, and began signing the documents Alphose laid out in front of him.

"You are dismissed."

Alphose bowed his head, turned to the door, and began walking towards it. Then, he remembered...

His steps faltered. Is the Alpha King really the right person for him to give this news?

"What is the matter?" Wolfariane's asked without raising his head.

Alphose veered around, "Today, in Oklahoma, I caught the scent of a potential mate."

No reaction. Nothing. "You should be telling other males. I do not care about a mate, Alphose." Was all he said.

Did Alphose expect it? Yes, he did.

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