I was sitting on the shiny black leather sofa seat with Cortez Pace, my beta, across me in my private jet flying over to New York. 

My wolf was restless from being confined in such an enclosed limited area with no fresh air and no solidarity of Earth surface. He was a wild animal who loved to go for long runs in the dense forest for hours without any boundations or worries. Roam around his territory showing his dominance. Take over new packs proving his strength.

Being an Alpha wolf, he loved toying with his prey, playing with it, before ending its life. 

It was a game for him, a strong believer in Darwin theory, in the survival of the strongest and fittest. 

He was inclined to prove himself so in the werewolf world. 

Never fazed by anything, but being stuck in a metal piece for hours, miles above the ground, floating among the clouds. He gazed down the window at Earth surface, which even with his strong senses appeared minuscule to him. This was probably his least favorite pastime. 

And he made sure I was aware of that fact, rekindling my memory by telling me every few seconds every single damn time I was on a business trip. No matter, how much we traveled, I don't think he would ever get used to it, the flying.

I was going through all the emails in my Apple laptop, trying my best to ignore my wolf's unstoppable whining. 

Most of the emails were from various businessmen from New York extending the hand of friendship and alliance. The emails all said that they looked forward to working together in the near future and how it would be a great pleasure. There were also congratulatory messages from different people on extending Cadman branches into the clothing industry as well. 

The purchase of Palvin Clothing by Cadman group was a piece of huge news in the business world as it was going to affect the dynamics of many other industries.

'Cadman' was now strengthening its roots in New York, the golden city for business connections. And all the other companies and enterprises would rather become its ally, supporters or potential partners instead of being a source of competition. 

It was a surprising move on my part. We were already the biggest brand of security and aero engineering all over the world. Now, with us exploring Clothing industry, businessmen and media were wondering how far we would be taking over the business world.

There were no bigger threats till now because of us remaining in Maine but moving to New York meant strong connections. 

And in the business world, the connections were everything. 

Sure, opening the main branch in New York would bring an epic success and fame in business but it would also draw unnecessary attention of humans that we didn't need. Living in such a large populated city would be like living in a prison for my people, with the fear and risk of being spotted in wolf form too high. 

Living in such a large place in constant limelight was going to restrict the freedom of my wolf and not to mention, it would prove to be a deviation from my revenge in the long run. 

So, I was going to shift the main branch to Maine, and let the New York one be a regular branch. It would be easier for me to manage all the businesses in one place instead of rushing here and there from time to time.

And before all of this, my pack was my responsibility, they trusted me with their well-being so I had to remain in the pack for the majority of my time, facing any threats head-on.

It was just a matter of priorities.

As I was replying to an old business associate, the air hostess entered the cabin with breakfast. She was a pack wolf and lowered her eyes in front of me as a symbol of respect. 

She served me pancakes and bacon with a glass of fresh pomegranate juice and then moved to Cortez. 

The blatant admiration and lust towards him were obvious in her eyes, as was in the air due to her arousal smell. 

Cortez just pointed his finger towards the table indicating her to place his breakfast over there without lifting his head off his laptop in which he was engrossed for 2 hours. 

He was finalizing the details of the fashion show and the list of employees that would be shifting to Maine. It would save me the headache of recruiting new staff that would take some time to get hang of the business. The time that we didn't have. 

So we just hired the older main staff with provided house facilities so there would not be much hesitation on their end to shift from New York to Maine. Whereas the position of interns and new employees would be given to pack members interested and qualified for the job.

It would be a nice set-up to provide employment to my pack members interested in this field. They wouldn't have to be away from the pack while still enjoying their individual lives. 

The she-wolf embarrassed by his dismissal placed his Nutella sandwiches on the table and rushed out of the cabin. As soon as she was out of sight, he raised his head and picked his sandwich while rolling his eyes. 

He was a strong believer in mates and was waiting for his ever since he was five years old. Or probably even before. He was a virgin, something that was very rare among werewolves because of their high sexual drive.

Finding mates took years or centuries so there are usually no hard feelings on either end when mates finally meet each other. He was desperately waiting for his own fairytale with a loving she-wolf with whom he could have his own football team. 

He was very clear in his beliefs and everyone in my pack knew that but it still didn't stop the she-wolves from trying. They were attracted to his status and power. It was natural among werewolves. 

They craved his attention, wanting to be the one who first had sex with the unattainable beta. Somehow that made him more desirable to women, Chico, my gamma, often complained. 

He let out a loud moan, savoring the Nutella sandwich with his eyes closed, gulping the whole thing down within seconds moving on to the second one. He was obsessed with Nutella, way more than any chick I had ever seen, eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Cortez was 24 years old, two years younger than me with 6'1 height, pale blue eyes, and light brown hair. He was the first person in years whom I trusted completely.

In the last three years, he was always there for me helping me with all the pack issues and the struggles of settling a new business while handling the older one and pack simultaneously. Adjusting to pack life, entrusting people, interacting with them, and even caring about them had been hard for me. 

But I have come a long way. 

He was the first person who raised from the crowd when I defeated Lorenzo in the alpha challenge and bowed down his head addressing me as Alpha. 

He was the only one in the pack aside from Lorenzo who knew about my past, my bloodline completely, the whole truth about it.

My pack knew about me being their former alpha's grandson. They loved me, often seeing my mother in me who was very much dear to them but they never pried sensing my hesitation on the matter. 

Other packs always identified me as Rogue Alpha who was an abomination, a threat to them. A ruthless killer with no heart. A merciless leader with no tolerance for mistakes. A vicious wolf who wanted to dominate the world. The Bastard Alpha. 

I never denied their claims or rumors. They didn't bother me in the slightest.

"Do you need an assistant?" Cortez asked me, startling me out of my thoughts.

The sudden question made me snap my head at him, he was now sprawled in his seat, head resting on one armrest, legs dangling off the other, holding his laptop with one hand while holding his sandwich with the other. "Assistant?" The question had taken me aback. Why would I need one? Wasn't this his job?

"Yeah. Liam Palvin's old one who used to manage his company by herself as he never showed up much over there. Her name is also in the list of people moving over to Maine."  He explained further while looking at other people names. 

He was assigned to do a background check on all of them. I wasn't going to allow anyone suspicious on my lands.

"Well she must not have done such a good job after all if the company went bankrupt" I remarked.

"But it was not her company. She did not have any decision making authority. Besides she has already got her transfer letter, if you don't want her, we would have to assign any other post to her." He defended her without even knowing a single thing about her. 

That was his specialty. He looked at every situation with all angles considering all possibilities making him excel at his job. He was a thorough thinker which made him the best beta out there. Not that I would ever admit this in front of him.

I thought about her, the assistant. Even if she did not have any decisive power, she still must know about finances, partners and accounts of the company being CEO's assistant and that surely will be beneficial.

"Alright, let her continue at the same post for now. She might be useful." I decided. 

I finished my glass of juice, pouring another one. The rusty sweet flavor with a twinge of bitterness danced on papillae of my taste buds, making me savor the dark red liquid. Pomegranates were heaven!

He just nodded his head and focused on his work once again,

"Will Angelina be joining us in New York?" He asked after a few minutes.

Cortez can't sit silently for a few minutes even to save his life. He always had to talk, no matter what. He had that constant need for filling the silence with his chatter.

Angelina Gold. My girlfriend. Future luna of the Cadman Pack. She is a strong she-wolf, both physically and mentally. She might as well be the best female fighter all over the world.

She is a genuinely nice person with a heart of gold. She cares about the pack and supports everyone in their dreams guiding all the pack members to be independent. She will be the perfect luna for the pack. 

My packmates are aware of this and took this decision well. They admire her. Some elders wanted me to wait for my mate but I guess my eyes and firm decision said it all. 

I hated the concept of this pre-destined forevers with no freedom of choice. Not everyone found love in this destiny of them, for them, it became a burden to bear on their shoulders; exhausting their soul, dragging them away from their happiness, freedom, hope, and individuality. 

Shouting but no sound coming out.

Crying but without shedding a single tear. 

Repelled by their touch but the body still won't move away. 

Giving everything to one person without knowing them. Too blind in sating their body's need and lust to realize that it's not love.

Not loving them but still losing ourselves forever upon their death.

The concept seemed stupid and forced to me. My ma's face flashed before my eyes causing me to tighten my grasp on pomegranate juice glass and shattering it in a million pieces along with my thoughts. 

The thick red liquid mixing with the blood oozing out from around the glass pieces that were stuck in my hand piercing the skin; the combination of both sprinkled over my white shirt making me frown.

Cortez immediately made his way towards me, he sat down on the table and quietly removed the stuck pieces from my hand, the skin starting to heal once they were out.

As soon as all of them were removed and discarded, I made my way to the bedroom to change my clothes. Throwing my blood and juice stained shirt away, my hand had already healed by then. 

My wolf was absolutely silent. 

This was one thing where our thoughts clashed. Where I wished to never find my mate, my wolf didn't want to be with anyone else apart from his mate.

The animal had no logical thinking and no reasoning, he just knew to trust his basic instincts. To kill or to be killed. To submit to anyone stronger than him or have everyone else submitting to him. To be a predator or prey. To mate with the one destined for him marking them as his territory. 

Everything was black and white for him, no greys in between. 

He was waiting for our mate to appear hoping then I would change my decision giving into mate bond. He never liked Angelina but was silent for now about our relationship, but I didn't know for how long this silence will persist.

He will surely throw tantrums on our mating ceremony. My wolf growled at that part.

I wore my midnight black suit over a white shirt and black pants and tied a sleek black tie around my neck. Looking at my Rolex, it was time for the flight to land and me to greet New York.

My phone started vibrating in my pocket. I took it out, glancing at the screen to see it was Lorenzo. I answered the call,

"What is it?"

"Theodore won't be there in New York. He canceled his plan two days ago. Liam too. He is too busy drowning himself in alcohol to be sober enough to attend a function."

He informed making my frustration levels increase on not being able to face them.

I would have loved to see their expressions upon seeing me alive and the new owner of their property. But I guess I would have to wait a little more. All in due time.

"Alright, just increase the patrol on pack boundaries. I wouldn't want them to see this as a chance and play their dirty game. If anything suspicious occurs, you know how to handle it." He grunted and the line went silent.

I gazed at my midnight black guitar kept on the bedside table. My mother loved the guitar and the men who played the guitar. She said they added a necessary and much-needed charm to men's personality. 

Unfortunately for her, werewolves weren't so keen on learning music, so Dad couldn't handle playing a single tune; breaking the strings with a single flick of his hand no matter how much he tried. 

Ma had given up all hopes in him about learning music but she taught me, right from childhood.

Every evening she would teach me new tunes, helping me play and laughing whenever I would strike a note wrong. I often played them wrong so that I could see a smile on her face, no matter how short it was.

Whenever I played a tune perfectly, she would beam at me and say,

" The girl who will have your heart will be a lucky one, Aadolf. For her to own your heart, she will be very special. And then you will play only for her."