"What is it that you're hiding, Rolus? Please just tell me," Beta Sierra begged, holding her Alpha's hand. It was cold and she tried to transfer her body heat to him. The room was hot, a contrast to the Alpha's body.

Rolus laid on his bed, eyes still closed. He was in a coma, according to the Pack Doctor. His face was pale more than usual, lips chapped and skin sickly. It was the first time Sierra was seeing him like this. He was in his worst.

"I know I've been distant lately, but I just couldn't watch you kill yourself. All you need to do is tell me the truth, Rolus. Maybe you can get the help you need. I know your mate did not die. I don't know what you did, but maybe we can try to find a solution. This isn't living, Rolus. At least tell me what's going on." She squeezed his hand, not too tight though. The silence in the room except the beeping of the machine was killing her.

It's been a week since Rolus has been in a coma. The Pack Doctor said that his wolf did not have the strength to sustain his body. Rolus going into a coma was the result of his wolf fading. Sooner rather than later, he would be gone. Gone and it would all be his fault. He was killing himself and there was nothing anyone could do. His lies and secrets were killing him.

His wolf was regenerating, that's all Sierra heard. They said he might wake up after a week, but it had already passed. The doctors tried all they could, but to Sierra, it was not enough. The man was an Alpha for goodness' sake!

The door slowly opened, grey eyes clashing against her hazel ones, then went to the conjoined hands, hardening.

Sierra quickly removed her hands from Rolus', standing up from the stool and smiling uneasily. "Hey. I didn't hear you come in."

"Of course you didn't," Theo said, smiling, but his eyes betrayed him. They were angry and jealousy was all that poured out of him.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Sierra snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Nothing," he replied curtly, his muscles on display when he mimicked his mate and crossed his arms.

"Are we really doing this now? Now when our Alpha is in a fucking coma? When our Alpha is fucking dying?" Sierra shouted, angry at her jealous mate.

She knew that she was always super close with Rolus even before she found her mate. Their relationship was a very special one because they were family, they were like a sister and a brother. Everyone knew that, but some liked to assume things, like her mate.

Theo was skeptical of Sierra and the Alpha's relationship. But what was he to think? The Beta and Alpha duo were tight and loved each other dearly that he couldn't help but be jealous.

What was even wrong with him? Jealous of a dying man?

Ever since Alpha Rolus went into coma, Sierra was all over him. Even Theo was no longer getting attention from his mate. He could not remember when last they slept together on the same bed. Oh, it was a week ago, before the Alpha went into coma. If Theo wanted to see his mate, he had to go to the Alpha's room, just to see Sierra, his mate.

"I'm sorry, okay? I'll just... I'll leave. I just wanted to check up on you. And the Alpha of course," Theo was about to turn around and leave, but Sierra grasped his hand and pulled him to her, hugging him.

"No no. I'm sorry. I know I've been neglecting you, but you have to understand, Theo. He's like a brother to me and I can't leave him alone. What kind of a monster would I be if I abandoned him, especially when he's like that?" Sierra spoke against his chest, tears threatening to spill.

"It's okay. I understand," Theo rubbed her back, pained. He felt pain for his mate and his Alpha. "He will be okay. It will all be okay."

"How? Gosh, Rolus is so stubborn. He's killing himself, Theo. Why is he this stubborn? Can't he see that he's dying?" Sierra sobbed, her composure slipping.

"I'm sure he has a good reason to lie. Let's not judge him, okay? And you need to rest, Sierra. You need to rest."

Sierra stepped away from her mate, then nodded her head. "Let's go."

_____________

Another week passed by without any improvement from the Alpha. He was getting worse by the day. The Pack Doctors were trying all they could to monitor his health, but all they hoped for was that his wolf would resurface and supply their Alpha with enough energy to sustain his body.

The Warriors of the Pack were training hard now more than ever. The Black Moon Pack did not attack like it used to, enough reason for them to be anxious, especially now with their Alpha in a coma. As for Sierra, she had taken over the role the Alpha used to play, always in the office going over paperwork, then later going to the training grounds to check up on everyone.

It was a hard job, especially with the members breathing down her neck about the Alpha's deteriorating health. They all feared the worst - their Alpha dying. They knew that if he died, the Pack would be nothing.

Yes, Sierra could manage to take over for maybe a month or so, but after that, they'd need to find another Alpha to take over. It was rare in the community that a foreign Alpha take over a Pack that was not his nor his family's, except the ones taken over by force during the war.

Trust was one thing the Creek Pack struggled with. They did not trust easily, just like their Alpha. If they did manage to find another Alpha to lead them, it would take months for them to trust him.

If only the former Alpha and Luna, Rolus' parents, never died. Or maybe they could have had another child to take over at times like these. But no. The Moon Goddess worked in mysterious ways.

Sierra was in her office, busy reading over some paperwork when the door opened. Theo walked in, his face full of sweat and breathing heavily. His heart was beating like crazy.

Upon noticing that, Sierra stood up and rounded the table to get to her mate, hugging him. "What's wrong?"

Theo wrapped his arms around Sierra's body, calming down. "We don't know what happened, but the Black Moon Pack is here. Alpha Luke and some of his warriors have managed to cross the border undetected. They are waiting for you at the meeting room. Everyone is scared, Love."

Sierra's heart nearly stopped beating. She exhaled slowly, moving away from her mate.

"They just appeared out of nowhere," Theo said, running a hand through his hair.

"How many?"

"Ten in the meeting room. There are also thirty roaming around our Pack. I instructed everyone to get inside their houses and lock. Our warriors are guarding the Pack House and some are keeping an eye on the Black Moon Pack. I've placed twenty warriors in the Meeting Room and also enforced the border with more warriors."

Sierra sat on top of the table, staring at the door. This was not a time to be scared. It was time to stand up for her Pack and represent her Alpha.

"Where is Zachariah, Zayn and Charlotte?" She asked, referring to the Gamma, Delta and Head Warrior respectively.

"They are in the Meeting Room. I've also made sure to place the strongest warriors to guard the Alpha's room in case the Black Moon get any ideas. You should go," Theo held his mate's hand for comfort, smiling uneasily at her.

"Thank you very much, Theo. And please go and also guard Rolus' room. You should be in the room with him and be prepared to protect him. Okay?"

"I will do as you say. Be careful," Theo kissed his mate, then departed, leaving Sierra to compose herself.

After a minute or two, she strutted out of her office and went to the Meeting Room, all the while mentally preparing for a fight.

How could the Black Moon Pack enter their borders without anyone noticing? There was something fishy and if somebody was at fault, there would be hell to pay. She didn't even want to think of the possibility of there being a mole in the Pack.

When she reached the door, she saw Creek Pack's Warriors stationed outside the door. Five of them to be exact. When they saw her, they bowed their heads in respect.

"What's going on in there?" she whispered to the one closest to her.

"They said they have business with Alpha Rolus and they request to see him specifically. No one but him," said a young man who looked deadly with his piercings and tattoos all over his face. His hair was fiery red and the gun in his hand was a reminder to Sierra that the young man was on the Point 3 Team, the ones who specialized in combat and machinery, guns to be specific. The naming system was developed by the Alpha's grandparents.

Point 1 Team specialized in combat, machinery and archery. Point 2 Team specialized in combat and archery. Point 3 then specialized in both combat and machinery. Those were the three Point system of the Warrior fields in the Creek Pack. That was the reason why their warriors were the strongest. They did not only focus on training their wolves, but they also had means to fight when it came to protecting the Pack.

"Thank you. Make sure to keep an eye out. And also be sure to listen in in case they try something, okay?" Sierra told him.

The man replied, "Yes Beta Sierra."

Sierra pushed the doors open, making the room dead silent. All eyes were on her as she walked to her rightful place at the long table that sat at the center of the room. She could see the Gamma, Delta and Head Warrior all seated at their rightful places. The head of the table was empty. She sat next to the Gamma, nodding her head in acknowledgement. If the Alpha was here, he would have sat at the head of table, with Sierra next to him.

The Warriors of Black Moon were on the other side of the table next to their Alpha. They were lined up, glaring at the Warriors of Creek Pack, who also were lined behind the seats of the Beta, Gamma, Delta and Head Warrior.

Sierra locked eyes with the Alpha of the Black Moon Pack.

Alpha Lucas Clonmel was a handsome man. That much she could tell even with her eyes closed. His dark brown skin was so flawless that she wondered how. Not even a scar was visible on his face. How when she heard that he liked to pick fights with other Packs? She had heard many rumors about him and his twin sister and her fated death. How horrible. And then the thing of Lucas Clonmel not being able to detect the presence of his mate was just heartbreaking.

The sole purpose of a werewolf in its lifetime was to find their other halves, their mates and then their lives would be complete. To have the possibility of not being able to meet your mate was a scary thing to Sierra. She knows how it feels to have a mate to wake up to and sleep next to. She would never ever trade the feeling for anything. But looking at Lucas Clonmel, she could see that the result of him being too salty and grumpy was the result of not having his mate near.

"To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit, Alpha Lucas of the Black Moon Pack?" Sierra started, the attitude in her tone so blatant. The disrespect was too much for Alpha Luke to ignore.

"I see that your Alpha has not shown his sick self and sends you, his lapdog, to fight his own battles. A woman even," Alpha Luke taunted, a smirk surfacing to hide the murderous intent. The girl was just too full of herself.

"Well, this woman, would hand your ass to your mother after a good fight. So don't underestimate the women of this Pack. Just because you let your women play the helpless housewives does not mean the Creek Pack does the same. What business do you have with us?" Sierra shouted, angered.

"I have no business with you. I have business with your Alpha, which I'm assuming you are not him, right?" He taunted, irked by the woman insulting the women of his Pack. They were far more skilled than the women here at Creek Pack. No woman at his Pack played the helpless housewife. They all had a duty they chose themselves. In fact, there was an equal number of warrior she-wolves and men. The Gamma, Delta and Head warrior were also women. No man or woman was better than the other. All the duties at his Pack were no less important than the other. If a member decided to play the 'helpless housewife', then it was her choice and the responsibility was hers to fulfill her duties. The housewife also had a duty. They were not helpless after all. The disrespecting woman was wrong, so wrong in so many levels.

"Even if I was him, I'm sure I wouldn't want to be in the same room as you. Now, what is your business here?" Sierra asked once again, standing up to challenge the Alpha.

"Like I said, my business is with the Alpha of this Pack. I want to see him."

"Then I'm afraid you are seeing 'him' as I am in fact in charge for the time being. If you do not have anything to say, then I'm afraid you have to leave. You are not welcome here," she spoke through gritted teeth, her wolf threatening to surface. She did not know why she was angered, but all she knew was that this man wanted her Alpha killed and she would be damned if she let them try anything. She sat back down, trying to control herself. Challenging an Alpha as a Beta was a death wish. She was lucky even that the Alpha did not accept the challenge.

"Is that so?" His brown eyes twinkled, a smirk coming full force. "Is your Alpha perhaps... dead? Come on, tell me the secret. I really want to know."

"I'm afraid not, Alpha Luke. I know my death would make you very happy, but I wouldn't want to make you happy. Now, what is your business here?"

Sierra choked on thin air, appalled. That was certainly her Alpha. She turned her head to look at the door, locking eyes with Rolus.

She felt relief wash over her. The tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly looked away and composed herself. In her argument with the Alpha, she failed to notice the door opening, or the aura of her Alpha or her mate trying to mind-link her.

"Oh my, glad you could join us. I was starting to think you let your Beta fight your own battles. Let's get to business, Rolus. You know what I'm here for," Alpha Luke said, staring at Rolus.

For a moment, Sierra thought she felt fear from Rolus. For a moment, she thought she heard his heartbeat beating like crazy. No, that must be a mistake.

What finished her was when Rolus said, "Let's go talk in my office, alone."