They were late, late because of Sierra's tantrums. The Beta was impossible. Impossible an understatement.

When Rolus was supposed to leave with his warriors, they found out that all the car keys were missing. At first, they didn't suspect anyone, assuming that they they must have been misplaced. They searched for the keys for a whole hour.

During that one hour, Sierra never helped. All she did was be in her office, no one knowing what she was doing.

Rolus didn't even suspect her, he just assumed that they keys were misplaced. They only found out that Sierra was the one who stole the keys from their place when they took notice of her perfume among other scents. The woman loved her rose scented perfumes.

It was Timothy, one of the warriors that were supposed to accompany Rolus, who let Rolus know.

Now, Rolus spent a whole thirty minutes trying to reason with his Beta. Theo tried to assure his mate that he would protect Rolus with all he had, but Sierra was not budging. She refused to tell them where she hid the keys.

Rolus and Sierra ended up arguing in front of the Pack. They were being loud, attracting the attention of the whole pack. Some of the Elders tried to reason with the Beta, but she was impossible.

No one knew to not interfere in the fight between Rolus and Sierra, otherwise, they would get the brunt of the fight. So, they let them be, insulting each other. Some of the Pack members thought it was uncalled for of Sierra to even think of belittling the Alpha, let alone have the decency to argue with him in front of the Pack.

"You're not getting the keys, Rolus. I won't let you go to that ceremony. They're going to kill you," Sierra shouted, pointing her finger at Rolus.

Rolus didn't even know why he had not relegated her as the Beta yet. Sierra was disrespectful towards her Alpha. She ran her mouth all she liked, and Rolus was afraid that soon he would have to make a decision.

Sierra was becoming a monster each day that passed. If she was not shouting at Rolus, she was belittling him. If she was not running her mouth, she was shitting with it. She was provoking the Alpha that Rolus was afraid that he would have to take action soon, especially with what she did today.

He can admit that he's never been one to keep time, but it's always been trivial things like waking up late or forgetting something on his way. He was always the one st fault. Maybe he would sometimes arrive late on purpose to make a statement, but it was always at his own terms. He was the one at fault, always. It was never anyone's fault.

Now Sierra was making a scene in front of the whole Pack.

"You are dying, Rolus! Can't you see? You are endangering the lives of our warriors by putting them at risk. You are putting the Pack at risk by leaving them with no Head Warrior and an Alpha. For one goddammit second, stop being selfish and think of others. You're always going on and on about how the Pack comes first, but I should've known that you're all bark but no bite," she snapped, still frustrated and angry. Why couldn't Rolus see that she was trying to protect him? That she did not want anything bad to happen to him? Why couldn't he see that she was trying.

"Beta Sierra, I'm going to ask you for the last time to please give us the keys." He was calm, no longer matching her tone of voice.

As for Sierra, she kept quiet, crossing her arms over her chest in a defiant manner.

Now, Rolus was starting to get pissed off by his Beta. He tried to contain his anger, and even tried to breathe in and out, but his pride and ego were too bruised to even think for a second when Sierra said, "You should've given the Pack to Alpha Luke when you were considering his claim, maybe he would've been a far better leader than you. "

She threw the keys on the ground, then turned around to head to the house.

Rolus was still in shock, shocked at Sierra's vile words.

"What is she talking about?" Charlotte asked, shaking Rolus to get him to focus.

"Did you promise Alpha Luke the Pack?" Zachariah asked in disbelief, anger starting to rise. All eyes were on Rolus. He had a lot of explaining to do when he came back home from Black Moon.

As he walked towards the cars and Theo picked up the keys from the ground, Rolus couldn't help but think of how his Beta betrayed him. How his Beta relayed sensitive information to the Pack.

He got in the car with Theo, Charlotte and Timothy, who was the driver. The others were loading their guns in the boot, then they also got in their cars. As they all drove off, five cars in total, Rolus just spaced out, wanting to think of nothing.

Theo was in the front with Timothy, whilst Rolus was in the back with Charlotte, who was minding her own business instead of pestering Rolus with endless questions like she wanted to before. She thought it best to let him be because the man looked like he needed a break, not someone to talk too much.

It was only when they were nearing the border of Black Moon that Rolus started to regain his senses. He looked at Charlotte, who was reapplying her red lipstick.

"What?" she asked, closing her mirror and looking at Rolus.

He just shook his head and looked out the window.

Theo in the front cleared his throat, then began. "Alpha, the plan is simple. Timothy, Charlotte and I will be following you around. We will not let you get out of our sight, and please try to cooperate and not disappear. We are going to try our best to protect you, so please meet us halfway."

Rolus felt like rolling his eyes because Theo sounded so much like his mate. It was probably Sierra who instructed them to not let Rolus out of their sight.

"So you think I can't protect myself?" Rolus retorted.

Charlotte snorted beside him. "You're too weak, no offense Alpha. And please don't take us as that Beta of yours. Just because you don't respect each other anymore doesn't mean you have to do the same with us, okay?"

Rolus just rolled his eyes and kept quiet, grateful that at least Charlotte was familiar with him. If he had sat with Theo and Timothy alone, he would have lost it with their awkward silence.

He was pretty sure that Theo didn't favour his mate this time because he knew that she was wrong.

They were searched when they were at the border. Theo informing the guards that one of their cars had guns in the boot.

The guards did not allow guns on their land, hence they suggested that the car with guns be left at the border and it would be looked after. Not wanting any more delays, Rolus agreed and the other warriors climbed in the other cars, then they drove to the Pack House.

The land was all green, and dark. The trees were tall, some obscuring the view of the sky. Some light got in through a chink above, but it was not enough to light the place below.

When they reached the Pack grounds, the ceremony was already in full swing as different Pack members were interacting, the Alphas standing around next to the house having a conversation.

Rolus checked his watch and saw that they were two hours late, hence he felt rather uncomfortable getting out of the car. Theo and Timothy were already outside waiting for the Alpha, whilst Charlotte was still seated in the car with Rolus.

"Are we getting out or..." she asked, checking her phone every now and then.

"Yeah, we are. I'm just... just give me a moment,"

"Suit yourself."

Charlotte got out of the car, answering her phone when it rang.

As for Rolus, he stayed for a moment in the car. He was still lost in his own thoughts when out of the blue, he heard the former Alpha of the Black Moon knocking on his car window.

He opened the door, surprised when the former Alpha hugged him.

Before he could return the hug, Samson pulled away and said, "I thought you were not coming, hence we started without you. Please help yourself to the food in the tent, then you can join us, but then I'm sure Alpha Leticia would be happy if you stayed with her."

"It's fine. If I may ask, what is this ceremony for?" Rolus asked, leaning against the car.

Samson chuckled, saying, "It's to celebrate the Pack's newly mated wolves and the new moms. We have quite a large number of new moms this year."

Rolus nodded. That made sense, but he still didn't get one thing. "Where is Alpha Luke? I thought he'd be the one in charge?"

Samson just rolled his eyes with a smile, saying, "That one? He's a lazy Alpha. Said he's sitting this one out. I'm pretty sure he's avoiding Alpha Zelda."

Rolus loosened at that, knowing how anyone would want to avoid Alpha Zelda and her persistent advances. "I would want to avoid her as well."

"Well, enjoy yourself and maybe you might strike something with the other Alphas. It's a great opportunity for business proposals," Samson winked, then turned around to leave.

"Wait! How is Alpha Luke doing? I heard from Zayn that last time he was not really doing well."

Rolus could see the way Samsom took longer to turn around, as if thinking up an excuse. His smile was forced this time when he said, "Like I said, he's sitting this one out. And he's doing very well, nothing to worry about." Then he hurried away.

As if that wasn't suspicious enough.

"He's lying," Theo stood next to Rolus, watching how stiff the former Alpha looked.

"I know. Luke would never sit out a ceremony in his own territory. He's just too full of himself."

Theo didn't reply to that. What was he to say? His Alpha looked like he was thinking out loud.

Creek Pack warriors made sure to separate, going in pairs to watch everything. They kept an eye on the other Packs, and also their Alpha.

Rolus walked towards Alpha Leticia with Theo, Charlotte and Timothy in tow.

"A pleasure indeed to be graced by your presence," she started, extending a hand towards Rolus.

Rolus smirked, shaking her hand. "A pleasure indeed."

"And who are these?" She gestured to the warriors.

"Don't worry about them, they've been given strict instructions to follow me everywhere. Pretend they are not here. How have you been?"

She let her eyes remain on the three warriors, especially on Charlotte because the woman was too serious. The other two looked chilled, but as for the woman, she was just too tense.

"I've been good. I even found my mate, isn't that great?"

"Really? Congratulations are in order then. I'm really happy for you, you know."

She just smiled, leaning against the wall. "How is the search for you going? I heard from Luke that you've been searching for your mate as well."

Rolus raised a brow at that. So Luke was busy going around gossiping about him?

"Really? Did he also mention how he's been terrorizing my Pack for a year and how he still continues to?"

Alpha Leticia looked down, shame her friend. "I'm really sorry about my cousin. He can be a little greedy sometimes."

"A little greedy? He's too greedy, Alpha Leticia. He wants my Pack!" He was starting to get pissed off. Luke should just come out of whatever hole he's hiding and come face him. He was a coward, hiding behind these walls.

"He wants your Pack? But why?"

"Why? He's too greedy and petty. He's still so hung over of the fact that I rejected his-" he stopped himself on time before he exposed himself.

"You rejected what?"

"Nothing. I rejected his offer of hunting with him in the West woods. He's still hung over that," he saved himself, now too flustered because he nearly exposed himself. That's what happens everytime he gets pissed off, he reveals things out of anger.

"I'll talk to him, don't worry. Maybe I'll convince him to let you go," she spoke as if Rolus committed something huge.

"Please do. I can't stand that pig coming in my land as if he owned it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I need to speak to Alpha Christian. I heard his game reserve is doing well,"

"So you want a piece of the pie?"

"You know me too well," Rolus laughed, then turned around to approach the other Alpha.