Chapter 97

Tyler POV

Moonglow Pack Territory

"How am I supposed to explain walking up to their guardhouse?"

The witch, Justice, rolled her eyes at me with a level of insolence I'd never had to tolerate in my life. I wanted to slap some respect into her, but knew there was a line I shouldn't cross with a magic user.

Besides. She was here to help me get to my mate. I would tolerate her for the benefits her presence offered me. I had learned from my father even detestable people could be used if necessary.

"I'm going to use a portal to get your Beta. He'll drive through in your car. I imagine you can talk your way into keeping a Beta with you on Moonglow Pack territory?"

House Wright wouldn't need protection, but courtesy and respect together insisted I be allowed a second at my side while on foreign lands. Alpha Campbell would have to allow Adam to stay with me unless he could come up with a reason to refuse me at the gate.

I wasn't sure we were even going to get through the gate. I hadn't been invited to Moonglow Pack lands. I had no business with them directly. My father had made no overtures to them either. Moonrise Pack had no interests which could be declared shared with the isolated wolves either.

"I'll do my best. What makes you think they'll clear me for entrance?"

The witch gave a wicked chuckle, "I'm not sure they will clear you. That's your problem though. I got you here. That's all I had to do. If they turn you away? You'll have a nice long drive back to the city. Hope you filled your gas tank."

I didn't have a chance to say anything else before a ring-shaped portal opened on the road behind us. I was disoriented as I saw it was daylight on the other side of the gateway and then Adam drove my sedan straight toward me, making me jump to the side to avoid being hit by the big car.

"Fuck!"

I turned to shout at the witch only to realize I was alone on the road before Moonglow Pack.

Adam screeched the tires as he stopped the vehicle hard. The car shuddered before being put into park and the driver's door was thrown open as Adam leaped out to rush to me.

"Are you okay? I swear I didn't see you! Goddess wept, what is going on? I was just heading home for lunch and bam! I'm driving straight at you!"

Holding up a hand to stop him, I tried to explain simply, "A witch brought you here. Time travel and portals. I don't know. She was doing a favor for Windsor. She works for the Alpha Council. We are right outside Moonglow Pack lands. You think you can get it together enough to drive me to their guardhouse? Pretend you know what's going on?"

"I can do that. Absolutely, Alpha."

Adam had to be flustered to be calling me 'Alpha.' He tended not to push for the politeness or political correct addresses common among our kind. We'd known each other too long, been friends since we were boys.

"Good. I'm going to be winging it myself."

We got back in the car; I took a seat in the back on the passenger side so I could meet Adam's eyes in the rearview mirror. We composed ourselves as best we could before Adam put the car in drive once more then eased it down the road.

No time at all passed before we were coming up on the guardhouse. I squared my shoulders, sitting up straighter in my seat as I let the cold mask of Alpha Wright fall over my face.

My father had taught me to keep my feelings to myself a long time ago. His lessons were hard-learned and not easily forgotten. I made an intimidating first impression.

Adam spoke to the guard only long enough to explain who he was bringing.

"Your Alpha isn't on the guest list for the night. Was his visit planned through the Alpha House?"

I raised my voice to call out, "My mate is having pains. She's carrying our child and I don't feel comfortable letting her stay here alone. I am willing to make appropriate compensation to House Campbell for the inconvenience of an unannounced visit. Could you pass along my request to return to my mate's side?"

The guard bowed his head to me, a look of concern on his face which told me he understood my excuse on a personal level. Pregnancies were lost more often among wolves than other species. Humans had introduced our kind to multiple fertility options, but breeding was still not guaranteed for wolfen couples.

Straining my ears, I could make out most of the guard's conversation which seemed to be with another guard at the Alpha House. He relayed the need for a visit as I'd laid it out for him. The other end of the conversation was harder to discern due to the distance as well as the quality of the call over walkie-talkie.

I let out a breath of relief as I saw the casual way the guard ambled back to the sedan: we had been cleared for entry.

"Please go on in, Alpha Wright. If you follow the path to the left and drive to the periphery of the property, you'll be right at the Modesty Cabin we've arranged for your mate's visit. Alpha Campbell will see you in the morning before 10 AM to discuss your visit. My thoughts are with you and your luna. I hope for the best."

"Thank you. I won't forget your courtesy---?"

"Dylan," the guard supplied, "Delta Dylan Green."

"Thank you again, Delta Dylan. I'll remember you."

I got a bow from the Delta as he opened the gate to let the sedan roll through.

"We got lucky with him," Adam said and I didn't bother giving a verbal reply when a nod would do just as well, "You have any idea what you're going to offer Campbell?"

"I'll figure it out by tomorrow."

"You mated her?" Adam asked, making a concentrated effort not to meet my eyes in the rearview mirror.

"I did," I said, "I don't regret it either. She's mine."

"You know that means you're hers, too?"

I nodded even though I wasn't sure why Adam felt the need to say as much. Did he think I'd cheat on her the way my father had cheated with my mother? Was I such a failure as a mate my Beta thought I needed to be told to treat my mate with decency? To respect her claim on me?

A Moonglow Pack representative stood by the end of the drive in front of a wide cabin. I waited until Adam opened the door for me before stepping out of the sedan. Hurrying would give off the wrong impression; I couldn't afford to make anything other than the best imprint on these wolves.

Waiting on the welcoming wolf to come to me, I asked, "My mate is in this cabin?"

"Yes, Alpha Wright. Your mate is in the Modesty Cabin. Two bedrooms with bolts on the doors. A shared common area. She wouldn't be at risk from her guard."

As if I would be worried Rachel might have to fight off the amorous intentions of another male. I only managed to avoid reacting by drawing on years of experience dealing with my father.

"Thank you. I'll see myself in. I trust no one will protest if I stay with my mate for the night?"

I raised a brow in challenge, but the wolf laughed.

"No, no, no, of course not. You're welcome to spend the night with your mate. We respect the relationship granted between mates by the Moon Goddess."

I could hear a hint of longing in his voice and decided to use it to my advantage.

"I take it you haven't found your fated mate yet?"

The wolf shook his head, "No. I'm hoping to get leave to attend some celebration festivals with other packs since I've met all the females here."

"You are welcome to visit Moonrise Pack anytime you like. I fully support accepting the fated mate our Goddess grants us. I know myself from experience: fighting the bond only leads to regrets and misery on both sides."

"Thank you, Alpha Wright!"

The wolf closed the distance between us to seize my hand in an enthusiastic shake, "I'm Beta Benjamin Brock. I would be thrilled to visit Moonrise Pack. You have so many members! How do you keep track of them all?"

I didn't keep track of them all, but I couldn't tell him that. Instead, I used the first excuse to come to mind.

"We take advantage of the census. It's a tool many wolves don't respect enough."

Beta Brock nodded as if I had imparted the greatest of wisdoms onto him.

"That's a great idea, Alpha. I should get a copy of the census to check off the females I've met to make sure I've not overlooked a potential match. Do you want me to wait on you to greet your mate?"

"No need," I waved him off, glad his hand had been dry at least during his vigorous greeting, "Have a nice night, Beta Brock."

He took off at an easy jog down the path while I made my way to the Modesty Cabin only for Art Windsor to meet me on the front porch and point to the cabin beside it.

"Rachel is over there. It was meant to be mine, but tonight? It's all yours, Wright. Enjoy it."