Chapter 3. All Wolves for Themselves

Focused now on Alpha Dartwood, he was not particularly interested in what he had to say. Zayne knew this Alpha, he was a scum, and Zayne had called Alpha Thornton selfish, but this f**ker right here won the prize fair and square.

He only looks out for himself, not even his pack, and an Alpha like that is the lowest of the lowest in Zayne’s eyes.

“Oh, well, I see, I see,” Alpha Dartwood’s hand darts up, and he furiously dabs at his forehead.

“Pardon me, Alpha Zayne.” He made a quick dip of his head as if bowing.

“Please forgive my insolence and allow me to introduce my lovely wife, Lenora, and my beautiful daughter Leandra.” Alpha Dartwood ends with a flourish.

Alpha Zayne simply nodded at the women and urged Alpha Dartwood, “state your business, I have other matters to attend to, and you did show up unannounced.”

“Yes, straight to the point, I like that.” Alpha Dartwood perks up to lay out his proposal.

Zayne simply lifts an eyebrow as Mekhi watches intently at what is happening before him. Taking in Alpha Dartwood’s every move, nervous tick, even the beat of his heart.

Paying close attention, as was Zayne.

“Ok, so I am seeking protection for my family and me.” He paused briefly and looked at Zayne.

Zayne simply flicks two fingers at him to continue.

“A few weeks ago, one of my warriors realized our phones had been tapped. We also have heard of the attacks on other wolf communities that have taken place. It was slow at first. However, it has ramped up drastically.”

“Now,” he looks pointedly at Zayne, at which Zayne tilts his chin. “I am inclined to believe that my community is on their radar, and it is only a matter of time before they attack. I am here today seeking refuge until the storms die down.”

Alpha Zayne could not believe what he heard, even though he knew this man was selfish. Sometimes people tend to exaggerate a story and even add to it.

Hence, by the time the story gets around, it is either watered down or, for the most part, flourished and bedazzled to draw one in.

In this case, they hit the nail on the head. There was no exaggeration.

This Alpha was here for himself only until the attack happened in his community and was behind him. Then he plans to return, not getting caught in the crossfire.

He would be here safe while his people are left out to hang.

So what about his people now? Don’t they need to be kept safe? How can he be so callus in his care for his own people?

“And what is in this for me?” Was all Zayne asked, so he could simply refuse and be done with this fool.

Alpha Dartwood claps his hands, “ahh, yes, what’s in it for you? Well, Alpha Zayne, you would be pleased to know that I am prepared to offer you my daughter’s hand in marriage.”

“Not interested!” He looked Alpha Dartwood square in the eyes, who was currently beginning to regret his earlier joy at the fact that he was dealing with the younger Alpha and not his father.

Maybe his father would have jumped at the opportunity to wed a gorgeous young she-wolf like his daughter.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” Alpha Zayne asks, ready to have them escorted out.

Alpha Dartwood was in a jam! He hastily asks, “Please, may I ask then what might entice you to let us stay for a few weeks tops?”

Ok, maybe Alpha Zayne could use this to his advantage. Alpha Dartwood did say that their phones were tapped, and if so, he wanted to trace where the tap was coming from.

For that intel, they are welcome to stay one month.

However, he would also have to make arrangements for his pack members’ safety. Not only him. We can certainly work out the logistics for that in the next few days.

Alpha Zayne had leaned back on his chair, tilted his chin up as he rubbed it, his elbow propped on the arm of the chair as he considered it.

Alpha Dartwood looks on eagerly, anticipating an answer. He was out of options, and to say he was hopeless was an understatement. All he was concerned about was his family.

Things were getting dire for the werewolf communities at this time, and he was not sorry he was selfish in only thinking of himself and his family because, pretty soon, there may not be any more werewolf communities left at this rate.

Why would he try to salvage that community and help his people when it was a lost cause? As far as he was concerned, it was all wolves for themselves.

***

Alpha Zayne Steele

[Forty-eight hours earlier]

“You are 15 minutes out,” the voice on the com says. Our guy back at home base.

I tried my best to stay entirely focused as I didn’t get much sleep, staying up well into the night on the phone to no avail. It was tough getting these Alphas from neighboring communities on board to join forces.

I had spent hours on the phone pleading my case. However, all the other Alpha’s seemed to be taking the same stance as Alpha Thornton. As far as they were concerned, there seemed to be no trouble at their doorstep, and as such, they would not get involved in my mess, they said.

My mess, I chuckled bitterly. At one call, he had gotten so angry he remembered yelling into the phone, making it clear to them, don’t come running to him when it reaches your doorstep.

Because for the life of Alpha Zayne, this threat was on all wolves, why would they not want to get ahead of this? What were they waiting for? When they were under attack?

Bottom line, I was exhausted, to say the least.

I may need to adapt my plans moving forward regarding this faction, but first, I will exhaust all my options.