Page 2 of M.A.Y.A (After the End #4)

Chapter One

Isaiah Star paced his home library in slow, easy strides.

Back and forth, back and forth. He’d become Alpha of his wolf pack in the Pacific Northwest three years ago after he inherited it from his father uncontested.

He was marked at a young age, and as his parents’ only child, he knew the responsibility that rested on his shoulders to carry on his family’s legacy.

His entire life had been about preparing for the role he possessed today.

Since his initiation, he’d worked tirelessly to expand their territory, establish peace treaties with humans and other shifter groups, and brought the pack’s businesses into the next century.

He was involved in every minute detail in order to create a financially stable and safe place for his packmates to thrive.

As Alpha, Isaiah also worked hard at honing his physical and mental strength. His intuition was sharper than a knife’s edge. That’s why when something felt…off, he knew he had to pay attention. Today, his intuition was ringing alarm bells.

Just as he was about to make another turn around his library, Alex, the leader of his Beta council and his best friend, pushed through the door. “We’ve got a problem,” he said.

I fucking knew it.

“What’s wrong?” Isaiah replied. He felt his coat ripple just under the surface of his skin, as if his wolf was preparing for a shift.

Alex looked just as agitated when he combed his fingers through his thick, dark hair.

He was the same age as Isaiah, but leaner with Irish and Scot genes while Isaiah’s broad build came from his North Indian and Scandinavian ancestry.

Regardless of size, Alex was nearly as strong which was why he was such a powerful second.

“The Omegas are feeling your tension, and we’re starting to experience some infighting. I just came from breaking up a group of pups who had released their claws and drew blood.”

A deep, rumbling growl echoed through Isaiah’s chest. “Were they reprimanded?”

Alex sat facing the scarred wooden desk, his limbs too long for the chair he occupied. “Of course they were reprimanded,” he said. “But this is about you. You have to get a hold of your emotions. It’s so thick I can grab onto it. When was the last time you had sex?”

“Fuck, Alex,” Isaiah said, rolling his eyes. “Have some respect for your Alpha. Not everything is about sex.”

“With this it is, Alpha. It’s my job to watch your back as your second, but also as your best friend. We’ve known each other since we were born. I’m calling it like I see it: you get testy if you haven’t had some physical intimacy in a while, and now it’s affecting the entire pack.”

Isaiah continued his easy pacing, even though the tension in his shoulders tightened.

“I’ve been busy. Everyone has entrusted me to expand and support the pack, and that takes time.

More importantly, there’s been something that feels off lately.

Just in the past month or so. It’s driving me insane. I need focus.”

Alex shook his head. “What could you possibly need to focus on that you haven’t taken care of already?

After three years of establishing yourself as our leader, you’ve gained the respect and admiration of everyone in the pack.

Enjoy the peace, brother. Get yourself some action before shifters start going feral. ”

A part of him knew Alex was right. He had to manage his emotions, his needs, because whatever he felt could filter through and hurt his people.

How long had it been since he’d taken a lover?

Was it New York? No, Chicago. It was during the shifter Congress meeting.

There, he’d found a Beta from a neighboring ally pack that was willing to scratch an itch.

That was six months ago, and for an Alpha shifter, six months was too long to go without touch.

“I’ll think about it,” Isaiah finally said.

Alex leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees. “Look, you’re never going to find your mate if you’re holed up in your office, or in your cave.”

“Whoa, no one said anything about mating,” Isaiah said, palms raised. He felt the tickle of panic in the back of his throat. “I have enough responsibility on my shoulders than to mate.”

He’d spent thirty-two years on this earth, and he’d not once felt the mysterious pull from his fated life partner. Although he’d seen mates find each other over the years, his parents included, it wasn’t in the cards for him.

If he were to mate, his focus would no longer be the pack that he was destined to protect. No, his focus would become his mate, and he’d spend the rest of his life—and all the ones that followed—cherishing, loving, and protecting the other half of his soul.

As Alpha, he knew that a mate could be dangerous and fracture his priorities and for someone like Isaiah, that was unacceptable.

“You know my feelings about mating,” he said.

“Like you’d have a choice if you found her,” Alex replied. “You’ll soon realize that a mate will make you stronger.”

“I’m not like my parents, Alex. I’m not like other Alphas.”

“Isaiah, you’re wrong if you think you’d let your pack down because your mate will come first. Until you figure that out for yourself, you should work on blowing off some steam.”

Isaiah snorted.

Alex’s expression went solemn. “I’m worried about you.”

“I appreciate it, but my gut tells me this is not the time for distraction. As peaceful as it’s been, something is coming.”

“I told you, enjoy the peace,” Alex said. “Between the businesses in town, the work we do in conservation, and the alliances we’ve made, our pack is profitable, we’re healthy, and the only discord we’re experiencing is because you can’t get your dick to—”

The high-pitched alarm on his desk was sharp enough to make him wince because of his sensitive ears. He switched it off and picked up his receiver.

“Alpha,” Drayden said as Isaiah answered on the first ring. His voice was filled with an urgency that had Isaiah’s spine going ramrod straight.

Something’s wrong. Something’s off.

“We have a problem,” Drayden continued. His Greek accent was thicker than usual. “Perimeter breech, unauthorized entry. Western border. Deep in the brush, next to the Franz Ravine. No one has approached yet. Form looks human but our heat detector isn’t giving us an accurate reading…”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the form doesn’t appear to be fully…human? They could be wearing some kind of armor that is preventing us to pick up certain parts of the body, but the scan looks like it’s not reading a full person. It’s so bizarre.”

“Alex and I will check it out,” Isaiah said. “Be ready if we need backup, but if it’s a solo entry, then it may just be a lost hiker.”

“You think it’s a lost hiker that got this far into our border without detection?

Near the Franz Ravine so close to the central Den?

It’s common for them to wander around the perimeter, but there is no way all our surveillance technology and guards could’ve missed them this far inside our land. It’s never happened before.”

“First time for everything. Since we’ve signed new land treaties, we’re going to see people push our limits.”

“I still don’t like it, Alpha,” Drayden said. “This is Oregon. We’re not talking about our new territories in Alaska and BC. It’s close to home. All I’m saying is…be careful.”

With that Drayden hung up, and Isaiah slipped his cell into his pocket. “You up for a run?” he said to Alex.

His second-in-command unfolded his long limbs from the chair. He ran a hand through his hair again, and with a grunt, replied. “Yeah, as long as you don’t say it.”

They headed to the door before Isaiah responded. “Alex, I fucking told you that something was off.”

“I know you’re Alpha, but you don’t have to be right all the time,” his Beta mumbled.

* * *

It took them twenty minutes of running in human form to get to the coordinates that Drayden had texted him.

As they reached closer to their destination, Isaiah felt a prickling under his skin.

The wolf inside him wanted out. The animal knew something was off, too.

He was strangely on alert in a way that Isaiah had never felt before.

A damp line of sweat formed between Isaiah’s shoulder blades as he and his second began their slow approach to the clearing.

Who could possibly have ventured into this part of Den territory?

Hunting was forbidden in their lands, and any illegal hunting was met with swift pack retribution.

Usually that was enough to dissuade even the bravest of intruders.

Camping was also forbidden in the surrounding areas, but around the borders, there were usually some who ventured across the invisible line.

Hikers were happy to move when they were met with perimeter guards though.

As if Alex read his mind, he said, “Drayden is right. This is too far inland to be accidental. How would someone like a hiker end up here without any detection?” Even though he was thirty feet away, circling the location from the rear, Isaiah heard his words as if they were whispered directly in his ear.

“If it’s a hostile entry, they may be armed,” Isaiah responded. “Stay vigilant.”

He wasn’t carrying any human weapons to defend himself. He didn’t need to; he was faster and stronger than most assailants. But if he was shot, and it wasn’t a head wound, he’d die. A head wound was the only guaranteed fatal injury by bullet. He could easily manage any other form of attack.

The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, his claws pricking under his fingertips as he moved closer to the clearing. The forest was dense here, wet and dark. Now that the sun was setting, the cool fall air began to chill.

That’s when he smelled her for the first time.