Chapter 4

From Daunte's POV

"Aye, D, is your ass up? Let's get started." Dominic, my overly responsible Beta, decided we would do training early in the morning. If he weren't so damn proficient at his job, I would have fired him already, but I was already awake.

It took me all night to ensure business finances were in order. While inheriting my grandfather's business wasn't everything I had wanted, being the CEO of the largest cybersecurity firm had its perks. I was proud of the work I had done, and I was excited about the company's future. I knew I had a lot of hard work ahead of me.

I was also able to provide self-fulfilling jobs to all of the wolves of the pack, regardless of rank. After visiting many packs in the past and seeing the poor treatment of lower-ranking wolves, I made sure that wouldn't happen here. I had faith that I could make this business much more successful than it was.

"Let's go, D, come on, you da Alpha; how does it look when the HAIC is not in attendance at the training?" Dominic said as he opened my bedroom door and walked in.

"I am up," I said, cocking my brow at him. As I pulled my sweater over my golden brown hair, I asked,

Suppose I had a woman in here, and you just walked in?"

Alonzo roared with laughter.

"You know what they say? The day a woman comes in here, hell freezes over," he said, then added, "No, seriously, though, we're going to be late."

"Okay, I'm ready," I replied as I grabbed a water bottle from the mini fridge and followed him out of the room.

"So why were you up so early anyway?" He asked as we walked down the hall.

"Verifying the business finances to ensure we have enough to build that upscale condo on the northern end of the pack border and renovate that mall. Plus, I need to scout out that area by the western border you told me about," I told him.

"I'm glad you're considering it, bro. Adding a couple of cottages to the neighborhood or even another school." Dominic replied. I nodded in agreement as we exited the packhouse and headed for the training fields.

Logan's voice echoed through the mind link as we approached the training ground.

"Alpha, we spotted a pack of rogues just outside the western border," he said

Smirking at Dominic, I said, "I guess I'll skip training today," as I shifted into my wolf and ran off toward the western border.

"You ain't skipping tomorrow," Dominic yelled after me.

"Hey, Romo, let's play a game. You catch five today, and I will let you run all night. ' I said to my wolf. There was no one who was more pushover than him. It was fair to say that he was a big-ass softy, but when it came to protecting his pack, he was a beast.

As Romo pushed forward, he responded, "You lie too much." I laughed at his comment as I drifted to the back of my mind. Once we reached the western border, he sniffed around and spotted two rogues, and we chased after them. Romo was a blur flying around at top speed after the two rogues. The rogues were no match for Romo, and he quickly took them down. He wagged his tail with pride as he proclaimed his triumph. I laughed in response, feeling a sense of pride for my wolf.

"Since we're here, let's explore the area," I told him as we began to look around. There was no doubt that Dominic was right; this was a nice little spot for a few cottages for older wolves who wanted peace and serenity in retirement. There was only one problem: it bordered on Crestview Pack as well.

While we made a few trades with them here and there, they were one of the worst packs. If I wanted to, I could easily wipe it out. We continued trotting up the area when I saw something moving in the trees. At first, I thought it was another rogue, but upon closer inspection, I saw it was a she-wolf. She had red hair that flowed behind her, and she was young, not yet eighteen.

My attention was drawn to her as she climbed down the hill. Her face was filled with sadness. I watched her as she crossed the stream. I followed closely; there was something about her that intrigued me. Suddenly, she stopped and looked at me. Those blue eyes held a sadness that I could tell had been there for a long time. Without moving, she stared at me. I was sure she was probably scared. To avoid scaring her, I turned and walked out of sight into the shadows. I followed her until she reached the borders of Crestview.

As he watched her leave, Romo said, "She must like coming here," and then turned and headed for the hill the girl had come down. After we reached the top, we looked out and were amazed at the view.

"This is an amazing view. What's not to like?" I said as I looked around.

My thoughts went back to her. There was just something about her that caught my attention. I tried to take my mind off her, but I couldn't.

"Let's get home before Dominic sends a search party," I told Romo. Taking one last look at the direction she had gone, I was curious what her story was. I also wondered why she had strayed so far from her pack's safety. I shook my head and turned away from the sight, feeling a strange mix of sadness and admiration. I wondered if I would ever see her again...

"Dude, where have you been?" Dominic asked as I approached the packhouse.

"You were right about the area by the western border," I replied as I shifted back, then added, "The only thing is it borders Crestview Pack."

"Nah, does it?" Dominic was surprised.

"Yes, but if I play my cards right, I am sure I can convince them to let me buy it," I told him.

I knew Crestview had some financial difficulties, so if I offered them the right amount, I was sure they wouldn't mind. If that didn't work, some trade could be arranged. Regardless, I would ensure I purchased the area, hoping to catch sight of the red-headed girl again.