The Mark of Betrayal novel Chapter 3

Roman

“Remind me again, Sawyer, why I need to go to the southern packs for this Alpha meeting?” I ask my best friend.

“Because we need to make sure they remember that we are the stronger packs,” he says, chuckling.

“And how did you get out of this?” I ask him.

“My Luna’s belly is large with my pup and she’s due to deliver our child any day now. I can’t leave her in case she goes into labor.”

Sawyer had stepped in, taking over as the Alpha of our friend’s pack after he and most of his family were decimated in an attack nine years ago. As a second son of an Alpha, he was the natural choice. I couldn’t take over that pack, or what was left of it, because I am the first son of an Alpha, and I had my own pack that I was going to inherit less than a year later.

Together, Sawyer and I, along with his brother, Dylan, have led the northern packs to strength and prosperity. I’ll admit, I’ve had an easier time of it than Sawyer who had to build Theo’s pack from the ground up, but my pack is stronger than even his brother’s established pack.

Thoughts of Theo remind me of Samara. We never found her. I can only hope that she wasn’t captured and taken hostage by the attacking pack. After we won the battle, I had taken my own army to the pack lands of the Alpha who had sent his men to attack. He barely had time to beg for his life before I removed his head from his body. I had searched everywhere in his pack, the cells, his Alpha suite, every inch of his pack lands searching for her, but I never found her. Finally, I had to admit to myself that she was dead. I don’t know how I’ll face my friend when my time comes, and I go to the Moon Goddess’ realm. I don’t know how I will tell him that I failed him and couldn’t save his youngest sister.

Part of me wonders if it’s that failure that has kept me from finding my mate. At twenty-six years old, I’ve been searching for my mate for eight years, ever since I turned 18. But, I haven’t found her. It’s possible that this Alpha meeting will bring me in touch with her, finally, after all these years. But, in truth, I’ve begun to believe that I’m being punished for not saving Samara.

“Come on, Roman. You know there’s a very high possibility that you’ll find your mate there. Every unmated Alpha female will be there, hoping to find her mate. Now’s the best chance you have of finding her,” Sawyer says, echoing my thoughts.

“You’re right, I know you’re right, my friend. Alright, I guess I’ll see you when I get back. Let’s hope it’s with my Luna in tow,” he chuckles before I hear his mate in the background.

“I’ve got to go,” he says.

“Give your Luna my love,” I say before disconnecting.

I pack my bags, ready to be away for several days. I meet with my Beta, Austin, to go over everything he needs to cover for me while I’m away.

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