Chapter 2 A Fatal Mistake

Xander POV

"Why is your face all tightened up, you should be happy. It's the yearly wolf festival and on the next full moon, you will be made the next alpha," Timothy, my junior brother and soon to be beta, shrieked happily as we moved around trying to get things ready in preparation for the festival.

He wouldn't understand and I couldn't explain to him. I couldn't bear to see the embarrassment on his face when he got to know that Iris, the girl who wouldn't shift, was my mate. It was best he didn't know, it was best no one knows

I wondered why the moon goddess was so cruel to have given me someone so weak as a mate. She couldn't shift, she couldn't stand up for herself and she couldn't even train like normal wolves due to the absence of hers.

"I'm just having a bad day, that's all," I replied, frowning.

"Take the lanterns to the pack grounds and to the streets and light them up. Make sure it's properly arranged," I ordered one of the servants and she rushed to carry out my bidding. The festival was to be held tonight and all the wolves had to be there. It was a night to celebrate the moon goddess for her blessings upon us. It was also the night several wolves met their mates.

"I really do hope I meet my mate tonight. I'll be the happiest man on earth if I do," Timothy sighed dreamily. I pushed a list into his hands, it looked like he was too free and I seemed to be the only one doing all the work. He got to work immediately, delivering orders to everyone.

"Let's hope the moon goddess doesn't give you someone so weak that you'd have to look after your shoulder all the time to keep her safe." I went through the list, ensuring I left nothing out.

"I see nothing wrong in having a weak mate. The moon goddess obviously saw us compatible with each other hence the reason why we are mated," he objected as he asked one of the maids to make preparation for the food meant for the festival.

"I don't care who the moon goddess gives me as a mate. Even if it's weak Iris who hasn't shifted, I'll love her still," he added and I glared at him.

Why did he have to mention Iris, she was my mate and would never be his.

"You're wrong Xander, you rejected her so the moon goddess can connect her with someone else," Xander my wolf sniggered, speaking up after ignoring since I rejected Iris.

"You like Iris don't you?" Timothy grinned at me and I frowned.

"Enough of the talking, I want you to strengthen our security, make sure the pack is safe. We can't afford to give room for rogues to attack us."

"Ok, I should probably get to work." He walked away, going to carry out my orders and I sighed.

There was no way I liked Iris, she was too weak and she always needed help. Whenever there were rogue attacks, we always had to look out for her as part of the pack to keep her safe. She ought to have shifted since three years ago but she didn't shift and automatically became a burden to the pack when others had duties to fulfill.

I was aware that she always did have a crush on me. She would stare at me dreamily during classes and ogle me with her eyes whenever I step into school. I never paid her any attention anyways because she was weak and I don't surround myself with weak people.

I went around, making sure everything was ok and was in order. I was sure Timothy was tightening our security, he should be back anytime from now.

I returned to my room and dressed up, getting ready for the festival. Hopefully the moon goddess will give me another mate tonight. A much stronger mate. Someone strong enough to be my Luna and wouldn't be as weak as Iris. As a soon to be leader, I deserved the best and I wasn't going to settle for less.

Timothy returned, giving me info on the amount of wolves kept on patrol. He also surrounded the pack borders with wolfsbane to keep the rogues away. I nodded satisfied.

"We better get going," I said gruffly and Timothy nodded. We headed out of the house and left for the gathering. The roads were lighted up and everywhere was decorated with lanterns.

"Xander!" I heard someone yell my name from across the street. Timothy and I turned to see who it was and saw that it was Bailey.

"Here comes the witch," Timothy muttered and I elbowed him in the side making him glare at me.

"How are you doing Bailey?" I asked smiling as she joined us.

"I'm good Xander, you look great," she smiled at me.

"Thank you," I simply said.

"I just remembered that there's something that I need to do, I'll see you guys later."

"See you later Bailey," he forced a smile at her and she rolled her eyes waving him off. He nodded in my direction before scurrying off.

"I'm sure you're looking forward to meeting your mate," she asked as we walked together in the direction of the festival.

"Yes," I simply said.

"Me too, I hope his handsome and strong," she shrieked happily and I smiled. At least someone understood the need for a strong mate.

"You won't believe what I'm about to tell you," Bailey whispered, lowering her voice.

"What?" I creased my brows at her confused.

"I think Iris is a human," Bailey whispered into my ears and I froze in shock.

"Iris is a human?" Shock was written all over my face. Bailey had a proud smirk on her face for being able to bring out that reaction in me.

"Yes she is, I also found it hard to believe but that was the only explanation for why she hadn't shifted."

"You see Xander, I made the right decision by rejecting her," I bragged to my wolf but he scoffed, ignoring me. He still refused to talk to me. I can't believe he chose Iris over me.

"Bailey, have you seen Iris? Her parents said she's been missing." Dad walked up to us with Iris's parent behind him, asking about Iris's whereabout.

"No I've not seen her today, alpha," she bowed her head respectfully.

"What about you Xander, have you seen her?" Dad asked, glancing at me.

"I saw her earlier today, in the morning. I haven't seen her again today," I replied, choosing my words carefully.

"Oh, my baby, where is she?" Iris's mom wailed and her husband consoled her.

"Send out the search party Xander, and go with them. We need to find her," dad ordered and I frowned.

"What about the moon festival?"

"You would have to miss it this year, the safety of a pack member comes first. I'll stay back to ensure everything is in order."

I gritted my teeth in anger but could not object his orders. He was still the alpha and he made the rules.

We traced her scent to the cliff and I could only wonder what she came all the way here to do. I had guesses but I don't want to believe them. She wouldn't jump right?

"I found something," Timothy approached me.

"What did you find?"

"I found a piece of her clothing. It seemed to have been ripped off intentionally. My best guess is that she was either attacked or...." His voice became dangerously low.

"Or what?" I peered at him, wanting to hear what he had to say.

"Or she jumped off the cliff and left this behind for us to find," he said crestfallen.

"No it can't be," Iris's mom cried, squirming in the hold of her husband.

Guilt pricked me and I felt bad. If truly Iris jumped, it would be because I rejected her. She couldn't handle the pain that came with the rejection.

"Let's turn back and report to the alpha," I ordered.

We turned and left the cliff, returning back to the festival. Iris's mom kept crying and her husband and son tried to console her and get her to stop trying.

I could feel guilt eating me up from inside as I remembered the pain I saw in her eyes when I rejected her.

We approached the Dad and Timothy relayed the same message to Dad while I watched, my face ashen with guilt. I saw dad staring at me and I looked down, trying to avoid his eyes.

"Timothy, excuse us," dad said to Timothy. He nodded, giving us privacy.

"What did you do Timothy?" Dad asked disappointed and I gulped. He could always tell whenever I did something wrong. I couldn't tell him I rejected her. I couldn't tell anyone.

"I didn't do anything dad" I muttered under my breath but Dad heard me.

"I know you well Xander, whenever you're guilty of something your eyes are always twitching."

I sighed, "I might have been the reason she ran off. We talked this morning and we fought. I shouted at her and kicked her out," I explained and I faced the ground in shame.

"What have you done, Xander!" Dad yelled at me angrily and I flinched back in fear.

"If anything happens to that girl, her blood would be on your head," dad growled at me.

"And also, I wouldn't be handing over to you any longer. I might as well hand it over to Timothy since you're not responsible," Dad added, huffing.

I looked up at him and my eyes widened in surprise.

He wouldn't do that, would he?1634/5000