Malakai was finally better after he had met his friend who was a healer to tend to his wounds.
His strength had returned fully, his body was no longer bleeding and the poison was gone thanks to Queen Dupont. But just as he laid down on the now empty bed to breathe normally again, another call came.
"They're waiting, Alpha," his beta said over the line. "You called for it, remember? So, it would not be good if you didn't show up for the selection trial of the Luna Guard."
Alpha Malakai sighed and rubbed his temple. He hadn't rested properly since the night before. He got up from the bed. "I need an hour," he said. "Just one. To close my eyes."
"You can do that in the car," his beta replied respectfully. "I don't trust, with such incidents that happened last night, that you can stay asleep for only an hour without someone there to awaken you when it is past the appointed time. And there's no one in the Alpha house to remind you. Alpha stays alone."
"Old Solomon's here," Malakai muttered. And then continued. "I am not in the Alpha house."
"Oh. But Old Solomon doesn't know your schedule," came the quick reply. "I'll come stay with you while you rest. Just to make sure."
Malakai's voice was dry. "Don't you have anything better to do?"
He was really getting tired of these nosy werewolves who wouldn't mind their business, all in the name of being duty bound.
"Alpha," his beta said, "you announced the ceremony. You should take it seriously."
And he had. The announcement of the Luna Guard's selection had echoed through the pack and far beyond. Not just a guard. Not just a selection. A Luna Guard—for his Luna. A female who would guard his Luna till he says or she says 'You're no longer needed.'
And the moment they'd heard it, the world had known: Alpha Malakai had a mate.
He hadn't even made her Luna yet. There had been no formal binding ceremony, no parade through the pack lands. But this…, the creation of a personal guard for her, this was the sign. The confirmation they all needed.
And it shattered something in the pack. Especially the she-wolves. They had to know now that there was no path forward for them with Alpha Malakai. No hope. No chance. The red hound wolf had chosen, was mated, and was taken.
What they didn't know was that his actual mate was an Omega.
An Omega no one knew. A boy, hidden carefully by his family, a quiet shame sealed between a handful of bloodlines. Malakai definitely assumed his family hated their own spawn. After all, what family would embrace raising a whore?
Malakai didn't hate him though. But the thought of his Omega bearing a mark, an obvious, intimate mark, gnawed at something raw inside him.
Still, he agreed. "Fine. Come over. Wake me when it's time."
He climbed into bed and closed his eyes, letting the pull of exhaustion take over while his beta left to prepare to come over.
The selection trial was solely held for Queen who he had violated last night.. that is, if she said yes to his proposal.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the territory, Boris had arrived at the outer post where Axel had told him to meet.
Axel sounded urgent over the phone and that was rare.
Axel was a healer, like Boris, but on a much higher level. He worked with supernaturals broadly, not just werewolves. It was the exact position Boris dreamed of. Axel had access and power. The kind Boris could only earn by doing something monumental.
And Axel wasn't even a born wolf. He'd risen from Omega to Gamma which was a feat Boris hadn't been able to match, despite being a pureblood.
When Boris reached him, Axel didn't waste time. "I'm glad you came. I need a favor."
"What favor makes you sound so desperate?"
"Alpha Malakai of the Blood Hound Pack is holding a selection trial. For his Luna's Guard."
Boris blinked. "He's choosing a guard for his Luna?" he asked carefully. "Does he… already have one?"
He didn't voice the question fully. Axel kept speaking.
"I was supposed to be there. On standby. You know how wild she-wolves get when it involves Alpha Malakai."
"No," Boris blinked, genuinely clueless as to how whatever Axel was asking. "No, I don't."
Axel chuckled. " Well, last time he even showed himself, the pack had a stampede just trying to catch a glimpse. A lot of she wolves were hurt."
Boris snorted. "Is he that handsome?"
"It's not about looks. It's his aura. His power. He's a red hound wolf, Boris. That's not just any breed. That's an omen."
Boris rolled his eyes. He didn't care. Not about the aura, the breed, or the fanfare. Alpha Malakai was still what he was—terrifying to Boris and his family, judged already by Boris, untouchable in general.
And yet… No one, not even Boris, knew he'd been with Malachai. Not just near him. With him. Close enough to bear the mark on his neck. A mark he quickly covered when Axel's eyes flicked toward it.
"What's on your neck?" Axel asked suddenly. "And you look pale."
"Nothing," Boris said too fast. "I'm just tired. Healing house work. I-I saw your brother today, he seems to be doing fine."
He switched the subject so fast and Axel didn't press. Maybe he assumed Boris had been with some random wolf as he very much knew about Boris's heat. A wild night wasn't such a big deal, if he had it with a female wolf. Two male wolves thing was a big deal.
And this is why Boris couldn't tell Axel he was penetrated by a male werewolf. No one, in fact, could know the truth.
Axel, despite the trust between them, was still a Gamma, and Gammas were dangerous with information. Like humans with bipolar disorder, they shifted fast and turned sides suddenly. Friendly one day, unpredictable the next. Boris couldn't risk it.
He zoned out for a moment, thinking too hard, until Axel snapped his fingers. "Boris. Are you even listening?"
"What?"
"I asked if you'd do me the favor at last."
Boris hesitated for a split second. Then nodded. "Sure. After I finish up at the healing house, I'll get ready."
Axel chuckled. "Actually… you don't have time to get ready. The selection starts today."
Boris froze. "What? So soon? Is the Alpha in such a rush?"