CHAOS

HAKAN'S POV.

The frosty breeze lightly brushed across my thick brown fur. There was nothing more exciting than my paws against the moist rich soil of pack land, I derived an odd sense of pride from it.

I had gone on a run after storming out of the room.

That damned woman; I didn't understand her one bit. Tsk, no need thinking about it, I had come out for a run to give my wolf a chance to stretch out. Today was the day mother had left. How could I forget, she was my rock, my hiding place. Until that blasted incident twelve years ago that robbed me of all that. I'd thought about it over and over again but it never made sense to me. How was it my fault? Weren't we all grieving? Tsk! Women! I just never understood.

************

THIRD PERSON POV.

He trotted in wolf form across the pack house, everyone pack member who saw him bowed in reverence or for those in wolf form, howled in acknowledgement. He played his way upstairs to his room, he shifted back into human form and headed for the bathroom, there he found his luna back facing their vanity stitching the wound in her back; a threaded needle in one hand and the other hand holding up her skin.

She looked up at him with amber-coloured animalistic eyes. It was clear that her wolf was on the surface—she looked fierce and extremely intimidating. Just looking at her sent a slight shiver down his spine.

He crossed his arms against his chest and leaned against the doorframe. She looked away from him and continued stitching up her back, she was halfway done. But what amused him more was how she did it without even looking. But he was curious though, what was her wolf-like? No better time to find out than the present when she was so close to shifting.

"So, how does it feel being the alter ego of such a lifeless person?"

She growled at his question, earning a snicker from him.

"Ha, so you do react to things. You have consciousness. Interesting."

The half-emerged wolf laughed.

"Hahaha, you don't say. Does it bemuse you so?"

"What era are you from? The middle ages?"

He teased. He was enjoying the bizarre dialogue because for some strange reason it fascinated him to know that he wasn't married to a robot or a human figurine. She finished up the stitches and set her items atop a piece of cotton fabric she had lain in front of the vanity, sprayed them with disinfectant and washed off the blood with running water. After which she took off her gloves and tossed them into the nearby bin.

He watched her intently, as to why he was so interested in this unhinged woman he had no idea.

He watched as she bandaged herself and cleaned up. She walked up to him. Eyes still amber and violent, she looked up at him. That's when he felt it, his entire being shook. He felt as though he'd been plunged into the depths of the ocean and just kept sinking. He growled at her.

"What did you do?!"

The wolf on the surface continued to stare, looking the Alpha square in the eyes. Ah, there it was. He thought. That stoic and lifeless stare. But this one was sad and angry—almost. The fear he was feeling only grew stronger as each minute passed. He had to do something! But he couldn't lift a finger. He tried but failed. It then occurred to him to compel her, using his authority as alpha.

But what was her name again? What was it? Dammit! Ah, he remembered.

"Gaia," His voice was low but spine-tingling.

"Come out! Push your wolf back!" He ordered. But to no avail. He only seemed to anger the beast before him.

"Is it your arrogance or your stupidity? Which is it?"

She asked with utter disdain.

His knees began to buckle at that point, but he wouldn't fall not in front of this nobody! But how? How did her presence alone command such power? She hadn't even shifted yet and he was barely able to stand looking into her eyes. What kind of silly joke was this?

After what seemed like hours, she walked past him and he sighed. Finally being able to stand. After regaining his composure he stormed out of the bathroom furious! Where was she?! That bitch! He roared. He combed the entire room. Lifting and titling and shoving aside different things. He finally opened the pack mind link and barked one order.

"FIND THE LUNA AND BRING HER TO ME THIS INSTANT."

***

The pack was a mess, warriors running around in circles, looking for a luna whose scent they didn't even know.

"Fuck!" The head warrior Brandon Myers cursed. They'd combed the forest for over forty minutes and nothing. It was one woman! One woman! And how the hell did she even get past the guards stationed at various points of the pack building, let alone the Alpa's quarters?

He knew very well, the way the Alpha thought. Dammit! Heads we're going to roll the next morning. This was a major security breach. Brandon was ready to jump off a cliff until he heard his Alpha's voice through the mind link.

"Call off all search parties. I've found her."

"Yes sir"

He sounded calmer and almost relieved. Was he worried about a woman who wasn't even his mate?! Brandon was honestly confused but decided to follow his Alpha's order without question. All search parties were called off and the warriors returned to their stations.

***

"Gaia," Hakan had never been so mad and so scared at and of anyone at the same time.

"Yes, alpha." She responded in her usual monotone voice. Was she back to her usual self?

"What was that all about? How did you do that?" He questioned. His voice low and menacing, looking down at the woman kneeling on the floor.

She raised her head and met his gaze. This time with her beautiful blue eyes. He had never felt so relieved in his entire life but didn't let it show.

"Answer the question." He pressed, almost gently.

"I don't know what you're speaking about. I did nothing."

She didn't look like she was lying. And she certainly looked confused as well.

It frustrated him the more.

"You're fucking with me, aren't you?"

He asked with a sigh. A tired one.

"No, I would never." She replied hanging her head. She sounded the same, her heartbeat was normal, her body language didn't imply she was lying. So, maybe she wasn't?

He was fucked, really fucked; he thought. He needed to calm down.

"Get off your knees and get into bed."

He ordered, she obeyed.

He also got into the same bed but lay at the very edge.

*********

THE NEXT DAY.

HAKAN'S POV.

I was up by four-thirty in the morning and decided to go for a run. God, I had never slept so peacefully in my life. Maybe it was because of what happened last night? I hate to admit it, but whatever that was; she could end a war by just shifting into wolf form.

The run was short and fulfilling. I got back thirty minutes later and found that the bed in the suite had been made. She stood beside the bed; she wore a black and white plaid turtleneck velvet bodycon knee-length dress and black heels—and yes I know my fabrics.

Her hair didn't really matter, it was held in a casual but chic ponytail.

Was she always going to be on time, was she always going to be perfectly dressed? Was she always going to act like an automated doll? I need something to complain about. I never even wanted this marriage. Tsk. I needed more information about her. I knew too little. I need her file.

"Get down to the dining room and wait there."

I ordered, striding into the bathroom and shutting the door. While in the bathroom I mind linked Eloise; my beta. Another woman I preferred to stay away from if I wanted to keep my sanity.

'Get me personal files on your Luna. I want every piece of information, from what she hates to how many times she breathes in a day!'

'Understood.'

Now, that was out of the way I had to internally prep myself for work. There was so much to do today. The worst part of it all was lunch with my father and Gaia. Good lord, have mercy.

****

I sat across the table from her and plunged my fork into the eggs. I looked over at her and found her simply sipping tea from a teacup. I honestly couldn't stand her.

I got off my chair and filled my mug with hot coffee, walked up to her and poured it down her dress.

She looked up at me, her usual lifeless expression. Her eyes scanned me intently as if searching for something. For god's sake, I just poured hot steaming coffee on your dress woman!

"Your vest, there's a stain on it. Also, the bubblegum pink doesn't compliment the rosewood too well."

She stated as a matter of factly. I furrowed my brows and threw the mug across the room. The servants came rushing in, attending to the mess. I had mismatched the colours to get her to say something sexist, not for her to critique it objectively. In a fit of rage, I kicked the chair she was sitting in which sent it flying across the room and immediately stormed out of the dining room. Bitch! I got into my suite and changed into the watermelon pink vest I had initially planned on sporting.

Along with my all-time Jaeger-LeCoultre diver watch, for my shoes, I went with the Christian Louboutin black dandelion suede loafers that went up for sale last week.

And to my favourite part of dressing up; the luxury fragrance of the year—Creed Himalaya. There was no room for complaint every time I wore this fragrance, it had a fresh yet rugged and dominant scent. And what amazed me most was the balance. It was worth the money. At least something put me in a good mood today.

I looked myself over in the mirror and headed downstairs. I had some pack work to attend to, as well as office duties. So I decided to send Gaia to the office headquarters and asked my assistant to pile a month's worth of files for her to organise as well as head the meetings I wasn't going to make it to. Let's see how Miss perfect did. The Little bitch!

I walked into my office, set my coat down on the black leather sofa and sat behind my desk, no minute sooner there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Eloise came strutting in wearing her typical style of clothes, a black tank top tucked in camo casual cargo joggers paired with black combat boots. I hated admitting it, but she was what you'd call a power woman. She was not the Orthodox type of woman. No. She was ripped and stood at 6'0 in height, her tan skin did no good at hiding the scars which she was for some reason very proud of. The scar that many had said made her look vicious— aside from her bold drop fade on a French cut was a scar that went from under her left eye and ended above her eyebrow.

She got that scar from one of the rouges she had mercilessly ripped apart about two years ago. It was an absolute miracle she didn't lose her eye or better yet; a calculated mistake. Simply because my beta was meticulous when it came to fighting of any type. She wasn't one to fight a losing battle. A born Logician and battle analyst. Most of the men in the pack were terrified of her. Even Brandon Myers, who was head warrior kept his distance to some extent. Eloise Yaeger-Strüut. I smirked.

She walked over to my desk and handed me a brown envelope. I looked up at her, cocking my head sideways with a cocky grin. She looked serious as usual.

"Eloise, looking kick-ass as usual. You sure you don't want to take me up on my offer on paying for you to do a gender alteration surgery? Most people wouldn't even see the difference. You're pretty much a man already."

I taunted. She didn't so much as flinch. She was so hard to get a rise out of. She simply dropped the envelope unto my desk and took a few steps back.

"If there's nothing else Alpha, I'd like to make a territorial report."

She said.

"Go on."

"As at three o'clock today, while patrolling in the dead of the night. I came across the corpses of five dead rouges. I searched the bodies and found that they had been killed— torn apart would be more accurate. Two males, two females and a child(female). The forensic pathologists will have the autopsy results out by tomorrow night. Aside that there've been no other breaches territory-wise. The other packs are staying true to the treaty."

She stated. Did she ever sleep? She was aware that she could delegate people to do that kind of work right?

Ah well.

"Speaking of which, where were you last night when your Luna went missing?"

I asked. She was silent again.

"Eloise, don't tell me? We're you out getting laid?"

"Alpha." She gave me an incredulous look. I chuckled.

"So by the way, are you a top or a bottom?" I could swear I saw her eye twitch.

"Oh come on Eloise, everyone if not most know that you're lesbian. Are you not?"

I heard a low but menacing growl. Goodness, I finally hit a nerve.

"With all due respect Alpha if you have no orders to give or nothing to say regarding my report. I'll be taking my leave."

Oh boy, she was pissed now. That meant no more funny business.

"Just get me the autopsy report once it's ready and tell Brandon to come in on your way out."

She left without a word, strutting out the same way she strut in. Then, in came Brandon.

"Good morning Alpha."

He said nervously.

"Yeah, right. Cut the crap. Nobody's gonna get fired or anything so you can chill."

I said casually waving him off as I signed some papers.

"What?!"

He exclaimed, shocked.

"What you heard."

I told him.

"But why? Do you actually care about her?"

"Don't get it twisted Bran, it's just some really weird shit happened last night and I'm happy to be alive."

I admitted. Brandon just sighed in relief.

"Thanks, Hak. I appreciate it."

He said.

"Right, now go do whatever weird shit you do in the day."

That was that. I continued with my paperwork until it was noon. I had one hour to attend to office work before Lunch with father. Ah, before I forgot. The brown envelope Eloise had brought. I picked it up along with my coat as I headed down the stairs and to my car.

I sat in the back seat and opened the contents as the driver started the car.

NAME: Gaia Eldrin

DATE OF BIRTH: 07/12/XXXX

AGE: 24

PLACE OF BIRTH: Eldrin Pack

FATHER'S NAME: Ganbaatar Eldrin (deceased)

MOTHER'S NAME: Amara Eldrin

SCHOOLING INFO: Did four years of medical school but dropped out and later pursued a degree in Economics and Management — from which she has a first-class certificate. High school valedictorian. Was a part of the drama club. Finished middle school in two years while taking advanced courses.....

LIKES: NOT DETERMINED

DISLIKES: UNORDERLY THINGS. IMPERFECT NAILS.

NATURE: Meticulous, hardworking, consistent, perceptive, calm and collected, cheeky, ambidextrous, fast learner....

I stared in disbelief at the file and pictures in my hands. High School valedictorian?! First-class certificate in economics and management? The middle school part was the kicker for me. The crazy part is she would have been a doctor if she hadn't dropped out. I mean it made sense, the way she handled the tools she used and stitched herself up last night.

Fate was really fucking with me. I sighed, tossing the file aside. I didn't need to read anymore.

Good lord.