Leland

Elsewhere, the two werewolves that Sophie encountered traveled far from Hauntingen by transforming into wolves and reunited with their alpha and pack who were waiting for their reports.

As scouts, it was up to them to serve as the information gatherer for the pack. They went to their headquarters around two days away from Hauntingen.

It was a mansion located on the top of the hill and surrounded by thorny plants. The property looked grey and cold and gave off the vibe of being haunted. The pack liked it that way because it kept people off.

The villagers down the valley thought the mansion was owned by an old and wicked witch who could turn them all into animals if they bothered her. So, they always tried to avoid going around the area.

When the two scouts entered the big hall in the middle of the mansion, they could see their leader standing by the window. His back facing them.

If they didn't know him in person, they might even think he was a statue from how his body was stiff and didn't make any movement.

His white long hair went down to his shoulders, only added to the coldness he exuded. It actually reminded people of an ice statue.

The man was tall and burly. Everything about him screamed power and strength. His muscles protruded from under his black shirt and his gesture looked overbearing. Even though it was a cold night in autumn, he didn't seem bothered by the low temperature and didn't feel the need to wear a coat, unlike his people.

The two grey werewolves transformed back into their human forms.

"Alpha!" Duncan and his companion panted as they fell to their knees and bent to the silent man. "We have the news!"

The white-haired man didn't bother to turn around to acknowledge their presence. However, they could hear his authoritative voice speak calmly. "Speak."

"Most of the humans are easily deceived and cannot detect that we're werewolves," the first man said. "However, we encountered someone who realized what we were when we inquired of the people who lived in the Blackwoods."

"The Village Elder of Hauntingen knew that we were werewolves!" Duncan burst.

An icy silence from their Alpha had Duncan clearing his throat and bowing his head in apology along with his companion. They did not want to gather the wrath of their leader and cause any trouble within the pack.

"Alpha… we also have another news and…" Duncan swallowed. "I think you will like this one."

"What of it?" Leland's voice was cold and blunt.

Duncan hesitated along with his companion. "We met the woman that you have been looking for based on her descriptions, but she did not seem to have any clue to her roots. We have also noticed the scent of another alpha werewolf on her. I am unsure which pack."

"What did you say?"

Finally, the pack members could see an expression from their leader because the man suddenly turned around and looked at the two scouts with narrowed eyes. He had always been handsome, but he never smiled and he never looked happy.

But today they suddenly saw a very faint smile on his lips and that made him look so charming. The pack members were dumbfounded. Not only that faint smile, they also couldn't recognize the glint in his eyes.

What was that… ? Joy? Relief? It looked a bit like happiness.

He was in a very good mood, all of a sudden.

For as long as they knew their alpha, he had never shown any expressions such as happiness or joy. He was always so cold and unexpressive. They could never tell what he had in his mind.

Seeing his blue-green eyes, was like seeing the depths of the ocean. Nobody knew how deep it was and what was stored underneath.

"Alpha, the woman you have been looking for—"

"I heard you during the first time." Leland's eyes flashed as Duncan and the rest of the werewolves cowered. They were worried that they had angered their alpha.

He went to Hauntingen two years ago to look for a woman but couldn't find her. Then he told everyone to find her. They had not been successful for two years.

Yet suddenly, Duncan and Max got lucky. They actually bumped into her in the market in downtown Hauntingen. But… was their alpha still looking for her? Was this information no longer useful for him?

"Tell me more about the other alpha." Leland looked at Duncan with narrowed eyes. "Did you see him?"

"We really don't know a thing about the other werewolf's scent," Duncan explained apologetically. "For all we know, it could also be a rouge."

Everyone in the pack was aware of who once lived in the forests of Blackwoods.

The alpha balled his fists to his sides and turned around again. He looked at the full moon in the night sky and took a deep breath.

He must confirm this report himself. If Sophie had really returned to Hauntingen, he had to see her immediately. The man waved one hand and motioned the scouts to go. "The two of you are currently dismissed."

After Duncan and Max left, Leland made up his mind to check this report by himself. He turned around and walked through the dozens of his pack members.

They were all members with the highest ranks who were allowed to see him and joined the clan meetings where they actually could contribute to what their packs want to do.

Their pack was the leading pack of all the werewolves in the entire continent. They had the most members and right now, they were planning something big that would involve other packs too.

They were getting ready to declare war on the royal family. This kingdom was their biggest enemy and the king had slaughtered so many of their clan's members during the last great war.

"Where are you going, Alpha?" A tall and older werewolf walked to Leland's side and touched his arm. "We still need to discuss our plan."

"I have something to check first," Leland replied flatly. "You can go ahead and have the talk without me."

"Alpha, you shouldn't forget the reason why we are here." The older werewolf looked at Leland with a frown. "Please prioritize the pack's interest before you try to pursue that woman. You are to impersonate the late Count Romanov and draw closer to the royal palace."

Leland narrowed his gaze at the older man.

The clan elder that was sent to travel him by his mother was nothing more than a spy, but if he were to prove himself unruly, they would try to take his position as Alpha away from him.

"A member of the pack does not raise his voice against the Alpha." Leland smiled coldly and looked down at the older man. "And that includes the Elders meant to assist and advise me of my tasks. Know your place, Elder, or I'll feed you to the birds."

"Why you—!" The Elder's face reddened in anger and he blubbered angrily at the younger man. He jabbed a finger at the younger man. "Just because you are here doesn't mean that you can get away—"

"I already have, Elder." Leland caught the older man's slim fingers in between his own and applied pressure to it. "I'm the Alpha, aren't I? If you have any problems then challenge me to the death for the position of the Alpha. Only when you succeed could you consider ordering me around."

The pain inflicted on the elder's finger was enough to pulverize his very bone to dust and yet the Elder refused to show his pain and only withstood the act.

"..." The Elder gritted his teeth and bit his tongue until it bled blood.

"Well?" Leland raised a brow.

"I pledge my allegiance to the Alpha," the Elder bowed and then cowardly slinked back to his carriage while cradling his hand. In his wolf form, the Elder would have retreated with his tail behind its body at being shamed at this moment.

Leland didn't care at all.

"I will head to Hauntingen to deal with Duncan's report myself," Leland told his men. "Send scouts ahead and deal with the situation in the upcoming towns and villages. Our next destination is Hastings and Lord Ferdinand's castle."

"Yes, Alpha!" his men replied in unison.

Without wasting another moment, Leland transformed into his wolf form. A majestic and white fur wolf appeared in front of his pack members before he quickly bounded off to Hauntingen again.

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Yes!! Finally, Leland appears!