Final Warning

CHAPTER 17: YOUR FINAL WARNING
~ Gabriel's POV ~

I didn’t get anything done during training. All I could do was look at Harper. When I took my shirt off, I noticed her checking me out. Then the scent of her arousal hit me. Mika was clawing his way to the surface trying to get to her. I couldn’t help it. My eyes went black, and possessiveness overcame me. I walked closer, stopping directly in front of her. Looking down at her, our eyes focused on each other. I let my eyes trail down her face and then I stopped on her lips. I wanted to kiss her so bad. I forced Mika back not wanting to make Harper uncomfortable. After a brief conversation of me explaining my situation with Samantha to Harper, we finally started our workouts. I don’t know why I even bothered though. I couldn’t focus on anything but Harper. I caught her glancing towards me a few times. I didn’t care if she caught me looking back. Every time I caught her ogling me, I would give her a smile and a wink letting her know that I caught her looking. I lifted a few weights on each arm and I did a core exercise. I threw in a couple of chin ups. I ended my workout with some laps around the track. Today’s workout wasn’t focused on just arms or just legs or just core. Today I threw in a little bit of everything just because my mind wasn’t in it.

After training, I went to my room and took a shower. I had to meet my father in just a few minutes. But first I needed to have a talk with Preston. The piece of shit thinks he is going to zone in on Harper. Mika growled and snapped his teeth in anger.
“Banish him or let’s kill him. It’s only going to get worse.” Mika spat out.
“Mika, I am giving him one warning. Believe me that is all he is getting. He was already in hot water with what he was doing to the other female warriors. The moment he attempts to harass Harper I will snap his neck.” Mika agreed with my mindset.

My office isn’t finished being set up yet. So, I mind linked Preston to meet me in my room in 10 minutes. I had just finished raking my fingers through my hair and getting dressed when a firm knock sounded on my door. That must be that ass right now. I opened the door and let him in.
“Thank you for coming, Preston. Please have a seat at my desk.” My room was big enough, so I had a makeshift desk setup until my office was completed.

Preston made his way over to my desk and had a seat across from my chair. He didn’t look nervous at all. His posture was slouched, with one leg outstretched in front of him in the chair.
“Alpha, Gabe, how is everything going? I didn’t get to talk to you in training today. Did you see me knockout Leon?” I sat down in my desk chair. I’m not trying to make small talk with Preston. I need to get right to the point. I don’t want any more time to pass before I talk to him about the way he’s been treating the women in our pack.
“Preston I’m going to get right to the point. I haven’t been there to witness it, but I believe my beta Tanner. I’ve also had complaints from women. I know you know what I’m talking about, so I’m going to give you a chance to explain.”

My voice was firm and my demeanor serious. I’m not going to risk him not taking this situation as serious as I am. When this meeting is done, he’s gonna know what’s going to happen. If he does this again.
“Alpha Gabe, if you’re talking about the girl that I punched in the face, she had that coming. Didn’t you hear she slapped me? She’s a good-looking girl. I said a few things to her. I complimented her a little and that’s it.” Preston corrected his posture in the seat. His demeanor turned serious. I sighed and leaned forward.
“Preston, did you hear me earlier? I’ve had multiple witnesses. Not only that, but five women came forward to me with complaints about you. The things that you are saying to these women are not appropriate. You are crossing the line. You need to keep your hands to yourself and stop with the forceful advances. I know beta Tanner has already spoken with you about this. And I know he let you off with a warning. But I want to make sure you’ve heard it from me. If I find out that you have been harassing anyone else. Or making a female feel uncomfortable. This is me warning you right now. Preston, I take behavior like this seriously. There is no room in this pack for sexual predators like you. Control yourself, or the least of your worries will be banishment, my punishment won’t end there.”

Feeling anger rising at the thought of how he looked at Harper today and hearing what he said to her about her outfit made me want to rip his heart out of his chest right then and there. I couldn’t stop the low growl that came from my chest. Preston stood up to walk to the door. I stood with him before he could turn around and got in his face. Mika’s voice merged with mine and I felt my eyes turn black “Also, don’t you ever dare to speak to Harper. Don’t look at her, don’t get near her. If I find out that you have even thought about her, I will kill you slowly.” Preston’s posture became challenging, a menacing smile curled over his lips. I glared at him. Begging him to make a move. “Shift to your wolf Preston! I dare you. I would love nothing more than to peel the flesh from your body right now!” Mika ran his tongue across his sharp teeth ready to go.
“I see now.” Preston said lowly. “You have a thing for the girl.” Preston lowered his head, still looking angry but submitting to me.
“Get out!” I growled. He walked out my door, shutting it behind him.

*** 15 minutes later ***
I knocked on my father’s door then opened it to walk in.
“Gabe! How did training go today, son? I hope things are improving with our female warriors. Have a seat, I need to update you about my conversation with one of our ally packs.” I walked over to my father’s desk and took a seat right across from him.
“Training went well today, Father. I think things are looking up. What is it we need to talk about? How did the meeting go with the alpha of the Snow Moon pack?”
“Our alliance is still strong. But I can’t say he came with good news. It looks like Thane has destroyed three more packs. Survivors who managed to escape say he was looking for something. Elders believe he’s looking for the Terminal stone.”

Terminal stone?
“What is the Terminal stone exactly? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it. How many casualties?” I felt myself getting angry again. The thought of innocent lives destroyed and taken away; families torn apart. This man didn’t have a heart.
“The number of casualties is in the thousands. I have already sent out a group of warriors. They are instructed to visit the villages that have been devastated. They are helping to give all the deceased a proper burial. The tale of the Terminal stone came from our ancestors. Everyone believed that the stone wasn’t real. Just another folklore. If this stone is real and Thane acquires it, that’s just making our job a lot harder.

According to the stories. A witch created the stone as a favor to a werewolf. They were close friends. It is told that vampires attacked his village and killed his entire family. He was the only one left. He approached the witch and asked her to make him strong enough to defeat this vampire clan on his own. He was driven by revenge for his family and his pack. The witch wanted to help her friend. According to the stories, this was one of the most powerful witches of all time. They say she sacrificed an infant dragon, sealing its soul inside of the stone. Because of this, anyone who connects with the stone can wield the power of the dragon.

The strength of the stone is unknown. It is said that this wolf alone wielding this amount of power, was able to completely wipe out the entire vampire clan. After the Wolf finished his revenge. He went back to the witch and returned the stone to her. They agreed that no one should wield such power. So, the witch locked the stone in a chest. The chest was given to someone trustworthy to hide it. All we have heard is that anyone who connects with the stone will obtain great power, and that person will be nearly invincible. The Wolf seeking revenge wasn’t even an alpha. Imagine if an alpha got this stone. The kind of power that they would wield. Surely it would bring devastation all over the world. No pack will be safe. As far as we know right now, this stone is still just a rumor. But in our past, our most recent ancestors have seen folklore become reality. We are treating this situation as if it is true. We must prepare now. If they acquire such power, only the gods will be able to stop him. Life as we know it will forever be changed.”

This is the monster who is after Harper. I pray to the moon goddess that he's forgotten about her and moved on. Something inside me tells me that that’s not the case though. My body shook with anger.
“I understand. Has a plan been put in place? How do we stop him from getting the stone? And what if he already has it?”
“There are no plans in the making yet. We are still gathering information. There is something in the back of my head that I’ve been thinking about since yesterday though. I know you heard her just as I did. Harper is getting her wolf the same day as the solar eclipse and summer solstice. You know of all the stories. According to the books written by our ancestor’s centuries ago, a wolf born on the day of a solar eclipse and summer solstice is blessed with immense power. That power is unmatched by anything known to us. It’s a power that only the gods can give, and it is only given if it is needed. Therefore, I believe that the stories about the stone are true. The chances of these two tales being told and coming to light at the same time is not a coincidence. Harper may just be the answer to all of this.”

The thought of Harper being caught up in the middle of all of this was killing me. There’s no way I’m going to let her go up against Thane again. She has been through too much already.
“Not only that.” My father continued. “But whoever just so happens to be Her mate. Will also wield an unimaginable power just like her.”
“Should I talk to her about this?” I ask my father. It doesn’t seem right to keep her in the dark, though I’m sure she’s heard the stories as well.
“It wouldn’t hurt for you to ask her how she feels about the stories. Maybe she knows something that we don’t. Ultimately, I think that all we can do is wait for her to get her wolf and see what happens.” I nodded my head at my father.