CHAPTER 24

JULIAN'S POV
I stared at the papers in front of me, spreading them open. There had been a lot of reports of someone abusing the spirit codes and it was starting to take a toll on me to find them. I ran my hands through my hair, leaning back in my chair.
I suspected Leo, but I wanted to get more feasible proof before I came out. If I told everyone without proof, they wouldn't take me seriously and just consider this another one of our fights.
This is fucking irritating. I rubbed my neck, releasing the kinks that were in it as I rotated my head. I heard a satisfying pop and I got to work on my fingers.
I had finished with my right hand and was about to begin my left when my door opened. Considering I was the alpha, the only person who could open my door like that without consequences would be my family.
And I only had one family in my pack. My sister, Jane, walked in with a swagger. And I wanted to deck her just because of it. "You should learn to knock, Jane. I am still your Alpha. Do not forget that." She rolled her eyes, waving me away.
"There's a rumour going around the pack I had to come." I could bet my left hand I knew what it was, but I kept silent and waited for her to talk. "When did you get a mate? I mean, I honestly sincerely pity her, since of all the wolves she had to be stuck with, the moon goddess gave her you."
I was surprised she didn't know how Olivia got to be here, but I smoothly covered up with a shrug. "I don't know what you are talking about. I am a perfect mate." Jane scoffed, planting herself down on the seat across my desk.
"I doubt it. We grew up together, remember? I know you better than you know yourself. You are violent, loud, harsh, impulsive..." "If you were anyone else, I would have you beheaded for that tone. Watch yourself. Do not come into my office just to talk shit about me."
Jane's eyes sparkled and she held up her palms in a show of surrender. "Oh my, you are already protective over her. That's progress."
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling with mischievous intent. "I can't believe you have a mate. I thought you were destined to stay mateless forever. We actually bet on it." When she said "We", I knew who the other person was.
Jane's mate, Peter, was the only person both dumb and brave enough to get involved in her problems. They often did stupid things together, leaving me with the pain and stress of having to bail them out.
And knowing my sister, I could easily guess what side she had chosen. "Why did you think I wouldn't have a mate?" Her eyes widened and she went red. "You have the characteristics of a mateless alpha. And you never liked the idea behind the whole mating thing."
That was before we met Olivia. She changed everything. Yeah, she is something else, alright.
I still remembered the feeling that coursed through me when I first met her. My father had always told me of the reaction one has when they recognize their mate, but I severely underestimated what he had said. When I saw her, everything in me shifted. I suddenly felt complete.
Jane grinned, throwing her legs on my desk. I scowled at her, using my pen to poke at her ankles. "Get your legs off my desk, Jane." "You should see the sappy smile on your face. It's so disgusting."
I narrowed my eyes at her, getting irritated with her presence. "Pray tell, where's your mate?" She shrugged, smiling cheekily. "He went on patrol." I groaned, wishing she could leave so I could finish this paper and spend time with Olivia.
"Oh, that's the smile of a whipped man." She brought out a phone out of her pocket and before she could take a photo, I snatched it out of her hands. "You are so mean. It's just a picture." "Jane. If you came in here just to tease me, please leave."
She lifted her palms again, her expression turning innocent. It drove me crazy. "Jane." "I just want to see her. See the mate who is going to be stuck with my brother for the rest of her life."
She wagggled her brows. "Maybe I can even be her guide around the pack." "Not even on your last breath." I snapped, letting my eyes fall back to the papers.
The pattern at which they were carrying around the spirit codes were not giving any information. They seemed pretty random and had no similar drop off point or pickup point. I knew better. There had to be something linking them together.
I bit my lips, analysing the pathways. "So what's she like?" I cursed, looking up at Jane with a murderous glare. She only smiled sweetly, blinking her lashes at me. "She is gorgeous." "Eye colour?" I kept silent, spinning my chair around to grab a few more files from behind me.
"Hair colour?" I still didn't answer, hoping she would take a hint and leave. "If you don't know these basic details about your mate, you need a mental checkup." "I know them. I just don't see a reason why I should tell you."
Jane grinned, dropping her legs. "Aha! So tell me. What's the harm in telling me? It's not like you plan to hide her away from the pack, do you?"
Sometimes, all I want to do is wring her neck. Or better yet, gag her. She talks far too much.
I laughed, making Jane's eyes flash. "What did your wolf just tell you?" "Nothing. He said nothing and to answer your question, I don't plan on hiding her from the pack. So why can't you wait till then to see her?"
"Oh, I have seen her. I saw her when she arrived. I was testing you." I bit my tongue to keep myself from cursing her. My sister was a rollercoaster of headache and stress. You never know which one she would bring up next.
"I am not surprised. If you have seen her, why are you disturbing me? Jane, leave my office." I massaged my head, taking in a deep breath. "I am stressed out, I don't have time for your problems. "
Jane made a whimpering noise and I dropped the head over my eyes to stare at her. "I was just asking." "You choose the time of the day I am known to be the most busy and came down here." I arched a brow, folding my arms. "That was not a smart move on your part. So either you tell me what you are really here for, or shut up."
Jane opened her mouth then promptly shut it again, and I let my eyes drop to the papers again. The reports didn't state who was carrying the spirit codes, but I wanted to bet they were werewolves. After the 100 year treaty between the 13th holiness and Lucas of Crescent Moon, witches rarely crossed our border.
It didn't mean they couldn't, but there were low cases of witch sightings after the treaty. Jane let out a loud sigh and I grabbed a pen off the table and threw it at her. "I am working. You need to either help with a fresh input or shut the fuck up."
I pointed at the door, smiling at her. "Or you could simply leave." Jane rolled her eyes, leaning towards me to grab my hands over the table. "I am so bored. And you are always working. It's annoying. I hope your mate knows who to have fun and pull you away from this fucking desk."
"I think you should leave, Jane." Her eyes widened and then something I couldn't recognize flickered in her eyes. "You are awfully protective of your mate." I wasn't going to let her bait me. "That is how mating works, is it not?"
Jane smiled, tugging on my hands so I was leaning across the desk with her. "It's weird seeing them on you. The mate glow. I never thought you would have it and it just makes you look more..."
"Alpha? It's okay, Jane. You can let go of my hands now." She nodded, dropping them and leaning back against the seat. She lifted her legs to her chin, giggling. "I can't wait to actually talk to her. When we met and her eyes touched mine, I felt so intimidated instead. I wonder what she is like in person."
When I looked at Olivia, I sensed strength and resilience. She struck me as the kind of girl that wouldn't let anything take her down easily. It was good considering the path I had set for myself.
I was grateful for the moon goddess to give me such a mate. Someone I could find myself in and someone that releasing every single armour I had on would be worth it.
*Jane's POV*
Julian's eyes dropped to the papers again, his brow furrowing in concentration. Despite being the only family member of the alpha in the clan, I had no idea what was going on.
"What's that for?" I was originally going to ask him if I could go meet his mate and try to get to know her better, but I felt I needed to butter him up without his knowledge.
"Pack issues." "I am part of the pack. I want to know." Julian lifted his eyes and folded his arms. "Are you sure want to know?"
Is he actually going to tell us something? Shut up, bitch. I need to catch his every word.
Julian cleared his throat and duck under his table. He came back up with a folder of papers, narrowing his eyes at me. "Where's Peterson?" He was stalling.
"I already told you before. He was on a patrol. They found some wards broken along the Pack's fence, so they are checking it out." Julian nodded, running a hand through his hair. I wondered if he knew he had caught that habit from dad.
He gave me a level look, one that has me sitting up straighter. I always knew Julian would use his Alpha look on me, I just didn't expect it to be now. "If I tell you this, it doesn't leave this room. Understood?"
I nodded, leaning forward in my seat. "Someone is transporting spirit codes." A gasp left my mouth and I slapped my hand over it. Julian laughed, shaking his head. "It's unbelievable, but we are trying to track him down."
He glanced at the papers again. "But if we are being honest, it's them. It's a group of people. Their movement pattern is too difficult for even three to handle smoothly."
He went off into his Alpha mode, and I just watched him. Julian had a reputation. It wasn't as bad as our brother's Leo, but he still had one regardless. But I could die on the stand that Julian was 10x better than Leo. Maybe even more.
I cleared my throat, making him stop and turn slightly red. "I am sorry. I got quite carried away." I arched a brow. "I wouldn't call it quite." Julian rolled his eyes, waving me away.
"I actually had something to ask you since." He looked at me, eyes suddenly serious. "I figured. I wondered how long it would take you to spit it out." I laughed, starching the nape of my neck. "It's about your mate."
He folded his arms. "What about her?" "Can I maybe meet her? I saw her earlier, but I would love to talk to her and take her around the village." Julian laughed, shaking his head. "Of course."
"I am going to be on my best behaviour, Julian. I promise." "I know you will. However, I can't let you do that." He reached out to grab my hand. "You need to promise me something, Jane. Olivia just went through a tough experience to get here. We need to give her some time to breathe. Okay?"
I nodded with him, but we both knew it would be a matter of time before I went to see her anyway. Because Olivia had definitely captured my brother and I wanted to make sure she was right for him.
And if I found out she wasn't, I was going to get him a new mate. Handpicked by the moon goddess or not.