Chapter 66|The Lichen Pack Visit.

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Francis met with the Lichen Pack Alpha, Alpha Matthew and his Beta, Bianca Ford at the Alpha's office. With seriousness etched on their features they discussed the matter of Arabella and Alexander's fake betrothal created by people claiming to be from the Lichen Pack.

The Delta, Edgar got called the moment his niece-in-law's name was called. The thick muscled man walked in alongside a pale skinned woman with hair the same colour as Arabella and bearing striking features with the girl in question. The woman was introduced as Arabella's Aunt, her mother's twin sister and Arabella's guardian.

"Care to explain what deceit and foulplay your ward used the Lichen Pack's honor for? Why didn't you say a word when she left the Pack to another?" The Alpha asked, staring hard at the respected woman.

"She left for school, Edgar and I personally took her to NYU after she got accepted there. I know nothing about a betrothal ruse connected to the De Luca Pack. It's been long since I saw my niece, she's been busy with school according to her words the last time we spoke. Oh Ara!" She placed a palm over her forehead feeling the beginning of a raging headache. "I cannot believe this, why would you do this?" She asked no one in particular accepting the hanndkerchief her husband was handing over to her.

Her husband seconded her words.

"There were men who came with so called proofs of the betrothal, the De Luca Pack Delta was sent here for a friendly visit but was unable to make it because of an emergency that arose." Francis explained.

The Alpha growled in irritation, "Rogues impersonating the Lichen Pack members you mean? The Lichen Pack has no hand in this treachery. We bear no knowledge of it. The representatives you received, were they wearing the Pack scent?"

Francis responded with an affirmative nod, "Yes they were. The men that came were not rogues, they belong to a Pack. Our Alpha was gone on a trip when they came the first time and were received by the Elders, the second time too but I was there to welcome them and something did not feel right even after they left but they surely belong to a Pack."

The Alpha nodded, taking in the Beta's words.

"They came with bizarre requests to hasten the wedding knowing my Alpha was not in accord with their deed at all. There was something fishy in their haste, the desperation in the way they conveyed themselves was too apparent we decided to send our own representative here. But as I said earlier, he wasn't able to secure any relevant information before he was called back for an emergency."

"Why would Arabella do this? Is she held captive at the Pack manor? I would like to see her." Julie pleaded, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"At the moment, she is not. Her current location is confidential, I'm sorry." The De Luca Pack Beta morosely apologized.

Bianca, the Lichen Pack Beta rounded up the corner separating her from Francis. "I would love to have a word with you, in private."

Everyone accepted, the disheveled Julie got led out of the solar by her husband and the Alpha moved to the windows overlooking the vast surrounding of the Pack from his office high above the ground. His stance was rigid and the hold he had on his glass firm.

He was drinking to the thoughts of possible circumstances that might have led to the treachery employed by corrupted members of his Pack, probably led to one man whom once owed him.

Martin Miles.

The man whose existence was only known by a limited few, including him.

At a young age, well before Matt became Alpha he got caught in a situation that Martin helped him out of. After the accident that cost Martin his friend's life and his own alleged death, the man came to him to collect the favor he owed the newly crowned Lichen Pack Alpha, Matthew Gerard. At 25 years of age, the Alpha was shocked to see the man who was mourned in the flesh, a man supposed to be in his grave making requests to him.

At first, he thought he was hallucinating.

When the haze of shock dispersed from his eyes Alpha Matthew listened to Martin's request.

Bound by honour he had no choice but to oblige.

The request to keep the fact that he was truly alive and not dead hidden and the request to have access into the territory of the Lichen Pack. His excuse was to be meeting his granddaughter at a periodical basis. Arabella was already with her Aunt by then.

"Why won't you come out to the world and be open about your survival from the crude accident? Why would you rather choose to live in hiding for the rest of your life?"

The old man clicked his tongue soundly, "Not for the rest of my life son. Soon I'll be roaming the earth as freely as you are or more. But, at the moment, I'd take your word on being silent and your oath to not speak about this to anyone. In return I'll serve as an eye for you for things you can't see. Trust me, we all have enemies and skeletons in our closets. The best way to get rid of them is to know them first, then strike, fight them. Deal?"

Befuddled, the Alpha shook Martin's outstretched hand because honor bound him to granting the older man the favor he owed him.

Along the years he began to make explicit requests, to have a few guards protecting him, to have a portion of land to use as shelter within the Lichen Pack territory and many more bizarre requests without truly acting his own part in the deal they made years ago. Within the years they'd only met twice and it has always been to Martin's favor.

Now, Alpha Matt had no idea of Martin's whereabouts but he could smell his involvement in the treachery reported to him because only he could have access to Lichen Pack members due to the ability granted to him by Matthew himself, and also because of the said man's relationship to the girl involved.

The Alpha raised his glass to his lips thinking of what Martin's possible motives might be and his reason for being cunning. Knowing the man's knack for doing things that only benefited him, Alpha Matthew made a solemn vow to get to the end of the matter.

No one tarnishes his Pack's image and gets away with it without recompense. He might be young when the deal was made but now he was man enough to make decisions that will only bear fruit to his Pack and not cause its downfall. Not when he has finally succeeded in putting his Father's past errors to rights.

Whatever favor he might have owed Martin has long been returned. The man could either be foe or friend and deep in Matt's heart he felt it was more of the former than the latter.

With a grim expression he gulped down the contents of his cup in one swift move.

Placing it back to the liquor shelf he called the attention of his Beta and that of the Lichen Pack halting their discussion.