For some unknown reasons, Daniel was unsettled throughout the day. He has been trying his mate's number but she hasn't been picking up. The only reason he hadn't run down to Little Town was that Asher had somehow called him, assuring him that Lia was with him and fine.

He didn't need to guess what was going on, they were probably doing stuff together and she must have been preoccupied.

He tried not to get jealous hence both of them had come to a difficult partnership that they had access to her body except to mate with her.

"Seriously Daniel, I won't let you cross that door, "Ryan told him decisively "The pack is in a dire situation and we need you now more than ever" he stood protectively in front of the door.

"I just need to see her, Iyke wants to see her, even if it's just for a minute" Daniel pleaded.

"That minutes you leave could be the period when the Ranger pack strikes.No matter how strong we are, you know a pack is useless without its Alpha" His beta reminded him.

"Moreover" He went on, "Asher has called to say that she's okay. We all know how much that vampire treasures her, he wouldn't let anything happen to her"

Well, maybe, he was worrying over nothing, Daniel thought. Though Vampires and werewolves disliked each other, Asher has protected the girl on several occasions, so there was no need to hate him. Also, they both shared a mate- until she chose one- there was no need to hate each other's guts.

Suddenly the phone in his grasp rang, his eyes widening with excitement when he saw it was the long-awaited mate.

"Hey," He said.

"Hey" she breathed.

Daniel's face twisted into a frown as he noticed her heaving breath, the wolf was not ignorant of what was going on.

"Why are you calling on Asher's phone?"

"Oh, I forgot mine at home"

Yeah, you were so distracted you forgot yours, Daniel sassed in his head. Seriously, where was that coming from? He has always turned a blind eye to whatever went on between Lia and Asher behind closed doors since he got his share of her too but right now, he didn't want his mate with the vampire; Daniel wanted her with him alone.

"So, why were you calling?" She asked but Daniel sensed a bit of indifference in her tone, as if the last thing she wanted to do was speak to him.

"No, it's nothing. I just thought to check up on you," Daniel lied.

"As you see, I'm alright. Nothing to worry about, I'll call you back later"

"No, wait - " But his mate had ended the call before he could say whatever was on his mind.

"That was the fastest call you've ever made since the history of your relationship" Ryan observed.

Daniel raked his hand through his hair, tugging it " I guess she's busy"

Ryan raised a brow, "Yeah, busy with the vampire for sure" He taunted.

"She's our mate, we can't deny each other the right to her "

"Exactly!" Ryan exclaimed," That is what I can't understand?! How can you share your soulmate with a vampire of all creatures?"

"Sharing her with a vampire is better than sharing her with Tristan" He declared.

"Fine, she would choose between you and the vampire, what if she doesn't choose you? What are you going to do then, cause the way things are going, it's pretty obvious that she's inclined to select Asher"

Daniel was speechless, he just stood like a pole unable to come up with an answer.

"What are you going to do Daniel? You're an alpha, this pack needs you and you need a mate! Can you take the backlash of being rejected? What if you go feral?!"

"That's enough!" He roared, shutting Ryan up. Though his words made sense, that was not the way to speak to an alpha.

His beta was overly concerned about him, he would be okay no matter what comes his way. He has gone through many trials since young, this one wouldn't break him either.

"You don't need to worry about me, I won't go feral and I would find a way to win her heart"

"I hope you do because the fate of the entire pack is on your shoulders and no matter what, I'm on your side" Ryan patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

At once, both of them stiffened upon receiving a message through the pack's mind-link. An emissary from the Ranger pack was here.

"Keep them entertained in the receiving room, I'll be there in a jiffy" Daniel sent back through the link.

"Why do you think they're here?" Ryan questioned him.

"They sent an emissary, it must be for peace which is strange" Daniel answered.

"This must be a trap, the way Tristan had spoken that day, he was as determined as hell to get the girl, " Ryan thought out loud.

"Same thing here. I saw the fire in his eyes, he wasn't close to giving up" Daniel rubbed his chin reflectively, "We have to see them first and know what they're up to" Daniel advised.

"Fine, you're the boss. Your call is the order" Ryan acquiesced, earning a lopsided grin from his alpha.

They left his office with Ryan escorting Daniel along the way until they got to the large receiving room which had been converted into the dining area for the students days ago.

Daniel watched the three emissaries from the Ranger pack and noticed that Tristan's beta Zach was amongst them. Did Tristan trust him that much not to end his beta or was he daring him to end him?

He would rather choose the latter, Tristan was an egoistic alpha. He was probably taunting and ridiculing him a weak alpha. And while he would like to change that attitude, show Tristan he was more ruthless than he thought, Daniel didn't kill for sports.

Moreover, they were in the middle of stopping an impending war, not igniting one.

Zach stood to his feet, "I, Zachary, Beta to Alpha Tristan of Ranger pack greets Alpha Daniel of the Moonlight pack" he bowed his head slightly.

Of course, in formal settings like this, it was customary for lower wolves to show respect to a higher wolf, after all, wolves were hierarchical creatures.

The two other wolves from the Ranger pack followed the same procedures as Zachary.

"Your greetings are accepted" Daniel acknowledged them all and began, "To what do I owe this pleasant visit? "

Everyone sensed the sarcasm beneath Daniel's words but didn't say anything.

"We're here about the tension existing between both packs for the past days. Our Alpha Tristan is proposing a peace talk in your pack to repair the recent rift. What do you say to that, Alpha Daniel?"

Daniel thought hard over it, since it would be held in his pack it would be much better. He couldn't tell Tristan's intention or what was going on in his head when he thought about this suggestion but it would give his people an advantage since it was being hosted in his pack.

"Tell your alpha that I, Daniel, Alpha of the Moonlight pack accepts his proposal" he gave his order.

"Thank you, Alpha Daniel"Zachery stood to his feet, bowing once more as the Alpha left with his beta, a hidden evil smile flashing across his face.

"Do you think we did the right thing by accepting?" Ryan asked.

"Don't know but the proposal seems favorable to us and it's too late for me to change my mind, I have already given my word," Daniel went on," We invited the enemy into our pack, it's left for us to get prepared for the worst"

"I'll inform Judith to strengthen the security along the borders and sent out more scouts. It would be impossible to spy on Tristan since time is against us but we should be able to know of any suspicious activity" Ryan contributed.

"Good " The Alpha instructed further with his hand behind his back, "And did I forget to add, get the decorators, the catering crew, this is a peace talk. It could go on for days and we are receiving guests, the packhouse needs to be clean, redecorated, lively and ready to accommodate sleepovers "

"Sure, sure" Ryan made sure to remember all of them before Aunt Phoebe gives him an earful.

Daniel's mate aka the Luna was suposed to be the one organizing this event since this aspect of the preparation falls upon the women but then, the Alpha was still single - as thought by most pack members.

So his Aunt Phoebe who had much influence over the other she-wolves would be in charge of it. There was no room for mistakes else that bullying aunt would pull his ear.

Unknown to them all, Zachary who had returned to his pack was called in by his alpha, Tristan.

"How did it go?" He inquired.

"Just as you predicted, the foolish Alpha accepted the proposal"

Tristan smiled, tapping his finger on the surface of the armrest rhythmically with a contemplative look.

"How's the girl ?"

" It was quite hard to track her down but she's at home with her human family"

Tristan exhaled deeply, " Keep an eye on her, there is something about her that I'm curious about "

" Yes alpha"