The atmosphere in the Moonlight pack was lively, everybody knew what was going on today; the treaty.

The large mansion referred to as the packhouse stood proud and magnificent in Kenney village. The inside furnished and cleaned to the extent no speck of dust was found in hidden corners.

The rooms were lavishly decorated while the smell of tantalizing foods wafted from the kitchen. The women headed by Aunt Phoebe were cooking a feast with fresh ingredients supplied to them from the best sources.

Judith was in the training room with the warriors giving them a preview of how the day was going to look like and the security measures they had to take in diverse situations.

She shared duties amongst them and sent the others to their duty posts while the older and experienced warriors all gathered in a secret room where they made their backup plan.

"We just got intel, Tristan and his pack members would be here in thirty minutes," Ryan told Daniel who was working on his cufflinks.

Daniel's movements halted, he looked at Ryan with a curious expression, "Is everything ready to welcome our guest?"

"Yes of course" Ryan replied, helping to adjust the collar of Daniel's crisp shirt tucked beneath the suit.

The door to his office clicked open and in came his aunt phoebe with a warm smile.

"Look at my nephew all handsome in that suit, lucky the woman who gets to be your mate," she flattered him.

At the mention of mate, Daniel and Ryan's gaze held briefly before pulling away. The past few days, Aunt Phoebe had tried every trick possible to get his mate's name from his lips.

No matter her suspicion, Daniel wouldn't admit that Lia was his mate nor would he allow his aunt to look into her background either. This made the woman sulk ever since when she wasn't coming up with other tactics.

"Sure, lucky her," Was all Daniel said before grabbing his cellphone. He had been calling his mate Lia but no answer. Perhaps, she was busy.

Phoebe frowned, this boy was so tight-lipped, how frustrating. Had it been when he was still ten, she would have spanked him on the butt and drawn the truth from his lips but now, her head would be separated from her body if she does that- Aunt or not.

"What is it, Aunt?" Daniel asked, he was not up for any chitchat. Today was a very important day, he had to remain focused.

'Nothing" she shrugged," Just wanted to confirm everything is fine over here, "

"Everything is fine, thanks for your concern. You can leave now, Aunt" He dismissed her.

"Of course," She clapped her hands awkwardly and left.

"One of these days, run a scan for bugs in my room" Daniel instructed Ryan who snickered yet composed himself when he sensed the Alpha's glare.

Aunt Miranda had no bad intentions towards him but her inquisitiveness can reach a disturbing level.

Daniel's countenance shifted when he received a message through the pack-link, Tristan and his people were here.

"Let's go," He ordered Ryan who trailed after him.

There was a commotion of activities as his people ran helter scatter adding late minutes adjustments to the decorations.

As expected, Tristan was all dressed up too; he was wearing the same suit a few shades lighter than his, with a few locks of his hair braided in a way that it held his other stands from getting tousled by the wind.

"You're finally here and I do hope you had a pleasant journey," Daniel welcomed.

"I wouldn't skip such an important day for anything and yes, my journey was smooth" Tristan replied.

Both said their formalities to each other before Daniel led him into the packhouse. A red carpet spread out from the entrance of the house to the inside of the large receiving hall.

As customary, only a few important members of the pack were let inside the room while the rest led to other rooms where entertainment would be provided.

A large table filled with numerous delicacies had been set already and so Daniel invited them to dinner.

At the table, discussions were made but It was more formal and centered around an everyday werewolf's life and the running of a pack.

"Alpha Daniel," Tristan began," I was thinking after our differences get resolved, we could organize an inter-friendly competition between both packs which would help strengthen the bond between us, what do you say?"

Daniel featured a smile that didn't touch his eyes, "That seems nice, quite an opportunity to trade knowledge, tactics and battle experience"

"You couldn't have said it better," Tristan acquiesced, "Moonlight pack is not the largest when it comes to numbers and when compared to numerous packs out there but it is one of the most formidable because of a great leader like you, "

"You overpraise me, Tristan" Daniel said humbly even though he was cringing inside. He knew that Tristan was a sweet talker and none of those words were sincere.

In fact, Daniel began to question why he had agreed to this peace talk in the first place. Oh yes, to avoid war. Fine, he'd sit here and be a doll for how long or days this was going to last.

The dinner lasted for an hour which involved both packs getting to know each other until it was time for both Alphas to discuss behind closed doors.

"Why isn't the girl here?" Tristan asked, his eyes roving around Daniel's office as if the werewolf was hiding her somewhere in there.

His men he had sent to keep watch on the girl had failed miserably; the girl was nowhere to be found. This made Tristan think that Daniel must have a hand in her disappearance- he was keeping the girl away from him.

Why was Daniel so obsessed with the girl even when she wasn't his mate? Did the once innocent alpha have the same plan as his?

"That girl has a human family and was once human if you haven't turned her, so she has a life there" Daniel pointed out.

"Her family can move-in to my pack if she's so worried about leaving them behind," Tristan suggested.

Daniel's face scrunched up, he did not like where this discussion was heading to.

"There's never a rule that states she has to live in your pack if you really want her to be a pack member. Many werewolves are living in diaspora yet still belong to a pack," Daniel told him pointedly.

Tristan's jaw ticked, why was Daniel speaking in geek? He was right to have known this scumbag would try to keep the girl to himself. Fine, he would play along till the time was right.

"What are you trying to say?" Tristan crossed his leg over the other.

Daniel sat directly across from him with a table separating both from each other. There were two copies of documents and a pen beside each while their beta's stood at their sides respectively.

"The girl has the right to make her choice, that's what I have to say," Daniel informed him.

They stared at each other, eyeball to eyeball with a fierce look until Tristan pulled away with a burst of laughter.

"Fine," He agreed readily to Daniel's utmost surprise.

"You're saying yes to that?" Daniel's brow furrowed together skeptically. He was expecting Tristan to put up a huge fight, who knew he would achieve peace this easily?

But that was the problem, Tristan never gives up. What could have brought about this change or perhaps, it was a trap or something?

"Of course, it's a yes, after all, this is a peace treaty. What's the point of this all if we don't come to an agreement? Moreover, you said the

the girl doesn't want it, I won't force her into doing anything she dislikes - I'm not a heartless bastard" Tristan told him with all manner of seriousness.

Maybe the asshole has changed after all?

"You do know what you're about to sign, right? No war, no more quibbling on the matter once you signed those?" Daniel reminded him.

"I do and please, let's get this done as soon as possible, it has been a lot of hassle putting my people on their best behavior?" Tristan urged him.

At once, both Alphas grabbed the pen on their side, signing their signatures in the required pages and spaces before exchanging papers and carried out the same procedure till both held concrete evidence of their treaty in their grasp.

The door to the office opened and a werewolf walked in with a tray of wine.

"A toast to this successful treaty" Daniel suggested, grabbing a glass of wine from the tray as Tristan did the same.

"A toast for averting a great war that would have torn both packs apart," Daniel toasted and both clicked glasses and brought the drink to their lips.

"And this is why you should never trust a love rival," Tristan said just after Daniel had swallowed the whole thing.

"What?" He frowned.

Immediately, Daniel picked up the anguish and agonizing screams of people in pain- his people.

"What do you do!" Daniel tried to lunge at Tristan but a searing pain went through him.