Alpha Ferdinand’s p.o.v. Fermin is starting to dislike Katreena more with each passing day and there is nothing I can do or say to change his mind. There was a time when he agreed with me in choosing Katreena as our mate, even after we found our fated Mate. We know nothing about Zaphara and her family; all we know is that her family came from a different Pack many years ago. “Katreena has always known that she came second to Zaphara. She is only the Luna in name and nothing more.” Fermin growls in my head. He is right. Katreena is only my Luna in name; she will never have a say in Pack business, as most Lunas do. Even Zaphara has no say in Pack business, but I do use her to sign documents, keeping things hidden from my Pack-members. Zaphara is living in her own little world and I doubt she has any idea what she has been signing all these years. “Ferdinand, you need to tell Zaphara that I want a new dress for the upcoming Full Moon. I tried to talk to her, but it was like talking to a wall.” Katreena says as she walks into my office. “Here we go again.” Fermin says, before he retreats to the back of my mind. He is in no mood to deal with Katreena, and to be honest, neither am I. “Katreena, it isn't her job. You have four seamstresses at your beck and call, each of whom can design a dress for you. Stop asking Zaphara, you know she is barely aware of the world around her.” I respond before I turn away from her. It is a clear indication that I am done with the conversation, but as always, she fails to understand. “I don't care. You will tell her to design a dress for me or I will start telling people the truth.” Katreena threatens. “Go ahead, if you want to lose your title and everything that comes with it. Ask your Brother about the laws on fated Mates and then come back to me, if you still believe it is smart to threaten me.” I reply without looking at her. I hear Raura, her Wolf, growl softly. She doesn't like that we aren't marked and that she can't confront Fermin about our behavior. Zaphara and Katreena aren't marked and I didn't allow them to mark me either; it would have complicated things. At least, now I don't have to feel her anger toward me or Zaphara's pain. I don't even look up when she slams the door behind her and I take a look at the investments I made over the years. It is enough to help me disappear once Landis takes over and I can leave Katreena and Zaphara behind. The only problem with my plan is Fermin. He hates the thought of leaving Zaphara and Milcah behind; he hates the idea of them being left with nothing. A scream coming from somewhere on the Alpha floor pulls me from my thoughts and I quickly go in search of the source. “Get the fuck away from my Mother. If you touch her ever again…” I don't hear the rest of Milcah's words because Fermin is taking over. He grabs Katreena by the throat and pushes her up against the wall. She tries to pry open our hand, but Fermin isn't giving her an inch. “I have told you numerous times, stay away from Zaphara. I don't care why you are here or why you thought you could hurt her. This is your final warning. Come anywhere near Zaphara or Milcah again without my say so and I will end you. No one will be able to stop me. Not your Brother and not my Human half. Is that clear?“ Fermin growls next to her ear. He pushes her out of the suite after we hear her whispered confirmation. Milcah is examining Zaphara's face, which has a bright red mark on it. It will take a while for her Wolf to help her heal. If her Wolf is still in any condition to help her heal, that is. Neither one of them says a word and after a few more minutes, Fermin allows me to regain control again and I walk back to my office. “Alpha, can I come up for a minute?” I hear my Beta ask through the mind-link and I know exactly why he wants to talk to me. It takes him less than a minute to enter the Alpha floor and I gesture toward my office. “Don't get me wrong, Alpha. I know the agreement you made with my Father and that it was to benefit me.” My Beta says. “But Katreena isn't happy with Fermin. She feels that he is more invested in Zaphara than he is in your Luna.” He is right on all accounts, but there is nothing I can or want to do about it. “Katreena signed a contract back then and she had better abide by it. I didn’t back out when I found out that Zaphara is my fated Mate and you better make sure that your Sister remembers that.” I respond. My Beta leaves without saying another word. He will report this to his Father, who will point out to Katreena what is at stake for their family. The man might be close to dying, but his kids still fear him. A loud roar lets me know that our former Beta isn't pleased with his Daughter. His roar isn't as mighty as it once was, but it still instills fear into most Pack-members. Fermin chuckles in my head, knowing full well what is happening on the Beta floor at the moment. Neither of us feels sorry for it; we don't care much for Katreena or the Beta family and the day will come that they will find out about it. With just a little less than five years to go, I will finally be free of this Pack and everyone in it. “I will miss our Daughter, though.” Fermin mumbles. I will never understand how he can miss someone who isn't a part of our lives. He says this every time I think about the day I will step down as the Alpha and hand over the Pack to Landis. My dream has always been to move to a remote location, avoiding contact with other Shifters as much as possible. I just wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet, but life threw me a curveball. I found myself in a position I didn't want and a Mate who holds no interest for me. I will be counting down the days until retirement.