8 And it gets even more tangled

It's evolved

This whole situation is worse than I expected.

As I returned to the pack, I cross-examined a lot of cases. They were cases of pack members requesting leave to another pack which was granted with my seal by Lee who had the authority to grant those requests in my stead. As big As my pack is, I trusted my pack members so I shared responsibility.

I regret that sorely now, I can change up the whole adminstrative structure of the pack, but that won't bring back the lives that have been lost. I feel my shoulders get heavy with the burden of guilt. I should have known, I should stopped him. I couldn't protect them.

I bow my head in my hands. All the pack members that relocated after calling to confirm the relocated members, they say no such relocations ever happened. Each and every one of them. That brings the death count to 96. 96 pack members died and I didn't know about it.

Arghhhhh! I smash my hand through the wall.

An entire family amongst his victims, their young pups too.

I won't rest til I have Lee's mangled body hanging at the pack square. I won't rest till my pack has justice.

Many questions have arisen since the investigation was launched. But two stood out the most

How could he hide scents? We werewolves have an extraordinary sense of smell

How come none of his victims were able to send a distress cry through the pack link?

Have we become too reliant on our abilities as werewolves and he exploited that.

These files of relocation, I try to think that if they had appeared on my desk I would have noticed something was wrong. in truth, I won't have, on paper everything seems okay and I trusted my beta. I had been so focused on our companies to ensure my pack wants for nothing, plus the recent expansions of our territories, I basically pushed the running of the pack into his hands.

Blaming myself won't bring them back. I have to focus on finding solutions.

𝑀𝑎𝑡𝑒.

I ignore him

𝑀𝑎𝑡𝑒

𝐺𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒.

I cannot bring her in a dangerous time like..

𝑊𝑖𝑡𝒉 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑤𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝒉𝑒𝑟, 𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝒉𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔.

I push a breath past my lips. In a time where our pack is in mourning and due my negligence. I have to show I am doing my best to get justice. If we bring our mate here, we will get distracted with her and it is a terrible time to mate. I cannot,no, I am not allowed to be happy while my pack mourns because of me. It is not what this Alpha will do.

𝐿𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑒, 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠...

This time I cut him off and block our communication.

Have to get back to work.

After two more hours buried in paperwork. I am about to go to the pack cafeteria for my overdue lunch. I can have it brought to my office but I know my presence amongst my pack members will soothe them.

Alpha we have news.

That stops me right in my tracks.

My office right now.

Already on my way.

I tap my feet impatiently, within a few minutes my office door burst open.

Alpha I just got a message from the Southwood pack to relay to you.

What are you waiting for? Spill it! I feel the tension building in me and I am coiled up tightly waiting to spring.

Alpha Kincaid sends his apology. He says at the time you requested entrance. Lee had already infiltrated their pack and was holding his mate and unborn child hostage. He had no other choice but to turn you away. He is close to our border and is requesting access.

Let him in

Minutes tick by as I wait for Kincaid to reach my office, I almost want to dash out to meet him. But I must maintain a sense of control for my pack, they need to see it. Wolves are creatures that deal a lot with power dynamics, in a time as critical as this. An Alpha must show strength, it soothes his pack, So he must do everything within his power to make sure his pack keeps feeling protected and led.

Alpha Ian I am so sorry for the other day.

Alpha Kincaid. I clasp his hand in greetings.

I came as soon as I could. Once again I am sorry for the other day. I understand you have suffered a lot of losses and because of my pack you lost track of the murderer. I hope you understand there was nothing I could do.

I understand.

My wife is one amazing she wolf, she hated our pack being kept ransom because of her and I don't know how she did it but she was able to get an advantage which we immediately exploited and injured Lee before he escaped. We weren't able to capture him, our priority was my mate. That Lee is incredibly strong, I lost good men.

I am sorry for your loss.

He waves me off. Now we have a common enemy. I would have loved to join you on this hunt but now more than ever I have to close to my mate and unborn cub. Even leaving her this long to make this visit leaves me anxious.

I understand. This is a critical time between mates.

This brings me to the final reason for my visit. That Lee is not a normal wolf.

What do you mean by that?

He entered our pack undetected. And when we attacked him thanks to the advantage created by my mate. Just as we were about to strike fatally... He disappeared.

He what?

He disappeared.