ALFRED POV
I looked out the window of my study, wondering what my next steps will be. My father and grandfather did not have this kind of problems. They started with their mates as childhood lovers and there wasn't any occurrence of poison attack during their reign.
My vision was obscured temporarily that I had to shield my eyes and when it passed, I looked down to see Hanni running in the garden with Simone, her hair glinting in the sunlight and her laughter mixed with the winds, creating a melodious sound that I had to close my eyes to bask in.
"Alpha?" A voice called at my door, rudely interrupting my pleasurable moment.
"Who is there?" I said hoarsely for it better be important.
"The council is seated my king."
I sighed and shook my head for I had forgotten totally about my summons earlier because I had been occupied with the thoughts of my mate. I shook my self to alert my consciousness and turned towards the doorway, tearing my gaze from her painfully.
"Where is the beta?" I asked the messenger.
"He is at the clinic, my king. He sent me to deliver this message and he will be with you shortly" the geeky messenger said, adjusting his glasses.
What's with the glasses thing? Is bad eyesight a thing I should watch out for alongside the poison, for I had seen a lot —including the maids on glasses.
"Ok. You can go" I dismissed him then he bowed and left.
I put on my Alpha robe and placed my sword in my belt….it isn't the time of war but I like being with my sword.
My wolf caught the scent of Jasmine and Geo, in his silent self, purred with longing.
Caught ya!
"Now I know why you have been silent buddy" I said softly. "You are angry with me for not allowing you to claim our mate now."
Geo let out a hissing sound and stayed silent, confirming without a doubt what I had just said.
"Cmon boy, you know she is still skeptical about all this and I'm still surprised she haven't said anything about leaving since morning….you know how she was insistent last night." I paused, waiting for Geo to acknowledge what I said, but it just paced relentlessly, demanding what we both know is ours. But some things are worth waiting for.
Some treasures have to be earned.
I just pray I have the strength to keep waiting. To be patient for I'm gradually approaching the brink because with every soft smile, every laughter, every sway of her hips, every brush of her hand and every moment she let her guard down….My control slips a little more.
And my beast is tired of waiting.
I shook my head after just realizing it being day two of me being around her and my patience is already thin.
I thought about going to Mira to relieve myself but I don't want to be that kind of partner to my mate, besides I had already ended things with her last night and I do not regret my actions.
I just want to be with Hanni.
I took a quick glance at my reflection in the mirror and started for the door for it's time for buisness.
********************
As I approached the meeting hall, I heard murmurings mixed with fear and anxiety, but when I entered, the murmur quickly died down, each one avoiding the other's eyes while they bowed with respect and sat down.
I sat down on my throne facing them, trying to predict the expressions, trying to read the room and I can only pick up one thing lingering in the atmosphere—-fear.
"Beta, bring me up to speed."
Andre who had been standing quietly, cleared his throat and approached the middle of the meeting hall and said, "this is an attack like never before. The healers has done their research and they were able to arrive to one conclusion—wolfsbane."
"Wolfsbane? How is it possible?" Anthony, an old wolf who is the local head of the low lands cried out clearly dismayed.
"I think we have spy rogues among us injecting our food and drinks with poison and they are moving strategically, tactfully planning their next move because first it was the pub, where all the drinks were tested and confirmed poisonous thereby claiming the lives of the seventeen wolves who were misfortunate to be drinking there two nights ago."
The hall was filled with silence, so sharp that one could easily hear a pin drop. But not for long.
"So what about the yesterday attack?" I asked, my voice vibrating through the hall.
"I believe the attack yesterday was to make a statement because it was done so close to the general market and this time, it wasn't drinks, but meat."
"Meat?" Guilliver, the head of commerce exclaimed, "then this rogues mean buisness!"
"Please my king, what should we do? We don't know who they are and what their next plan will be." Aries, another official asked and the hall was immediately filled with murmuring as everyone wanted to voice their opinions.
I had been sitting quietly listening to them argue and when I couldn't take it anymore, I raised my hand to silence their worries.
"Beta, how many casualties do we have so far?" I asked, looking at Andre, who paused for a minute and closed his eyes before answering.
"So far it's twenty five, Alpha, with twenty already dead and five in critical condition."
"Please pardon me Alpha." Michelle, the official in charge of food in the pack suddenly chipped in and I waved, signaling her to continue.
"To my knowledge, wolfsbane is a poison that is very deadly to wolves, but there is a cure, so why did twenty wolves lost their lives immediately after digestion and also when digested, there are symptoms like stomach swelling, excessive sweating, vomiting and diarrhea which not treated early, can lead to death, but this victims lost their lives an hour after contact without any symptoms, don't you think it's strange?"
I thought so too.
"Andre" I called "she is right, this is more than just wolfsbane. I want you to look into this thoroughly."
"And Marcus" I turned to Marcus, who had been sitting silently, watching the proceedings with his full attention. "I want you to assist the beta in solving this case, I want to have eyes and ears in all four corners of the pack, I want to get to the bottom of this urgently before we lose anymore lives."
"Yes Alpha" they both chorused.
But I wasn't done yet.
"Gulliver" I turned to him, "you know what goes in and out of this pack. I want you to put your eyes down on anything and anyone bringing in any contraband or any vial that looks suspicious."
"Yes Alpha" he replied with a bow.
"And Michelle, I want you to organize a force or a squad specifically to screen any food and drinks being sold in the markets or stalls. I don't want anyone consuming anything that haven't been stamped by you, understand?"
"I understand my king" she replied.
"You all are dismissed and Marcus, please stay back."