Chapter 16
Heading to the rising tide pack I am tired of waiting for something to happen. This pack has had more attacks than the other areas. So either this is a distraction or the guilty party is close to here. Deceiving to go in wolf form so we can do it quietly. My black fur blended in with every shadow. The lighter warriors coated their fur in dark ink that makes them just as dark as I. using the properties of the skunk toad to mask our scents.
Making it to the border of the rising tide I notice the pack of wolves. “be on alert something does not feel right.” I tell them all through the link. Spreading out to cover more ground. We can cross the border without caucusing alarm due to being invited here and having a close alliance. I have no idea what my grandfather saw in this pack to have such a long alliance with them. I have never seen a lazier pack of wolves. Creeping slowly to the center of the pack territory. I have yet to find a wolf. “Does anyone see anyone?” I link but only got “no alpha not a one.” from every wolf with me.
Shifting as I come to the treeline. Looking around at the empty village-like area. Doors swinging in the wind. Not a sound was coming from anywhere. “search the area look for clues.” I tell them all. As they spread out looking for clues I head to the packhouse. If there is any information it would be in the alphas office.
The door is wide open when I make it there. I can hear water running the closer I get. Walking in I am taken back at the mess. While looking around I see this pack was living in squallier. The outside of the house looked like any house you would see but inside. The floors are dirt. No electricity. The running water is well-designed irrigation coming in a window spilling in a basin that overflows to a hole in the floor under it. “um will, didn’t your father send like a lot of money for repairs a few years ago?” Kyle asks looking around. I nod trying to make sense of all of this. Looking for the office.
Finding what I hope is the office I see a desk with a computer “well they have to have the power they have a computer.” “well, I think the solar battery in the window powers that.” looking where Kyle is pointing. Seeing a small solar battery plugged into the computer. “see what you can find on it I’m gonna look through the papers.” I tell Kyle. While he's clicking away at the old computer growling the whole time. Finding nothing in the paperwork or books in this room. “alpha Ummm we found something you might wanna see” one of the warriors linked me. “what is it?” I link back “I think it would be better for you to see it'll meet you out front.” cutting the link I look over at Kyle his eyes have turned black meaning his wolf is bleeding through. “Craig needs me out front you coming?” “no, I am still looking over the files here and sending them to mine at the packhouse. I also need to call for a team to come to retrieve this for the ones I cant send.” not taking his eyes off the screen. I have a bad feeling I am not going to like what he tells me.
Heading out front I find Craig pale and pacing. “Craig” “alpha, follow me” his tone is one I have never heard from him before and I can't place it. Following him around the back of the house to the tree line. Walking for another five minutes we come to a tree that looks dead. Craig sticks his hand in a knothole and then the tree opens. Interesting I think to myself. Stepping to the door a strong order of decay and iron meet me. Something is dead in there and it's been that way for a while. Craig steps into the tree and walks down the stairs hidden inside, my stomach turns as I follow him down the hole. Hitting the bottom I feel a surge and then the ache of bonds breaking from death. I counted ten bonds all at once. The shock and pain brought me to my knees. Craig rushes back to me “alpha, alpha are you alright what happened?” I can hear the panic in his voice. “I think I know what's behind those doors. It's the Vega team isn’t it?” when he remains quiet I have my answer. I know Kyle will have felt it along with wade and john. Blocking the link so I can go see what was done to my wolves.
Walking through the door I find joey and Kevin standing just this side of the blood pool. My eyes follow the pool to the center of the room. Hanging from their ankles are seven of my ten wolves. Naked riddles with slices. Some would have gone fast but for others, it was slow and painful. The she-wolves taking the worse of the pain. This makes me wonder what their mates must be feeling looking at them. “three wolves are missing find out who they are. Maybe if they are mated then their mates can track them with their bond.” no one says a thing and I look back “what?” I ask seeing their faces “the thing is alpha only one is missing and well it's joeys twin sister and she's unmated.” Kevin says looking at joey now I see the haunted look in his eyes. I see his eyes glazing over and his breathing increasing. Fur is starting to grow on his arms then recede. Hanging his head dropping to his knees “I can't feel her it's like the bond we share is blocked or broken.” he looks defeated. “Craig help joey out of here call in a team to bring our packmates home. Turning back to Kevin I nod for him to show me. Following him to a room in the back I find the two that were not hung up. Stumbling back trying to keep my stomach from spilling. I have never seen anything like it. “alpha why were they so brutal with these two and not the others?” Kevin says I can feel the pain in his voice. Taking a deep breath walking into excitement them. They are in pieces and those pieces have been carved up. Blood everywhere. I soon notice two small clean spots on the wall. Walking over I see one a deep caramel with a full moon and two wolves one howling the other laying down at its feet. the howling wolf is black with a gold outline. The other a just the outline of the wolf with a silver outline. It's his mate mark.it looks very familiar but I can't place it. Turning to the pale one seeing the same mark. No no no it cant be no. Shaking my head looking back at the pile of body parts. Scanning them looking for what I hope not to find.
Then I see it in the back of his head. The tribal-style wolf on the back of his neck. Dropping to my knees tears ran down my cheeks.
