Chapter 74
Ares and Mars are out helping to separate the herds. Finding the milk cows are all fine. Whatever happened to the cattle happened in the back pasture. Jumping to the field I look for anything to explain what happened.
Cresting a hill I see Mars kneeling down next to the stream that runs through this pasture. Even this far away I can see he is very angry. Jumping to him he starts talking as I form behind him. “A spell in the water. I collected samples for Ambrose. I had the remaining cattle moved to the west pasture with the sheep. The water there is fine and I cut the stream off shivering to the swamp.” “how many?” “all under ten and all the calves. We will need to buy a couple of yearlings heifers. We will lose profits this year, but it’s contained.” “ill have the healers and defensive spell masters work on a vaccine for whatever is in the water. Where are the cows? I want to have a few autopsied then I want to burn them.” “Ares started a pit. I had several sent to the butcher shed to be checked by Tom.”
Ambrose misted next to me. “mars has a few samples of water for you to look at. I want to know who did this” “agreed, young alpha. This could have been horrible if it had made it to the pack water supply.” “Whoever it is has made a grave error.” “mars follow the spell in the water back to the last place you feel it in the water and soil.” “why?” “finding where it entered the water will help narrow down who did this” Mars nods and closes his eyes. “when he's done I want you to boil the water to just past boil. Keep it that hot for ten minutes that should burn the spell off. I’ll have Mars grab the water vapor and push it back into the stream.” Nodding as I watch Mars. His face twisted in anger.
“the last place I detect anything in the water is just this side of the winters castle.” Mars sneers. “burn the spell we will meet in the morning I’ll have more answers.” Nodding Mars and I began cleansing the stream.
The water level dropped a few inches but in time it will rise again. Once Mars no longer felt anything in the stream I grabbed his arm and jumped us home. Landing in the living room of the alpha suite I find mother pacing the room. “mom sits down we will get to the bottom of this. How are snow and shadow?” “better. I think whatever my mother did to them helped them. Or they are just stub pen old beasts.” “Probably a lot of both.”
“What did you find out?” my father asks. “that whatever this was was introduced to the stream near the winters castle.” Mars spits out. The room fills with growls. “if it’s them I will kill them all.” “mother.” Nyx huffs. “we can’t stoop to their level. Not every member of the pack is guilty of something. Let’s wait until Ambrose has news then we will make a plan. I don’t want it to be fast.” Smirking as I finish. Everyone looks back and forth a few times before smirking and nodding.
Ambrose came back a few hours later “the spell is from the night coven they seem to have gathered again. They are at the winters castle so this was an attack from them.” “I want the innocents out of harm's way. I want to use the holiday as their guard will be down. Find me timber she can get in and out of there undetected.” John, one of the top warriors nods and leaves the room we had all gathered for ambrose's news. “I also want to find Loki as his bank account is being used to order things again. I want to know what he’s up to.” My mother sneered. “I’m not so sure he’s even their mother. I didn’t sense a blood link other than to Athena in the castle while I was there. Even following the Kent’s blood nothing.” “as you know young lord, not every soul is in a body. Where did his soul go when Azazel took his body?” Ambrose asks half-heartily as he flips through a book.
“Well tell timber to find out everything while there. We have just under a week before the holiday. We need a way to identify innocent from those who know between right and wrong.” “what if I make the innocent drop in sleep until given the reversal.” Tapping his lip. “put it in their water supply. See how they like their water fucked with.” Vlad sneers. The rumble in his chest vibrates the room with his anger. Normally raven would start to talk to him calming his bear-sized anger. Vlad in his own right could be the alpha of any pack. I am the only one that’s bigger and stronger than his and that’s not by much. Well as long as I don’t use magic.
“So grams told me a few months ago I have a special skill only a hand full of shadow demons have. It’s called shadow control. Basically, I can possess someone for a short time by becoming a shadow and slipping into their skin. It doesn’t last long but could come in handy.”
“Can you slip into anyone?” “no clue just started working with it. But for those without any magic in their bloodline is easier. No defense.” “oh you could hide in timbers shadow so when she crosses the border you won’t be detected either. Then you could find Loki.” Ambrose exclaims excitedly as he tossed the book on a table. “yes yes Enzo gather your mother and brothers I will bind the five of you to Ravenana to increase her cloaking ability then she will be able to slip back home undetected. The water won’t work it could flow back to us. But if we do this on Christmas Eve when they are all asleep…oh what do children love on Christmas? Gifts and stockings. Candy yes tell timber and Ravenana to go soon we need a head could of children there. And adults. Hades can judge the souls later of the adults.” Looking around the room Ambrose waits for the go-ahead.
Looking at my mother and father who nod at me letting me take the lead.
“ Old man make the candy. Prince Enzo, please gather the queen and your brothers. Derek, use that nose uncle Will gave you and find timber. Allie you and the other she-wolves make stocking stuffers treats. Mom, dad do a rush order on small toys for the stockings. Make them look like gifts from Santa I’m talking hand-made wooden toys. Anything natural that can hold the potion some kids don’t like candy or don’t eat it right away.” Finishing with a smirk knowing things will be taken care of. “Vlad go to the black site gather the assets scent let’s return what she left behind with a little extra “ barking out as he turns to walk out of the room.
“Well this will be a Christmas they won’t forget. Mother will you and auntie e set up a site for the pups that will be left without, I’m sure at least one will need a place after this is over.”
