Chapter 45 The Sheriff

*The Sheriff*

I was getting antsy. I've been trying to get in touch with Omega 41, but his phone was off. He didn't usually go off the grid knowing One wanted information. Dammit! I had my chance, but I blew it. I should've sat closer to Alpha and Athena, but Alpha would've become suspicious.

It has been a difficult three years trying to hide whatever the rogues did and looking Alpha Connor straight in the eye and lying about it. I knew if he ever found out, he wouldn't banish me from the pack, he'd kill me.

"Hey Sheriff! The boys were wondering if you'd want to come with us for a boys night out," one of my deputies had stuck his head in my office. I didn't notice him knock on my door. I was so preoccupied with my problems.

"Sorry boys. Need to get home. I'll take a rain check." My deputy nodded and closed the door to my office. After getting in trouble with the rogues, I have continously declined the offer to accompany my deputies. It was what got me in trouble in the first place. If I hadn't gone to New York City with them, I wouldn't be in this mess.

I just wanted to win a bit of money. After coming home with over a hundred thousand dollars in cash that first night in New York, I wanted more. I was able to buy my mate that new car she always wanted and my kids those gadgets they've seen their classmates play with. When my mate asked me where I got the money, I told her it was a bonus for being the best sheriff in the state. She believed me and told me to continue being the best sheriff there was. Seeing my family so happy made me hungry for more so when my deputies asked me to go with them again, I didn't hesitate. I agreed making sure that I had money left from the hundred grand to put on the tables so I could come home with an even bigger cash out.

That second night, I didn't win so big, but I was still a winner. I brought home another fifty grand which helped me get all the house repairs done. I also bought a new couch to replace our small ratty one and a bunk bed so my two sons didn't have to share one bed. Alpha Connor, who dropped by, noticed the new minivan I got my mate. When he asked, I told him the same lie I told my mate. He actually congratulated me, pleased I had done well for myself.

Then, the problems came. I lost all the money I had left the next time I went to the tables. I had to take a cash advance to hide if from my family. I decided to have a garage sale to come up with some money. I brought my earnings to the tables and lost it all in under an hour. I was about to leave when a big man came up to me and asked if I wanted to borrow some money so I could continue playing. The night was still young he said. Maybe I could double the money and pay them back right away. He said they were willing to lend me twenty thousand dollars. I quickly said yes thinking I could do just that, win big and pay them back. At first, I was winning. I already had thirty thousand dollars in winnings. I could have easily paid the debt and left the place with money in my pocket like my deputies were urging me to do. I told them I was still warming up. Then just like that, I lost it all. My deputies looked at me like I was an idiot. They pooled their winnings to help me pay my debt, but it wasn't enough. I still had ten grand to pay. The man came up to me and told me it was okay. It was only ten grand, chump change. I was good for it. If I needed a loan, just come to him. He'll make it happen.

One night, I went on my own without my deputies. I was going to win back all the money and  pay my debt and never come back. I looked for the man and he gave me fifty thousand. I took that fifty thousand with me to the tables and lost it all. My debt had ballooned to sixty thousand plus interest.

I tried to run, but the man and his goons cornered me at the exit. They took me downstairs at the basement of the building and beat the shit out of me. That was when I met their boss, One. The rogue who led the extermination of my pack. I wanted to kill him when he told me who he was, but I knew if I did, I wouldn't be able to come out of the building alive.

Since then, I had to report to them. If not, they'd kill my family. My family was all I had left. I didn't want any of them to serve as payment for all the wrong that I had done.

It was late and there didn't seem to be anything happening so I decided to head home. Better I'm there rather than somewhere else creating problems.

I was about to leave my office when I heard a knock on the door. When the door opened, I was surprised to see Alpha Connor walk in with his Beta not far behind him.

"Alpha, what can I do you for? I was about to go home and get some dinner." I extend my hand and he takes it, shaking it.

"We caught these three rogues who entered the territory this morning. They were following Athena. Anyway, we chopped up their car and I remembered you needed some car parts. I was wondering if you wanted to follow me and Matt here to the truck stop so you could get those parts before you head home to your family."

"That's mighty kind of you Alpha. Sure, I'll follow you. Those parts would be a big help if I could get what I need." I had a car I was trying to fix up so I could sell it.

"Alright then. Since you're headed out let's all go together. There's a group of rogues that have been spotted west from the territory. The men have been keeping an eye out to make sure they don't wander too far. Better we move in numbers. I don't want any trouble." Alpha Connor walks to the door and opens it. "You comin'?"

"Yes, Alpha. Let's go." I put my phone in my pocket, pick up my keys from my desk and follow Alpha and his Beta out of the precinct. I wave to my deputies who were already in their cars, ready to go and party.

I get into my car and follow Alpha Connor's pickup to the truck stop. Yes, I was envious. Alpha Connor had a great business going on and didn't seem to think about money. Sure, he put most of the money into the rehabilitation of our pack, built us new homes, a new pack house, a school, but it would be nice if he shared the wealth. Maybe if he did, most of us wouldn't have to work so hard. Anyway, he did provide us with a small cash gift on Christmas although it wasn't enough to take care of all my problems.

Damn these rogues. Omega 41 had told me he'd be moving camp to be with some friends. I didn't know they were going to make camp near our territory. I'll have to talk to Omega 41 about moving away from the territory. One rogue didn't raise a flag, but a group of them? I knew Alpha Connor and the rest of the men wouldn't put up with that shit. Omega 41 was getting too comfortable. I'll have to remind him not to cross Alpha Connor or else.

I saw Alpha Connor signal to turn right. Up ahead, the lights of the truck stop were all aglow. I could hear horns blaring. It was dinner time and judging from the trucks entering, the truck stop must be packed.

I follow suit and signal to turn right. Alpha Connor drove up to the car shop which was at the back of the truck stop. He parks beside the shop and I park beside him. I pray silently I get all the parts I need. I didn't have the money to pay for parts so it would be nice to get them all for free.

Alpha Connor gets out of his pickup and signals me to follow him. I walk out of my car and follow him inside the car shop.

"By the way, Sheriff, since you're here, let me give you your Christmas cash gift. I added some extra for your boys. I know how hard it is to have a big family. Let's go to my office." Just my luck! I get free car parts and more money. Thank you, Moon Goddess!

I follow him to his office. Alpha Connor opens the door and ushers me in. His Gamma was inside seated in one of the chairs infront of the Alpha's desk. He suddenly stood up, grabbed my hand, twisted my arm behind my back and slams my face against the desk.

Shit! Alpha Connor knows.

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*Alpha Connor*

My Gamma pats the Sheriff down and finds his gun. He gives it to my Beta who checks if its loaded.

"Silver bullets." He hands the gun to me.

"Pity it had to be you, Sheriff. We know about you and the rogues." I sit in my chair behind my desk.

"The bullets are for rogues, Alpha! Please don't hurt me," he uttered.

"Sure they're for the rogues, Sheriff. You better start talking or Cheryl and your boys will find themselves without a mate and a father," I threaten.

"I owe the rogues money. I couldn't pay it so, they made me a deal. All I needed to do was find out where they could find Lucas Lockwood! Please Alpha. You kill me and my family will go hungry," the Sheriff begs.

"You owe the rogues money? How did that happen?!" I had a rule against gambling. Ever since that nurse was killed by one of my pack members because of a gambling debt he owe, I had made gambling forbidden among the members of my pack. I had told them if they needed money to come to me and we could work something out. I motion to my Gamma to allow the Sheriff to sit down. He pulled the Sheriff off of the desk and pushed him in a chair.

"I was invited by my deputies to New York City. They're human and didn't understand why I wasn't allowed to gamble. They called me chicken. So I gambled. I won a hundred grand that night. Bought Cheryl that car she wanted and my boys tablets and smartphones so they wouldn't feel left out. The joy on their faces, Alpha made me want to win more. I kept going back, but I just kept losing money until I found myself sixty grand in debt." The Sheriff was crying and I felt bad. I was his Alpha. I should have helped him more. But he shouldn't have agreed to the rogues.

"When I lost, they beat the shit out of me. Then their leader, One, asked me which pack I was from and told me if I could give him information on Lockwood, my debt would be wiped clean."

"Alright, that I understand." Truly, I did. That information was gold. "But this shit, I don't." I take the garbage bag with the toolbox and open it. I cover my nose with my scarf before pulling down the garbage bag and opening the toolbox. I pulled the Sheriff's face so close to the toolbox, I saw him gag.

"I found this in Omega 41's tent. Care to elaborate? Because I have not heard of one single report on dead people."

"I don't know anything about that." Clearly he was lying.

"Okay. Have it your way. Bring in the Park Ranger," I tell my Beta. He opens the door and motions to my men who bring in the Park Ranger who was trying to free himself. My Beta grabs his arm and yanks him to the other chair and forcefully makes him sit.

"Now boys, I want you to tell me the truth. If you lie, I will chop off a finger of yours. Seems fair don't you think?" I motion to my men and they grab both of them and place one hand of theirs on my desk. I open a drawer and pull out a meat cleaver. "Now answer me, whose fingers are these?"

"They're from people who camp outside the designated camp site," answers the Park Ranger.

"And how many have been killed? Ball park." No one answered. "I will count to three. No answer is the same as lying. One-two-thr..."

"Alpha, around four hundred, maybe five hundred missing." My Beta let a slow whistle. That was a lot of dead people.

"How do you discard the bodies? Is there a mass grave? The lake at the park perhaps?"

"Alpha, there were never any bodies." I stopped, stunned.

"There were never any bodies? Are you telling me they eat humans?" This is sicker than I thought.

"I don't know about that, Alpha. But I think, and I'm just speculating here, it is for the mage who produces the forbidden elixir of 'No Scent'. I read an article about needing something human for it to work." I read about this too during the time the Council of Wolves had made the elixir forbidden.

"And why did you not report this?" I looked at the both of them for answers.

"We did. As a missing person's case. There was never any evidence at the site. We tried posting signs at the park warning people not to camp outside the designated campsite. Unfortunately, we would only figure out someone was missing when they didn't sign the manifest a day later," the Park Ranger answered.

"I told you about this before, Alpha. I told you to warn the truckers not to camp anywhere they please." Now I remember. I hide the meat cleaver back inside the drawer. I was wrong about the Sheriff. The Sheriff was only after information on Lockwood. He didn't know about the fingers.

The mage was mass producing his elixir if he needed that many people. He must have made a deal with One.