Chapter 67 Mage is Gone

*One*

I woke up to a new morning, not sick anymore, but with a vendetta. The mage did not deliver his shipment of elixir as promised. Without that elixir, my men and I can no longer trick unsuspecting wolves into gambling themselves into debt. The wolves know rogues had taken over New York City and if they are able sniff us out, they would assume right away that we were out to con them.

I called the head of the group of rogues I had stationed in Rhode Island. He was unreachable last night. I guess he was sick, too.

"Fifteen, I need you to go to see the Mage," I said.

"I figured something was wrong when the truck didn't pass our checkpoint. What do you need me to do, One?"

"Search the warehouse and his house for any stock of the elixir. If you are able to find him, chain him up and call me. I will go there to personally get things straight," I replied.

"And if we can't find him?" Fifteen asked.

"Burn the house down, after you've ransacked the place. All valuables you can keep. Make sure to look for any supply of the elixir. I need it."

"Sure thing, One." I hang up.

I call in Fourth. He was one of the few rogues who only suffered a headache. The rest of my men became violently ill. Second and his men had to take a cab back to Rogue HQ. Whatever caused our sickness had us close operations for one night. Well, I'll be able to cover my losses just as long as I get that elixir.

I heard a knock on my door. Fourth opens it and enters my office. "One, what do you need me to do?" Fourth asked.

"I need you to pay Salty Moon Forest a visit. I've been trying to get in touch with the rogues in that area, but their phones are off," I answered.

"One, it could be possible they got sick too. Anyway, I'll go ahead and check them out. Anything else?"

"Do some poking around at that truck stop along the highway. I want you to find out what Alpha Connor has been up to. Any news on Ethan Crowne?" I asked.

"Nothing yet, One. He'll pop up somewhere. It's impossible for him to stay hidden with his picture always in the tabloids."

"Notify all rogues that I will be giving a reward for anyone who can give me information on the whereabouts of Ethan Crowne. By the way, make your trip to Salty Moon quick. Tonight is the Christmas Ball of the Council of Wolves. The Council's troops will be closing down the city. Make sure you're back before noon," I told him.

"Sure thing, One." Fourth turns around and leaves my office to get the information I needed.

The Christmas Ball will be happening tonight.

I, on the other hand, have some plans of my own.

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*Fifteen*

Last night, my men and I were sick. It was the first time in my whole wolf life that I had fallen ill. I had heard the howl of the queen, however I could not understand what it meant. After the howl, sickness had befallen me and my crew.

I went to sleep and when I awoke, I felt much better. I did however feel a certain heaviness in my head, like I was marked. I pushed the feeling aside. It was time to do One's bidding.

I rounded up my men to go to the warehouse of the Mage. It wasn't far from the trailer park where we were camped. We filled the two cars we had at our disposal and drove to the estate.

When we arrived at the warehouse, we found the white truck with its trailer open and empty. We parked at the clearing in between the trees.

"Be careful were you walk. I want to check the tracks and the foot prints in the snow. Maybe it will give us some answers." My men nodded their heads and went through a path within the forest that lead to the truck and the warehouse.

I bent down. There were tracks of a car other than ours. I saw a number of foot imprints that led to the bushes. I followed them and saw cicles near the imprints. It meant some people bent down to hide and watch. I stood up and looked at the other side of the bushes. There were imprints that led to the side of the warehouse. I followed the trail and saw foot prints that came from the warehouse. They all met here at one point.

I noticed more tire tracks. These made heavier prints than a car would. Trucks perhaps? There were so many of them.

One of my men came running towards me from the warehouse.

"Fifteen, the warehouse is empty. All the prisoners gone. There's a number of metal bins inside that show signs of fire. Some had burnt clothing inside of them," he said.

"Do the prison cells look like they were forced open?" I asked him.

"No. The room, where all the belongings of the humans were stashed in, is empty. No sign of forced entry. The bathrooms look used. Found some soap and shampoo in there. Do you think the police found this place?"

"The police would have cordoned off the warehouse. And with that many people kidnapped, this place would be still swarming with them if that were the case. It would be the same if the Council of Wolves were the ones who found this warehouse. No, this was something else," I answered. "Look at these heavier tire tracks. They all park in front of the warehouse. I have a feeling these came from a number of trucks to transport the people out of here. Did you guys notice any trucks at the checkpoint?"

"Nope. Just buses. About four maybe five of them. All from one company. Do you think they used buses to transport all these people out of here?" I glanced at him and glanced at the tire tracks. It was possible.

"That seems plausible. They left the white truck because they knew we would be watching out for it. Who was doing watch when the truck arrived here?" I asked him. Technically, he was my second in command. He was also in charge for standing watch in the area.

"Omega 112. He notified me when the truck drove past the checkpoint," he replied.

"Well, there isn't anything here anymore. Round up the men. Let's all head to the mansion and see what we can find," I ordered him. "One wants us to find any supply of the elixir."

We all went back in our cars and sped through the pathway. We stopped at the huge gates of the estate. I bent my head to hide my face from the security camera. We all stepped out from our cars, rounded the perimeter and scaled the walls of the fence.

Inside the grounds of the estate, I saw a tent that was in ruins laying in the middle of the lawn. I gesture to my men to check the surroundings of the house to see for any sign of life. I walked up to the mansion to peer through the windows. It seemed no one was inside the house. I went to the garage and tried to open the door, however it was closed. I saw tire tracks that lead to the front of the mansion. I decided to follow it.

The tire tracks stopped beside other tire tracks that were present. Seemed like there were five other cars that used to be parked in front of the mansion. The tire tracks show the cars backed out of their parking space towards the gates.

One of my men, who was good at hacking, was trying to bypass the security code of the mansion door. It took him a while to hack into the security panel. I was sniffing the tent when he yelled we could enter the mansion. I dropped the tent back on the ground. It had a sweet scent which caused my head to hurt. I left it there and headed to the mansion whose doors were now wide open.

It was a spectacular place. I ordered everyone to check every nook and cranny for anyone or any clues to who was here. I also told them to find any supply of the elixir.

I started sniffing out the place. The sweet scent that I discovered on the tent was here as well. I saw some of my men shaking their heads. I guess they were having headaches again from the scent that filled the mansion. I went to the sliding doors of the view deck and opened them. I needed to air out this place from that disgusting sweet smell.

"Fifteen, no one is here. Even the kitchen is empty although the refrigerator is full. And I did find these." My second in command showed me bottles of red wine he had taken from the kitchen. "Sorry, no elixir."

"The mage is gone. I ransacked his room." One of my men emerged from the hallway, a bag in his hand. "I didn't find any elixir, but I took all of his expensive watches." He smiled mischievously.

I sat down at the head of the long dining table. I was feeling a bit better, now that the scent was leaving the house. I smiled at them.

"Well, since no one is here and I don't think they'll be coming back soon, why don't we stay the night? Take everything of value and open all the bottles of wine or alcoholic beverages you can find in this place. Tonight, we will be celebrating Christmas!"

All my men cheered. One can wait until I've finished blowing off some steam.

________________

*Ethan*

Someone was banging on our door. I stood up from the bed and groggily opened the door.

"What?!"

"Uhm, Ethan, I think you should learn to put on some pajamas before you open the door," Michael said. I looked down. I was naked. I hid myself behind the door.

"Sorry Michael. I was still half asleep," I said sheepishly.

"Uncle Mike, Ethan. Start calling me Uncle Mike. Anyway, breakfast is ready and the gowns and tuxedos are here. The seamstress won't budge until she sees Diana. High Lord Wolf's orders. By the way, Otis said the High Lord Wolf might be coming by, so dress accordingly." I looked him down and saw Michael had a button down polo shirt on and a pair of slacks. He seemed ready for the High Lord Wolf.

"I'll wake up Diana and have her shower. We had a busy night." Michael chuckled, knowingly.

"I can tell. Hurry. The seamstress has, uhm, a bit of an aversion to tardiness. I'll tell her Diana is getting ready." He nods his head at me and leaves. I closed the door and lock it. I didn't want anyone barging in and seeing Diana naked.

I walk to the bed and plant a kiss on her lips. She swatted me away.

"I'm still sleepy." She turns around and covers her face.

"Diana, your father is outside looking for you. He's about to barge through the door and uhm, you're naked." I had to wake her up anyway I could. I had an inkling her father would be enough to wake her up and I was right. She bolted up in an upright sitting position, almost hitting my head with hers.

"My dad?!" She looked down at herself and saw she was in her birthday suit. "Can you tell him I just need to jump into the shower and get dressed. I'll be done in ten minutes tops." I couldn't keep myself from laughing.

"I mention your father and you panic. Uncle Mike says the seamstress is downstairs waiting for you and she seems to hate people who are late. Come on. Let's shower together." I wink at her.

"No! We won't get done if we shower together. I'll go first. Okay Ethan? I promise we'll shower together sometime soon. But now, I better move or my dad will come banging on the door." She jumped out of the bed and ran to the en suite. I watch her perky behind and sighed. I wanted us to take a shower together. The seamstress could wait.

I was wrong. The seamstress couldn't wait. Good thing Diana said no to us showering together. I decided I'd take a shower after breakfast so we could go downstairs together. Plus, I loved the smell of Diana on me. I wanted everyone to smell her on me.

The seamstress, Dolores, was a stern looking middle-aged woman with large black rimmed glasses. She clicked her tongue when Diana finally emerged whose hair was still damp from her shower.

"So because you are queen, it's okay to keep me waiting? This is a problem when it comes to royalty. They don't understand that we small people are busy too," the seamstress muttered under her breath while she looked through the gowns to find something appropriate for Diana.

"I'm truly sorry. It was my wedding night and-," Diana stopped herself from blurting out we had made love last night. She blushed and the seamstress laughed.

"No one told me it was your wedding night. That reason is valid. At least someone is getting something around here." She pulled out a hot red off shoulder deep v neck ball gown and placed it against Diana who was standing on a podium in the middle of the living room. Athena and Aunt Daisy both nodded their approval while Lucas shook his head.

"Dolores, don't you think that's a bit too much?" Lucas said, his disapproval apparent.

"Are you her mate?" Dolores asked. She peered at Lucas through her glasses.

"No, but I'm her -" Lucas couldn't finish his sentence. Dolores cut him off.

"Strict father who knows nothing of fashion. You have no say on what she can or can not wear. Only her mate can disagree with me." She turned and faced me. "Do you have any complaints?" I shook my head at her and she smiled.

"The mate has no qualms with my choice. Red is a bold color. Perfect for a queen. Her skin will contrast with the red and she will glow! Put this on," she instructed Diana, "and while you are putting this on, the tailor can start fitting the men and I will proceed with the other women."

Lucas and Michael were already done with their fittings while Alpha Connor and his Beta were waiting their turn when Diana came out. Alpha Connor let out a whistle.

She was beautiful even with her hair in a messy bun. Dolores was right. Diana looked like she was glowing. Dolores clapped her hands. "It's a perfect fit. I do not have to alter anything. I will instruct the make-up and hair stylist. I have a tiara for you to wear. You will look every bit the queen you are."

My phone rings and I look at it to find my mother calling. I answer it.

"Hi darling. Just to inform you, we are settled here at my parents' old home," my mother said.

"Mom, we're here at the Wolf Mansion. Is your parents' house close by?" I asked her.

"Not really. My parents' house is in Manhattan. I'll see you at the Christmas Ball then. Ethan, I want you to prepare yourself. Your father will not take this well," she warned me.

"I'm ready, Mom. I left looking for my mate and I found her. He will have to accept that," I said.

"Ethan, you don't know what your father is capable of. He might hurt her. Anyway, Lucas will be there with you to protect her."

"And there are others Mom. There's Alpha Connor, Athena, Aunt Daisy and Elder Allen. Don't worry, Mom. Diana is capable of protecting herself. She is the black wolf of legend." I heard my mother gasp. "Mom?"

"Diana...s-she is the queen. She was the one who howled and caused the wolves to fall ill. Oh my Goddess! She will kill them all!" She suddenly hung up.

I sighed. Sometimes, my mom can be a tad bit overdramatic.

Andrew walks into the living room with a tablet in his hand. He was watching the screen intently.

"Rogues have entered the mansion," he said.

"I'll call the Council of Wolves. No one sets foot in my house without an invitation," Elder Allen, who had been quiet all this time, said. She had Colt dial the number then placed the phone next to her ear.

"Send troops to my Rhode Island estate. Rogues have broke into my home. Kill all of them."

Alpha Connor looked at her, impressed. Yes, she was cruel. Very cruel.