Chapter 117

Cody POV

I left the Alpha's office and made my way through the house and out the front door. I had a feeling that we were about to uncover some very dark secrets that were being kept by Alpha James. The effects this could have would ripple through our world and I couldn't help but feel the apprehension as to how deep and far this whole ordeal was going to reach. I was also concerned about how Michael may react once he found out the truth about the man that he had been responsible for guarding all this time. The same man who may have very well been part of what happened to Shawna. I could see that Michael had been reining in his wolf at the mention that Alpha James could have been responsible for what happened to her, and an angry Alpha wolf was not something anyone wanted to deal with.

I climbed the steps to my office and took a quick look around to be sure I wasn't being followed or watched. You never know what Alpha James might be up too, especially if he thought we suspected his involvement. He had looked uneasy at the mention of log books in the dungeon. I wondered if he knew there were records, actual physical records such as they were. I'm guessing that either he didn't know or he thought they would be locked away someplace where they couldn't be found. Whoever was instrumental in the running of this operation had been very careful about who they mentioned, utilizing initials rather than names. I had a feeling though that if we dug deeper into those records we were bound to find out whose names belonged to the initials.Some of it was unclear, but not all. Things like Alpha James probable involvement had stuck out like a sore thumb. Ashlynn had been certain of it, as if she had inside information. I guess in a way she did, she had seen to most of the prisoners recovery and she had been in that laboratory and had gone through the records. She had requested more time to view them, but Alpha Gabe didn't want her sucked into this to much and had told her we would finish up the research.

I sat at my desk and rifled through my phone book, looking for the number to contact the Beta in Idaho Falls. I hadn't spoken to him in a long time, probably a couple of years. He'd always seem like a genuinely good guy, but after what we had uncovered, I wasn't sure. The phone rang a half dozen times before and out of breath woman answered. "Hello, I'm so sorry. This is Esther, assistant to Beta Roger. How can I help you?"

"Esther, it's Beta Cody in Montana. I'm with the Lone Wolf pack in Great Falls. Is Beta Roger available?"

"Great Falls, isn't Alpha James there? Is something wrong?" she asked sounding concerned.

"Not at all, just some Beta business I need to discuss with Roger. Is he there?" I asked, trying not to sound irritated.

"Yes, of course. Please hold." I listened to the dull music that filtered through the phone as she left me on hold for several minutes. I was busy reading a ledger when Beta Roger finally picked up.

"Beta Cody? It's Roger," he said sounding surprised.

"Roger, hey there. I know it's been a while but I wanted to run a few things by you."

"Okay," he said hesitantly. "Everything okay with the Alpha? I mean Alpha James is there, isn't he?" he sounded unsure.

"Don't you know where your Alpha is?" I asked, trying to sound like it was a joke. I imagined he didn't always know, based on the information we were sifting through.

"Of course, of course," he laughed. "What can I do for you?"

"We have some things going on here and we feel like you might be able to put some light on a few anomalies for us. It's related to your pack, assuming you know the answers that is," I stated.

"I'm not following you. If my Alpha is there, surely he can answer whatever you need to know."

"Well he could probably, but I want to know if you know. You see, there are some discrepancies in finances and times that your Alpha was supposed to be someplace but wasn't. According to our records anyway, and the council will be here to review some of it. Alpha James says you're not trained to take over the pack should something happened to him and I was wondering how much you do actually know. This is concerning to us Roger," I stated.

"I'm not sure I should be speaking to you about our packs business," Roger whispered. "I don't know anything about the finances."

"No? Isn't the Beta responsible in part for making sure the packs businesses run smoothly and bring in profits? Do you accompany the Alpha at business meetings?" I asked.

Roger sighed, "Some. He's still relatively young and his son isn't ready to train to take over. Alpha is private, says he can handle it, so he leaves me to other things."

"What other things?" I asked.

"I'm in charge of the borders and the warriors and training. I assist him in relocating wolves to other packs and mating agreeements, that kind of thing."

"You do what? Why would you need to relocate wolves? What mating agreements?" I was genuinely curious but something about it didn't sound right to me. We had no such thing as mating agreements.

"Yes. Mating agreements. We sometimes offer up some of she-wolves to other packs single warriors who haven't found mates or whose mates have passed away. These are usually Omegas who might otherwise have a menial life. It gives them a chance to mate up and have someone who can provide for them. It's a good program. You don't do that?" he asked, suddenly sounding nervous. "I thought all packs did that."

"No, never heard of it. Tell me more about this, the ages of these girls, how often it happens, how you're involved?"

"I just arrange the transportation and send an escort to make sure they arrive safely. Alpha handles the contracts and the details of the rest. Some of them are as young as fifteen, usually orphans with no family to care for them till they are of age. The potential mate takes them in and shelters them until they are of age and can be mated." Beta Roger suddenlty got quiet and I could hear his breathing pick up. "Something is wrong with this, isn't it?" he whispered.

"Maybe," I didn't want to give to much away. "Alpha Gabe was wondering if you could come here for the council review, just answer a few questions?"

"When?" he asked.

"Can you be on a plane today? I can have Luna Jenna make the arrangements for you, at the councils expense. How's that sound?"

"Does Alpha James know about this?" he asked.

"I will be up front with you Roger, he doesn't. Truth is, unless you want to be implicated or even blamed for what's about to come out, I suggest you get on that plane. This probably won't go well for the Alpha and if you warn him in any way, you will be held to account by the council as well, regardless of you're involvement or lack of. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, I do. Okay," he sighed. "I thought he was keeping me out of things far more than necessary. Have the Luna call my assistant with the details. I will go speak to my wife and pack."

"Good. See you tonight." I hung up and called Jenna and gave her what she needed to make the arrangements. After what Beta Roger told me, I suddenly felt like this went way deeper than we thought. Mating agreements? With young wolves not even old enough to mate? Sounded like trafficking of wolves to me.