Chapter 118

Beta Cody

I called Alpha Gabe after I got off the phone with the Luna. "You're not going to believe what Beta Roger just told me about?"

"Do tell," he replied.

"Apparently they have mating agreements, selling off unmated and young she-wolves before they are adults. Supposedly they are going to live with warriors who will take care of them till they are old enough to mate. Sounds like something is off to me, what do you think?"

"Sounds like trafficking. Is he coming here?" he asked, a growl in his voice.

"Yes, Jenna is working on the arrangements now. I think I will go retrieve him from the airport myself, maybe he will speak more. I advised him not to warn Alpha James that he's coming, or he could be implicated. He also said he doesn't know a thing about pack finances."

"This doesn't look good for James." The Alpha paused and then came back, "Gotta go, someone is here. We will get the council settled and then start getting more answers. Dig into those ledgers as best you can." He hung up before I could answer.

I spent the next couple of hours going over the ledgers, reviewing things that Ashlynn had highlighted. She had found a great deal of incriminating information. The question was, who all did this implicate? I was about to close one of the ledgers when I noticed a loose piece of paper sticking out from the back of the book. I flipped the back cover open and lifted the sheet of paper, staring at the scribbles across the page. Names. It must have been close to thirty names. Names followed by initials and a dollar amount. I recognized a good share of the names. Some were Alpha's, some were councilmen, old and new. The ones I did not recognize confused me. There were hundreds, if not thousands of packs in America alone. Add on those around the world and the possibilities were endless. I picked up the phone and called Luna Jenna.

"How can I help you Cody," he bright voice responded.

"Hi Luna, listen, don't we have a data base that can be accessed, one that lists all names of packs and pack members around the world?"

"Yes," she paused. "It takes special authorization though, to look up anything outside of the states and outside of leadership names. Why?"

"I've found something that I think needs dug into deeper, but I need access to that data base. Do you know how I can get that?"

"Well, the Alpha has access. He can probably get permission for you to view it as well. Do you want me to get him for you?"

"Isn't he with the council members that arrived already?" I asked.

"He is, but it's more like social hour in there," she laughed. "You know they want everyone present before they dive into business. Standard procedure and all that."

"Yeah I do know that," I chuckled. "Well I could use his help or advice on the matter. I will walk over and have a private minute with him. No need to disturb their gathering. I have to head to the airport and pick up Beta Roger soon."

"Ok, they are in the dining room having drinks and snacks," she advised.

"Perfect," we hung up and I took the ledgers and locked them in my safe. Folding the paper I had found, I tucked it into my pocket and made my way over to the Alpha's home. I had a feeling he'd want to get answers as quick and as quietly as possible, so we could share it with the council. I wasn't sure how much silence there was going to be when I explained the data base I needed access too. It seemed like that was well guarded and probably many would be aware if we started digging into it. It made me wonder how many people we knew that would be implicated when all of this was said and done. It just shows you that you don't always know people the way you think you do. Look how long we had lived near the Godsend Pack and how terrible they had ended up being. They had been part of this whole travesty for years. Further more, how many missing wolves would we uncover from this as well? My heart felt heavy as I made my way to deliver the news.

Alpha Gabe POV

I followed Cody out of the dining room and down the hall to my office. The councilmen were deep in conversation about trade agreements, which really hadn't much to do with me. Most of our business was handled on the local level, considering we worked in cattle and horses and there was plenty of business here. I'd never had much use for trades with other packs or humans outside of our area. Still, the further we walked away from the conversation the more my head swam with thoughts regarding what had happened in that dungeon and if the trade agreements at all hinged on that. Little did I know, I was closer to that answer than I knew.

We shut the door and Cody immediately withdrew a folded sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to me. "Names. To many to be just coincidence."

"Where did you get this?" I asked, as I unfolded it and skimmed over the names.

"It was in the back of a ledger. The names match with the initials in many of the books. I recognize a few but not all. I need access to the database that lists all the packs, their leadership and their pack members. Can you get me that?" Cody looked at me with weariness in his eyes.

"I have access myself. The problem is that if we access this information, others will know." I told him, still staring at the names.

"I know. Luna Jenna said as much, but she said I should discuss it with you," Cody ran his hands through his hair. "Are any of the names on that list part of the council?"

I shook my head, "Not in the continent, but could be outside of the states. Aside from Alpha James, I recognize a few others," I told him.

"Same here," Cody replied. "Who do you need to inform so they don't flip out?"

"The council members, but that would alert Alpha James." I stood there trying to wrack my brain for a way around him finding out. "Maybe he doesn't need to know though, maybe the alerts can be disabled."

Cody stood there, waiting patiently as I worked through it in my head. "I think I can get his alerts blocked. I have a contact who can get into the system and disable the alerts, but I may just be able to convince one of the lead councilmen to take care of it. He's been appalled from the beginning by what happened in that dungeon and with the Godsend Pack. He's been houding me to get this whole situation figured out and to close the investigation."

"Why is he so eager?" Cody asked. "That doesn't strike you as odd?"

"It did initially, but then I found out his own daughter had been abducted a few years ago, just disappeared in thin air. I think we found her name in one of the ledgers. He wanted answers and revenge. He's fully invested in punishing everyone responsible for any part of her disappearance."

Cody nods. "Makes sense."

"Okay, I will pull him aside later. I should have an answer by morning."

"Sounds good Alpha. I'm off to pick up Beta Roger, should be back in two hours. You want us to come to the dining room when we return?"

"Yes, yes I do."