Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty Three

Alex and Mia got back into the carriage, and Alex instructed the coachman to take them to the next victim's house. "We'll have to go to my pack too, and ask them some questions too," Mia suggested to him.

He nodded and looked out the window, his mind was occupied with what Nita told him. They got to the next victim's house, the Harry's family.

Alex and Mia were welcomed into the house, and as they got seated in the living room of the Harry's family, they went straight to the point of their visit, and Harry's father informed him of the dish that was served to them in the carriage. It was a traditional horseradish food.

They thanked him and left. As they went round all the victims houses, they discovered one thing. Everybody had the horseradish crusted beef tenderloins.

They went to the Diamond Shadow pack, and as they investigated around, they found out that they also ate the same meal. Who had served this meal? They questioned. It was an occasional dish that was prepared for the whole pack.

"The cooks have to be questioned," Alex said to Mia.

"Since we're in my pack, we should start here first," Mia suggested, and he nodded.

They went to the pack house, and Mia felt so happy to be back home. She burst through the door in happiness. "Mother!" She screamed in a cheerful glee, and Alex wondered why she was so loud.

"Mother!" Mia yelled again, and Lauren hastened down the stairs at the sound of her daughter's voice. Her eyes lit up in happiness as she saw her daughter.

"Mia! My dear!" Lauren exclaimed and Alex immediately knew where Mia had got her loudness from.

Mia's eyes shone brightly. "Mother," she said again as Lauren hurried down the stairs. They met in the middle of the living room and hugged tightly. "Oh, mother, I have missed you so much," Mia said to her, squeezing her in.

"I have missed you more, my dear. You have no idea how much I worry about you," she replied, and sighed as they pulled away. She cupped Mia's cheek. "You look so beautiful, as always," she added, her face full of smiles.

"Thank you mother," Mia replied with a smile as she held her mother's hands. "Tell me, mother, how have you been?" Mia asked.

"The moon goddess has been merciful on us," Lauren answered with a smile.

She turned to Alex, who was standing a few feet away from them. "Dear, it's nice meeting you again," she said with a smile.

"It's nice meeting you too," Alex replied with a blank look on his face.

"How're you doing?" She asked him.

"I'm fine," he replied, still maintaining the poker look he had on his face.

Lauren understood that he did not want to talk or maybe he did not like to talk. She turned away from him, and looked back at her daughter. "What brings you here, Mia. Do not tell me you're finding it hard to stay in your husband's home," Lauren said with a serious look on her face.

Mia chuckled. "Far from it, mother. Alex and I are here to have a discussion with the cooks in the pack house," she said.

"What happened?" Lauren asked, and just when Mia was about to explain to her, Jayden walked into the pack house.

Mia looked in his direction and she smiled broadly. "Father," she said sweetly, as she went over to him.

His eyes widened in surprise when he saw her. "Mia, my sunshine. What brings you here?" He asked, surprise etched in his voice as she hugged him.

She pulled away, and pouted her lips. "What? Can't I come see my parents anymore? Is this no longer my house?" She asked him.

"No, no. Far from it, sunshine. This is your home. You're welcome anytime. I am just surprised. You've only been married for a few days," Jayden said, and turned to Alex. "Alex, is everything okay?" He asked him, and Alex nodded.

"Then, what brings you both here? It must be very urgent," Jayden said again.

Mia nodded. "Yes, father. We want to discuss with the cooks. A particular horseradish food was fed to every member of the pack before the red moon appeared," she explained.

Jayden was puzzled. "But the horseradish crusted beef tenderloins is a traditional food that the pack eats during festive times," he said.

"Yes, but this time, there was no festival due to the loss of our pack members, then, why was the dish served?" Mia asked him.

Jayden shrugged. "It's a tradition, Mia. Tradition of our pack," he explained and Alex wondered why he was getting defensive. "Anyways, I'll send for the cooks. You shall ask them all the questions you want," he added, and Mia nodded.

Jayden sent for the cooks and they stood in front Alex and Mia. "The dish prepared before the red moon appeared, what was in it?" Alex asked, directing his question to the three cooks in front of him.

"Uhm, horseradish condiments, spices and meat tenderloins," one of the cooks spoke.

"No added ingredients? Like a potion or something?" Mia asked.

They shook their head. "Not at all, princess. The ingredients mentioned are what was used in making the dish. We can show you them if you want," another replied, despite the fact that they were puzzled on why they were asked these kind of questions.

"It's okay," Mia said to them.

"I'll like to see them," Alex requested and they looked in his direction. He had a stoic look on his face. "Now," he ordered this time around.

"Immediately, alpha," they said, and led the way towards the kitchen. Alex, Mia, Jayden and Lauren followed them.

One of the cooks opened the pantry, and all of seasoning cups were arranged in an orderly line.

The cook, who opened the pantry began to identify each of the ingredients used in making the dish. As she pointed everything out, Alex picked each of the seasoning cups and perceived their smells to be sure that they were really good ingredients.

He had a heightened sense of smell and could determine when an ingredient was not right. When the horseradish condiments was brought down, Alex could feel that something was not right with it.

"Is everything okay?" Jayden asked him.

He nodded. "Do return the ingredients back in the pantry," he said to the cook who obeyed immediately.

Alex walked out of the pantry and Mia followed him. "Is everything okay? Did you detect something?" She asked him.

"No, I did not. It's getting late. We should be leaving now," he said, without turning back to look at him.

Jayden and Lauren walked out of the kitchen, and Mia turned to see them approaching. "Mother, father, we shall take our leave now," Mia announced to them.

"Why? You can stay for the night," Lauren suggested.

Mia shook her head. "We have so many things to do, mother. Maybe next time, when everything is settled," she assured her.

Lauren sighed, and kissed her head. "Bless you my child," she said, and Mia waved at her and Jayden, while Alex was already out the door without a goodbye to any of them.