Chapter 25

"What is it?" Mia asked, walking closer to him.

"Remember when I said it was possible the foods were poisoned?" He asked her.

She nodded. "Yes, I do," she replied.

"I believe I'm right," he said, and she stared at him with a puzzled look.

"If the foods were poisoned, how did the wolves end up being slaughtered on the altar?" She asked him.

He mentally slapped his head. "I do not mean that kind of poison that kills. I'm talking about something powerful enough to induce sleep in someone," he replied.

"Oh," she exclaimed in realization. "I believe the terms is herbs. There are some herbs that can knock someone out," she said.

"Yes, that. We'll need an expert in herbs to determine which herb was added in making the horseradish crusted beef tenderloins," he replied.

She nodded. "And we'll take the spices along too," Mia suggested and he agreed with her. "But, where do we find a great medicine man?" She asked, looking deep in thought.

"Leave it to me. I'll send some gammas to search around the kingdom. We'll definitely find one," he answered her question.

"Alright," she replied, and he turned away, walking out of the pack house. Mia watched him leave and she contemplated on what he told her. Who would want to drug the wolves? Did the Diamond Shadow pack and the Crystal Moon pack have other external enemies, or was this the work of an insider? She pondered deeply, and she heaved a sigh when she could not find an answer to her numerous questions.

•

Alex got outside the pack house and gathered some of the gammas. "I have a task for you all," he announced, and they waited for him to tell them what he wanted them to do. "You all are to spread around the kingdom in search of the greatest medicine man in the land, and report back to him, immediately," he said to them, and they nodded.

"I should be expecting feedback in two days or less. Is that possible?" He asked.

"Yes, alpha. Be rest assured that we'll bring you information as quickly as possible," the Chief gamma, Reynold assured Alex.

"Great. You may all leave now, and begin the search," he said, and they bowed their head in respect, and dismissed.

Alex exhaled as he tucked his hands in his pockets and watched them leave. He turned away, and headed towards the stables with the hope that a ride would give him a calm mind to think about everything that was happening.

He got into the stables, and picked his favorite horse, Lightning. Holding the reins of his horse, he pulled him out, and ruffled his ears. "Hey, boy. How's it going?" He asked and Lightning snorted, and rubbed his nostrils on Alex's face. Alex chuckled. "You sure are doing great," he said again.

Lightning had a way of keeping him calm. Aside Hendrix, this was the one beast he was comfortable with. He was just not his favorite horse, but his friend.

"Let's go for a ride now, shall we?" He asked him, and Lightning snorted, and neighed.

As he turned to Lightning's side to mount him, Mia walked into the stables. "Hey, what are you doing?" She asked as she saw him.

He stared at her, and inhaled. It was high time he placed her in her place, but instead of speaking, he mounted his horse, and held the reins.

"Are you going horse riding? I was actually having the same thought. Should I join you?" She asked with a smile.

"There is something you should know, Mia Jayden," he said, and Mia nodded.

"Do tell me," she said with a smile.

"We have no business together whenever we're not on a trip to find the solution to the problems going on in our packs. Do not speak to me unless I talk to you about the issues around this mystery," he finally spoke what was in his mind, and Mia stared at him, dumbfounded by his words. "Understood?" He asked, and she was too stupefied to speak.

He swung the reins of his horse, and galloped out of the stables. She watched him leave, and that was when she pulled out from her trance. "I should not speak to you unless it's about business? Uh," she scoffed, as she turned around. "You really do not know me, Alex. I talk whenever I want to talk, and you will not stop me from talking to you. Not now, not ever," she huffed.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Mera! Mera!" Mia called out as she walked into the pack house.

Mera walked out of the kitchen into the living room in a haste. "Luna, is everything alright?" She asked in puzzlement.

Mia grinned as she walked closer to her. She held her hands. "I got an idea. It's so boring in here. Let's go to the forest, hunt and take a swim in the down lake," she said to her.

"But, Luna, are you completely healed?" Mera asked her.

Mia waved it aside. "Oh, please. I am completely fine, Mera. Will you come with me?" She asked her.

"Sure, Luna. But first, let's have lunch. All those fun will get us hungry," Mera suggested.

"Great idea. We should also pack a picnic basket. We'll need it," Mia said grinning sheepishly.

"Alright. Let me go arrange," Mera replied, returning her smile.

"I'll come with you," Mia said, smiling.

"Alright," with that said, Mera turned around and walked back to the kitchen with Mia following her.

•

Mera and Mia sat on a blue polka dot blanket in front of the lake. The picnic basket, and food was spread in between them. Mia picked up an apple and munched on it. "You know, how do you all cope with your cold alpha? He's so silent, never saying much words. Who in hell behaves like that?" She vented out her frustration.

Mera chuckled. "He has always been that way since I was a child. He never smiled, he never frowned, and he never portrayed any emotions," she explained.

Mia sighed as she leaned back on the blanket. "But, why? No one should be this way," she said with a sigh again as she continued. "I do not think he's happy, but Hendrix said he is," she closed her eyes envisioning Alex's eyes. "He has the warmest green eyes, and yet the coldest expression. It should not be so," she sighed.

"Hendrix knows him better, Luna. They have been best of friends since childhood. Everybody knows, the beta is the only one person, the alpha would really interact with," Mera explained as she picked up an apple too.

"I just want him to look genuinely happy. I am sure he does not see rainbows everywhere he goes, but dark clouds. It should not be that way," Mia said, looking far into the lake.

Mera smiled. "This is the first time I'm seeing someone care so much for the alpha aside from Hendrix. Do you love him?" She asked, and the question took Mia aback, as she looked at Mera.

"Let's get into the lake now that the water is still warm," she said with a smile as she changed topic. She stood up on her feet, and ran over to the lake and Mera followed her, laughing. They played in the water, but, Mia did not forget what Mera said to her. Was it not too early to say she was in love? She wondered.