Chapter 27 Chapter 27

Chapter 27 Chapter 27
Dominic was actually relaxing for once, it seamed like the past two years had been non stop, he had formed more alliances and officiated more treaties than he thought possible and it had cost him, his Mate had become distant, he was sleeping in his office, just a year ago, he and Valaria were talking about having children, now he couldn’t even remember the last time they slept in the same room.

“Dom, we need to talk.” Valaria said from the doorway to his office, she still had that amazing glow to her, the olive skin and black hair, the scent of honey; it was enough to awaken Dominic’s Wolf who began clawing at him to touch her.

“Hey, yeah, come in.” he gestured to the armchair that she basically claimed as hers when they first mated.

“I know that things have been hard lately, and the Pack is growing faster than either of us could imagine, but.”

Dominic interrupted, “But we need time for us.”

Even after the distance and arguments they both still loved each other so deeply, their bond was so strong they could still feel each others emotions, neither one of them was happy about what was going on, and they just wanted to stop and be with each other, forget everything else around them and be Mates, they also knew, that wouldn’t happen while they were the Alpha couple of a cross species Pack.

Dominic’s phone rang and Valaria saw that it was Stacy, “You need to take it.”

“You feel it too then.”

Valaria nodded, “It’s important.”

“Stacy, what’s up?” Dominic said as he placed the phone on loudspeaker.

“Hey, meet me at Predtech, and bring the Kitsune, she might have answers we need to solve Marie’s murder.”

The cell phone beeped as the call ended and Val looked to Dominic with a smile, “Did your Beta just give you an order?”

Maybe she should take over.” Dominic replied in jest.

“Mind if I come with you?” Valaria asked as Dominic stood and buttoned his suit jacket.

He smiled at his Mate, “of course, you are my Mate and an Alpha,”

Valaria smiled in return and jumped up from her seat placing a kiss on his stubbled chin.

“I’ll get Okimi and meet you in the driveway.”

Valaria made her way to the SUV and sat in the drivers seat, she adjusted the seat and mirrors before starting the engine, when she looked up Dominic and Okimi were walking towards her.

Dominic opened the passenger door and sat down, he smiled at Valaria as he buckled his seatbelt; Okimi slid into the back seat and buckled herself in behind Valaria.

“So, where are we going?” Okimi asked brushing a few stray strands out of her face.

“Predtech, My Beta has found some information and wants us there to talk, I think she needs you there because of your extensive knowledge of the mutated species.” Valaria listened as her Mate spoke, she loved hearing his voice, it had a slight gravel to it but nearly always sounded soft and sympathetic.

Okimi nodded and replied, “Ok, I will help anyway I can.”

Valaria pulled the shifter into drive and took off towards the town centre complex, due to the time of day the roads were pretty clear, the odd person on their home commute and a few taxies taking people here and there, they pulled up outside Predtech where Stacy was stood waiting.

“Hey, c’mon, Valor, Kyle and Grace are already here.” Stacy blurted out as she walked towards the building.

Dominic cleared his throat and said, “Excuse me, aren’t you forgetting something?” His voice had a dominant bite to it.

Stacy stopped dead in her tracks and pulled an about turn, her head dropped as she realised her mistake, “I’m sorry boss, I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

“You summoned us here as though I was nothing but an employee, I have always said that you are my equal, but I am still your Alpha.” his dominant vibes were emanating in waves and Stacy was struggling to fight against them.

“I, I am so sorry, I….”

“It’s ok Stacy, just remember we work together.” Dominic’s voice reverted to its sympathetic tenor and the group made their way into the building.

“So as you know I have been looking into the death of Marie,” Stacy said as she led the group to the elevator and pressed the button for the basement, “I had a chance to speak to one of our Bear-shifter friends, she believes that our new Kitsune may have some answers for us,” Stacy chanced a glance in Okimi’s direction before continuing, “She believes we are dealing with quite an ancient foe, one that literally feeds on strife and chaos.”

The elevator doors opened and Dominic stepped out and turned to face Stacy, “What is it?”

One simple word was uttered, but it did not come from Stacy, Okimi didn’t mean to speak the word it just slipped out as she realised what the Hellhound was talking about, “Nogitsune.”

Dominic switched his glance to Okimi and back to Stacy who nodded regrettably.

“And what the hell is a Nogitsune?” Valaria asked stepping off of the elevator.

“It’s a vile perversion of my species,” Okimi added, “A Kitsune that has done so much evil…”

“That it becomes evil.” Stacy finished the sentence for her as Stacy could feel the anguish in Okimi’s very being, “It’s sole purpose is to cause mayhem and destruction, particularly to the lives of ones that have been cursed.”

The group made their way to Grace’s lab, as they entered Valaria asked the question that everyone was thinking, “Cursed by whom?”

Stacy turned and her face dropped, “I have two theories about that, either Lucifer…”

“Or William,” Dominic interrupted unapologetically.

Stacy nodded again, and looked to Okimi.

The Kitsune knew what she was being asked, “The one who died, Marie? Her heart will be marked, a symbol, that will lead us to the one who has cursed the Pack.”

“I think I can help with that,” Grace offered as she entered the lab with what looked like a stainless steel sandwich box that she placed on one of the surgical tables.

“What’s in the box Doc?” Stacy asked a little too half-heartedly.

“Marie’s heart.” Stacy’s stomach sank as soon as the words left Grace’s lips, “There is a mark, and I think you will recognise it.”

Stacy, Dominic and Valaria all hovered their heads above the steel container and peered inside, each of them hoping they would see a symbol they didn’t recognise, as the fates would have it, they all recognised this symbol, they had been living with it above their heads for nearly two years, it was a slightly crude but accurate version of the Westingdale crest.

“Well Fuck!” Valaria exclaimed with a sigh, she looked to Dominic and then to Stacy, they both hugged her in their own particular way, Stacy wrapped her arms around the female Alpha and pressed her head against Valaria’s chest, while Dominic wrapped an arm around her waist and rested his head on top of his mates.

“We’ll get him my love, I promise you that.” Dominic uttered with his eyes flashing Wolf.

“Yeah, we’ll get him.” Stacy parroted as her own eyes caught ablaze and her body began to heat, so much so that Valaria stepped back and placed a hand on the young Hellhound’s shoulder.

“Calm, we will, but you don’t need to flame on in the lab.” She said it with a smile, a smile that always helped to calm Stacy, even when Mal died it worked.

Okimi and Grace were still investigating the heart trying to discern some sort of clue as to the whereabouts of the killer, or maybe they were just trying to stay out of the way, clearly these Alphas and their Beta were close on a level that Okimi couldn’t understand, she had been alone for so long, how could she understand a loving Pack dynamic?

“Stacy, I know you are going to hate me saying this but take a day, I’ll get in contact with Wendy see if she knows anyone who might be capable of performing the summoning spell, until then, there is nothing we can do.” Dominic spoke softly but as always is voice carried.

Stacy nodded, she knew that there was nothing to do but wait for answers, she just hated waiting, then the thought of Del and Kyle entered her mind, she could spend some real time with them, and not just in the bedroom, “Ok, but I want to go to Riverside, with Del and Kyle, he still needs some training and I think she could use some hand to hand work.”

Dominic nodded and watched Stacy leave the room, he watched as his Beta the woman that he knew would one day become the Alpha of this pack began her new life, she had found what she needed to become the woman that the Pack needed her to be, but would she become that person in time?