Chapter 154 154.New war

Chapter 154 154.New war
Barric

Attune to every pack member, when the first change in the emotional temperature swept through the crowd, my wolf took notice.

Entering the building most were simply mildly curious. It’s been a long time since our meetings were more than shift changes and introductions to new juveniles entering the first stages of training.

As Ronan drops the bomb about the murders, the emotions in the room spike.

Anger.

Disgust.

Weariness.

Protectiveness.

They come at me from all sides.

Ronan continues. “Two days ago, another murder was reported to the Magnus Alpha. A murder that took place in Blackridge.”

The air becomes thick with indignation. All wolves recognize the disrespect and insult in having murder occur on their land.

It is a direct challenge to our pack, the town's guardians.

“Liam, Kade and I went to inspect the report and found an unknown male traveler in a state so ruined that if it hadn't been for the ID Liam found, he would have been nearly unidentifiable.”

“What do we know about it?” Sebastian asks without preamble.

“Thus far, only two things. The first is that whoever this is, is making it a point to have the murders seen. The number of humans stumbling upon unexplained bodies is growing. The second is that all the victims had recessive Sypher genes or human lineage.”

The mood darkens as our enforcers piece together the things that haven't been spoken out loud.

It doesn't take a genius to know that patterns like these are the best indicators of motivation.

“And all of the victims have been adults?” One enforcer asks.

“Yes. As of right now, nothing has happened inside of a packed territory merely along the bordering towns, but all of the shifters were adults and were traveling,” I say, stepping forward.

That doesn't mean they won't target pups if given the opportunity, my wolf correctly comments.

“There aren't many half shifters nor are there many ciphers. So my question is how is the person getting information on these people's lineage?” Dex points out.

“It's something we'd like to know as well.”

“Information like that used to be held in the council headquarters. It is possible someone copied it and took it before the attack,” Felix says.

“Very true,” Theo confirms. “Taking into consideration the way the council dedicated the extent of their rule into keeping the two species apart, and their hate for Syphers it's not a stretch to think there are some out there that still agree with them.”

“Enough to go on a killing spree?” A young enforcer asked.

“There have been weirder things that have happened,” Kade says.

Liam steers the conversation back to the agenda for the meeting. “Regardless of the motivation, our primary concern at this moment is to secure the pack. The killer has been close to our lands and as we don't know who it is, it is even more important to lock down any access points.”

There are nods of agreement all around.

“As such, we are activating emergency protocols.” I say. “ No one is to leave pack territory alone and all runs need to happen in the South and east of the land before sundown where there is more visibility.”

“And our patrol shifts? Dex asks, leaning in closely to Felix.

“We're going to increase them and switch up the routes in case anyone is watching. We're also going to assign two enforcers to the guardians to help guard the pups.”

“What should we tell the rest of the pack?”

“We'll be having a meeting with the entire team later tonight,” Ronan says, “I felt that it would be best to let all of you know as soon as possible so that we can transition into higher security smoothly.”

“All of you come and line up so you can get your assignments for the next month,” I call out.

One by one the enforcers come and take a schedule. I've spent all night drafting for them.

“I'd like to volunteer to take the first first month's shifts with the guardians,” Felix says.

I had expected this.

Felix has been an integral part of the child caring and rearing. So much so that he has been named The godfather not only to our pup, but Liam's and Quinnie’s as well.

The tech genius may look small and dainty. He's not a blood and a fierce protectiveness that makes him dangerous in the best ways.

My wolf gives an approving nod.

Dex comes right up beside him. “I'd like to take the second spot.”

I smirk at Dex, remembering how not too long ago he practically ran from Felix's attention.

“I figured you'd two would be the first to volunteer for the position,’’ I see with a self-satisfied smirk.

“Whatever so you guessed correctly would be for you,” Felix snarks good-naturedly.

“Seriously though there is no one I'd rather have watching our pups,”

Felix gives me a grateful nod before walking away.

“That went better than I thought it would,” Kade says saddling up beside me.

“Don't jinx us.”

“Barric’s right. The enforcers are trained to handle high pressure situations. The rest of the pack isn't. It's going to be more important than ever to do everything we can to keep them calm.” Ronan says.

Kade's pitch’s his voice low so that his words travel between me and Ronan alone.

“Do you think there's any merit in what Felix said?”

“Of course I do. It's Felix we're talking about after all,” I say bluntly.

I just don't know how I feel about the information itself.

Did we overlook something in our panic to eviscerate the council?

Are there people who slipped away without our notice?

Of course there was, my wolf said. It was a war. Not everyone can be accounted for.

But how did we not notice the missing information?

Why are you asking me? I know nothing of why those records exist in the first place. You can simply scent you kin.

I roll my eyes at my wolf but can't deny that he has a point.

“If whoever is behind this does have records then we can assume there is an end point. All of the new births won't be accounted for,” Kade says.

“Yes but if he has the names of the parents, finding their families wouldn't be too hard a task, I remind him.

“But why kill them? What does it prove?” Theo says as he comes to join us.

“I don't think it needs to prove anything. People like that, who want to hurt and maim, will find anything to justify their actions.”

Later that night, as we fill the pack in on the news of the murders and the added security measures. The response is more or less what I expect.

Fear, upset, a need to defend.

By the time I address all the concerns of various people in our pack I'm exhausted.

I head back to our den ready to spend some much needed time with my band.

The smell of my family hits me harder than any scent could. Instantly, every muscle in my back relaxes with the reassurance that everyone is safe.

Everyone is here.

“Paì!” Low squeals running towards me.

His mop of dark curls bounce with the movement and I open my arms for him. He slams into me without restraint.

“Hey sweet boy. How was your day?”

I kick the door closed behind me and step inside.

“It was great!” He says cheerfully as Aria says, “He made a mini tornado in the art classroom, all the constipation paper was everywhere.”

Low giggled. “Everyone likes the colors.”

“I'm sure they do, but try not give msm Mabel extra work okay,”

“Okay,” he says in a voice that lets me know he's only half listening.

Low jumps out of my arms and runs to his toys on the living room floor and I shake my head.

Aria, Kade, and Ronan are all lounging on the sofa and I go to join them.

I bend to kiss Aria and our developing pup

“Where's my kiss?” Theo teases.

Without thinking, I kiss his forehead and an odd sense of warmth flutters down our bond.

The sensation takes me by surprise and from the identical surprised emotions coming from Kade and Ronan’s threads I can tell they feel the same.

As a bond we’ve become more affectionate than friends but not as affectionate as lovers. We exist in that space in-between.

Intimacy without lust.

Physicality without sensuality.

But this, this small show of affection is right, some part of me realizes

Just as I realize that I now belong to each and everyone one of my bands just as they belong to me.

I take my seat amongst them and Ronan runs his hand through, my hair in a soothing gesture.

Hands, legs and arms all wrap and intertwine with each other until we are a never ending chain of interlocked limbs.

Until our bond hums with reassurance and satisfaction.

Still in the back of my mind, I can't shake the feeling that a countdown has started.

And all that we built is about to be put to the test.