Chapter 77 Chapter 77
~ MASON ~
"Good morning." I planted a soft kiss on Crystal's forehead and grabbed my coat.
"Good morning." Her voice was cold as she wore her scrubs over her, ready to leave without another word.
"Wait. What's with that attitude?" I squinted my eyes at her.
"What attitude?" She asked with a frown.
"That one. What's wrong?" I dropped my coat, paying closer attention to her.
"Of course, there's nothing wrong. Do you see anything wrong? No, then let me be." She wanted to leave but I still held her.
"You have to tell me what's up with you."
"Let me be, I have to head to work." She yanked her hand from my grip and took her leave without another word.
"Did I do something wrong and don't remember? Why'd she suddenly be grumpy?" I asked myself.
I was starting to get bothered over her attitude then remembered that she was pregnant, so these pregnancy mood swings were supposed to be expected. "Jeez. I'll give her time to calm down." I grabbed my coat again and wore it over my shirt.
'Good day, Alpha. When are the both of you returning? 'I mind linked him.
'Soon.'
'Please when exactly do you mean by soon?' I was desperate for him to return. "The workload on Beta Scarlett and me is just too weighty. I have to spend extra night time working on both paperwork and physical activities. I know these are my duties when you're not around, but I'd really appreciate it if you could return sooner. I know you want to spend time with Jane, but I'm not able to spend time with Crystal because I have to work so much.' I tried to make him understand.
'Fine, we'll be heading back tomorrow or the day after.'
'If it could be tomorrow, I'd appreciate it.' Was I pushing him too much? I knew he was the Alpha, but he couldn't leave his responsibilities for so long.
'Okay, it will be, so you don't remain on my neck. Is there anything I need to know before ending?"
'Yes, I'll just need to confirm from Beta.' I paused and linked Scarlett to the ongoing link. 'Good day, Beta Scarlett.'
'Do you need anything?' she sounded as grumpy as she had been sounding lately.
'Yes please, are there any new transactions or business arrangements with any pack recently?"
'No, there aren't. And if there are, I don't exactly have to let you know, because I'm the beta and I'll know what is best for the pack.'
'I didn't argue about that.' I was so puzzled.
'What the heck is wrong with her?' my wolf said to me and rolled his eyes.
"I guess it's one of those moments where everything frustrates you.' Alpha Keegan said jokingly.
'Alpha? Shit, I didn't focus enough to know you're in the link. Good day. However, I just remembered that a new pack wants to form an alliance with us. They just officially became a pack and are really scared to be on their own. I can see great potential in them and they have a few gifted members with supernatural abilities like vision telling. One of them can determine the solution to a problem when she receives a special type of apple. I think some of them are from the descendants of the witches.'
'It sounds like they'd be a great help addressing issues in the pack, especially in helping us find the Ardolfs and also something about Vladimir!' I exclaimed.
'I think it's best if you let the Alpha decide, Gamma Mason.' Her tone was so callous, I had to wonder if I killed someone she cared about recently, because it made no sense.
'I'll review it when I return.' He simply replied.
'And when is that?' her tone was gentle towards him.
'According to Mason, tomorrow.'
'Great!'
I ended the link from her end.
'Mason, you have to be careful when speaking about Vladimir with Scarlett. I know she's the Beta and all, but her crazy friendship with Vladimir as children still blinds her brain since she hadn't grown up yet, so of course, she must think of her past with him from the perspective of the good memories they shared. I'm not saying we can't trust her, I just mean we should be careful.'
'Understood. I'll definitely be careful with it.'
'Oh yeah, any news from the diamond pack?'
'No, not at all I was wondering why they haven't completed the deal or done any transactions, I'll speak to their Alpha.'
'Great job, as always.'
"Thank you.' A proud smile formed on my face.
'Okay, bye. I have to attend to Jane.' He ended the link.
Did he just call her Jane and not omega or was I hearing things? I really wondered what they were up to being alone in such a far place.
It was time for lunch, which was going to serve as my breakfast because I had been stuck with my fingers buried in sorting out so much paperwork.
There were a few financial transactions to deal with which required Mae's help but that naughty stubborn woman was nowhere to be seen. She had better not be casting off her work for one of these short term feelings she always had for different men.
I was almost half done so I dropped the laptop and headed to the kitchen to take a quick cup of coffee and since there wasn't lunch prepared yet, I made microwave noodles and ate it as quickly as I could.
I had been trying to reach out to Crystal through mind link and phone but she wasn't letting me mind link her and neither was she answering my calls. Did her attitude really stay this long or was there something else to it? I wondered and left the kitchen.
On my way back to my office, I spotted Kate and Vladimir in one of the hallways. I stood from the wall by the corner and glanced at them.
I was too far from them to hear what she was saying through gritted teeth but she sounded very mad. If only I had Alpha Keegan's hearing sensitivity, I could hear them. I was still trying to understand what was going on when she raised her hand and hit Vladimir in the face really hard then stormed away in the other direction from the one I stood.
Vladimir held his face then a smirk slowly crawled up to his face then he chuckled before bursting into laughter. I was wondering what the hell got into him because his laughter was growing maniacally when all of a sudden, he stopped and seemed lost in his thoughts. Judging from the way he was staring, it was clear that he was being mind-linked or was mind- linking someone.
After a while, Vladimir let out a harsh breath then I scooted behind the wall so he didn't see me. When he left through the other end of the hallway, I stealthily followed him, making sure I was very unnoticed- which was something I was great at doing.
He left the pack house and started heading to the backyard, I still followed him, hiding as much as possible. He came to a halt and I quickly hid behind a tree, peeking through the tiny hole between two of its large leaves. He stared around and obviously didn't notice me then switched to his tall black wolf form and started running towards the forest.
I knew he was going to be faster than me and in order to not lose track, I quickly switched as well and started running towards him, trying to make sure my wolf's feet didn't land on the ground in a heavy thump but as light as a feather, so my footsteps couldn't be heard. Whenever he tried to glance backwards or I thought he did, I'd quickly squeeze to hide behind something, completely unnoticeable.
After a while of running and hiding and trying to catch up with him, he finally stopped then switched back to his human form. I hid behind a very fat tree to switch back as well and wore a sweatpants from the tree bark.
I tiptoed to a closer tree to pay attention to him. He was also in sweatpants and was just staring impatiently and groaning at short intervals.
I moved to a tree even closer and peeked through it when a way-too-familiar man suddenly walked out of nowhere explicable. He looked middle aged and had coffee brown hair with a few gray hair highlights and light hazel eyes that looked like I had seen before. He looked well-built for his age, really muscular, and his expression and aura had a grouchy atmosphere.
As I leaned in closer, Vladimir said, "Hey father." I knew he was familiar! He was Stefan Gray, Vladimir and Alpha Keegan's father. Why was he here? In our pack? How could anyone let him in? What could Vladimir want to do with him in Dark Stone pack? I knew Vladimir was always suspicious from the start.
"And what's the progress?" Stefan asked.
"I found her."
"Really!" He raised his brows in disbelief. "Yes, she's just the perfect fit. She is one with a gift that's really locked up to the point that it made her tagged as cursed." He locked his hands behind him.
"Who's she now?" he asked, peering with closer attention.
"She's Jane. And yes, she's just the one you are looking for."
"Jane," he repeated.
"She's currently an omega here," he added.
"That's great information! I never thought we could find her. I knew I could always trust you, son. I'm proud of you." He patted his shoulder with a smirk of victory dancing on his lips. "We shouldn't be seen together here. Leave, I'll get back to you when you return to Night Shadow. I have the information I need for now."