Chapter 17 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
MAEVA
I'm scared. It's been three days since my last meeting with Caius and he has not said anything. Some people might mistake his silence for acceptance but not me. I feel like I know him better because of the bond.
Even worse than Caius's silence are the visitors I will get this morning. The Alpha's are coming so we can clear the forest of the rogues. The rogues attacked Alpha James's pack last night and six of his pack members were killed before they left.
They weren't chased off, they attacked, killed 6 pack members and retreated on their own. No one understands how they can think like this or what their aim is but we need the forest to be free of them. Alpha James couldn't go after them because the forest is dark and uncharted on that end. It was the safest end because even rogues refused to live there. That's one more thing that has changed about them.
I get ready and meet my pack warriors and fighters and Grant. He volunteered to come along and by pack laws, I can't refuse someone who volunteers to fight for the pack. Thankfully he makes sure to stay very far away from me.
Together, we march to the black forest. The others are already there when we arrive and Alpha Kol wastes no time in addressing everyone.
"Thank you for honoring this invitation to come save our respective packs. The council says we should avoid them and if we must fight them, we should capture them and make sure they don't die. Have you ever heard anything more preposterous?" He asks and everyone replies.
Unfortunately, I agree with Alpha Kol. These monsters should be met head on before they grow.
"We will not rest until we have combed every inch of this forest and have found their den. If any group finds them first, your Alpha will know what to do." Alpha Kol continues
"Marcel, I hope your Alpha will not be a problem?" Alpha James asks.
Marcel smirks and shakes his head. "He has no idea about this plan."
He didn't tell Caius about this? Is he stupid or does he really believe that Caius will remain clueless for long.
"Good, you know he is basically a council member and he was here a few days ago, sniffing around." Alpha Luca adds.
"Enough of that. Let's split up and start the search. Alpha Mage and Alpha Luca, you can take that way." He says pointing to his right. Alpha Kol starts again.
"Alpha James and Marcel, you take the left and Alpha Maeva and I will take the middle. Remember what we agreed the signal will be."
Everyone nods and they start moving with their people. Being grouped with Alpha Kol makes me uncomfortable. I'll prefer any other one of them to Alpha Kol.
Once the other groups clear out, Alpha Kol summons his trackers and sends them off first before the rest of his fighters. The trackers shift and take off and mine follow behind them. I start moving on foot and my pack members follow, leaving Alpha Kol behind.
"Something is fishy about this pairing." Taron says through the mind link.
He noticed it too. Alpha Kol is not outright with his dislike of me but I feel it. Lately, he has been too nice and it makes me uncomfortable.
"Let's watch and see what he's up to. He'll reveal himself soon." I reply and continue walking.
We search the forest for an hour with no success when the first tracker comes back. He's one of mine and he doesn't look good when he shifts. He looks scared.
"Alpha Maeva, Alpha Kol, we've searched everywhere we can and there are no signs that rogues have ever been here?"
"What? What nonsense are you talking about? Where are my people? Alpha Maeva…"
"Stop talking Alpha Kol." I say then turn to the tracker. "Did you search deep enough?"
"We went as far as Alpha James's territory. We didn't see or smell anything."
The other trackers start coming back and Alpha Kol walks forward to talk to his people. This is getting worse by the day. Are the council right? Do we need to steer clear of these rogues until we have to?
Alpha Kol returns with a worried look on his face. "I just spoke to Alpha James and Alpha Luca. Their trackers are reporting the same thing. The rogues are not in this forest."
Murmurs start in the crowd and everyone starts moving apprehensively.
"How do rogues disappear from a forest overnight without any trace?" Grant starts.
Everyone around agrees with him and I bend my head to think. Something is definitely wrong here. Damn it, Caius wanted to tell me something new he found out about them the day he came here. Maybe that information would have helped me understand what is going on here.
I look up to see Grant talking to Alpha Kol in hushed voices. I march up to them and they stop talking.
"Grant, join the rest of the pack, we're going home."
He smiles at me but doesn't move. "Alpha, I was just discussing with…"
"That wasn't a suggestion," I say using my Alpha voice on him.
He straightens and walks away immediately. I turn to Alpha Kol and he's smiling at me.
"You're a beauty to watch, Alpha Maeva." He says, shocking me.
I look at him in disgust and clear my throat. "I would appreciate it if you didn't speak with my pack members like that again. It raises suspicion."
"Let's get out of here." I tell Taron through the mind link, already walking away.
Alpha Kol pulls me back. "Let them go, I have something important to say to you."
I nod and wait behind while my pack members and his start moving. Some shift while others start running in their human form. Once everyone leaves, I turn to Alpha Kol.
"What is it?" I ask.
He smiles and exhales. "As you know, I lost my mate years ago."
I know that. His mate was one of the casualties of the war. A vampire bit her. What I don't understand is why he's telling me this.
"Since you're unmated and unlikely to find a mate soon…"
My dinner comes up and lodges in my throat. He's not about to say what I think he wants to say is he? Even if I wanted to choose a mate, I wouldn't choose one that was at least eighty years older than me.
"What's your answer then?" My answer? I couldn't listen to your question.
"Maeva, where are you? Something huge just happened?" Taron says through the mind link, saving me from having to reply.
"What? Are the rogues back?"
"No, I just got word from the pack. The werewolf council has summoned you."
"Just me or all the Alpha's?"
"Just you."
The werewolf council doesn't bother with me. They leave me alone and I leave them alone. For them to invite just me, it can only mean one thing.
Caius is done being silent.