Chapter 9 CHAPTER NINE
CAIUS
"You're back early." Clayton says with a smile before he takes a good look at my face.
"What happened?" He asks again, more seriously.
"Not here," I say through the mind link, shaking my head.
The ears of the wolves around us are perked up and they're ready to listen in on the conversation. We walk to my office together and I lock the door.
"Did anything happen to Maeva?" He asks.
"No, nothing happened to Maeva. I got to her pack and the scent of rogues and decaying animals was so strong, I had to follow the scent to the Black Forest. I got there and everything was quiet.
"So what happened?"
"Maeva and some of her pack fighters came to look around the forest and while we were talking, rogues attacked. Maeva shot one of the rogues with a silver bullet and nothing happened to it."
Clayton's eyes widens and his mouth opens. "What do you mean, nothing happened to it?"
"It shifted, dug into it's body, pulled the bullet out and continued running towards us."
"That's bullshit, silver weakens werewolves, especially rogues. Silver fences became a thing because of rogues."
"Not these rogues." I say.
My mind is spinning, thinking of things to do and other ways we can kill these beasts but nothing comes to mind yet.
"So what do we do?" He asks.
"I don't know yet. For now, I'm going to inform the council about the new development and see what they figure out."
"Do you think they'll help?"
"Fuck no, but they need to be aware of what's going on."
"Alright, I'll get Alpha Brent on the line."
He pulls his cellphone out and calls Alpha Brent. He hands me the phone and excuses himself.
"This is not a good time Caius," he says immediately he answers.
"It can't wait. It's important."
He sighs loudly and clears his throat. "What happened?"
"Silver bullets don't work on the rogues and they can half shift."
There's a moment of silence and I hear shuffling in the background then a door opens and closes and he walks a few feet before another door opens and closes.
"You have guns." He simply says.
"A rogue was shot with a silver bullet and he shifted and dug it out of his body like it was a thorn and continued his attack."
"Shit. What kind of spell was used to make a werewolf impervious to silver?"
"I don't know. I just thought to bring it to your notice."
"Fuck! What do you want me to say to the council Caius? How will I bring this up?"
"You simply tell them I shot a rogue and he dug the bullet out."
He sighs then paces before he finally stops. "We're getting ready to go to the witches council. Meet us there, I think they should hear this directly from you."
"Witches don't let werewolves into their towns and cities."
"Which is why we have permission. We'll wait for you, run as fast as you can."
"Alright. I'll be there."
I end the call and find Clayton outside, talking to some of the pack members. I shift and start running.
"I have to go meet the council. They're going to see the witches and Brent thinks I should be there." I tell him through the mind link.
"Alright, keep me informed."
After the war, paranormal beings came out of the forests they live in and filled human towns and cities. Shifters took a portion, witches took a portion and vampires took a portion. The Witches took the most shielded region, a place that feels ancient and powerful. Every time I come close to their territory, I feel raw energy and power coursing through my veins. It's exhilarating.
When I find Brent and the other Alpha's who don't look happy to see me, Alpha Brent is leaning on a car and he's the only one smiling. Alpha Haze sneers at me and Alpha Hill is looking everywhere but at me.
"We asked you to join the council, Alpha Caius and you refused. Why do you continue to butt into council business?" Alpha Haze says.
"You wasted your time coming here, witches don't allow more than three wolves into their territory at a time." Alpha Hill adds.
"It's fine, Caius can take my place. He has something important to add to the discussion." Alpha Brent says.
Alpha Hill and Alpha Haze both turn to look at Alpha Brent and he shrugs.
"Go on, I'll wait here."
The other two have no other option than to listen to him. Alpha Hill throws the key to the car to me and sits in the passenger seat.
"I don't drive." I say, throwing the key to Alpha Haze.
I only learnt how to drive so I would never be stuck in a situation that needed me to drive and I couldn't do it.
The two Alphas grumble before Alpha Haze enters the drivers seat. I say goodbye to Alpha Brent and join them in the car.
We are ushered into a massive, dim hall. Three old witches and four wizards sit around a huge, carved oak table. The silence of the hall is broken by our footsteps as we stand in front of the council.
Alpha Hill is the first to speak. "Esteemed Council, we requested this audience with you because something unprecedented is happening."
The head Witch looks at the other members of her council and nods for him to continue.
"Rogues are beginning to run amok…"
"You requested an audience with witches to talk about Rogues?" She says, shutting Alpha Hill up.
The rest of the Witches council start laughing and I step forward.
"We did." I say, raising my voice above their laughter. "We have reason to believe that very dark magic is at play here."
That shuts them up and I continue.
"The rogues have organised thoughts. They now work together in numbers as large as forty, can half shift and they are impervious to silver bullets."
Alpha Haze and Alpha Hill do a good job of concealing their surprise and anger.
"That's impossible," the head witch says.
"We thought so too," Alpha Hill adds, walking to the table.
"This is the heart of one of the rogues. We preserved it and brought it as proof."
I'm impressed that they thought about doing that. The witches pass the heart around and whisper amongst themselves.
"This is indeed the work of a witch," the head witch starts. "Unfortunately, we cannot help you. Magic like this was abolished years ago and all those who practice it were cast out."
"So there's no way to find out whose spell it is?" I ask.
"I've told you all that I can."
So in summary, they might have an idea who did it but they won't say anything to us because this case to them, is now witch business. In the meantime, those rogues are camped near my mate.
I'll be damned if I give up.