71

71

Killian's POV

"These bodies may not be from this pack. The rogues wouldn't want to trespass just yet," the doctor said, picking up his glasses from the table and reaching for the results from the autopsy he had conducted the previous day.

"Are you implying that none of the bodies discovered are those of our pack members? Since trespassing is one of the rogues' signatures, how can I be certain that this is not one of their espionage plots against---my pack!? Using all of my strength and some tense muscles, I focused on the final two words.

The rogues' invasion of my pack was not something I welcomed at all and with each second that passes in the discussion of the matter, my anger boils over. I looked at my beta and back at the doctor and their faces wore this kind of calm that made it seem I was reacting unnecessarily.

"The rogues are a clever sect that would never move without a well-considered position, as I have stated, Killian. He said sardonically, "This is an experiment, and there is usually a desired outcome with any experiment."

"How come you know so much about these rogues?" I asked curiously, my gaze piercing into his with its full weight.

"I have handled a lot of cases like this in the past and on all of those occasions, one thing remained constant in the approach," he demonstrated with his hands as he spoke.

"What is that one thing that remains constant? I would appreciate it if you walked me through the process, I need to know what we are up against," I demanded from him, not with an authoritative tone this time, but with a measure of pleading undertoned in my voice.

He didn’t hesitate to launch into a thorough and sincere explanation. That is one of rue reasons I have not brought into any other doctor to work in the park because I can't seem to get enough of this loyalty he gives to not just me but the pack at large.

"Here's how it is done. The rogues pick up individuals that are not wolves at all from a faraway place and inject into them their experiment liquid which they believe would transform the ordinary man into a werewolf within hours," he paused to see if I was following up on the conversation with me.

I nodded my head in acknowledgement of what he had said as I maintained eye contact with him. The screeching sound of a chair being drawn back harassed the atmosphere with its crude sound as my beta stood up from his seat and began to walk towards the door that led to the laboratory.

Pressed closely to his left ear was his phone, he spoke into the phone and continued to pace and walk around as he spoke. Although I was actively listening to the explanations that the pack doctor was giving to me, some waves from what he discussed with the caller could be heard. I knew the doctor couldn't hear it but I could because of my Alpha's ability to pick up things from a distance.

"My fear, however, is that the rogues may change their manner of approach and begin to haunt down normal werewolves so they could propagate their army, that means---"

"We would need to outsmart their wits and strike before they do," I chipped in with my hand resting on my chin as I stroked my beard carefully like one who was deep in thought. "We can also make an antidote beforehand, in case they go through with their poisoned arrows fired into our bosom, we can always eject it and still remain alive," I concluded, my legs still crossed casually as I spoke.

"Ensure more soldiers are placed on the perimeter and forests," I said to my beta whose face wore a weary look. I couldn't tell why that face was sitting on his face but I knew he had something he knew I wouldn't be pleased to hear.

"Would see to that, sir!" My beta squeezed out a response as he tried to conceal the dull countenance he wore. "Other Alphas too need to take precautionary measures against the rogue invasion into their packs. Send out a memo informing them about the recent findings as soon as we exit this space," I added and looked back at the doctor who continued to share more information and tactics he thought would be of help.

I exited the Doctor's office urging him to find a cure peradventure there was a transition. We shook hands and off I went with my beta who was so poor at hiding things from me. I would always know whenever he had something to say to me but chose to keep it in without telling me. His face always betrayed him.

"What bothers you so much that it leaves you restless?" I quizzed with my face looking elsewhere like I wasn't talking to him. "I overheard tour conversation with---" my voice trailed off intentionally because I wanted to pique his attention.

He looked at me with widened eyes like one whose secret is on the verge of being revealed. "I see, so you had a conversation with him?" I asked, patiently waiting for his reaction. I didn't know who he had a conversation with but I knew that after he was done speaking into the phone, a certain gloom rested on his face.

"It was Elder Favian I spoke to on the phone," he announced, contorting his face slightly like one who was about to receive an uncertain slap.

Elder Fabian was one of the elders in the pack whom I detested so much because of the degree to which he poked his nose into things that did not concern him at all. He always wants to have a say in everyone's life. I even wonder how his children, let alone his wife, cope with him at home.

Isn't it funny how men with ill manners get the best of wives? The unfairness of life. I got back to my courtyard to see Elder Fabian prancing around. By his side was a young girl. I didn't need to ask him before he threw everything at me.

"You have been single for too long. Here is the wife I brought for you," he revealed his shamelessness.