56

“Killed?” Nel expressed incredulously. Without another thought, she stepped further into the room as a sinking hot feeling settled into her stomach. She had a feeling that what the alpha was going to say next would be heart wrenching. “Who?” Nel asked apprehensively.

As Maven parted his lips to answer, Leana came rushing into the pack room, a bewildered look on her face.

“Tell me, it’s not true!” she exclaimed.

Maven was reluctant to answer her. It was evident that Leana Larken already knew who it was. Only, she had hoped that it wasn’t the truth.

Nel turned to her mother. “Mom? Mom, who is it?”

Leana took her daughter’s hand and almost thought to force a reassuring smile but could not. The concern was far too real. Her eyes told Nel to give her a moment before she returned her attention to the alpha of the group.

“Was it her, Maven?” she asked. “Was it…was it really Melanie?” she asked with tears in her eyes.

Melanie? Nel thought to herself. Then her brain started to working. The name sounded familiar; she’d seen it somewhere before. At the diner. Thinking further on it, there was only one person that came to mind. But it couldn’t be.

“Melanie…Melanie Cody…” she murmured under breath as her memory recalled the name on the debit card that she ran when Ms. Cody came to the diner. Incredulously, Nel looked at her mother. “No! Mom, you’re not talking about Ms. Cody! Not the guidance counselor.”

At this point, Leana had already had the news confirmed by Maven. She met her daughter’s gaze and with great sadness, she nodded her head in confirmation.

“Yes. Sweetheart. Ms. Cody.”

All those who weren’t aware of the identity of the person who was killed were the younger generation and they did not take the loss well. Some burst into tears while others gasped turned to silent mourning.

“No!” Nel exclaimed in a hushed voice.

Ms. Cody was the first person to show her kindness when she arrived at MystHaven. She was always a kind customer and always had a kind word for Neliyah when being served at the diner. She was generally kind.

“Who?” Nel asked. “Who did this?” She knew that her mother did not have the answer, so her question was posed to the only two in the room who were most likely to know.

“That brings us back to the sighting,” said Lina. “of a Lycan nearby.”

“A lycan?” Sara exclaimed.

Colsin struggled not to look at Nel as he wanted no hint of her having anything to do with it. Sara and Guin would do anything to get rid of Nel, and that included coming up with wildly inaccurate accusations.

“Is there anyone out there patrolling? While we’re standing here twiddling our thumbs?!” Leana hissed with aggravation.

“Calm down, Lea,” demanded Maven. “My delta and a great half of the pack has already gone after the would-be culprit. “Colsin, I want you to take the younger pack members and canvas the forest center while we tried to head them off at the town line.

“Yes Alpha.” Colsin bowed.

No sooner than he did this, Maven, along with the remainder of the older pack members rushed out of the room.

Nel watched his determined gaze soften as when he looked at her mother. There was something meaningful in his eyes as he looked at Leana Larken. What was it? Nel wondered.

Maven left the room and when he did, Leana turned to Nel. “I’m going on the search with the pack. Are you going to be alright?” Nel nodded and when she did, Leana’s gaze linger a moment longer before she linked with her daughter telepathically.

“Nel…do you think that it could have been…” she dared not think of that young man’s name but she already knew that her daughter was well aware of who she was talking about.

“It couldn’t be!” Nel exclaimed.

Leana sighed. “Let’s hope that it isn’t. I’d hate to have to put down your friend.

“If he did this…then he deserves whatever is coming to him,” Nel said and she meant that with every ounce of her being.

Leana nodded and without another word, turned and disappeared out of the door of the pack room

“Everything alright?” Colsin asked after Leana Larken departed from the room.

Nel looked at Colsin and nonchalantly answered with a nod, though she was quite determined to get down to hunting down the heartless killer of Melanie Cody.

Colsin didn’t believe for one minute that Nel was alright but he didn’t push the issue. He turned to the younger pack members. “Alright guys,”

“Funny how all of this happens when that Liam guy shows up,” remarked Ethan. He glanced at Nel. “Sorry, Neli,” he muttered.

Neliyah sighed, and then shook her head. “No need to apologize to me,” she said. “If he is the cause of what happened, he needs to be put down.”

When Nel said this, Reece and Ethan was surprised at her callousness. Colsin smirked. He was glad to hear her harsh words toward that Liam.

“Yikes!” Ethan expressed with stifled amusement.

“Glad I’m not him.”

“Now if only we could get her attitude to keep,” said Colsin’s counterpart.

“Tell me about it,” murmured Colsin. “Alright, all, Ethan, take Shawn and Magenta, and start toward the east center near the Cove Bridge. Reece and I will head toward the south. And I want Nel, Sara, and Guin on the west. We’ll meet in the mi-”

“What?” Both Nel and Sara expressed simultaneously.

“You can’t be serious!”

Nel rolled her eyes and then she took a step toward Colsin. To be honest, she felt the same. She didn’t trust Sara or Guin.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“You three are powerful. I need powerful people at the west.”

“Babe, I don’t trust her!” Snapped Sara. “I don’t want some outcast watching my back.”

Instead of fussing, Nel scoffed, grimaced and walked away. “I don’t have time for this. I’ll just take Manari.”

“No, actually, you won’t.”

Nel stopped and turned around. Surely, Colsin didn’t say what she thought he had said. “What? What do you mean, I won’t? Did you forget that she was outside?”

“No, I didn’t,” said Colsin. “But she’s coming with Reece and me. The south gate of Mystic Cove is known to be the most dangerous. We’re going to need a lot of fire power, and your friend is a bazooka.”

He wasn’t wrong. “Fine,”

“Alright, everyone. Disperse.” After Colsin’s orders, everyone did as they were told.

Nel walked away, not even bothering to wait for Guin and Sara. She knew that they’d abandon her anyway.

As Nel was walking out, she noticed Manari standing there in foyer near the door, lost in thought. “Nel?” she rushed to her best friend, her eyes slightly watered. “I heard about what happened! How terrible! Poor Ms. Cody.”

“I know,” said Nel. “Right now the main priority is finding whoever did this to her.” Nel and Manari walked out of the front door together.

“Is that what the meeting was about?” she asked. “I didn’t get to speak long with your mother before she and Alpha Stone, along with Beta Mason rushed out of the door.”

“Yes. The pack is dividing into groups. Three’s a manhunt, and Alpha Maven wants every available nose outside sniffing for the killer.”

“Okay…well, what are we waiting for?”

Nel stopped Manari. “Unfortunately, me and you won’t be going at this together,” Nel said.

“What do you mean?” asked Manari.

“Colsin Stone seems to have different plans for you.”

“Coven!” said Colsin as he headed out of the house with Reece in tow. “You’re with us.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You heard what he said, Manari,” said Reece in his deep throaty voice. “Let’s go.”

Manari looked at me apprehensively. There was serious doubt in her as to whether she should go anywhere with them.

“You trust him…don’t you?” she asked.

Nel didn’t have to specify because they both knew to whom Nel was referring. Reluctantly, Manari nodded her head.

“Then go.”

“What about you? Who are you teamed with?”

“The worst of the worst.” As if on cue, Sara and Guin came bursting out of the front door. They both glared daggers at the two girls before rushing off into the forest.

“You can’t be serious!” Manari snapped incredulously. “Is Colsin insane!”

“I’ll be fine, Manari. You just be careful. We’ll check on each other periodically.”

With a reluctant sigh, they parted ways, but before Nel caught up with her squad, she had a message for not only her mate but his Beta.

“Protect her,” she warned. “Don’t let anything happen to my friend.

“Of course,” said Reece.

Manari approached the trio. “If something happens to Nel on your girlfriend’s watch,” she looked at Colsin and then glared at Reece. “I will be killing your sister. That…you can count on. Let’s go.”

Reece grinned as he found Manari Coven’s aggression a turn on. He followed after her.

“Be careful, Red,” said Colsin.

“Diddo.” Nel said before they parted ways and headed into the forest.