knowing exactly how to play these games, even if I hate them. Griffin’s eyebrow raises and anger burns in his gaze, so I am guessing he knows of the surly alpha.
“Alpha, always alpha,” he grumbles, finally making me relax. I knew the alpha hated his seat on the council, but it was necessary to protect his people. I wanted to ensure that was still his reasoning and they had not changed the once proud wolf pup I knew.
“I visited with the fae, they have women missing. Other supes too, and I wanted to check in to see if it was the same on your front?” I ask bluntly.
He doesn’t act shocked, but he is brilliant at hiding his thoughts. Usually wolves are impulsive and not very good liars because of their strong emotions, but Sean is a law all unto himself. He had a bad upbringing—very bad. I brought him over with me when I settled here, and away from his now dead family. I think that made him the way he is, cold, some call him, but underneath all that frost is lava-hot hate.
“Sean,” I prompt.
“Yes,” he growls, and I hear something smash, the only sign he will show of his anger. “Women are missing, four packs now. At first it was one, we thought hunters, but every day more reports are pouring in.”
Sighing, I rub my forehead. “This is much bigger than hunters, my old friend, much, much worse. I will hope to have some more information in the next few days, but I assume you are conducting your own investigation, yes?”
“Yes,” he sighs.
“Found anything?” I question, curious, wolves are the best trackers in the world. They pick up things that others just can’t, so if they are investigating they will have visited the scenes where the disappearances occurred.
“Each disappearance was different. At first, the packs didn’t link up due to them not wanting to share information and look weak. Alpas.” He snorts. “When we did, some of the older scenes were too old, but we got some clues from the fresh scenes. Each one happens somewhere different, but they are always well planned and organised. This isn’t sloppy, it was a snatch and grab, and they knew exactly where and when. One was at a supe club. One was at home, one on a run...I could go on and on. Point is, they have all been taken from various locations, some within pack protected land.” I hear him rubbing at his skin, no doubt at the scar that mars his neck. It used to be a nervous gesture he developed as a child, but as he got older it was just what he did when he was thinking.
“We sent out wolves to track and scent mark. What they found...it makes no sense,” he adds.
“Tell me, old friend,” I press, sitting forward, and Griffin and Dawn lean in. Frowning, I place him on speaker and onto the table. “You are on speaker, I trust them implicitly.”
He hesitates for only a moment. “Their smells were strange because there were different ones at each scene, and they were mixed. At one we smelled witches and vamps, at another...wolves.”
Tapping the table, I frown. “You are saying the abductors were all different races?” I clarify.
“I am saying, old friend, races that never work together are, and they are taking our people.”
“But why?” Dawn muses out loud.
“Who is that?” he demands, his voice as cool as always.
She leans in. “My name is Dawn, I am Nos’ mate,” she says offhandedly, and carries on like she didn’t just declare her ownage and intent before us all. “We have found supes calling themselves The Others kidnapping here as well. They have been searching and forcing humans into that state.”
“Mate?” he asks, his voice defrosting.
“Mate,” I confirm with a smile.
“Congratulations are in order, old friend, even in these dire circumstances. I can’t wait to meet her, but back to what else the fool enough of a woman willing to stick with you said, The Others?” he questions and I laugh.
“What until you find yours,” I joke before going serious. “Yes, The Others. We found witches working with an unknown species and making deals with humans.”
“What the fuck is going on?” he growls.
Rubbing at my head again, I sigh. “I wish I knew, but I plan to find out.” Looking at the clock, I run my finger over the table again. “We must leave, we are chasing down a lead. Keep me in the loop and I