Chapter 60

Chapter61

LUCAS: We all stand and head to the door. I kiss my mate as I follow the others out. I led them down the hall and up the stairs to myoffice.Once inside. James is the first to speak. “Please don't take this the wrong way,as I mean no disrespect, Alpha, but how sure are you of her competency?She seems a bit off." “She has some sensory issues, but she is honest.We saved her from her old pack that did nothing but belittle and abuse her."I tell him. He nods in understanding, then. "I was going to call the Alpha after dinner to inform him of what we discovered today. I also recorded it so she doesn't have to keep telling the story; it upsets her to think that someone will be in danger." I tell them. "We would like to be in on that call." Beta Gregg says. "I would like to get an update on what is going on back home, and if they found anything out about the stabbing." He continues. "Of course, I quite understand." I say. “Dad will need to put someone on Keska as well, and she will hate that." James says."Well,if the rumor is true that I heard about what happened at your cousin's induction, and Luna's ceremony, I don't know that I would worry too much about your sister." I say. "What's the rumor?" The Beta asked.“That she gave Alpha Camron a black eye and some bruised ribs." I say. “That's news to me." James says,"and I was there, but I can find out easily enough." I just chuckle,"Did you have eyes on your sister the whole time,or were you enjoying the festivities?" I asked him. He nodded in understanding. “But still, if true, it's impressive that she could have done that to an Alpha. How can you confirm a rumor about him?" Josh says. "I have his number, as we have a contract with him." James says. "Yes. but still, she did get stabbed." Beta Gregg says. We all nodded at that. "It would be interesting to know, though," I say. "Would you like me to call him to confirm?" James asked, "Sure."' I chuckle.

JAMES: I pull out my phone, scroll to Alpha Camron's namo, and hit call.

It rings a few times before he answers. "Hello, James, is everything going ok?” he asked. "Yes. as far as I know, I am at High Crest Pack. May I put you on speaker? Alpha Lucas would like to ask you a question."“Sure."I hit the speaker. “You are now on speaker Alpha Camron." I tell him.“Hello. may I assume there are others in the room as well?" He asked."Yes.Alpha. I am Alpha Lucas, my son Josh, and Blue Crescent's Beta Gregg.along with James, are all here." Alpha Lucas says."What may I help you gentlemen with?" He asked."I know that this is a silly reason to be calling.but I heard a rumor that a certain young lady may have gotten the better of you at a certain induction ceremony?" All we hear is laughter coming from the other end of the connection. "Yes, it is very true. but in my defense. I was unaware the young lady in question was alpha born. and that she knows aikido. So, if anyone is thinking of trying to sneak up on her, be forewarned." He says with a lighthearted chuckle. "Thank you. I will keep that in mind." Alpha Lucas says with a chuckle of his own. “But since you called, I have a question for you, if I may." "Go ahead.""I believe that you have a tech manufacturing company?" “Yes."“Would you be interested in coming to see me and possibly setting up a trade agreement?”“I would need more information, but we can discuss that at the mating ball in a couple of weeks.""I will look forward to it. Speaking of said young lady. how is Keska, James?”He asked me."We had an incident. and she got hurt, but the doc says she will be fine." I tell him.“Please keep me informed. But I must be going. Bye." “Bye."” I hang up.

JAMES: "Alpha Lucas, will you please send a copy of that recording to me and Beta Gregg?" I asked him. "Sure." He says. I look at Josh. "We need to go join the others and try not to let on that Jessie is caught. I believe that Dad will want to deal with her his way." "Roger that." "Alpha, Beta Gregg," I incline my head to show both men respect. And a silent queskion of dismisвal. Alpha Lucas nods Josh and I leave. We join the girls and Wyatt out at the pool. *Jessie is caught dead to rights.'» I link Wyatt, *

What? How?""The Omega Cammi, she overheard Jessie's phone call with Dedi. Alpha Lucas is going to send a copy of the recording he took of her telling us what she heard to me and Beta Gregg." “Cammi? Isn't she the one who's a bit off?" “Yes, she probably has some form of PTSD. They saved her from her last pack that bullied her, but he says she's honest.That's good enough for me." “Does it shed light on the other information we have?"“Yes, it fills in some of the gaps, and also gives us some of what she will try when we get home.""Wow."“Did you know that our sisters know aikido?" “No, where did you hear that?"“Alpha Camron.I will tell you later, now we need to get back to the group.”“Copy that.”*I close the link.

~~~1

MITCHELL: I knock on the office door. "Come." I hear so I open the door and usher Chris in first, and enter after him, and close the door."Come,have a seat." I hear the Alpha tell Chris. "You have the file I asked for?"he asked me. I hand him the file I had in my hand, and he puts it down in front of him.

DRAKE: "So Chris, right? What can I do for you?”“Umm,well,Alpha,I think I may have messed up." "How so?" "I think I was used. I am unsure how to explain this." "Take your time, let's start with what it pertains to." I tell him. “Well, Alpha, it was I who raised the alarm the day that your daughter was stabbed. I did smell rotten meat, I just didn't investigate it well enough, but I thought that I was following the chain of command, they told me to link Kirk Anders, and that he would inform the head guard." He tells me. I open the file that Mitchell brought with him,I see Kirk Anders' name as one of the threo otbers that Keska was partnered with that day. I underline his name and show Mitchell. “Do you know why they told you to link Kirk? And who exactly told you to link him?” I asked bim. "I beliove, looking back on h, Atpha, that it was

because I beat them at what I thought was a friendly game of poker. Brent Charter and Rodney Barns," he tells me. I write the name Rodney Barns down on the file folder. "Thank you, Chris. Was Rodney with you on patrol that night?" I asked him. “Yes,as a matter of fact, he was part of the squad with me." He tells me.“You have helped a lot, just a word of advice going forward, link the head warrior yourself,let him know of any suspicions you might have on the given situation, and then play along with them, that way you are protecting yourself from ending up in the cells." I tell him. "Yes, Alpha. thank you." “You are welcome,you may go."I tell him. I watch as he leaves my office. "Well, I think we now know who the other 2 are." I tell Mitchell. “Sorry, Alpha, you lost me." I take out my phone and open it to the screenshot of Jessie's conversation that she had with someone on Monday. “This was on Monday.” I tell him and let him read it. "Ok, wow.” He states. "Yes, and now we know who the other two are and who the scapegoat is supposed to be. Have someone keep an eye on Chris, just for his safety, and to be his backup if and when the time comes." I tell Mitchell.“Yes, Alpha, I have just the person in mind. I need to let him and Frank know what's going on, though."“I understand,but only those two. we can't take any chances and tip our hand before Jessie tries to make her move.""Yes, Alpha.”"Thanks, Mitch,I'll let you get back to then." He nods and leaves my office. I just look at Carla,"What do you think?" I asked her. "I don't know what to think.I never expected that one of our children could be this bad!" She was close to tears.