Rising Sigma

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

[Iodine's POV]

I tried to carry on as normal over the next few days. There were few things to attend to inside my own territory, but I threw myself into each in hopes that the distraction might prevent me from thinking about a certain Beta I wanted to bite. 

To maintain the privacy an entire pack of werewolves required, Bright Phoenix operated a chain of restaurants in the human lands. Each pack had different industries spread throughout the surrounding human lands. It meant werewolves could be employed where certain holidays and festivals would automatically be given to us, and our skills could go where they were needed,. Chimera Tail had a rather successful fleet of electricians and plumbers, Blood Harpy controlled several different construction companies that operated worldwide, and Green Lake were agents for musical artists and venues. Citrine Moon owned a worldwide chain of hotels, and the sheer logistics of that boggled my mind. For my purposes however, it meant finding a replacement for Amelie, our chef in the pack estate, would be that little bit easier. I'd let the chef conduct the interviews herself, as the particulars of the position were not my forte. 

I was in my office, in the middle of approving orders for new cutlery and some kitchen tools, when the knock at the door interrupted me. "Come in." The Beta and Gamma were recognisable by knock alone, and at work, they would always link me before coming in. 

The short woman with a soft curls and little bow lips bowed her head briefly in respect. It was hard not to notice the pink marking bite at the juncture peaking above her collar. Another reason why human employers were problematic for us. "Alpha. I have a shortlist for you." She wasted no time in sitting herself opposite the big wooden desk and pushed across a few sheets of warm, freshly printed documents. 

I picked them up, and scanned each briefly, if they'd made it this far from selection and passed the interview each would be a fine replacement. "So, any of them?"

"Personally, the man on the top sheet would be the best candidate. But, I wanted to show you the others." She wrung her hands together and tried to look anywhere but at me. The chef I'd hired was a direct woman, confident. 

I frowned. "Is there something bothering you?" 

She rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "I'm sure you have better uses of your time, Alpha."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "I decide that, Amelie. Do you have something on your mind?"

The chef pursed her lips. "What does a Luna do? In my wildest imaginings I never thought I'd be a Luna. "

It wasn't the question I was expecting. To be frank, I wasn't entirely sure. My own mother died when I was still very young, and my father never appeared burdened without her filling the role. I'm sure the Beta and Gamma both took on a portion of the tasks a Luna or Lune might have to do as well as him. As far as I was concerned, the idea of a Lune of my own would only mean a less full plate. I wracked my brain for a suitable answer. While I'd never really known what a Luna did, Amelie had never had a Luna either. "I believe a Luna, or Lune helps maintain peace within the pack, they would be arbiter of disputes between members that don't break any laws, plan the calendar for the year, organise staff in the packhouse, and they're the moral support for their Alpha."

It felt about right. Yven was more vocal about, at least before my Alpha Ceremony, how it was going to be his last year sorting out pack squabbles. Which should have been my first clue that at some point in my first year as Alpha I would find my Lune. Wesley didn't complain about anything unless it could be amended quickly after he voiced the issue. I admired it about him. "Oh... Why did the Moon Goddess think I could to that?"

"I don't believe the duties are set in stone. Only the last part is necessary," I doubted the man of few words that occupied my spare thoughts was much of a party organiser, but I could be surprised. "Other Alphas were willing to share words of wisdom and guidance for me when my father died, I'm sure the other Lunas and Lunes would be kind enough to show you the ropes so to speak."

"Do you know Raphael well?" 

"Yes, he's very pleasant from what I know of him. And his mother is still alive and is the acting Luna. If no other Lunas can spare the time, she wouldn't be put out by training you." I reached across the desk to pass the papers back to Amelie. "Pick whoever you think best. My door will be open for anything you need of me."

Amelie nodded, sighing in relief. "You've been more help than you realise, Alpha."

"Considering I won't be your Alpha much longer, you can stand to drop the formalities. Iodine, or Io will be fine."

"Iodine then. Thank you. I should get back to my duties. Shall I introduce the new chef tonight after dinner?"

I nodded and thanked her for sorting everything out so quickly. It was nice to see that even if she wasn't sure she was up to the responsibilities, she trusted the Moon Goddess wouldn't lead her astray. It was a level of faith I wished I could have. I trusted that whatever Her plans were, my own reservations were all part of that. 

***

The evening was drawing to a close, and I was pleased with the chef Amelie had introduced to us. Badru was one of the soux chefs in our larger restaurants, and was used to preparing large meals, and accommodating for celebrations. He prepared the dessert for the evening and it certainly was up to the standards we were accustomed to. 

The ranking wolves usually ate in the estate of an evening, and many of the wolves that lived closer were invited to dine with us whenever they wished. The packhouse being open for all of the pack had been something my father implemented when I was a child. He thought it was nonsense to keep us isolated from the very people we were supposed to protect. 

You couldn't care to protect them if you don't know them. I agreed with him, and maintained the same policy. "ALPHA! BETA!" The shout through a link ruffled me but I tried to remain poised. Next to me at the table, Wesley stood up. "My office. As soon as you're able."

"If you can excuse us. The Gamma requires our presence." I announced, Wesley held out a crooked elbow. I accepted it and stood.

As soon as we were out of the room we picked up the pace. "He never sounds that... distraught."

I nodded. Yven was calm personified, even if he did have a tendency to gossip and complain at times. Wesley opened the office door to let us in and the smell that hit me turned my stomach.

Moon Goddess. It was like sour milk. Yven was sat at his desk, wringing his hands. "Are you the Alpha?" The man sitting opposite Yven stood up and bowed at Wesley. 

"I am the Beta," He carefully stepped aside, introducing me. "This is Alpha Iodine."

The man cleared his throat and held a hand out for me. I took it carefully, trying not to wrinkle my nose. "My apologies."

"No offense taken." He looked oddly familiar, but I couldn't place him, he was older than me by about a decade if I had to guess, and didn't look comfortable. He wore a pair of thick tortoiseshell rimmed glasses, and a light grey suit that must have been on him for the last week, he looked like a deer in the headlights. "Have we met before?"

"The smell you are both aware of, is a newborn." Yven declared abruptly before the man could answer me. Wesley raised an eyebrow and I looked between the familiar man and my Gamma. 

"A newborn?" It was against nearly all our laws to turn a human outside of dire emergencies, and in such circumstances, the wolf who did the turning was required to contact the Elder Council and have a full investigation performed. There were consequences for entire packs, especially the ranked wolves, if a turning was allowed that wasn't approved of by the Council. I'd never actually met a newborn werewolf until today. 

"I was about to tell your... Gamma was it?"

"Yes, Gamma Yven." Wesley smiled tightly, Yven stood up and offered me his chair and the two of them stood behind me. 

The newborn sat back down and sighed deeply. "It's alright Joel. You'll have no judgement from us." Yven assured him.

"Start with why you came to us." I smiled gently.

"He told me to come here." Joel frowned. "I don't know who he was. And it feels like some sick joke I'm not getting. Is this some sort of cult? The... uh, titles..."

"That answered my first question." Wesley grumbled. "Continue."

"We'll try not to interrupt. We'll explain when you're done" I added.

"If I can believe it, it was nearly two weeks ago." He started. "I was driving home, I wasn't paying attention to the road and I must have hit something. The car started spinning, and I remember hitting a tree. Then... nothing."

"Nothing until this man told you to come here?" Yven frowned.

"Sorry, I meant to say. Nothing until I woke up in this... cabin. There was a voice in my head screaming at me to wake up. That I was bound to the bed I was on and needed to run. These handcuffs, they burned at my skin."

"Silver." Wesley growled.

"The voice in my head said that too. The man in the cabin seemed pleased, and said I could only leave if I came to this house and delivered a message. So... I didn't want to die, I agreed. I couldn't shake the feeling that if I refused, I wasn't going to see the outside of that cabin."

"Who would turn a human just to deliver a message?" I muttered to myself.

"I was in the Pengate Woods. I used to go hunting there with my grandpa - if that, helps? I followed his directions, he said 'tell that bastard Alpha the score is now one hundred, and that he better listen this time' I don't know what that means. The voice in my head said you could explain everything to me, the mention of the word Alpha, it.... calmed it? and I'm really trying to stay calm, but I'm freaking out. Everyone said there was a cult in the woods, but my grandpa said it was balderdash. I'm thinking it's not?"

"I don't know who you met, Joel. But it appears to be an old enemy of my father's." I took in a deep breath. "There isn't another way to explain this to you. But you've been turned into a werewolf."

"A werewolf?" His eyes widened and the man stood shakily. "Bullshit. I've done what that crazy man made me do, I need to go to the hospital."

"Alpha care to demonstrate for our newborn guest?" Wesley suggested. I pinched my nose, this was a brilliant start to my official Alpha reign.

"Sit down, Joel." I threaded my voice with a layer of authority and without thinking he did as commanded. Joel blinked at me.

"How did you do that?"  He accused. He looked terrified.

"I am an Alpha. It's an ability we have. I don't like to abuse it." I softened my voice. "Joel, as hard as it is to accept, you were captured by a rogue in the neutral lands adjacent to our territory. He turned you into a werewolf, and I doubt it was the first time he's done this. It isn't an exact science, it kills the majority of humans when attempted, so it's an illegal act."

"The man in the cabin had a voice like that." He breathed. "I got captured by a werewolf cult?!"

"Rogues don't have Alphas." Wesley growled. Joel yelped in surprise.

"Wesley, you're scaring him." Yven chided.

"Wesley, get the Elder Council on a video conference. Tell them that a situation has arisen that requires them all. Yven, take our newborn guest to the pack doctor's clinic. Nothing that was said here leaves this room until we're certain of the situation, Yven, swear the doctor to secrecy for the moment and request that other staff are not to attend to Joel until we have a handle of the situation."

"Yes, Alpha." Wesley bowed his head to me as he stormed out.

Rogues couldn't have Alphas, it required the fealty of a pack in the very least, and to come into enough authority to command a wolf not in your pack you needed the blessing of at least twenty other ranking wolves that weren't in your pack.