Fate’s Joke

Chapter Two

"HOW MUCH FARTHER DO WE HAVE TO GO, DEREK?" Hayley asked, her voice low and even, as she followed her head warrior through the misty woods.

The early morning breeze carried an unsettling chill. The rain-soaked forest floor that seemed to stretch on forever, seemed to be telling her that she was walking into a situation that would drag on for much longer than necessary and the silence from her mate who trailed behind her in the company of her beta, Tyler and pack doctor, Raina.

“Not far, alpha," Derek replied, his eyes scanning the terrain. " Fifteen minutes at this pace, five in our wolf forms."

Ignoring the subtle suggestion to go in their wolf forms, Hayley glanced at the unhappy face of her mate, her eyes narrowing slightly. She didn't want anyone to see him naked when they shifted back to their human form.

Sighing, she pinched the bridge of her nose. Feeling guilty. She’d told him he was repulsive, yet she didn't want anybody seeing his impressive body.

"We're here, alpha," Derek announced, breaking the silence. A faint whiff of blood lingering in the air.

"Over here” he motioned towards a body by the foot of a tree.

"We found him during the patrol this morning"

Hayley's gaze fell on the fully clothed corpse, the pale blue hue of it’s lips and fingers a stark contrast to the vibrant colors of the forest. Rain-kissed dirt sticking to his clothes.

"He didn't shift," She observed, her detached voice, a mask of calm over her emotions.

Squatting beside it, the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves enveloped her and Lucy stirred, sensing her distress. With gentle fingers, Hayley reached out, and placed her hand on his head. Letting her wolf's energy coursed through her, she closed his soulless eyes.

"May this light guide you home," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "May the goddess welcome you, and may your spirit find peace."

"Was this area patrolled last night?" Hayley nodded at Raina to examine the corpse before turning to Derek, looking a little pale. Chants used to guide lost souls back to the goddess require a lot of energy.

"Yes, around eleven. We did a sweep before retiring for the night."

"Are you certain he wasn't here then?"

"Yes. Due to the heavy rain last night, Tala and I dismissed the boys after they had done their rounds up North, towards the cliff, down our neutral grounds, South, by the lake that runs near that ancestral cave, around town, and East where our territory is most vulnerable.

While the ones on night duty went to their posts, Tala and I did the rounds here before retiring for the night as this area is prone to accidents when it rains."

"When did you start this morning?"

"Four, alpha."

"So, there were just four hours in between," She muttered, her mind racing.

"How long do you think the walk or run in human form from the pack house down to this place takes? Being fully clothed, he probably didn’t shift" Hayley questioned, running a hand through her hair.

"From the walk this morning, 40 to 45 minutes." Derek estimated "But then, it rained heavily last night, and some warriors were stationed at the entrance of the pack house. To get here, he must have taken a detour which would mean spending more time."

"Found anything?" Hayley turned to Raina who was examining the corpse.

"He's fully clothed, down to his inner wear, which suggests he didn't shift," Raina reported, her voice measured. "There are no signs of struggle, but his hands bears multiple small puncture wounds, like needle pricks. However, I'll need to run tests to confirm. But... I think you should take a look, alpha." Raina's voice trailed off.

She knew she was asking for a lot. Hayley already looked paled from using her wolf’s energy, and snooping through memories required even more energy. Lucy would probably sleep for a long time to recuperate.

Rafe's hands subconsciously shot out, grasping Hayley's as she stepped forward.

'Damn you Rafe, I thought you were mad at her' he cursed.

'Later' he locked his gaze on her, his eyes burning with intensity.

'You can do it later' he shook his head, mind linking her

'But' Hayley protested, trying to shake off his grip.

'You’re already pale from guiding his soul'

'You probably used it down there too.' He muttered to himself, his voice barely audible.

'Let Raina do her job.' he mind-linked her once more.

Hayley’s eyes flicked between the corpse and her mate. Conflicted between her unsettling emotions and the strong sense of unease she felt about body, she freed her hands from his grasp, and walked towards the corps.

'You know, when you apologized earlier, I thought you would listen to me once for a change' He continued his voice laced with hurt.

Lacking words, Hayley blocked off her mind, preventing him from pushing more words into her head. The unspoken words and unresolved emotions hanging like a knife between them.

Squatting beside the corpse, Hayley placed her hand on its head, her eyes closing as she concentrated. Channeling her wolf’s energy into her palm, she reached into his head with her mind, imagining that she was in direct contact with the millions of cells and nerves in his head. Thinking of them as capable of emotions, she sought for a connection.

As she delved deeper, Hayley navigated the unending network of scattered memories, slowly clearing her path. She sought to reconstruct his final moments, but the jumbled mess that was his memory, resisted her efforts.

Letting her wolf emerge, Hayley's hazel eyes turned blue with golden flecks. Tuning out her surroundings, she tried to wield her gifts with greater precision. Still, the memories eluded her, leaving her with only silence and the faint scent of silver.

"Nothing," Hayley said, her voice weak as she stepped away from the corpse.

The world around her spun, and her legs trembled.

Silently stepped up behind her, Rafe caught her just in time, wrapping his arms around her waist to hold her steady.

'Stubborn woman' he muttered, his eyes narrowing at her ashened face, obviously mad at her.

Smiling guilty at him, she turned to Derek.

"He's long gone. I could only sense a faint smell of silver."

Derek's brow furrowed.

"Hunters? Is that even possible? There's a protective barrier in place," Raina asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

"Coming in here may not be possible, but collaborating with a werewolf on the inside is. What was he doing out here? Or rather, who did he meet after patrol hours?" Tyler, Hayley's beta and brother spoke for the first time, his eyes scanning the area as his mind raced with possibilities.

"Perhaps running an autopsy could help find those answers. It's just that our laws..." Raina furrowed her brows

"To hell with those stupid laws. If providing me with answers means you have to hack through his body to do so, that you will do" Hayley stated annoyed, blue eyes interchanging with her Hazel ones.

"Calm the f**k down! " Rafe coaxed

"You aren't in the right state to expend more energy"

"Yes, alpha" Raina replied, bowing her head as she bared her neck in a sign of submission trying to appease Hayley's wolf.

"Stupid" Lucy, purred in Hayley's head pleased by Raina's show of submission, and stopped trying to get control.

"And, be discreet Raina" Hayley cautioned, her voice calmer "We don't want to raise unnecessary concerns about his death."

"Does anyone know his name?"

"Jonas cray" Derek chipped in.

"He was a warrior before he applied to live among humans. But he came back often"

"How often?"

"Almost every week, for the past two months."

"Does he have any family?"

"Yes, they stay in the town"

"Not in the pack house?"

"Yes"

"Then how long will it take to get into these woods from the town?"

"I don't think he can make the walk under the heavy rain."

"So, you are saying he probably checked into the park house last night?"

"Yes, alpha"

"Hmmn. He will be cremated after Raina is done with him. Tyler, contact his family and figure out how best to break the news of his death to them. Convince them to have him cremated and go through the records, find out if he checked into the pack-house last night"

"Sure"

"Rafe?" Hayley mind-linked a distant look in her eyes

"Yes," Rafe's husky voice resounded in Hayley's mind, reminding her of her lost train of thought.

"I’m sorry" She continued.

"You said" he teased her, amused

"I’m sorry, and I need you to look into this one." She continued

"Let's say I’m considering forgiving you, but seriously, you shouldn't ignore the possibility of hunters within the territory"

"You know that's impossible."

"Having a dead body with traces of silver and likely drained of blood or whatever, isn't a normal scenario"

Hayley's curiosity piqued,"What did you find out?"

"Nothing. Just supporting your brother’s words." Rafe's response was cautious.

"Any news?" Hayley's eyes narrowed, sensing there was more.

"No. My sources just feel like something’s brewing among the higher-ups. But there’s nothing solid yet. Being extra careful wouldn't cause any harm" Rafe's gaze softened as he looked at her. His tone a little nonchalant

Caught staring at her, Rafe's eyes darted away, his reaction suspicious. Staring at him, Hayley smiled. He definitely knew something.