New Blood

Chapter 9

Olivia looked up from her computer and smiled at her mate and their daughter on the sofa across from her. She had been called by the marketing director for Emery Technologies, and he was in a panic. They had completed the test market analyses for one of their new campaigns, and it was abysmal. They needed something else before tomorrow morning, or they would have to delay the release of the new product. In turn, Tyson had taken over Miranda’s care for the night. After reading her four stories, Miranda lay sleeping in his arms as he held her and half dozed.

“Why don’t I help you put her to bed. I am looking for a few more photos that I took years ago. I think they might make your marketing director happy and help him calm down before he has a heart attack,” Olivia quietly said.

Tyson smiled at her and replied, “I can tuck her in. Keep working so we can have a little time before bed. While idly flipping through the various streaming platforms today, I came across a movie that I think we will both enjoy. Will you answer my phone if it rings while I’m upstairs?”

“Of course, my love,” Olivia grinned as he stood. “And with some luck, I will be finished with this by the time you get back.”

Tyson kissed Olivia on the head as he cradled their daughter close to his chest. He lovingly smiled at her before he turned to leave the room. Tyson had just reached the doorway when his phone rang on the coffee table.

Tyson paused in the doorway and sighed. Olivia giggled as he turned around to look at her.

“Go on. I’ve got it,” Olivia said as she picked up his cell phone.

“Thank you,” Tyson said before hurrying out of the room.

Olivia saw it was Kevin calling and felt her chest tighten. The only reason he would call tonight is if they had discovered something unusual during their investigation.

She answered the phone, putting it on speaker, and saying, “Hey, Kev. What’s up?”

“Is Tyson handy?” Kevin asked. His voice was strained as if her were upset but trying to sound calm.

“He just took Miranda upstairs to tuck her in. What happened? You found something, didn’t you?” Olivia questioned.

Kevin sighed and admitted, “We did. However, I'd like to wait and share this with you and Tyson at the same time. We need to bring the wolf pack in on this as soon as we can, and I need to talk to Aggie as soon as we finish this call.”

“Kev, you’re starting to worry me.”

“Try not to worry. I promise to let you know when it's time to start worrying.”

Olivia sighed as she heard Tyson jogging down the stairs to rejoin her in the living room. Now, Kevin could reveal the reason he called.

“What did you find, Kev?” Tyson asked as he sat beside Olivia.

Kev let out an explosive breath and said, “Trouble. So far, Jules and I have found nothing in any of the surveillance conducted in the forest. West and Josh found where someone had been. Ty, Josh is insistent that whoever was out there left behind black magic. He said it was from a dark witch, and that’s all he can tell. Aggie would be the only one in Obsidian who could help us pin it down more. You need to notify the wolf pack and inform them of our findings. Whoever it was seems to be gone, but that doesn’t mean they won’t come back. A forensics team is heading out there now to collect every speck of physical evidence, but I don’t know of any way to collect the magical evidence.”

“I’ll call Jake and let him tell the rest of those who need to know in the pack. Do you want everyone to meet here at my house in an hour? That will give everyone time to wake up a little and make their way here. It will also give Aggie a chance to have a look and tell us her impression of things,” Tyson said as he rubbed his cheek.

“That works for me,” Kevin said. “I’ll call Aggie and have her go out and take a look at the area and then pop over to your house.”

“Thanks, Kev,” Tyson sighed before ending the call.

Olivia shook her head in disbelief as she said, “Black Magic? In Obsidian? The closest thing we have ever had to that is when Aggie Black practices her magic. Why would someone come to Obsidian and do that?”

“I don’t know, but it is time to call Jake and let him know,” Tyson said as he took his phone from Olivia’s hand and dialed. He was nervously tapping his foot on the floor as he waited for Jake to answer the call.

“If you are calling this late, something happened, and it is either really good or really bad. Which one is it?” Jake questioned when he answered his phone.

“Bad,” Tyson sighed as he put the phone on speaker. “I need you and all the current and future ranking pack members to meet at my house in an hour. A dark witch has been in Obsidian and has left behind black magic in the forest.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I know you are, but how do you know?” Jake asked.

“Evvs, Ash, and Darcy were out in the forest earlier for a walk and picnic. While they were out there, they felt like they were being watched or stalked by something. They said there was a bubble where nothing made a sound. Not a single leaf rustle or bird chirp. They worked their way to a small clearing where Everly shifted and flew them to my house. She circled over the forest, but she and Ashton didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Kevin sent Westly and Joshua out there, and Josh found where someone had been, and he could feel the black magic,” Tyson explained.

“Huh,” Jake grunted. “Has there ever been black magic in Obsidain before now?”

“Not that I am aware of, and I wish it wasn’t here now. Kevin is taking Aggie out to the forest so she can give us her opinions on it. She knows more about magic than anyone I know,” Tyson said as he pulled his hand down over his face.

“Good idea. I will let everyone here know, and we will be there soon. It will be a house full because the current and future pack leaders all need to attend.”

“Same with my group. If the living room won’t hold us, we can move to the dining room,” Tyson said as he glanced at Olivia to see her nodding as she closed her computer. “Now that I say that, we will set up in the dining room and see if Lucy and Callum are up to making some sandwiches or something together for us. Something tells me that tonight will be a long night.”