The Forced Mate

Chapter 12: Pure resilience

It was another day in school and we have a free period to ourselves, so I decided to take a walk alone to the game Center of the college.

I got there and I saw some people seated there, but the most catchy event going on there was the college basketball team training.

They were a joy to watch when they are at their best playing together and watching the team's captain James playing, is a delight.

This was not my first time coming here, because what I learned from the basketball team is pure resilience and the never-give-up attitude they have towards every game and training.

I was seated watching them train when the team coach signaled a time out for the players and they all walked down to grab some water.

I was practically lost in the training and trying to figure out how to use what I have learned to solve the problems surrounding me when I heard a tap from behind me.

Immediately I turned, I found out that it was Laura that walked in behind me.

I was shocked to see her because I never told anyone where I was going or see her when I was leaving the class premises.

"Hey, Maria! What are you doing here?" Laura questioned, as she took her seat beside me.

We exchanged pleasantries, as we both sat down there and chit chat.

We were there when suddenly the ball from the basketball team bounced towards our direction and it was the team's captain, James that walked towards us to get the ball.

He ran towards us and after he got the ball, he waved at me with a wink and a charming smile on his face.

As soon as James left, Laura started looking at me and laughing in a controllable manner.

I wasn't clear on why she was laughing, so I question her with a curious expression on my face before she later broke her silence.

"Don't tell me that you are here because of James?" She probed me with a curious look on her face.

I was dumbfounded the moment she let out her last statement.

"Here because of James, are you being serious right now?" I asked with a confused expression.

"Yes, like the guys are totally into you... Tell me when and how did you guys meet for the first time?" Laura asked as she sounded anxious.

"What are you talking about? I have never spoken to him in my life, we haven't met before and I'm not planning on meeting him!" I said to her, as I sounded kind of surprised and pissed off.

"I don't know if what you are saying is true, but he's seriously into you... But that's left to you to do whatever you want with him!" Laura said calmly, as she looks away from my direction to focus on the basketball team's training.

I was still surprised by what Laura just said and also thinking about James at the same time.

'Why did he do that and what does he want from me?' I questioned myself deep in my thoughts, as I couldn't figure out the reasons for James's actions.

We were done from the college that same day and to my surprise, after getting into the vehicle that usually comes to pick us back home. Bernard was nowhere to be found.

And as I was about to say a word to the driver, he told me that Bernard isn't going home with us, as he has called to inform him earlier.

Throughout as we drive home, a lot of thoughts were on my mind and especially that of James and now, Bernard that isn't in the vehicle.

'What exactly is it that Bernard will be doing back in school, that will make him not to have joined us to return home ad usual' I thought deeply to myself.

After pondering on it for a while, I decided not to disturb myself about him; but to focus on what I want to achieve and today can be a good day for me.

I decided to go on a search for the documents immediately after I get home, given the fact that Bernard and his parents would not be at home at that particular time of the day.

*Beta Gilbert's Office*

Beta Gilbert was in his office, as he was seated alone and looked like he had a lot of runners through his mind when his phone started ringing and he picked up the call in a rush as if he had been waiting for the call already.

"Hello, any new development concerning the investigation?" Beta Gilbert asked with a serious hint of concern in his voice.

"Not sir, although we got to follow the tire marks and where it led to and from the look of things, it was initially an accident; but we do not think it was the accident that killed them!" The man at the other end of the phone said, with a very husky voice.

Immediately Beta Gilbert heard this, he became more interested in the findings, as he puts on a curious expression.

"So what do you think was responsible for their death?" With his eyebrows raised, Beta Gilbert questioned the man.

"I and my team found a knife with a bloodstain and when we took it to the forensic unit of our lab to carry out some test on it, we couldn't find any fingerprint on the knife; just the blood. So if it was even a murder, we can not decide it yet, because we don't have that much concrete evidence to back up our findings!" The man narrated to Beta Gilbert calmly.

At that point, Beta Gilbert was in a confused state of mind, but he was determined to know what caused the death of his friend and his wife.

"Okay I have heard you, but I want you and your team to go out and look for more evidence... I can not believe that the killer of my friend and his wife will be roaming the streets of Scotland freely, Get to work now!" He instructed the man, as he ended the call angrily.

Beta Gilbert was still in his office, as he stood up and walked to where wines are kept in his office and took a glass of wine to calm himself down, while he continues in his thoughts.

*Flash Back*

Alpha Jackson was in his office when someone called him with a private number, which was not displaying any number at all.

He hesitated a little before he could pick up the phone to answer the call, with the thought that he's the Alpha of a powerful Wolf Pack in Scotland, he's not scared of anything or anyone.

As soon as he picked up the call, he heard a very bold masculine voice from the other end of the phone.

"Alpha Jackson, your time is up... The only way out for you is to step down as the Alpha and apologize to the whole pack that you lied to them about your daughter!" The unknown man said as he warned Jackson.

"Who are you and what are you talking about? why don't you come to my face to talk to me about this coward!" Alpha Jackson yelled angrily, as he also challenged the caller.

"I like your courage, but you are so in for destruction... The whole pack doesn't know that your daughter was born under the cursed Blue Moon. Go and tell them now, before it's too late!" The unknown caller warned, as he finally ended the call abruptly.

Immediately the call was ended, Alpha Jackson was sweating profusely, as he was soaked in the flood of anxiety, pain, and uncertainty.

"Who could this caller be, that knows so much about me and everything concerning my daughter?" Jackson mumbled those words out, as he kept on questioning himself.

"I need to talk to Gilbert right away!" He took his phone, and he walked out of his office in a hurry.

After about ten minutes drive, he arrived at Beta Gilbert's office, and as soon as he was highlighted from his car, he asked the driver to wait for him outside before he made his way straight to Gilbert's office.

The receptionist need not ask him any question or anyone stop him, for he's known as their boss childhood friend, so he just walked straight to his friend's office.

As soon as he got to the office door and he knocked on the door, he didn't even wait for a reply before he opened the door and walked in.

Beta Gilbert was initially surprised at, who could come into his office like that, but immediately he saw Alpha Jackson, his friend. He put out a calm smile.

"I was wondering that who could have the audacity to open the door of my office just like that before you came in. How are you doing friend?" Beta Gilbert said jokingly, as he question Alpha Jackson with concern on his face.

"All is not well Gilbert, there is fire over my roof... And if care is not taken, it will end tragically!" This we're the words of Alpha Jackson, as he sounded extremely worried and filled with fear...