Arkana Legacy

CHAPTER TWO

“Hey Zeke, you're gonna burn a hole through those papers staring them to death” Officer Barley held a mug of coffee to him.

Ezekiel nodded in thanks as he took it.

“These women didn’t deserve an end like this, we need to figure this case out and keep the people safe” Ezekiel said through gritted teeth.

This was putting humans and his kind in danger if the sheriff begins to think towards wildlife hunt.

“Looks like a bear attack to me….maybe they were just in the wrong place, wrong time” Barley looked at a picture of one of the two victims.

“Sure…bear attack” Ezekiel waved him off and began looking into the data of the victims again—Sarah Molly and Rose Griffin.

“You are really overthinking this one deputy” Harley held his shoulders.

“Will you come drink with the boys Saturday night?” Barley looked with his wide eager eyes, it was hard for Ezekiel to deny the burly man his request—Barley was a nice guy, a big brother he never had.

“Sure” Ezekiel mustered a smile.

Barley left him to continue his work. Barley was wrong about a lot of things.

For one it wasn’t a case of wring place wrong time and secondly, Ezekiel knew the smell of a bear thanks to his heightened senses.

The scent from the bodies was a strange scent, not anyone from his pack.

Someone out there was killing people and risking the safety of werewolves who had lived peacefully in Newbrook, he needed to find this killer and he wouldn’t rest till he did.

“The lab reports came back Deputy Roberts” Ezekiel tensed where he sat across the table from Sheriff Hardy.

The man toyed with his dark moustache as he deliberated on what to do.

“Thomas said the same thing as the last time…not a bear, it’s a wolf or something, we would have to go hunting these woods soon” Hardy continued.

Sweat beaded on Ezekiel's forehead, he swallowed to clear his voice.

He knew the results were inconclusive. The DNA samples matched that of a wolf, but it wasn’t a perfect match. He was paying Thomas to hide a few facts.

It was a good thing Thomas was a bit corrupt. Ezekiel didn't like it, but he had to.

“Sir, we might need to put up a notice to the public to avoid the woods first, before deciding to send our officers into those woods” Ezekiel argued, trying to buy more time.

Sheriff Hardy’s brows creased together, he look Ezekiel straight in the eyes.

He always trusted the opinion of the kid on matters, but right now Zeke wasn’t taking the usually logical path he was known for.

“Why hold off Deputy?” Hardy raised a brow in question.

“We don’t want the situation to be under control, no hysterics from the folks—let life go on as usual, we don’t want them going into the woods themselves either….especially the families of the victims”

“Control…hmmm” Hardy stared at Ezekiel and he smiled.

“True, People can be scary when the stories starts to fly….i say we sort things out on a low, Tell them to stay out of the woods, give them nothing more…for now” Hardy looked more relaxed as he spoke.

“Yes sheriff” Ezekiel shot up out of his chair.

He was grateful to have the favour of the Sheriff. He didn’t need the police force combing the forest and he needed to warn his pack to not shift until this mess was sorted out.

Ezekiel drove straight to Marshall's Auto that afternoon, he needed to see Brandon.

Brandon was under a jeep, like he was where he was born to be. Growing up together, Brandon had always been good with cars, it wasn’t a shock to Ezekiel that he ended up opening a Car service.

“You're not going to stay under forever are you?” Ezekiel teased.

Brandon rolled out from under the car, he had a grin plastered on his face.

“Deputy Roberts, what brings you here?!” he walked to where Ezekiel stood with his grease stained body. He tried to hug him. Ezekiel stepped back “Yo man, don’t get grease on your boss”

Brandon began to chase him “Oh, the Alpha's too afraid to get a bit dirty?”

“Nah, it’s the middle of the day Bran, and I’m still a cop on duty..so stay away from my clothes”

“So what brings you here Zeke” Brandon sat on a bench.

The electric buzzing and clanging metal, evidence of Brandon's employees at work was too distracting for Ezekiel.

“I'd prefer we take this to your office” Brandon nodded and led the way, they got into the soundproof office within the large auto shop.

It had a see-through glass so Brandon could oversee his workers while they worked.

“We have a problem on our hands” Ezekiel began as they settled in.

“Two bodies, same claw marks, bitten and mauled to death…and it’s not one of us” Brandon sat at the edge of his seat now, eyes wide.

Brandon hated mindless killers. Just like the one who had taken Shelley’s life.

“You think there’s a rogue in town?”

“Yes, and it’s left the bodies in the same kind of location…along the main road, seems like this freak is putting on a show and calling us out”

“Maybe I can scan the woods with some of the others —Mckinsry, Garrett?”

“I’ve got forty werewolves to watch out for, and I’m not planning to loose anyone, especially not my Beta…plus the Iron Lady would kill me” They both laughed.

Ezekiel thought at Margret and Brandon, they have been mates since high school. They were so crazy about each other.

Ezekiel felt the bile of jealousy. He had gone out on dates with some women in the past, but I never quite clicked.

He never found his mate. He was twenty seven years old, he might never find his.

Brandon rubbed his temple with his hands, he was confused.

Ezekiel was telling him they had trouble in town and telling him to stand down even though He wasn’t taking the whole pack with him.

“Margaret would flip if something happened to me…but then why aren’t you going after this rogue”

“Because of what I just said, it’s calling us out with it’s public display, what better way to fall into it’s trap than shift and run around in the woods”.

“hmmm..that makes sense”

“Plus, with some info out on the DNA test, the sheriff is thinking about sending a hunting party for wolves…its not safe Brandon”

Ezekiel checked his watch, it was almost four o'clock, he had to get back to the station.

“Put out a message to the pack. No one is to shift or go into the woods alone….else I'll hold you responsible ” Ezekiel's voice sent a shiver down Brandon's spine.

They have been friends only from high school, and Brandon was the closest to Zeke. He also never crossed certain lines even when he was given a lot of freedom to run the pack. He remembered in times like this who really was the Alpha

“Yes Alpha” he swallowed. Ezekiel rose. He seemed to have returned to his friendly self, he beamed a warm smile at his still seated friend.

“Say hi to Margaret for me will ya” Brandon nodded and Ezekiel made his way out of his office. Ezekiel got behind the wheels of his police car. As he turned the ignition and the car rored to life,wondered when he would have a lady to go home to.