Why He Calls

Chapter 10

Zeke’s POV

Morgan turned to me saying firmly, “We need to talk.”

He kissed his mate and whispered something to her before she left. Then I followed him back to his office.

“What’s going on Zeke?” Morgan asked after he closed the door. His office was designed to be completely soundproof, even werewolves couldn’t hear what was said unless they were in the room too.

“I need your help finding out who Sky really is.” I began.

“What? You weren’t lying to Tyson?” He asked.

“No, I just didn’t tell him everything I know.” I respond. “I have a bad feeling about this. That something bad is going to happen to her. But without knowing who she really is, I can’t tell if it’s related to her past or ….”

“Or to her mate?” Morgan asked and then he rubbed the back of his neck like he always does when he’s unsure if we’re doing the right thing. “I don’t know anyone who would hurt their mate.” He stated and then it clicked for him, “she sensed him last night and left purposefully. Why doesn’t this Sky girl, whoever she really is, want to meet her mate?”

“Looks it’s really complicated. But you trust me, right?” I ask already knowing his answer.

“Yes. Absolutely. It’s why I made you Gamma.” He responds sincerely.

“Then trust that I am just trying to do the right thing here.” I respond with equal sincereness.

“Did you have another one of your premonitions?” Morgan asked after thinking about it. I just nodded in response. I often have these feelings accompanied by dreams mostly about bad things that are going to happen. Lately, I’ve started having visions while awake. When I put Sky’s tiara in my safe, I had a feeling there was something bad about to happen related to what she told me last night. But I don’t know anything more specific.

“Okay but if whatever bad you’re sensing isn’t going to be caused by her mate, we must tell Alpha Tyson everything you know. He’s her mate, if he wants her, he deserves the chance to help protect her.” Morgan stated.

“Agreed.” I replied.

Morgan walked around his desk and sat down, loading up his computer. “Now then, how do you want to start searching for information about her? Since you don’t even know her real name.”

“Anyway that we could search the council database? She’s registered as a lone wolf.” I ask first.

“We’d have to go to the council for that. And they’ll get suspicious if we don’t even know her real name.” Morgan replied.

“I don’t know her real name, but I’m pretty sure she didn’t make up names when she talked about her siblings. And I have a specific event and time to search.” I said. I told Morgan about her having a younger brother, Aden who would be about the same age as Lily. About her sister Kate and about her mother’s execution.

“A Luna being executed would definitely be documented. When did this happen?” Morgan asked.

“About 3.5 years ago.” I answered.

“I think I found it. The Crimson Shadow Pack’s Luna was executed around that time.”

“Are there any pictures of the Alpha family, the kids maybe?” I asked.

“Oh, this isn’t good.” Morgan said as he opened a file.

“What’s not good?”

“The Alpha filed a complaint about his eldest daughter going missing along with an open missing pup case regarding his son. It says upon further investigation, the pack detectives believe Celeste Masters kidn*pped her younger siblings. The Alpha states, as she has committed this atrocious of a crime, she will no longer be the pack’s successor. He will only spare her life if she returns Aden by his next birthday so that he can begin training to take over the pack.” Morgan continued reading through the files and found the missing person’s pictures which only were of Sky (aka Celeste) and her brother Aden. There was no pictures of Kate and the only possible mention of her was when the file referenced siblings as in plural.

Then Morgan brought up a picture of the Crimson Shadow Pack’s Alpha, Colton and former Luna, Lilith. Upon seeing the picture, I began having one of my visions. There was a little girl on the ground, crying and bleeding. I’ve never seen her before, but she was dying. I recognized Sky and the Crimson Shadow Alpha arguing a few feet away from her. Just as quickly as my vision came, it was gone.

“He’s going to kill Kate. And he has something even worse in store for Sky … I mean Celeste.” I blurt out as I stumble to the couch in the room to sit down. My visions you’d think they’d be harmless, but I always feel drained, hot and overwhelmed like I just woke up from a nightmare. Almost all of my visions are bad, I’ve only ever had a few good ones and it was the opposite feeling. Like gently waking up from a good dream you want to return to.

Morgan goes to his mini fridge and grabs me a bottle of water.

“Thanks, man.” I say, taking it.

“Does this mean we should talk to her mate?” Morgan asks as he sits back down.

“We still don’t know if he’s involved. I mean, what if he’s the reason the Crimson Alpha finds her. Her father somehow hasn’t found her for three years. I don’t think he knows where she is yet.”

Morgan rubs his neck again but reluctantly agrees. “I’m going to see if there’s any connections between the Crimson Shadow Pack and the Flaming Heart Pack. I’ll make sure to see if Tyson has ever been there or ever just casually met the Alpha before. But if there’s really no connection, then we need to involve him.”

“Okay agreed.” I say and then I sit and think more about it. “Can you print out the missing person’s information. I don’t think she knows.”

“You’re probably right. The only way she would know is if the council told her and they’d only investigate a lone wolf if they committed murder or were a potential threat.” Morgan replies.

“Can I take the rest of the day off? I want to warn her.” I ask.

“Yeah. Alpha Tyson would probably be glad to not run into you again. Just keep me updated this time. If you find out anything else that could help, let me know.” Morgan says. I stand to leave and before I do, he adds, “And Zeke, be careful bro. You don’t have to play hero all alone.”

I nod and know I can turn to Morgan or anyone else in our pack for help but for now, I’m protecting a secret that isn’t mine to tell. I head straight for my truck and don’t realize until I’m on the highway again, that I forgot her tiara.

I decide not to turn around and just keep going. I vaguely remember the way we went last night to get to her house. It was dark though and she hadn’t given me the address. So the rest of the way I rely on my senses to find it. I’m able to pick up the scent of the boy when I get closer, he obviously comes out by the other houses to play.

I find her house on the same dead end road with the lake behind the house. Now seeing it in daylight, I can tell she takes pride in her home. The deck is clean and inviting, there’s flowers along the walkway. There’s a tree with two swings attached to it in the backyard as well as a small garden. The paint and roofing make the place look brand new.

I park on the street so as not to block her in. I noticed right away that her SVU is not there but instead a little black Prius. I can tell her brother Aden is home though so I decide to knock anyways.

The boy that comes to the door is as tall as Celeste with her same blonde hair. I automatically get the same good vibes from him that I had with Celeste. But I also get a sense of power emanating from him. He’s definitely a future Alpha. “Hi, my name is Zeke. I’m looking for Celeste. I…” I realize that I have no good excuse for being there. If I say, I’m here friend, he’d just ask why I don’t have her phone number.

“She’s not here right now and I’m really not supposed to talk to strangers.” He says but then he looks behind him and lowers his voice. “You’re a werewolf, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I am. Your senses are really strong for not having shifted yet.” I reply. He looks at me curiously.

“Did my dad send you?” He asks and starts taking a protective stance like he might fight me if I answer wrong. I’m caught off guard by that question. How much does he know about what’s going on? What did Celeste tell him about what’s happening?

“No. I’m the Gamma of the Obsidian Ocean Pack not far from here.” I answer honestly and wait to see what he says.

“Are you my sister’s mate?” He blurts out.

“No I’m not. But I know who her mate is.” I answer truthfully. I just have this feeling that lying to this kid would be wrong. “Has your dad sent people to find you before?”

He looks scared when I ask that question. “Someone from our pack found me at school.” He looks down at his feet, looking more like just a kid, and my bad feeling comes back.

“I’m guessing you don’t want to return to your old pack?” I ask.

“Not if my dad’s there. But I don’t know. When my sister became a lone wolf, something happened. I became stronger, more powerful. I can’t really explain it. I had this overwhelming sense of responsibility.” He’s describing the power change that happens, if the oldest Alpha child dies or is banished and the succession falls to the next oldest Alpha child.

“I really need to find Celeste to warn her, she’s in danger.” I explain.

He doesn’t say anything for a moment and his eyes glaze over a shade darker. Then he finally speaks. “My wolf says I can trust you.” He replies. “Celeste is at the hospital with Kate.”

He tells me which hospital and I thank him and head that way. I go to the children’s floor then follow Celeste’s scent down to the room they’re in. The door is open and she’s in a room with walls that are all windows with blinds and curtains for privacy. The blinds are open so she could see me approaching the room. I hear her tell Kate she’ll be right back.

“What the hell are you doing here?” She asks pulling me down a hall to a more secluded spot.

“You weren’t home and I really needed to talk to you.” I reply.

“Is this about my mate again?” She asks her expression softening and I can tell she’s given the topic more thought since last night.

“No. Well actually I meet the guy. But that’s not what I need to talk to you about.” I rush explaining.

“You meet him? How?” She asks.

“He smelled your scent on my clothes from us dancing last night.” I explain.

“Why didn’t you shower and change?” She questions.

“I didn’t have time. Morgan needed me to… Ugh. You do know I’m the Gamma right? I have responsibilities, duties.” I return.

“I’m sorry.” She says and looks away nervously before asking, “What’s my mate like?” She asks shyly.

“I don’t really know him.” I reply. I don’t really want to paint him in a bad light just because we got off on the wrong foot, in case it turns out he’s a decent guy. “He was really polite to our Luna. He’s tall…” I add lamely. “His pack is in an alliance with our pack.”

“Oh. What did you need to talk to me about?” She quickly changes topic but I can tell she’s still curious about her mate.

“This.” I hand her the missing person’s file and the article about the Alpha offering to spare her if she returns Aden.

I give her a chance to read through things and then add, “And there’s something else.”

“What else could there be?” She says holding back tears, she looks petrified. I’m hesitant to tell her about my vision. Some werewolves think I’m crazy when I talk about my ability. But that’s not the only reason. I feel bad giving her so much more to worry about.

I pull her into my side in an awkward side hug to comfort her. As soon as my arm wraps around her I have another vision. This time I see her mate. He’s holding her and then it changes to him pushing her behind him in a protective stance. Dozens of shifted werewolves surround them about to attack.

I hear Celeste asking me if I’m okay and snap out of my vision. “I’m sorry. I’m fine. I need to get back to my pack.”

“Okay. Thanks for warning me about my father.” She says sincerely, clearly not sure what else to say about it.

“Celeste, I really think you should give your mate a chance.” I say.

“I…” she begins but is cut off when a doctor walks up to us.

“Excuse me, ma’am. I have Kate’s results.” He says. “Could we speak privately?”

“You can tell me in front of him, it’s fine.” She replies.

“I actually have some very good news.” The doctor begins and then explains how they don’t use the word cured but she is cancer free and her immune system has improved enough that she can be cleared for school.

Celeste looks stunned but then starts crying and hugs the doctor. “I have to tell Kate.” The doctor offers to talk to her as well, explain some precautions she’ll still need to take and heads to Kate’s room.

Celeste pauses and turns back to me. “I was going to call you later. But so that you have my number.” She pulls out her phone and calls me. I save her contact without answering and then leave feeling a little better about the situation but extremely conflicted about not telling her everything.

When I get back to my pack, I pass Alpha Tyson. He looks frustrated but also really worried.

I send Celeste a quick text message and when she responds I approach Tyson. “Hey, any luck finding her?”

“I checked the B&B, she’d already checked out and they didn’t have any names on file that could have been her.” He explained. “I know this is unusual but ever since I sensed her last night, it’s like out connection started falling in place right away. I mean normally we can’t sense our mates emotions, pain, or if they’re in trouble until we’re fully mated but I…. ugh never mind.” He cuts off before finishing.

“No, what is it?” I pressed.

“I think I did feel her. She was really scared, sad, and overwhelmed last night. And then today there was this moment earlier, I think she was terrified of something. My wolf has been just racing in my mind, telling me I need to protect her.” He explains sincerely and I get another one of my feelings that tell me he really isn’t a bad guy at all.

“I think I can help you. I gave her my number last night and she called me because she lost the tiara she was wearing at the ball. I could give you her number. Maybe you guys could arrange a meet up.” I suggested and pulled up her number. After he punched it into his phone, I headed up to Morgan’s office, mind linking him where I was.

I filled Morgan in on everything. About someone from their pack talking to Aden at school, about the new vision I had, and about failing to tell Celeste about my visions.

“We need to involve Tyson.” Morgan insisted.

“About that, I already got the ball rolling on getting them to meet.”