Chapter 1

“O Goddess, by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest, send your Holy Angel to watch over this grave.” 

I hated traveling, away from my pack. As the Alpha of Blue Moon, I never have time for anything more than pack business. Canon the youngest sibling of my dear friend Alpha Dane, of the Crest Water Pack, was murdered almost a week ago.  Dane wouldn't talk specifics over the phone. Bring my best warriors, he pleated. Two weeks, that's all he needs. 

I owned him one. Dane owned me three. We were in the Maine Corp together. Two tours in Iraq. My second tour Alpha Dane was assigned to the same unit as me. It was nice to have another werewolf to talk to. My wolf and I got bored with each other long ago. Alpha Dane is my brother in arms. Our packs are allies. 

My dad Alpha Jones encouraged all in his pack to join the Armed Forces.  It was family tradition that all males in the Alpha family to join. My choice the Marines. My father’s philosophy behind this was simple you spend your life in service to the pack and family, a few years to your country was an honor. Training, discipline, and technical skills can be acquired. Plus learning  to dealing with humans, and wolf control where much needed bonus. 

I arrived just as the Crest Water Pack was arriving at the cemetery.  I sent my warriors to settle in at the cabins that Dane had set up for us.  As I joined the mourners in the back.  

I watched with a heavy heart as Canon’s mom, dad and sister place wild flowers on his casket. Alpha Dane, and Luna Marquee followed behind.  A little she wolf with blond hair that I assume was Canon recently acquired mate, Bata Declan, a few warriors.  

A human? Dane had mentioned that Canon had a human friend,  that he became closed to during his time Germany. But for them to actually be allowed to come to his funeral is unheard of. Plus, I assumed Canon friend was a male. 

She looked too young to the friends with Canon.  To sexy, to be respectful to have here with his mate.  She looked almost childlike standing behind the warriors. She placed blue bell flowers that seemed to glow on Canon casket.  The fate flowers of loyalty and gratitude. 

"Thanks for coming, Mark." Said Alpha Dane, I didn’t even see him walk over to me.  I was to engrossed in a fantasy of smacking that human’s bare ass, right before I tore her into two. Fuck, human females have been my guilty pleasure for a while.  I get release without it causing she-wolf pack drama. No bullshit for my future mate, if I ever find her, to deal with. But as always business first. 

"Sorry for your loss. Canon was a good man.  I would have been here sooner. As you know the logistic of moving with this many warriors, is a nightmare " I unintentionally said harshly. Blue moon pack was largest in the Midwest.  We were located in Northern Michigan will territories stretching just north of Lansing. “This must be about more than Canon and simple revenge, because you and I would have had it done days ago.” 

"Way more! Canon death, was just the tip of the ice burge. Thank you, my brother, for coming" stated Dane as he grabbed me in a bro hug." Come on and ride with Marquee, the kids  and I to the packhouse. We can talk in my office. If Liz doesn’t get a to spend a little time with you, she will be a monster for her mom all day." 

Liz was Dane youngest, so far.  Princess Dimples, age 3, with curls and lisp. I am her favorite person in the whole wide world.  

Dane packhouse was huge.  Two wings, three stories 50 rooms, 10 suites. 5 pack offices, 2 over the top conference rooms. 2 large kitchens. Laundry and maid services, for the cabins, for visit packs. I always make fun of him, for over doing his hospitality. That he should just open a resort for wolfs. 

His office was on the second floor all the way down the hall, in the back.  Old fashion décor, dark wood, book shelves and leather. 

Dane pours two whiskeys over ice, and walked over to his desk. Place one down in front of him, the other in front of me on his desk. Liquor cart with crystal glasses and decanters, fit in with the decor of the office. 

"Trust me, you want to sit down" Dane said taking long drink from his glass. 

"It was long fight, and drive here. I prefer to stand. Must be bad, liquor before noon." I said as I grab my drinking, inhaling the single malt, barrel aged whiskey. I take a sip. Love the burn. 

Dane laid a few folders in front of me. "For your reading pleasure " 

I grabbed the folders and went to make myself comfortable on the couch. Meeting between Alphas are usually just a conversation. Handshake, or fight seals the deal. Not folders. Not more fucking paperwork. Paperwork was pack business, treaties and such. Shit, Dane's pack and my pack treaty is on I Hops napkin.  I might need something stronger than Whiskey. 

File #1 case 1 

Seymour, Michael age 19 pack Silver Sky Moon. Crabapple Village. 

Found dead of single gunshot to the abdominal cavity by patrol on June 14th at 0230 1.2 miles inside pack territory. 1/2 N.E. of Vine Creek Village in the woods. 

No other cent was found in the area. After search no other evidence was found. 

"Has he shifted before?" I asked Dane. 

"Yes, his mother said just one month before his 16th birthday." 

"One bullet? Not possible. " I stated. 

"Read on." Dane sounded exhausted.   

.38 mm. Bullet. No major organs hit; no arteries hit. No drugs, no alcohol, positive for wolf's bane and .0005 gram of silver in the blood panels. hmmm, still shouldn't have killed him, I thought to himself.  

The rest of the report was boring. If Michael had any enemies, no. Girlfriend or mate issues. No. Well liked in the community. Well-liked by command. He was in training to be a warrior. 

The next 14 cases read the same. # 16 was Canon, I couldn’t bring myself to read his.  I knew it was going to be pretty much the same, but it was Canon.  I was here visiting when he first shifted at 16.  I have called his mom, mom for 7 years now. 

File #2 case 1 

George Town, pack Sintu, 38 dead, mostly women including Luna Sara George. 12 female pups age 10-15 taken. 

  

Alarm of attack sent out by mind l**k at 2330 on July 1. Warriors, the Alpha, and Beta went to meet the attack. After all attackers were destroyed, they returned to pack house, to find the bodies of 37 women and the Luna dead. Single gun shots.

.38, .45, .22, and 9mm bullets. No major organs hit, no arteries hits. No drugs, no alcohol, positive for wolf's bane and .0005 gram of silver in the blood panels.  

Pack statics = 502 members 

                         200 men/200women 102 pups  

                          6 members in Alpha family  

                          4 members in Bata family  

Economy = stocks, hotels, general laborers  

                     Pack value $3.4 million 

Rival= none, peace pack. 

Holy fuck! That's all I got. I thought to myself.  

File #2 case 2 

Silver Creek, pack Pale Moon, 12 dead, women. 6 female pups age 10-15 taken. 

Alarm of attack sent out by mind l**k at 2030 on July 3. Warriors, the Alpha, and Beta went to meet the attack. After all attackers were destroyed, they returned to pack house, to find the bodies of 12 women. Single gun shots.

Female pups were discovered missing at 0315 when warriors were sent to escort them home from underground bunker shelter#2. 

.38, .45, .22, and 9mm bullets. No major organs hit, no arteries hits. No drugs, no alcohol, positive for wolf's bane and .0005 gram of silver in the blood panels. 

Pack statics = 1532 members 

                         514 men/516women 502 pups  

                          3 members in Alpha family  

                          2 members in Bata family  

Economy = stocks, land, farming cattle  

                     Pack value $34.4 million 

Rival= none, peaceful pack. 

A total of 12 more cases in this file. All the same, some of the demographic changed. Single gunshots, female victims. Female pups taken. 

"Before you get to the third file. We need talk. And I see you and I need another drink. " Dane said as he walks refilled my drink, sat down the whiskey decanter between us as he sat on the other end of the couch. 

We were both quiet for a few. Drinking in our hands. I meet Luna Sara once; the whole George family were good people. A little out dated, but good people. Even my grandfather, who hated everyone like Luna Sara. He said she could make a badger smile. 

All these packs where within a 600-mile radius here. Hundreds of deaths, over 100 pups kidnapped. I live over 800 miles from here. My pack the Blue Moon has over 15,000 pack members.  We live in little villages in our territory, with my pack house being center. Nothing more than a few rough attacks has happened this year. 

"I have so many questions. First off, these "hit" was almost 4 fucking months ago.  Why am I just finding out about this!" I am pissed seeing red doesn't even come close." What the fuck man, we are friends. Bros and all that good shit. My pack could be trouble, and not a fucking word!" Breath count to 10, beating in face would just make me feel bad later, maybe. 

"For fucks sake, Mark we just put this together! My brother Canon just died! We are wolves, and live-in packs remember, it isn’t like we share information" Dane was on his feet shaking in anger, counting to 10 wasn't going to work for him either. He looks grief stricken.  Canon was the youngest, and his only brother.  They were always close. Dane has bragged about his brother since the day I met him. “Canon started putting it together. He was visiting his mate, when #14 happen.”  

"Dane, I am sorry. I will help you in every way, I can. I am going to rip these mother fuckers to shreds!" Silence, sadness and anger filled the air. I fill my glass, and drank it straight down. Drinking hard liquor before noon, and straight on to another sunrise sounds about right.