Chapter 3

After a great lunch with my little niece, and my nephews.  I headed to the training grounds.  The kids asked me all kinds of questions like my favorite color, my fucking middle name.  Nothing like getting asked 20 questions by a bunch of little pups. At least my brain got a moment of peace.  This puzzle is going to cause a lot of sleepless nights.  No evidence at the scene. No scent left behind.  Everything has a scent. Why are they taking the female pups?  Concentrating on the females in these pack attacks.  Why the single attacks?  They are connected by silver/ wolf’s bane laced bullets. But why? 

“Alpha Mark, over here.” Called my Bata.  I ran over to him. “What’s this all about? Why the heighted security for our pack? The problem is here, right?” 

“The problem is big, and never underestimate the how far evil will travel. Let’s hope we can help stop it here before it effects our pack.” I hate not telling him, the only solace I have is he will find out soon enough. “After this test,” he gave me the stink eye,” yes, a fucking test Asher.  Meet me in the Alpha Dane’s office.  We will bring you up to date.”   

“All test come with prep work, Mark” Bata Asher stated. “It’s not fair to test us without letting us know what you are testing.” 

“It’s a test of your battle skills.  Sometime you don’t have all the information going in.  Sometime you have none.  But you still protect the pack, Right?” I stated as Alpha Dane’s, Bata Declan walked up to us. 

“Are you always this cocky Alpha Mark? Nice to see you both again!” stated Bata Declan, with a knowing grin.  

 “Any hints on this test?” Asher asked Declan.  

“You don’t need #2 pencils.” Declan answered sarcastically. “Honestly, we don’t know why, or how we failed. Stasia will let us know after you guys go though. I am beginning to think this is a Kobayashi Maru. Ughhhhh.”    

“Must you always answer with a Star Trek or Star Wars reference?” groaned Asher. 

“umm, answer is yes.” Declan stated. 

“Who the fuck is Stasia?” Asher asked Declan. 

“Oh, that is a surprise as well. Great is the Force with female this one. ummmm” Declan ended in his not so best Yoda voice. 

“Come gather around. Your missions will start in 20 minutes. Alpha Mark, and Bata Asher split your groups into two. Equal number warriors.” The loud voice of Alpha Dana came over the crowd. Though mind l**k my Bata and I starting splitting up the warriors.

Alpha Dane came over to us. “Which group goes first? Yours or Asher’s?” 

“Mine, Alpha should always lead.” I stated short and sweet. 

“OK, team Alpha this is a two-part test.  It’s a pass or Fail.  No in-between. Urban combat, minimal civil casualties. The goal is to save the Luna in the mist of battle.  Although civil casualties count will not affect outcome.  Missing one rough will greatly.  Shooting up everything auto lose. This test is running by a computer program. But has an added things to make it more real.  Scent.  All civils will smell like my pack members.  All rouges like pickles. All weapons are laser and send info on who has been hit. Taking off the head, will also count as kill.  As a “rouge” is killed, the manikin will disappear. Pretty easy right? The light on your arm, if it yellow you are injured, but can still fight. Orange you are injured but can’t fight. Red means you are dead. Please step to the side.  Grab your weapons clear the town. You have 10 minutes to save the Luna.” Alpha Dane commanded. 

We took off. I didn’t grab a weapon. Save the Luna.  We could do that. How can we lose? Famous last words. Manikins popping up everywhere. I can spell Luna Marquee from here.  Where is she? 

I can feel time slipping away. Fuck, where is the Luna.  I see her, her light is orange I go running at her. A manikin pops up, her light went read.” Don’t be to mad Alpha Mark, Dane didn’t make it as far as you did.” Luna Marquee said laughing.  I didn’t think it was fucking funny.  

The next test was stupid.  Searching a prisoner.  We found all kinds of stupid shit on them.  A plastic knife, a safety pin, chewing gun. We did find one real knife, some directions to the camp, and bag labeled “wolf’s bane”.  Cheesy but easy. This is where I got cocky, at least we didn’t fail both tests. Right……..., so, so wrong. 

Feeling defeated, and pissed. We were led into the conference like room to wait for our second team.  For the life of me I didn’t understand how we could fail.  I grabbed a water, set down next to Dane and his Bata. 

“I heard...” I put one figure up warning Dane to shut the fuck up.  

“I don’t give a fuck what you heard.  That test is wrong.  There is no fucking way I failed!” my words were seething out of me. Fail was a four-letter word; I have never used.  

I see Asher walk in; his looks pissed. He must have failed as well.  He grabs a water, notices us and heads right at us.  Anger building with every step. With the force of a volcano, he yelled “That bitch Stasia made a Kobayashi Maru. Meant to fail, so you understand failure happens in life.  Fucking bullshit! What game is she playing? The lose of a Luna is devastating to a pack.” 

“I am the bitch. Everyone, please settle down,” Stasia turns out to be the human at Canon funeral. The fucking chick with ass.  She stood a 5 ft something, all in black. I had no idea they made jump boots that small. Black cargo paints, black t-shirt, never looked so fucking sexy.  A glock strapped to her side, knifes everywhere. Brown hair braided and put in buns. Blue piercing eyes. Fuck me please, I think I am in love. At least for the night. 

“Stop drooling Mark.” Dane whispered. “Pay attention. I will personality introduce you later.” 

“I have all night people, settle down.  I don’t care what Bata Declan said I did not create a Kobayashi Maru.” Did I see a slight laugh in her eye? A few more minutes passed.  No one seemed to care what she had to say, except Dane and myself. I care mostly because her lips where plumb, and she kept biting her bottom lip. “Listen up, I said settle down. What the fuck, we are all adult. I shouldn’t have to fucking yell! It’s no skin off my ass, I can get on flight and go home.  I don’t have to be here; I choose to be.  Canon was my friend.  I owe him one.” The little one has spark. Oh, this old dog, wants to play with her kitten. I wonder what type of friends, they were? Fuck, I knew the answer to that one. One look at her, I knew there is no way he wasn’t fucking her. This might ruin my plans for later. Damn it. I can’t win, today! 

“Thank you, Alpha Mark, Bata Asher, and the Blue Moon Pack for coming here today.  Alpha Dane has spoken highly of all of you. Thank you, Crest Water Moon pack, for having me. I know that we are all mourning the loss of Canon.  I am Stasia Faite.  A human friend of Canon, we meet while he was in Germany.  All ten packs tested all failed.  Only the members here today will know why at this point. Alpha Dane has asked that I don’t speak on the specifics about what is going on. Only on the test.  He did ask me to tell you, that he and Alpha Mark will be going into more detail later on tonight.” She stopped to take a breath and drink a little water. She has perfect peachy pink fullish lips.  A growl escaped my lips. I have to stop. “These tests are to show you, your packs weakness. To be truthful, it is one that not only werewolves are known for.  But most American males in general as well. Women.” 

Cat calls, whistles. “let me show you weakness.” Someone yelled from the group. Another growl escaped my lips. I need to keep my wolf in check. 

She threw a knife and hit the guy in the arm. “Underestimated us as well.” She stated.” Sorry, Alpha Dane. I wont throw anymore knifes at your guys.” He looked pissed and impressed to be honest. 

“He will heal.  Mike come see me afterwards.  I believe, I told you all to give Stasia the same respect you give our Bata. You failed!” 

My wolf was jumping, chasing his own tail. As fresh air hit us from the side door being open. Lilacs, cherry blossoms, and rain.  Home I thought, “Mate” my wolf said. “Mate? Seriously.” I said to my wolf.  

“Shit, you guys heal quickly, right?” She chuckled before starting again. A universal murmur of yes. “Okay, good. During test number one. All ten packs tested failed.  The reason the Luna died, is because you failed to see the threat in the female rouges. Every female rouge you let pass, or failed to notices moved closer to the Luna.  Test one was program as battle in action. Meaning the Luna was in inmate danger. Every female rouge you failed to get to at least get to orange cost you a half of second on the clock. It also activated a rouge closer to her. Never underestimate your enemy. Teach your wife, mother, sisters, girlfriends to at least protect themselves. These female rouges are trained to fight.  Not sure how much. But enough to have killed a Luna, a few hundred other females from various packs. Kidnapped over 100 little girls as well.” Gasp and question were flying all over. My wolf no longer cares about why we are here. Only her, our fucking mate. Fuck me. 

“No questions, please ask your Alphas later. The second test.  I will let the people you searched show you. Group one, please show what weapons you still have on you.” Stasia asks the group. A switch blade knife in the hair, a derringer between the boobs, another in a gun holster on the inner thigh. Bobbie pins. “Group two.”  Much of the same items. But also, a cell phone, in a bra. A map down the front of a girl’s pants. “Underestimating the protentional cunning of those that wish, you and your pack harm can and will get you killed. Oh, never leave bobby pins in a female’s hair. I can pick locks with it. Not hard to learn honestly.” 

Luna Marquee walked up to Stasia in front of the two parks. “Alpha Mark I need to ask you a favor, come up here please.” Said the Luna, as that little vixen Stasia smiled at me.  My wolf howling in delight.