CHAPTER 8

ALFRED POV

I saw uncertainty and doubt in her eyes and I know she doesn’t trust me, that made me suspicious of her answer when she told me where she came from.

Is her name even Hanni?

I pondered and wondered what could be wrong as I came out to meet my beta who was standing by the door and all thoughts of my mate evaporated when I saw the distress in his eyes.

“I am guessing this is about the poison case” I said briskly, using my fingers to pinch the bridge of my nose, I do that anytime I am stressed.

“Yes Alpha and there is more” he said quietly, obviously counting his words.

“Spill it Andre” I growled impatiently, “ you didn’t bring me out here to play games, did you?”

He strengthened his back and looked at me with sad eyes, his glasses amplifying the emotion on his face.

“No Alpha. I just got word that we have lost thirteen of the afflicted and the pack physicians cannot decipher the substance they took or what they inhaled but what they know is that the poison is very active and it destroys the human organs hours after digestion.”

“What are you saying beta? You haven’t said anything of importance here, what kind of poison is it? How is it digested? Is there a remedy? Andre, are you telling me that I just lost fifteen of my pack members and I don’t know what killed them?” I asked, fighting the urge to break something…..anything!

“Alfred” he calls me by my name anytime he wishes to calm me down, “ I am equally frustrated, but we need to be patient and hear from the doctors personally before we can plan the next line of action.”

I paced around my study, thinking, planning on how to get out of this mess. I need to know what I’m dealing with here, I just lost fifteen of my pack members, I can’t rest.

If it were an attack, I need to be aware of it fast before it spreads.

“Beta, I need you to gather some of the palace guards and round up anyone and everyone connected to the wolves poisoned and also look out for any shared attributes or similarities of the seventeen wolves that were poisoned.” I said with my fist clenched.

“Ok Alpha, that shall be taken care off tonight” he said as he stands up to leave, but I held his shoulders and he sat back down.

“Alfred, do not worry, we will get to the bottom of this” he said earnestly.

“I do not like this at all Andre, this is an attack I am not familiar with, I understand battle and swords, but not this.”

Fuck! I am supposed to be with my mate right now, making effort to make her comfortable with me, trying to know her for this has been my wish and desire for the longest of time…..me, finding my mate finally, but here I am, attending to pack matters, that if it were war, I could have already taken care of it with my sword, but how will I fight this affliction if my most renowned physician doesn’t  even know it’s name? I have to protect my pack and my mate, for I know she is troubled.

“You can go Andre” I said moving towards the window with my hands tucked in my pockets.

***************

I found myself staring at the window in my study facing the gardens, lost in thought, not knowing how long I stood there but was returned back to consciousness when I heard someone called my name.

“Alfred? Alpha? ALFRED!”

“Yes…yes” I replied turning to see Marcus sitting on the chair across my table.

“Yes yes? I have been calling you for over an hour…why are you so deep in thought? And it looks like you haven’t gotten any sleep” he asked concerned.

“Over an hour? Really buddy?” I asked, letting out a small laugh.

Typical Marcus! Always finding a way to bring in a joke.

“Ok. It’s not up to an hour, but…..”

“It’s not even up to a minute!” I replied, pulling up a chair to sit beside him.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes like he was praying fervently for patience and then he opened his eyes and turned sideways, facing me.

“Alfred, I just saw Andre in town with some palace guards, he updated me about the recent events and I must say it’s shocking. The community haven’t been alerted yet….”

I shook my head frantically and placed my face in my arms.

“No Marcus, the news shouldn’t be out yet and we are still not sure what this is about so we shouldn’t create any panic.”

“That’s right…..but what do you think this is? Seventeen wolves poisoned? do you think this is an attack? It cannot be random right?” He asked, his face showing lines of confusion.

“That I don’t know for sure. That’s why I sent Andre to investigate it thoroughly and he should be back with a report any moment from now.”

“Ok! Can’t wait” he said with a big yawn, “ but you haven’t gotten any sleep Alfred, you need to rest, I can see stress lines all over your face.”

I shook my head and smiled for he was right, I haven’t gotten any rest since the tournament and I didn’t see that happening for me anytime soon, not when I have issues to take care of.

And Hanni…….

As if Marcus read my mind, he suddenly sat up and with excitement in his eyes, he looked at me and asked, “About your mate, do you know anything about her?”

“No Marcus, I just know her name is Hanni and she travelled here to see her aunt, who is currently out of town” I replied.

“Oh….ok” he said, looking at me eagerly, expecting me to continue.

“Yeah, that’s it. But I know there’s something more because she is so eager to leave, even after I offered her my hospitality.”

“Yes…..” he said deep in thought, “ because why was she lying in the gardens earlier?”

“True, well I plan to get to the bottom of this by morning because she isn’t going anywhere, except she…..”

I was interrupted by Andre who entered my study hurriedly with his glasses lopsided.

“Alpha, this is an attack!”