Chapter 2

Alpha Conrad’s POV

I pinch the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger, praying for some good news from the man standing in front of me. Lately everything that comes out of his mouth is nothing but complete shit. If his disheveled hair and hollow expression is any indication of how this conversation will go, then I am already pissed. “Just tell me Doc…” I say through gritted teeth.

The doctor collapses in one of the chairs in front of my office desk. His tired eyes telling me everything his momentary silence isn’t. We have a crisis on our hands with no solution in sight.

For the past three months, the Northeastern territory has been under attack and not by rogues or other packs wanting to expand their territories, but by an illness. A disease none of our doctors or specialists can figure out. As werewolves we rarely get sick because our bodies are able to heal at a much faster pace then a normal human being. We occasionally will need surgery for broken bones or medicine for minor issues, but never something like this. To see werewolves getting sick and dying is practically unheard of.

"Alpha, this is the third wolf just this week in our own pack that’s suddenly gone feral! It’s like they are turning into zombies!” Doc says with such defeat in his voice. “I also got word from the other pack hospitals of a few more casualties.”

Because the North is the largest and most heavily populated area of the magical kingdom of werewolves. The Ancient Alpha King of the North decided to divide up the land into territories, giving each of his closest advisors a section to rule over as Alpha. Each werewolf pack would have their own Alpha Commander to make sure the packs are running smoothly. My family has been the Alpha for the Northeastern territory for over 100 years, and I am not letting my family’s legacy become tarnish because of this unsolvable crisis!

My beta, Sean, snorts in anger. “Wolves don’t turn into Zombies. You’re being an idiot bro! Did Mom drop you on your head when you were a baby? How the hell did you get your medicine license with that kind of thinking!” Sean smacks his younger brother across the back of the head, most likely trying to raddle his brain back into place.

Doc jumps to his feet and is nose to nose with Sean, anger flashes through his eyes. Definitely going to have to let those two duke it out on the training ground later. “Then how do you explain what’s happening to the packs in our territory! If we aren’t careful, it could spread all across the North!” Doc throws his hands up and growls before pacing back and forth.

The brothers continue their argument, but I tune them out. My mind is filled with what if’s that have been unanswered for a while now. This situation with the sick wolves is getting out of control. At first, we thought it was just a couple of wolves getting a fever and losing their mind before turning rogue. But slowly others started showing symptoms after they were bitten or scratched. Within weeks, the territories’ pack hospitals were filled with sick wolves.

Just then, my Gamma and Delta walk into the room and take seats on the couch in the corner. I give them a wearily look. “And where have you two been? The meeting started about ten minutes ago?”

“Sorry man, Canice and I were stuck at the training grounds. One of the warriors suddenly went crazy! He kept trying to attack everyone. We had to put him in the dungeon for now, but no one can get close to him without him trying to bite them.” Shamus, my Gamma, informs me while Canice, my Delta, nods in agreement.

“Shit… Were you bitten or scratched?” I mumble as I hold my breath, but they both shake their heads, and I am filled with a sense of relief. “So far it is only pack members who were getting sick. If warriors get sick, the weaker members won’t stand a chance if they are attacked by feral warriors.”

Gamma Shamus scratches the back of his head, deep in thought. “Yeah, Warrior Davis wasn’t even supposed to be at the training grounds this morning. His wife just had a baby. That’s one of the reasons we didn’t kill him.”

“Do we know what is causing the illness? What is causing the sudden fevers?” I try to keep the meeting going in a calm manner, but I am losing my patience on not being able to find a solution and the constant bickering between the doc and my beta.

Doc shakes his head and plops back down into the chair before running his fingers through his hair. “We have run every test on the sickness we have available to us. Everything comes back negative. All we know is something happens when a wolf gets bitten.”

“That isn’t what I was hoping to hear since the crisis started three months ago!” I growl out.

“I know Alpha, me too, but… one second.” Doc’s phone rings and he pulls it out of his pocket to check the screen. He jumps up and quickly types back before pacing back and forth again.

“Larcon, dammit brother, sit down! You are making me crazy with all this up and down bullshit!” Beta Sean says as he tries to grab his brother’s arm to pull him back down to the chair.

Doc pulls himself away from the phone and looks at me with wide eyes. “I did it!”

The rest of us all look at him curiously. “Did what, doc?”

“I may have a solution if we can get the States’ Alpha King to agree!” Doc shouts in excitement.

“The States?” Beta Sean asks as he picks up the medical folder Doc brought earlier and skims through it again. “Do we have to involve outsiders?”

Doc nods his head fervently. “There’s a doctor in the states who is known as the Sherlock of Medicine. Their research on wolfsbane vaccination was a pretty impressive read and many state packs are pining to sign up their warriors for the trials! I also have read several medical reports and journals about the doctor being able to solve medical mysteries in the werewolf and other magical communities.”

I lean back in my chair for a moment to think. Bringing in someone from the states could be costly and what if they want compensation? How much would all this costs? What if they can’t help us? Or refuse to help us? I am one of the wealthiest and youngest Alpha leaders in the North so money is not an issue, but we have several projects in the works that will benefit the packs greatly to consider.

My wolf, Titus broke through my thoughts, ‘We need this doctor. I don’t know why, but I just feel it is important that they come here.’ He seems on edge since the doctor was mentioned which isn’t like him. Titus is very calm, unless provoked then he is a beast to be reckoned with.

“Do we know which pack this Sherlock of Medicine is from?” I say, letting my wolf’s words sink in.

“Yes, Alpha. They are from the Blue Eclipse Pack. It’s the Royal Pack of the States. That’s why I am so excited! I was able to get a phone call for today with Alpha King Mars. He doesn’t just answer phone calls for any random werewolf off the street! Please Alpha. Let me at least ask about the Sherlock of Medicine? We can’t let this opportunity go to waste!” Doc words are laced with a desperate ply for help.

“How did you get this meeting?” Cadice asks out of curiosity.

Doc smiles a devilish grin. “I called in a favor from an old lover who happens to be the secretary of Alpha King Brandt.”

Sneaky bastard, I shake my head at Doc before turning back to the other paperwork on my desk that is piling up. “Make the call…” I watch him as he practically skips out of my office with glee, but then I realize something. “Wait...” He turns to look at me. “What is this doctor’s name?”

“Dr. Benji Mason. That’s all I know.” He says before exiting my office.

Beta Sean snorts out a laugh. “Geeze… What kind of wolf is he? A pansy male doctor?”

“His name doesn’t matter as long as he finds a solution to our problem!” Canice punches Sean in the arm. “And don’t be a dick. Or I will tell everyone your middle name… Mary.” The last word is drawn out cause me to chuckle under my breath in amusement. Sean playfully jumps onto Canice as the two men wrestle on the couch while Shamus attempts to sit his large bruiting body on top of their heads.

A knock at the door and a familiar floral scent causes me to sit up a bit straighter. Even my men know that scent. Sean rolls his eyes. “Here… Wrap it up. Don’t want any pups from that she-wolf!” He tosses me a metallic wrap condom. “I don’t trust that woman.”

“Come on, she isn’t that bad…” I say when a second set of knocks answers my words. The floral scent is stronger now. Sean is seething while Shamus and Canice seem unaffected by it. Maybe because they are already mated while Sean and I aren’t?

Shamus helps Sean and Canice off the couch, but Sean continues his rant. “I don’t even know how her and her parents got into this pack! I mean they are related to…”

My growl stops his words dead in his tracks. “Don’t even think about mentioning that name in front of me!” My eyes flicker from my usual dark blue to black as Titus pushes forward.

“Alright, Alright… Sorry Man. I just don’t like her and everything she does reminds me of her...” Sean holds his hands up in surrender. I know he didn’t mean to bring HER up, but just the thought of her makes my blood boil.  

“Just go get your shit done guys before dinner tonight. I need some… alone time…” My words make my men shake their heads. Yeah right. Alone time…

The overpowering sweet floral perfume scent fills the doorway as my men exit the office, all completely ignoring the woman working her way in. I personally am not a fan of anything sweet, but she’s been my girlfriend for the last year, so I have gotten use to it. It isn’t love, but I have been thinking of making her my chosen Luna, but something is holding me back. I am 32 years old, it’s about time I try to settle down again. Titus sneezes at her overpowering smell and heads to the back of my mind. He isn’t a fan of hers either.

“Hello, Alpha Conrad McQuinn.” She says in a seductive tone as she walks over to my desk. Her skintight red dress barely covers her ass, and I can already smell her arousal. One good yank and she would be completely naked. “I have some papers for you to sign and I thought maybe I could help you relax some.”

“Hi Miss Hazel Summers, just the person I wanted to see.” I say as I unzip my pants and rip open the condom wrapper with my teeth.