Benji’s POVCluster! That was the key word… My filing cabinets in my head shuffled around, sorting through the years of information I have gathered and stored in them. Medical, human, magical, werewolf, it all fit together. To say it was a light bulb moment of realization would be an understatement. It was an explosion of brain waves colliding into each other putting all the pieces into place!“Where the hell is my marker!” I shouted out to myself. Cluster, cluster, I kept mumbling the words while my brain is opening everything. My once organized mind is now a hurricane of stored knowledge recking havoc. The periodic table of the elements flash through my brain waves, picking the elements off one by one like fruit off a tree. ‘Cobalt, No… Krypton… No, Livermorium… No!’ Protons, neutrons, electrons all come together then dissect then move over and recombine. Patterns, shapes, colors… Clusters, Clusters, Clusters.I find the black marker I have been desperately looking for and move towa
Benji’s POVIt’s been a few days since the conversation with Alpha Conrad and his squad at the lab about Hazel and my breakthrough of the illness. My team and I rarely left the lab and hospital except for sleep. Meals and snacks were brought to us regularly by Dr. Lancon who insists we call him “Doc” Now that we are friends.Beta Sean eventually returned to the lab with a freshly cut lip, a black eye and an apology on his lips. He returned a few times in the following days. He would speak quietly to Ashley but she just simply nodded her head before turning her back to him. I wasn’t sure what he spoke to her about but I don’t think it went well because eventually he stopped showing up. I thought Ashley would be flustered by the sudden radio silence from Beta Sean, but she didn’t show any emotions about it. Just focused on the work we were doing.Conrad and I haven’t seen each other in days, but he texted me regularly. We were on a permanent loop of a twenty-questions game. I always smi
Benji’s POV‘Whoa, whoa, whoa…. My pups!? Dehlia, are you nuts!? We don’t even know these kids! Their parents are probably working or something since it is still early in the afternoon. We can’t claim them!’ I spat at my wolf still reeling by her proclamation. She swished her tail at me in irritation. She snorted threw her snout at me and I was taken back by her attitude. I felt a bit of pain in my heart hearing her want to claim these children as her own. We had lost ours and Gregory’s pup the night he died. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was still hurting like I was and this was her trying to fill the void we both were feeling.Dehlia had been more active since Conrad kissed me in the lab. She still wasn’t as chatty as she was over five years ago, but she was more active especially when we were texting with Conrad. It was like his wolf transferred some of his energy into her during our kiss. I knew the mate bond was slowly healing my wolf. Even though I didn’t know how I felt about
Benji’s POVJust beyond the tree line were three male rogues in their human forms. their growling and snarling callously echoed through the open field. Their claws extending from their fingertips and their eyes glowing a crimson red. There was something off about these men because they were attacking each other in a vicious brawl, completely unaware that they trespassed on pack lands.‘Artemis…’ I spoke through my pack’s mind-link.‘Hey Sherlock, what’s up?’ Artemis’ cheery tone filled my head, but I was nothing close to feeling cheery at the moment. My heart was pounding out of my chest.‘Rogues behind the hospital. I am here with two pups. Call the alpha and bring help.’ I didn’t give her a chance to respond when I cut the mind-link so I could focus on the rogues’ movements. They were still enthralled in their fight with each other which at the moment, I was thankful for.“Finnley…” I say softly without moving a muscle from where I stood watching the rogues. “I need you to calmly wa
Benji’s POVA thunderous howl in the distance told me my message of distress was received loud and clear. The calvary were coming to our rescue. The rogues before me were poised to attack, just waiting for the opportune moment to pounce on me and kill me! But I couldn’t let anything happen to Falon so even though my fear was at an ultimate high, I had to be brave.Taking the diplomatic route, I yelled. “Get out of here now before you are killed by the Alpha of this territory!”But the rogues just snarled at me. Their heads twitched violently back and forth and their eyes focused in and out. Flashing between red and black as if their wolves and their humans were fighting for control. They definitely were infected which made this whole situation a million times worse. One scratch from their claws and I was a goner for sure. What was I thinking coming out here alone!? And with two small kids?!One of the rogues took a swipe at me, but I knocked his claws away with my large tree branch. Th
Conrad’s POVThe steady beeping of the heart monitor seemed to calm my nerves as I watched my little Falon sleeping on the hospital bed in the Luna suite. Doc and the nurses were able to regulate her breathing better and get her asthma under control. Her angelic face was everything to me. A tightness in my chest brought me back to the realization that I almost lost my children today due to someone else’s negligence. Why was Benji out in the field with my children? How did the rogues get so close to the hospital? Why were my kids left alone?“Father! Father!” my son’s voice came through the door as it swung open. A layer of sweat and dirt covered his face and his black hair stuck to his forehead. I could see the worry in his eyes as he looked between me and a sleeping Falon.“Master Finnley, you can’t go in there! Your sister needs rest! Please Wait in Dr. Lancon’s office and I was get someone to take you back to the pack house.” A nurse followed close behind him. “I’m sorry Alpha… We d
Bennet’s POV“Come on… I don’t have all day!” I stomped over to the warriors gathering up the dead bodies. The pungent smell of rotten eggs made me wrinkle my nose in disgust. The putrid smell of rogues was always a nasty scent, but these men had the stench of infection as well. “Well, Hurry up!!” I gave them each a death glare to dare say anything to me right now.I was fuming mad at Bee and whoever got in my war path was going to feel the string of wrath with a vengeance. The six warriors look at me like I have completely lost my mind and I probably have. Was I being a bit overly dramatic, most likely, but I almost lost my best friend and cousin! I deserve to have a mean girl moment. Right?I followed behind the men, not paying attention to anything around me as my eyes only saw red. “Stupid… She-wolf… fucking… brilliant but so stupid…probably would be dead if they hadn’t… Dammit… So stupid!” I grumbled under my breath the entire way to the morgue that was located on the other side
Mystery person’s POV From my advantage point, I could see from a distance the rogues surrounding the doctor and the little brat. The bushes and shrubbery covered me from view, but still gave me the perfect exit into the forest in case things go wrong. The rogues snarled and twitched menacingly at the stupid woman as she branded her tree branch at them. I listened as she tried to persuade them to leave. What a fucking joke…. They weren’t in their right minds to even hear her. All they saw was MEAT… Like hungry zombies, their thirst for blood was unquenchable. I made sure of that.Originally my plan was to have the rogues attack the doctor and her team while they were leaving for the evening, but when I saw her and the kids out in the field, I had to take advantage of the opportunity and called… her. I needed the doctor out of the way if I wanted to exact my revenge on the stupid fucking alpha. The child was just a bonus… By killing the child, I fulfilled half of her request and also
Conrad's POV “A Cure?” I say in disbelief. Ashley, Bennet and Benji all look at each other. Their eyes seem to be having a silent conversation that only smart people would understand. After a few minutes, they look back at me, nodding their heads in unison.“I think this story holds the key to curing the sick wolves.” Ashley says, her eyes filled with so much determination its hard to look away. I glance at Benji, she is looking at Ashley with such pride and adoration for her. Benji’s faith in her teammates is overwhelming.Sean picks up the book, flipping through the pages with a scowl on his face. “I know this ratty old book. It used to be my great aunt’s before she gave it to mom. Doc always loved this book, but I always thought it was boring. I think it was the reason he went into medicine. My mother use to read the stories to us as kids to help us fall asleep. Babe, where did you find this book?”Ashley pouts his lips at him and shrugs. “Doctor Lancon gave it to me after the lab
Benji’s POV“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU DON’T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED?” Conrad yells through his phone in the far corner of the conference room. “YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF THE MISSION! GET ME ANSWERS AND GET ME ANSWERS YESTERDAY!!”“Alpha King Mars, I understand you are unhappy with the situation, we all are, but I can… Yes… I… As head of the security on Sherlock’s team and your friend, yelling at me isn’t going to help… UGH! Just put your wife on the phone… Yes, I know you are the king, but she is easier to talk to then you…” Artemis walks passed me without looking at me. One phone in her hand while she talks on another. She leans over Nathan’s shoulder to look at the computer screen he is pointing at. She nods her head and continues pacing while talking to Alpha Mars.“You can’t just make more? Why Not? How much time does it take?” Bennet says walking by me next. He listens to whoever is on the other end with a scowl. “I am a doctor not a pharmaceutical Guro, how am I supposed to know…” He rubs
Conrad’s POVI have come to realize I can’t go back to how things were now that I have my second chance mate. After dinner with Benji, we went to pick up Falon and Finnley from their school’s bingo event. Everything I had ever desired for my life clicked into place watching Benji with my kids. Sitting in a red and white booth at the small 50s diner, surrounded by the vintage deco, I found my life. Benji animatedly talking to my pups as they scan the dessert menu. She sings along with the jukebox while using sign language so Falon can enjoy the music as well. Finnley comes out of his quiet introvert self to sing along to “Rock around the clock” and for once there is a smile on his face. Benji’s presence in our lives is glueing back the pieces of what was once broken.‘I doubt she even knows what she is doing to us.’ My wolf, Titus, purrs in my head as he watches through our eyes. ‘I wish I could talk to her wolf. She is weak, but I can feel her and sense her. I can sometimes hear her
Benji’s POVSean looked at Bennet, his eyebrows skewed together like he was looking at something out of this world. “You know I could crush you with one hand and be justified by the words you are spewing at me, right? Also, my name isn’t Stephan.” The hulking giant of a Beta towered over Bennet, but that didn’t phase my cousin one bit. Bennet placed his hands on his hips, stared right up at the Sean and let him have it. Oh damn, here we go…“I am going to give you some advice… I know you asked Ashley out to dinner, but that doesn’t mean shit to me. I was only being nice in the chatroom because I didn’t want her to feel bad and we had more important topics to talk about, but now that you are standing in front of me, I am going to reconstruct your ego. I only remember names of people who aren’t complete twat-waffles. I don’t treat people I care about as if they aren’t worthy of love and affection! Don’t think we forgot your little speech about how awful State wolves are and how much you
Benji’s POVWith the smell of sex in the air, we held each other close while catching our breaths. The atmosphere in Conrad’s office was electrifying. Our bodies still connected, I could feel him pulsing in me, letting the last bit of remanence of his seed spill into me. He nestled his nose against my neck and kissed the marking post with his soft lips. A shiver ran through me as his hands caressed my back. Being in his arms made everything feel right.“We didn’t use protection…” I whispered as I held him tight, my legs were still wrapped around his waist.He hummed with a smile, “Is that ok? You are my mate after all. I know we still have a lot to talk about and there is a lot going on, but I want this that is building between us.”“I do too.” I whisper back, hugging him closer. Our bodies molded together perfectly even if we were on a hard cold wooden desk.“Hey, I have been meaning to ask you, what happened the other day when you woke up crying? You just kept saying you were ok. If
Conrad’s POV(Mandatory Alpha Virtual Meeting)I was filled with a renewed sense of determination since Benji told me that Tomas was awake and responsive. He wasn’t completely out of the woods, but he was back in his right mind temporarily at least. The news of Tomas’ returning quickly spread through my pack. The emotional fog that seeped into my pack was lifting with the news of Tomas’s slow recovery. Other sick wolves were given the medicine and it was just a waiting game to see if they also recovered as well and how much.Tomas was removed from the jail cells and returned back into the pack hospital. I had the privilege of escorting his parents to his new room. It was like he was back from the dead. His mother sobbed into my arms while his father hugged Benji. I smiled at Tomas who gave me a slow nod of respect. He quietly spoke with Benji for a few minutes before she recommended he get some more rest. “Alpha.” He whispered and I turned to look at him. "Thank you for not giving up
Benji’s POVI checked Tomas’s vitals for the hundredth time in the last few hours, but there wasn’t any change. His heart rate was steady and there was no movement or muscle reactions. The tranquilizer was doing its job and keeping him asleep. Holding open his eye lids, I checked his pupils with a light, no change. His eye color was still red when they should have been a “A beautiful brown” according to his mother. I will admit he was a handsome man, but nothing like Conrad.Speaking of the devil, Conrad texted me to check in, but all I could say was nothing yet. He wasn’t happy or mad that Tomas’s parents volunteered him for the medicine. I think Conrad was trying to avoid showing emotions toward the situation which I didn’t blame him for. Tomas was a pack member and Conrad respected all his members in his pack and in the territory.‘Dahlia, Can you sense Tomas’s wolf?’ I spoke to my wolf through our bond, but she just shook her head. It was like his wolf was dormant which wasn’t a g
Benji’s POVI stood outside the small meeting room in the pack’s hospital taking in a few last minutes breaths before I faced the families of the sick wolves. The different states of illness weighing heavily on my mind. A few wolves were in the beginning stages of the poison, while others were in more advanced stages and degrees. Some were in jail cells fighting off the feral wild madness while others were on the brink of death. Tomas, the warrior I had taken a personal interest in his recovery coming to mind. His parents have spoken with me several times about his days as a top warrior and his mate who was a teacher before she turned feral. They loved to brag about their grandbaby as well. Tomas was all the child had left, so I wanted his recovery more than anything.“Sherlock?” Artemis spoke up behind me. I turned to look at my friend, my expression completely raw with emotions. She gave me a knowing smile. “These families need hope and eventually a cure… Go talk to the families lik
Text Message ConversationsBenji: Conrad? Are you busy? For a quickie?Conrad: Hey love, never busy for you. For a quickie huh? I’m always up for a quickie. Do you want me to come to the lab or do you want to come to the packhouse?Benji: Can you click on the link and meet me in the secured chat room?Conrad: Oh, So you want to do some dirty talk first without anyone knowing huh? Benji: And can you send the link to your squad as well? The password is Saved by the BellConrad: Wait… What? You said QUICKIE! And Why didn’t you put that whole thing in one text message? You got my hopes up… and something else up as well. I haven’t seen in you in over 24 hours, my dick is hard and disappointed.Benji: Ew Perv! Now click the link and meet the team in the chat room with your squad.Secure Chat roomBenji: Bennet why did you call Conrad a perv? And I never told you to tell him Quickie! I said Quick-LY! As in time sensitive. Sorry Conrad, I gave Bennet my phone to text you for me since I was