A Spell

               Still Alpha Romero's POV

               From the raised stage, I stare over the pack that has responded in large numbers to my father's call for this meeting. There is much speculation about Louise’s disappearance, her parents sit in the front row. Their eyes are red-rimmed, it is clear they are grieving for their daughter.

               The meeting hasn't started yet, so I head down the stairs to Head Warrior Henry, his mate and their son. Mykel is my best friend and when his father retires, he will succeed him.

               As I approach them, I can almost feel their aura turning hostile, but they suppress it. Humiliating the future Alpha will not work in their favor.

"Head Warrior, auntie. I am so sorry for what happened," I apologize. "I did not behave like a gentleman, I should have taken Louise home. And then we would know where she was now". The regret in my voice is genuine, I have known these people all my life. It is definitely embarrassing to admit that I had casual sex with their daughter.

               "Is she your fated mate?" the man before me asks now, somewhat reproachfully. I can understand his reaction, Louise is his only daughter and of course, protecting her image is his top priority. 

               "I don't know that, uncle. You know it's not until I'm 21 that I can find out who my mate is," I remind him. "But we had a connection and planned to continue our relationship. This whole issue embarrasses me". I feel the couple relaxing now, I have shifted the blame of their dissolute daughter on myself. Everyone in the pack knows that Louise isn't choosy about whom she sleeps with and therefore tends to ignore my part in her disappearance.

               When I get back to the stage, my parents are just arriving with Beta Eric in their wake. My father's face is expressionless as I read the usual adoration in my mother's eyes. Dad immediately takes the microphone and does the usual pleasantries.

               "Eclipse Howl, I only have one son and although I'd like him to present me with his Luna in three years, things haven't really been working out with his love life recently," Alpha Thoseo, my father, starts hilariously, obviously to ease the tension in the room. "Every she-wolf he approaches for a date so far either moves out of the pack or avoids him. And that brings me to Louise, the daughter of our head warrior.

               All eyes fall on me now, many full of pity, a few judgmental. At the back of the room, there is a group of unmated she-wolves eagerly gazing at me. All wish to be my Luna when the time comes, but shy away from having anything to do with me for now. It is my father's authority that keeps the pack from coming up with a nickname for me because of my failures.

               Just now, Jace rush in and sits next to me, richly late for the meeting. Taking a sniff, I know exactly the reason for his late arrival. Shaking my head along, this Beta just can't seem to stay away from the she-wolves. Now that I'm out of reach, they focus fully on Jace, who is enjoying all the attention and making sure he's getting good at it.

               "I think I have a candidate. She's great to put on the act for us," he whispers to me enthusiastically. I roll my eyes.

               "Did you still find time for that in the middle of your busy schedule?" I dryly remark. " "Is she your latest flavor of the month?" He chuckles and leans back.

               "No, I don’t stay that long. And she would only cause more problems for us. Never mix business with pleasure, it always ends badly. But this one I’m telling you about is reliable and definitely talented. And you know her".

               "Will you finally tell me her name, Beta?" I ask skeptically. He knows I'm terribly curious about this plan and obviously wants to keep the suspense going for me.

               "Meg. Megan Smith, the Principal's daughter!" He sounds reproachful as if he expected me to have guessed long ago.  Frowning, I turn to him, my Beta really thinks I can read minds.

               "Look, she's sitting in the third row wearing a deep pink blouse. Loriann is sitting next to her, you know her too, that perpetually silent girl," he chuckles, beckoning with his eyes.

               I turned in the direction he is pointing and indeed I see Meg sitting there, listening intently to my father. And when I look next to her, I see Lori there relaxed as always. My breath stills the longer my eyes stay on her. There is something mysterious about this girl, but I can't put my finger on it. She is low-key, is always in Meg's company and has never risen to prominence. She goes about her business quietly in the pack, I'm sure few really know her.

               A sigh of alarm spills through the room, I tear my gaze from Lori and look at my father. I missed his last comment, but I'm sure he'll repeat it if it's that important enough.

               "Beta Eric, the Head Warrior and I have come to the conclusion that a spell must be active here. We have studied all the collected material from the investigation. Someone may have hired a witch to make my son's life miserable, probably out of jealousy," I hear Dad explain hard. "But we are going to get to the bottom of it. We'll get Xanna, the white witch, to come here and expose the person."

               He pauses his speech for a moment to let his words sink into the audience.

               “Whomever it may be doing this, come to me yourself and confess. You have until tomorrow afternoon to do so. After that, the consequences are your responsibility”, he adds venomously.

               I blink a few times, never having thought of this option.

"Jace!" I whisper disconcertedly. But when I look beside me, I see him staring at the Alpha with his jaw on the floor….