Chapter 14

POV Eric

Pulling up to the morgue my stomach had settled. The last of the ride here we had just been talking about school and training. I reached for the door handle as my father shut the car off and pulled the keys out of the ignition. He stopped me, putting his hand on my shoulder.

“From now on it’s important that you only address me as Alpha or Alpha Aiden.” My father said.

“Yes Sir, I mean Alpha.” I responded.

This place had always given me the creeps. Not because there were dead bodies here but because everything was a high gloss plastic, white or stainless steel. The smell of cleaning chemicals burned my nose and throat. This is exactly what I picture when I think of the back of a butcher shop.

Dr. Stevenson greeted us in the hall just after the entrance. His white lab coat looking fresh and a clipboard in hand. “I didn’t realize Eric would be joining us.” He began organizing the photos and x-rays he was holding, putting some inside a folder that was pinned to the clip board.

“Alpha Eric from now on Elijah.” Alpha Aiden corrected him. Then raised his eyebrows at me and motioned with his head towards Dr. Stevenson.

“That’s understandable Dr. Stevenson, no formal announcement has been made yet concerning the status of my training. All is forgiven.” I said giving Alpha Aiden a questioning look to see if that’s what he was wanting.

His eyes on the floor, neck bared in submission Dr. Stevenson smiled at the ground before saying, “Please Alpha, call me Elijah.”

“Alright Elijah, I understand you have some news for us.” I said as I motioned for him to lead the way.

“Yes Alphas, I called you here because I have identified one of the bodies, which gives me a good guess as to who the other two are.” Elijah stated as he led us into a room with an X-ray illuminator. Pinning an X-ray up he continued. “You see this small pin in the ankle, just here.” He pointed to a small round looking object.

Both Alpha Aiden and I looked at him puzzled. Werewolves heal very quickly and rarely require surgery.

Elijah thumbed through his papers. “Alpha Aiden, you remember about 10 years ago when the Dark Fang pack raided the Blue Lagoon pack?”

“Yes, it was a slaughter, very few survived and every pack sent everyone they could to help them rebuild. You were gone for weeks helping tend to the injured children.” Alpha Aiden replied.

“Beta Lorenzo and his wife Sophia took in one of the orphan children, her name was Ashley. I assisted in the surgery to pin her ankle where it had been broken. She was only 6 at the time and their daughter had just turned 2.” He laid out some papers on the table. “I believe this is Beta Lorenzo and his family. I took samples from the three bodies here and compared them to the girl. They are definitely the girl in the clinics parents but this one is not related.”

Alpha Aidens face heated. “I spoke with the Alpha of Blue Lagoon, he assured me all his members were accounted for. He was almost indignant about it.”

“If most of their pack was wiped out, they wouldn’t be strong enough to defend against another attack. What I don’t understand is why would they come here?” I said.

“Because of your mother and I, it is no secret what we went through or how much we despise the old ways. Any idea which girl the pendant belonged to?” Alpha Aiden asked Elijah.

“Unfortunately, I think I do. Miss Evens was so kind as to bring it down so I could examine it. I found small bits of white fur and a little blood where the chain had snapped. None of these bodies have white fur and the blood matches the younger girl.” Elijah said solemnly.

Alpha Aiden slammed his fist into the table. “What is she twelve maybe thirteen!” He said before he stormed out.

“Do you remember her name?” I asked.

“No Alpha I’m sorry I don’t. I do know Beta Lorenzo had a younger sister; she would be in her late 20’s by now.” Elijah had a look of concern.

Although we didn’t believe in some of the older laws there were some that are iron clad. In the event of a family death a child was to be given to the closest living relative. Being too young to pledge their loyalty to a pack, family protects them until they are old enough to choose. We don’t know anything about this pack or what they believed in for that and other reasons I shared his concern about her future.

“She won’t be going anywhere until we’ve checked them out and she’s feeling better.” I assured him. “Thank you, Elijah, if there’s nothing else, try to get some rest before you relieve Candice.”

I walked out to find my father leaning against the front of the car. Hands rolled up into fists, staring up into the sky. Hearing me approach he looked down at the ground then at me. “He hung up on me. Alpha Donte insists Beta Lorenzo is there with his family. Told me to stop calling him and hung up. I called a meeting with Luna and the elders. They will be expecting us shortly.”