Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“And?”
“Your pack was dissolved when your alpha was killed.”
I wait for him to continue.
“Not what usually happens after an alpha dies as we all know. But most of his betas were dead, too, and nobody left wanted to take over under the circumstances. They were all too scared because of what’d happened to the alpha and his lead betas.”
I don’t react. I feel detached from this conversation even though it’s my old pack, some of my relatives he’s talking about.
Linc says, “The deaths occurred over a three-day period. The SCC was called in after that. They did a full investigation and a pile of interviews. One interview stood out, one from Olivia Stone.”
I frown as a strange sensation settles in me. “My first cousin. Dad’s side. His and our alpha’s younger brother’s daughter.” Olivia was two or three years older than me. I haven’t even thought of her in years.
“Her interview said you shifted and your wolf killed the alpha in front of the whole pack after he punished your sister for burning food. She said you had been pushed to the brink with his abuse. Your wolf killed the alpha and took off.”
I don’t know whether to feel happy or livid. I have no memory of this.
“She said your wolf came back and went after his two closest betas, took them out the next night. Following night you came back and killed three more.”
“So, I killed all of them? My family included?”
“You don’t remember that night? Killing your alpha? The next night with the betas?”
I shake my head.
“Trauma block,” Linc puts in.
Maybe. I don’t know.
Linc goes on. “After that, you left. Is it possible they killed your family instead of you? Is it possible since you shifted and had no memory of any of it, you thought you killed your mother and sister, when really, it was them?”
I frown.
“Want your permission to put another call into Blakely to ask him for the official SCC file notes on your pack. Archives have limited information. Joel’s running a program to find out what happened to the forty or so remaining pack members. We’ll know more later on today. Wanted to get you the news I had as soon as I had some.”
“Okay,” I say.
“There’s something else,” Linc says.
I wait.
“Joel already got word back on a record search of the global wolf shifter justice system for any hits on your name, any outstanding warrants. Nothing on that but two hits on the prison system. Two members from your old pack are listed as incarcerated. One of them is your father.”
My body locks tight as his words penetrate.
“Only alphas have access to those records, so we had no problem running a search on your surname, but we hit a dead end on the details.”
“I was told he was dead. That he died on a mission to find out who stole goods from us. He was investigating a pack in Wyoming and Uncle Mike said they caught him and killed him.”
“Records have him listed as in prison. Want your permission to ask Mitch Blakely to get us more information.”
I wince.
Linc adds, “Blakely has a blemished record with us because of Riley and Erica, but he was helpful with Silver Hills and with a major issue when Mase mated. I believe he’s on our side.”
“He finds out what I am, I’ll end up incarcerated. Or destroyed. And maybe that’s the answer.”
“Don’t fuckin’ think that for a second, Jared. We’re nowhere near exhausting all the options. One option, too, is to have Ronnie Young or Grey lay hands on your wolf when you’re shifted, glean some information there.”
I scoff.
He goes on, “Speaking of which, Catrina Savage has asked to do a full workup on you in both your forms. Cat says the experimental drug Blakely sent over to help the Silver Hills shifters be able to shift again could help bridge a broken connection between a shifter and his wolf.”
“No way.”
“It can be done in a secure location. It’s not without risk, though. Bridging you to a wolf that’s unbalanced could mess with your balance in this form. Your disconnect might be out of protection from your memories.”
“Fuck.” Like my wolf is sentient enough to protect me? Is that even possible?
“We trust her, Jared. Without question. This is Ty’s mother.”
“I met her in Silver Hills, remember?”
“It’s not without risk so I’m not pressuring you. I’m just giving you the information I have so far. We’ll keep digging. You have the full backing of this council. And the coven. With the weight and power of Grey and Erica as well as Erica’s sisters in the mix, I think we can help. Good chance we can find a safer way forward.”
He waits for me to say something and when I don’t, he adds, “None of this relaxes you even a bit.”