The Alpha novel Chapter 41

Scarlet's POV

*****

The next day I wake up early to go to the shelter again. Now that I'm marked I don't have to worry about going into heat, so my guards have gone back down to the normal three. Ethan is busy working yet again. Now that the possibility of an alliance with the Silver Shadow Pack is gone, they are preparing for a siege. Ethan has ordered a wall to be built around the entire territory. They are even reaching out to their allied packs to see if they want to be included within the perimeter. Security has been doubled and all able-bodied wolves are to begin warrior training.

A few hours later, I come back to the pack house after I'm done serving breakfast to the packless. When I do, I immediately go looking for Ethan. I end up finding him in his actual work office. "You know, I don't think having three offices is really necessary," I say as I lean against the door frame.

He looks up at me and smirks. "And yet I use them all," he replies teasingly. I shake my head at him before walking in without waiting for an invitation. I sit down in one of the leather chairs in front of his desk and he leans back in his. "How's the shelter?" he inquires.

"Good," I answer with a nod of my head. "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."

He quirks an eyebrow at me and the corner of my lip tugs up. He's adorable. "What about?" he asks.

"Well, I think you should consider letting them join the Crescent Moon Pack. Or at least one of your brothers' packs."

He scowls for a moment before forcing a neutral expression. "And why would I do that?"

"Well, because we need more warriors. We already know we will be severely outnumbered if the Silver Shadow Pack decides to attack. And there are a lot of packless that could help. They are good people. People who had been leaders and warriors in their old packs. People who were healers and blacksmiths. I really think it would be beneficial for us," I insist.

Ethan's lips press into a thin line. He clearly doesn't like the idea. "I'll think about it," he says after a moment of silence.

"Really?" I press.

"I said I'd think about it and I will," he states through gritted teeth. I nod, deciding I don't want to overdo it. I know what he has against the packless and I understand. Though, I still don't know if I truly believe it. I think it's time I finally ask Jo and see if I can get some more information about it.

*****

Later that evening I'm in the kitchen at the shelter with Jo. I press the roller into a layer of dough and begin to roll as I look over at her, mincing vegetables. "Jo, did you ever meet Lenore Kane?"

She pauses what she is doing for a second, hesitating before answering me. Whatever I said seems to have shook her and my anxiety spikes. What if Ethan is right and the packless really did kill his mother? She slowly begins mincing again and after another moment's silence she replies, "Yes... I knew her. Why?"

"You knew her? Like well?"

She lets out a deep sigh before placing her knife on the table and looking at me. "Yes. You could say that." I stare at her, waiting for her to further explain. When she realizes that I don't plan on relenting she rolls her eyes at me. "She used to help run the shelter. During the Great War there had been a ton of wolves that ended up no longer having any leaders, no longer having packs. There were wolves with injuries and illnesses. Most of us had no homes left, so much of the city had been destroyed. And every day more wolves were wandering into the borders looking for safety and shelter," she begins before exhaling deeply once more. "Lenore wanted to help. When I met her she was helping to set someone's broken leg. She saw me hobble up, covered in blood and rushed up to me to see if I was okay. I was. I had just gotten done helping a few other wolves who had made their way over after being injured in some battle. We got to talking and I told her about my ideas for the shelter. Originally, we expected it to be temporary, just while strays were still wandering in and so many homeless."

"So... she helped start the shelter?" I ask, unable to hide the surprise from my voice.

"Yeah. She had been a really great lady. A lot like you actually. She was kind and compassionate, always wanting to do her part to help others. She's the one that introduced me to the Rickards' whose farm I work at. She died not even a week after that. Next thing we know, Seth Kane is banning all packless from going inside Crescent Moon territory or working or anything. Never really understood why they would turn on us like that, after Lenore had put so much effort into helping us. She even brought her three boys around once."

I cock my head, confused, though she doesn't notice. She seems to be lost in her memories as she stares off at something unbeknownst to me. "So, you don't know how she died?" I ask softly.

That seems to snap her back as she looks at me with wide eyes. "What?! No! Of course I know! I was there!"

"Wait! So, you saw the packless kill her?!"

"Huh? No! It was rogues! We are right on the outskirts and don't belong to a territory. Back then we had a ton of trouble with rogues. We were attacked and of course she wanted to help. She got killed when fighting off a rogue that had attacked one of the pups."

I shake my head, my eyes beginning to moisten. That's horrible. And so sad. I can't believe Ethan has no idea what really happened to his mother. None of them do. "And you're sure it was rogues?"

"Of course I'm sure! Why? What's with all of these questions?"

"Ethan told me his mother died at the hands of the packless. That's probably why his father decided to ban us from working or living in the territory."

Jo lets out a huff and shakes her head, closing her eyes as a single tear treks down her cheek. I've never in my life seen her cry before. "No no. It was rogues. She died saving a little girl..." Jo trails off before meeting my eyes. "It was you. You were the one she had saved."