Chapter 36
I got straight to the point. “This is a photo of a dismembered limb from a case last year. We
suspect it’s connected to Max, a werewolf from Fire Phantom Forest. Her husband, Zack, a
Beta hitman, vanished after completing a job and collecting his reward.”
remember this,” Steven interjected. “Their house was just a block from my bar. When Zack disappeared, Betas from several packs investigated. Max cried every day, insisting her husband wouldn’t run off with the money and that something must’ve happened. But after
a while… she suddenly changed her tune. Said the Betas didn’t need to get involved and that Zack’s fate didn’t really matter anymore.”
Steven swallowed hard. At my nod, he went on, “The werewolves in that area almost rioted, Rumors started spreading that Zack was deep in debt from drugs and gambling. Not long after, Max and her newborn disappeared. According to some patrol Betas, Max received a strange package containing a wolf’s paw. So everyone suspected Zack had been kidnapped,
and the paw was part of a ransom demand.”
“Then why didn’t she go to the forest authority for help?” Kai asked.
“She must have,” Steven said softly.
From Ethan, I had learned that the forest authority Gammas had indeed tracked down Zack’s employer. The employer swore Zack left with the money, not in wolf form, but driving an old Changhe van.
That detail bothered me. Wolves are far faster than cars–was he trying to avoid leaving a
scent trail?
Two months later, the forest authority located the van’s owner, but the owner claimed they didn’t remember Zack due to the time that had passed.
“This area’s terrain is complicated,” I muttered, frowning as I doodled on a piece of paper. “It’s crawling with rogues and wandering wolves from various packs. It’s no surprise the owner doesn’t remember him. But I don’t think Zack ever left. I mean….He’s probably still in Fire Phantom Forest.”
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“Oh shoot! That will be so creepy!!!” Kai shivered dramatically, glancing around, and lowered his voice., “Why does it feel like someone just walked over my grave?”
Silence spread across the café as we all mulled over the information.
Finally, I broke it with a wry smile. “If strange things keep happening in the same place but always seem to blow over… it might start as a misunderstanding or something minor. But if it happens enough, there’s definitely something bigger at play.”
Steven and Kai both nodded in agreement.
I continued, “Fire Phantom Forest is a tangled web of pack politics. And this dismembered limb isn’t as simple as it seems.”
“Sooo….. What’s your plan?” a seductive voice suddenly chimed in from behind me.
“Shit!” We all jumped, startled by Zoe leaning over my chair.
“When did you get here?” I asked, my heart still racing.
“A while ago. I’m hurt none of you noticed. You were too absorbed in your little discussion,” Zoe said, sipping her coffee and reclining casually.
Well, I should’ve been accustomed to her eccentric personality by now.
As a seasoned Beta, Zoe was always the most relaxed in the room. After our last encounter, we’d become friends, and she never hesitated to assist with whatever task I threw her way.
Fine, the more, the merrier.
I finished my coffee and stated calmly, “Right now, I suspect Max’s husband and the werewolf leg found near my house are part of the same case.”
Their shocked expressions didn’t faze me as I continued evenly, “No matter what’s behind this, we have to investigate. Only by finding the source can I uncover the mechanism of this plague’s spread.”
Shrugging, I added, “We’ll split into teams. Steven, you’ll partner with Zoe and keep trying to
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contact Max. Report back to me immediately if anything happens.”
My reasoning was clear. Steven, having lived in Fire Phantom Forest the longest, was more likely to gain Max’s trust. But I didn’t trust him and Kai to work alone–Kai was too gullible,
and Steven, despite his youth, struck me as having ulterior motives.
Zoe agreed without hesitation, while Steven hesitated, glancing between me and Kai before
reluctantly nodding.
“Get moving, then,” I said.
After they left, Kai and I exchanged a look. For the first time, I felt like we might actually
make a decent team.
“So, what are we doing now?” Kai asked, eyeing me curiously.
“We’re heading to the biochemistry lab. We’ve got more important work to do.”
*
Kai’s curiosity piqued, and his grin turned mischievous. “You’re so invested in this. Is it because of Ethan? In fact, it was his business. What’s the deal with you two? An Alpha coming all this way to save a rogue like you–why are you still so cold to him?”
I was focused on preparing the “Evermoss“, a kind of memorable herbs, but Kai’s constant chatter was giving me a headache. Frustrated, I snapped without thinking, “Can’t we just be casual bed partners?”
The second the words left my mouth, I regretted them.
“Oh my god!” Kai gasped, covering his mouth dramatically. “You’ve barely been back, and you’ve already hooked up with the top Alpha around here? Teach me your ways!”
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed a handful of mistletoe and shoved it into his hands. “Grind all of this into powder before I get back. Or else…”
My glare must have worked because Kai zipped his mouth shut and obediently got to work.
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I scrolled through my phone, located a long–forgotten contact, and dialed the number, waiting to see if my suspicions would be confirmed.
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Chapter 37
