CHAPTER SIX: ANOTHER DEAD END

NOAH

“That sums up to fifty six deaths in total, Beta."

I rub my index and middle finger against my temple trying to fight against the incoming migraine. “Remind me again, Jethro. How long has it been since we found the first body?"

“Six weeks." He places the file he had been analyzing on my desk on flops in the seat opposite me. “At this rate, we'll lose half the pack before the year ends."

Six weeks, fifty six bodies and yet not a single clue about who or what is behind all the killings. All the corpses carry the same skeleton skull mark and most of them have been tracked back to one witch or another.

“The two witches under custody, did you interrogate them?” I ask flipping the file open. He did a perfect job analyzing all the deaths that have occurred in the last six weeks, stating the time, victim and main suspects of each case.

" Yeah, Gamma Jacob and Zayne did the interrogation last night and they couldn't get a confession out of either of them.” He sighs and takes a sip of the drink he poured out." Gamma Jacob doubts they know anything that will be of any help to this investigation.”

I'll have to agree with the Beta on this one. Zayne Wilder has the most brutal and creative torturing techniques in the entire Moon Dominion. If the witches had anything to do with the murder, they'd have confessed by now.

Another fucking dead end!

“I heard Klaus’s boy is here. He's the youngest and most intelligent tracker and detective in the country,” he informs me like I'm unaware of the kind of reputation Lucan Thorne holds throughout the country and even beyond.

" How about the thing I asked you to look into?”

" I did the digging as you requested and I couldn't come up with anything sufficient enough to prove that the Alpha has been smuggling drugs and doing other illegal things.m,” he reports. " Without substantial evidence we cannot go against him.”

" That is why I need you to do more digging,” I grit out between clenched teeth, trying not to snap. " Magnus’s illegal dealings get more illegal as the days go by. That's why we need to act quickly."

He shrugs. “There's nothing much we can do without substantial evidence. The High Council won't believe our words alone and we can't risk an open confrontation."

We can't. My father made that mistake and it cost him a lot more than just his life. I'll have to be smarter than him if I intend to bring down Magnus.

I finish the whiskey in my glass and rise to my feet. “Very well then. Inform the investigation about Lucan’s arrival and that he'll be taking the reins, have the guards let the two witches go and do more findings on Magnus."

" Roger!” He finishes his own drink, rises to his feet and walks out of my office.

I grab my phone and head out as well. I walk out of the palace, get into my car and head to Shifter’s Academy to find Lucan.

In the silence of my car with no one to distract me, my mind begins wandering off like always. This time, it finds its way to a petite green eyed brunette who rejected me last night.

I almost laugh just thinking about it. The second chance the Moon goddess gave me rejected me without a second thought. Maybe this is the universe’s sick way of reminding me that people like me don't get loved.

Unfortunately for her and me, rejection doesn't happen up the scale. That sucks in more ways than one because with everything I have going on right now, the last thing I need is an eighteen year old shacked to me for God knows how long.

Not to talk of the sudden outbursts of emotions you experience as a result of the bond. It was exactly due to such emotions that made me tell her that I expect her presence at the mating ball.

The remaining minutes of the ride are nothing less than torturing as I can't seem to get my mind off the girl.

I get to Shifters Academy in no time, park my car and step out of it. I shoot Emma a text asking if she's seen Lucan around and she replies instantly, saying they're on the lawn.

I shove my phone into my back pocket and make my way to the lawn, ignoring the gasps and glances from male and female students alike. I mean m, it's not everyday the pack's Beta comes to the university.

I get closer to the lawn and my feet gradually slow down.

Emma and the girl from last night, Sylla if I'm not mistaken are both standing and laughing. But that's not what gets the blood rising in my ears and the urge to break something taking hold of my entire body, no. It's not also the fact that Lucan Thorne is standing in front of them with his good boy smile plastered on his face.

It's the fact that he takes hold of Sylla’s hand and brings it to his lips, dropping a kiss on her knuckles. She turns as red as a cherry and smiles.

“Hands off my mate!"

The words slip out of my lips before I even get a chance to think. Both girls turn to me, startled, but Lucan simply gives me a smirk.

" Beta Noah! He calls out with a slight bow. “It's such an honor to meet you. My father sings your praises all the time and I can't believe I'm chosen to work with such a legend."

I almost laugh at how sincere his fake admiration seems. He may sound all humble and excited, but there's that cocky look in his eyes that tells you he's anything but honored.

I ignore him and focus my gaze on the two girls

My sister is staring at me with shock while Sylla’s hot gaze almost burns a hole in my face.

“What did you just call her?" Emma asks, her excitement practically bleeding out of her.

" No no no!” Sylla denies, raising her hands in the air. " You got it all wrong. We are not mates. In fact I rejected him last night.”

Lucan’s expression instantly becomes amused and he raises a curious brow. " Is that so?”

"Yes. Unfortunately that stupid thing only works when the other is less superior than you.” She lets out a sad sigh of regret.

Something in me shifts at the look in her eyes. The one that says she'll do anything to get the bond broken.

I should reject her and give her what she wants. Truly speaking, that's going to do me a huge favor as well. But I cannot for the life of me figure out why the only thing I want to do right now is claim her in front of everyone. She's not just Jacob's daughter, she's young, naive and not worth the trouble.

I ignore my sister who's staring at me wide eyed, force my eyes away from them and focus on Lucan. “I have had my assistant inform the team of your arrival and that you will be taking the reins. He will take you to them after school and introduce you so you get acquainted. I expect you to treat this case with great seriousness.”

" No need to worry. I'll give it all my best and take it as seriously as other cases I've worked on. I do not mix work and fun, Beta Noah.”

" I'm glad we both have an understanding, then.” I turn around and walk away, resisting the urge to drag Sylla with me so Lucan doesn't get another chance to hit on her.

My phone dings and I pull it out of my pocket to check the message. It's from an unknown number, which is quite strange because not many people have my personal contact. I open the message and read it, my mind instantly going on high alert.

“You have been searching in the wrong direction."