by Sydney Addae
Jasmine’s brows furrowed. “You’re right.”
“I’ll need Amynta’s permission to cross over her Pack lands since they adjoin Lyrill. Once Storm is near Lyrill, if Raven is there or was there recently, he’ll pick up her scent,” Silas said.
“Can we send Thomas and the others to destroy Lyrill if she’s been there?” Jasmine asked.
“No. No, we cannot.” He brushed his lips against hers. “Calm down Mama Wolf. They messed with your pup and we already made them pay. Tyrese is home safe with his den.”
CHAPTER NINE
ALPHA LUCIAN RAN FULL speed in the direction the two full-bloods claimed to have seen the humans weeks ago. If he hadn’t killed the former Alpha already he would kill him for this. The fool had entered into a contractual agreement with a human legal firm to access this specific area for two weeks. Two whole weeks. Thankfully the contract expired and would never be renewed.
He stopped short of the location and inhaled deeply. Humans but not Raven. His heart wept. For a moment, he had hoped against hope and allowed himself to believe the impossible that somehow his sister would be here. Where could she be? Disappearing like this made no sense.
He stared at the small path that led to the mountainside for a few moments before continuing. Until Silas mentioned Kirlethanium, Lucian had never heard of it before. Eager to check this place out before nightfall, he hadn’t had a chance to study its properties or value. Once he returned to his quarters, he would complete an extensive research.
Stooping low, he found the grass-covered entrance. Inside, he couldn’t stand and remained crouched in the tiny space. “How’d anyone work here?” Lucian could barely turn 360 degrees without scraping his elbows, knees, and forehead. Faint human scents were older and not uncommon. Tourists were everywhere. Searching the walls and ground, nothing looked disturbed. If he hadn’t been told someone had been here taking crystals, he wouldn’t have known.
Unsure what Kirlethanium looked or smelled like, Lucian closed his eyes, inhaled and methodically separated scents. It took several minutes before he locked onto the crystal and frowned. It smelled familiar. Moving closer to the wall he inhaled again. Yes. Raven wore this scent. He shook his head. Not the scent but the crystal on a piece of jewelry. What was it? A necklace? Bracelet? Earrings? He never paid much attention to what she wore, especially her jewelry. Grateful Pack members often gave her gifts. On the other hand, she could have purchased it. Or did she purchase it in town when they visited earlier this year? Or online?
“Duke?” Lucian left the small cave and headed back to Pack lands.
“Find anything?”
“Check-in Raven’s room for a necklace with a light brown crystal.” Lucian rubbed his forehead. “There’s a lot of crystals on it in different colors. I think there’s a black one too.”
“I’m headed back to the house now. How’re things going with Corvis? Is he settling in okay?”
Lucian hadn’t shared his personal crisis with his new Alpha. Distracted with Raven’s disappearance, Lucian hadn’t been at his best, leaving Corvis to muddle through a few things on his own. That wasn’t fair and could lead to problems down the line. Tomorrow he would focus on Corvis to completely bring this area under his control.
“Yes, it’s going good,” Lucian said as he walked slowly, thinking of possible connections to the crystals and Raven. Would someone use her to force his hand? Should he tell the Goddess what was going on now? Or wait? He stopped, closed his eyes and looked up. If it came down to his sister or brother’s life in exchange for crystals, he would make the trade in an instant. He hoped that didn’t break any rules but if it did, he doubted he would remain Alpha.
“I don’t see any necklaces with the kind of stones you were talking about,” Duke said. “Is it important?”
Of course, it’s not there, that would be too easy, Lucian thought as he started walking again. “It could be. I don’t know yet, still trying to put the pieces together.”
“What pieces?” Duke asked.
Lucian told him about the contract to search the mountain for a particular crystal.
“Good thing you already killed that fool,” Duke growled in regard to the previous Alpha.
“My thoughts exactly,” Lucian said. “I’m going to research it in a bit, see who uses it and why they chose to search for it now. There may be a connection.”
“Connection?” Duke said.
“Between taking the crystals and Raven’s disappearance,” Lucian said.
Duke didn’t say anything.
Lucian refused to connect the dots for Duke. “I’m going to meet with Corvis to finish a few things.”
“Talk to you later,” Duke said.
Curious about the crystal, Lucian strode down the street in the opposite direction of the Alpha house. He stopped at several shops looking for jewelry with Kirlethanium. An older Pack female sat next to a stall knitting.
“Do you know where I can find jewelry with large crystals in them?” he asked her.
“Try that shop across the street, they have a nice selection. You’re looking for the bracelet to match the necklace you bought your litter-mate?” She grinned up at him displaying a wide gap between her front teeth.
Lucian stilled and met her expectant gaze. “That would be nice. Is that where the necklace was sold?” He pointed to the shop.
Nodding, she smiled. “Caused a stir. We aren’t accustomed to Alphas being kind to their bitch kin. It made us see you differently.”
Keen to talk to the shop owner, Lucian smiled at the older woman as he walked off. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
Her face reddened as she beamed. “Thank you, Alpha for spending a few moments talking to me.”
Hastening across the street, Lucian wondered who purchased the necklace for Raven. He hadn’t. Yet someone claimed to have purchased it on his behalf. Inside the shop, several glass cases held all kind of jewelry. He took a deep breath and moved to the counter where a few jewelry pieces with Kirlethanium were prominently displayed.
“Alpha Lucian, this is an honor,” a tall, redheaded, female full-blood said. “What can I do for you?” The look she gave him clearly said she was available for anything he had in mind. Pity his crowded schedule wouldn’t permit him to take her up on her unspoken offer.
“The necklace for my sister...”
“She doesn’t like it? I suggested to him another stone, diamonds, sapphires, or emeralds that match the BlackWolf Clan, but he said you specifically wanted that one.”
He looked at her name tag. “Lois? Can I call you, Lois?”
Her cheeks reddened. “Yes, Alpha.” She lowered her eyelids in a coquettish gesture.
“Do you remember who bought the necklace?”
Her eyes widened. “He was one of the men who came with you when you took over the Pack.”
That surprised him. “Do you remember which one?” There had only been four of them. Duke, Solo, Pedro and himself. Duke wouldn’t have bought Raven a gift, he didn’t think like that. Pedro was mated. Lucian had hoped Raven and Solo would at least date, but it never happened.
She frowned. “Shorter than you, brown hair, he’s got that ball on the tip of his nose, dressed and smelled nice.”
No one he knew had a bulbous nose as she described. “Are you sure he came with me? The men with me were all dark-haired, like mine.”
She met his gaze. “I assumed he came with you since I hadn’t ever seen him before. He carried himself the right way, like someone important. He said you sent him to buy the gift for your sister. Really nice man, smiled a lot, paid cash for the necklace. Are you saying you didn’t send him?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. Do you have security cameras?” he looked around.
“No. We don’t really need them. It’s rare for humans to come this far on Pack lands and we don’t steal from each other,” she said. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, Lois. You did everything right. Do you have a matc
hing bracelet for the necklace you sold me?”
Her face brightened as she went behind the counter. “The necklace was part of a set. He was supposed to come back for the bracelet if she liked the necklace. The crystals are smaller but it matches perfectly.” She placed the bracelet on a piece of velvet.
He didn’t see the appeal but would take it for research purposes. “I’ll take this and the earrings to match.”
Her smiled inched up.
“Who makes these for you? Someone local?” he asked casually.
She bit the corner of her lip while wrapping the jewelry.
“Lois?”
“Yes, but... this is the last of it.”
Lucian’s brow raised. “What’s going on? Why is this the last of it?”
“It’s getting too hard to get the crystals. And it’s a shame because these sold well,” Lois said.
“I want to know more about these crystals,” he said looking at each one closely. “Who should I talk to about them?” He glanced at her when she didn’t speak. “Answer me, Lois.”
“You were talking to her, Patricia, the old woman outside.”
Lucian nodded and paid for his purchase.
“I hope your sister enjoys them,” Lois said with less enthusiasm than when he first entered.
Outside the older woman continued knitting in her chair. Lucian strode over and stooped next to her. “Tell me about Kirlethanium.”
Her eyes widened slightly before crinkling at the corners. “It’s the world’s closest held secret. Few know about it or what it can do when used with other elements. It’s not as rare as you’d think but it is extremely difficult to find.” She looked at him. “We have some in the mountains. But you know that already. You also know a human was there recently searching for it.”
“He took some.”
Patricia’s smile fell. “He did?”
Lucian nodded.
She looked away. “That’s not good.”
“Talk to me,” Lucian urged.
She wet her lips and looked at him. “There are rumors that it can extend a person’s life. It changes their physiology, they’re able to do things they normally can’t do.”
Lucian frowned. “Does it work on us or humans?”
“Both.”
“Explain,” he demanded.
“These are things I’ve heard throughout the years. In certain places, people depend on Kirlethanium to live long lives and stop aging. When that happens, they can cross... crossbreed,” she said. “How was he able to locate it? It’s deep in the rocks, impossible to find. It makes no sense.”
“Crossbreed? Us and humans?”
“Yes, or other,” she whispered.
“Other? What does that mean?” he asked, uncertain of what she meant.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Humans have searched those mountains for decades and never found Kirlethanium. Our secret remained safe. I heard someone else was in the mountains but didn’t think much of it.” Wide-eyed, she stared at him, fear wafted from her in waves. “What will we do now, Alpha?”
EMOTIONALLY DRAINED and physically exhausted, an hour later, Lucian returned to the house set aside for his stay in Costa Rica. Patricia had been genuinely afraid a marauding group of humans would tear up the mountainside in search of Kirlethanium. It had taken time to learn more of the crystal and its properties. For the most part, it remained inert, a boring bauble unless energized or combined with specific elements. The whole idea of a crystal doing the things Patricia claimed boggled his mind. He had scanned her to be sure she was sane.
She was.
He lay the bracelet and earrings on the dining table and stared at them. Kirlethanium was the smallest stone on the bracelet and absent from the earrings. Yet, if he believed Patricia, desperate individuals would rip apart his land for the crystal to either get the ultimate high or live a longer life or amass supernatural abilities.
“Are you the reason Raven’s missing?” Beyond tired but unable to sleep, he sat down while rubbing his forehead. He wouldn’t be able to rest until he had answers.
“Hawke? I apologize for disturbing you this late but I have questions.” Lucian waited for a reply.
“No problem, Alpha Lucian. How can I help you?” Hawke said a few moments later.
Lucian shared everything he learned in the last few hours. When Hawke didn’t say anything, Lucian asked. “Is this possible? Do people use this crystal to extend their lives?”
“Yes. There’s at least one country, Lyrill, who depend on it. As far as cross-breeding, the Princess wanted to breed with Tyrese, and she wasn’t Pack. She also tried to breed with my son, Damian which means it’s possible her body has changed to the point she can breed with Pack.”
Lucian shook his head. “This is so far-fetched, so impossible, I should’ve known it was true.” He leaned back and closed his eyes.
Hawke chuckled.
“Before I accepted the Alpha position, I lived in ignorance. Now I’m learning of Pack experiments, crystals that extend human life and change their bodies. To be clear, the people who use the crystals aren’t breeders through Grandfather’s line, right?”
“Right. Lyrill’s been around for centuries, possibly before breeders. Princess Miriam was in line to take over her father’s position. I don’t know if he’s still around or if she’s finally in charge. I do remember she was a sly one. Never trust her. If she’s the one looking for Kirlethanium in your back yard, be careful, she’s tenacious.”
“Would she kidnap Raven? Use her as leverage?” Lucian asked.
“In a heartbeat. I’m surprised she took Raven and not Duke. Maybe she’s already married and has babies.”
“That’s... that’s just wrong,” Lucian said and then exhaled. “Lyrill? I’ll book a flight and head over.”
“I’m not sure it works like that, talk to La Patron. I wasn’t here at the time Tyrese was there but it’s a closed country or it used to be. They don’t allow visitors,” Hawke said.
“Of course not,” Lucian murmured. “I feel like I’m chasing my tail. Raven can be anywhere.”
“What does your beast say?” Hawke asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Before you make travel plans, get really quiet, go over what you know with your beast, get his opinion. I’ve seen La Patron do it so many times over the years and I do it myself. As her Alpha your beast will pick up things you may otherwise miss,” Hawke said.
“You’re right. I’m operating on fumes and need to rest. Thanks, I appreciate your help,” Lucian said and withdrew from their link.
He grabbed the bracelet and earrings before heading to the bedroom. “No one ever tells you this kind of stuff will happen before you agree for the job,” he muttered and stopped. “Goddess, I pray my sister is safe and unharmed. Thank you.”
After a quick shower, he sat on the bed and looked at the crystals again. Tired, he turned off the lights, lay down with his hands across his belly and opened to his beast. “Where’s Raven?” he muttered.
The clocked ticked as he stared at the ceiling. Over and over he thought of what he learned about the crystal, Raven’s disappearance and his failure to locate her. Tormented by her absence he closed his eyes and prayed again. His eyelids grew heavy. Darkness pulled him under.
Moonlight raced over his skin as he rolled over onto his back laughing. Sparkling deep brown eyes, crinkled at the corner, tickled his belly with one hand while pushing her long, dark strands behind her ears.
“Me, play with me now, Mam,” Tasha demanded running toward them before jumping into their Mam’s arm. Hoisted to the side, their Mam continued tickling Lucian before brushing a kiss against his forehead. “Time for a bath, go tell Duke and Raven to come inside.”
Happy, Lucian ran outside to find his litter-mates. “Duke. Raven.” He called and called. They never answered. Confused, he turned to tell his Mam but their home changed. It grew darker by the second. Lucian’s limbs expanded until he was much older. Sitting on the
porch of the Alpha house, he heard weeping and wailing from the Pack over the death of his Sire and Mam. Nauseous, he took off toward the woods, ignoring Raven who called for him to wait.
Sire was dead. Mam too. What would happen to them? The Pack? He ran and ran and ran until his heart almost burst. In the middle of the forest, he threw back his head and yelled his pain and frustration. Sire wasn’t supposed to die. They were saying he was gored but Lucian couldn’t believe his sire would be that careless. Mam was with him. Did they die together? His heart bled as he dropped to the ground. How could this happen?
“Lucian?” Raven said as she entered the small space where he lay. Tasha and Duke followed. The four of them grieved over the loss of their parents and their way of life.
“Will you become Alpha?” Tasha asked Duke.
“No, I ... I can’t win against Uncle. He’s determined to become Alpha,” Duke said.
“He won’t follow our sire’s ways,” Raven said.
“That may be a good thing,” Tasha said looking at them. “We need to become stronger, the strongest Pack to hold what we have.” She looked at him. “What do you think, Lucian?”
“I want nothing to do with any of it,” he snapped.
“What does that mean?” Tasha asked.
“I’m not interested in what Uncle does,” Lucian said and stood, growling low in his throat.
“Good to know that nephew,” his Uncle said walking toward them. “I don’t want to fight my brother’s pups but I will if I have to.” He looked at each of them. “I have plans to make the Pack better than ever. Tonight, we’ll be meeting, be there.” His gaze lingered on Tasha, then Duke before turning to leave.
Lucian had no intention of going.
Raven, Tasha, and Duke followed their Uncle while Lucian ran off in the opposite direction until he came to the Alpha house. Tasha smelled weird. Duke had bulked up and was high all the time.
