Found by the Lycan King

Zenovia

Even Callahan’s eyes widened as he saw the photos in Elijah’s hands. We were a few feet above Elijah, who was standing on the ground floor, but the photos were hard to miss.

Callahan’s grip on my hand loosened, and he gripped the railing of the

staircase.

“When?” He asked as I saw his face become angry and he climbed down the stairs hastily. I too followed him as Callahan took the photos from Elijah.

“I just got news of it and came here to report to you.”

Callahan examined the photos carefully and asked, “Where did this happen?”

Elijah replied, “Somewhere in the south. The packs were trying to hide it, but one of my men found it when I sent him to check on any suspicious activity.”

Callahan did not say anything to that immediately, but the way his eyes scanned the photograph told me he had the same question that had popped up in my mind.

He looked up to ask a few questions, but saw Martha walk out of her quarters and bow to him.

“Oh, you are awake, my King. Just wanted to check if you needed some tea/coffee.”

She tried hard to suppress the yawn, working up her throat by hiding her mouth with a hand.

Callahan hid the photos from her direct view and answered, “No, it is fine. You go rest.”

But she still insisted.

“You haven’t eaten much either. Are you sure you don’t need me to cook something quickly?”

Elijah answered before Callahan could.

08:36

“You know what? I am dying of hunger. This man makes us starve to death. If you aren’t too sleepy, could you please make some pancakes for us?”

Callahan slapped the photos on Elijah’s chest in mock anger as Elijah grinned at him.

Martha nodded her head. “Of course, dear.”

Then her gaze shifted to me. “Anything for you, sweetie? You were not even there for dinner.”

I shook my head. “Maybe just tea”

She smiled and walked back to the kitchen as Callahan and Elijah began walking toward his office.

“Let us discuss the rest in the office”

Elijah nodded, and I fell in steps beside him, but Callahan quickly turned around with a raised eyebrow and asked.

“Where do you think you are going?”

I blinked. “where else? With you to the office?”

He shook his head. “No, Miss Zenovia Archer. You have had enough adventures for a day. Now you should go rest.”

He started walking away without letting me respond, but I quickly went ahead and blocked their path.

“Just two minutes ago you promised that you would let me in on the work and now you are again back to keeping me out of it.”

Callahan made a face as if he was an annoyed parent, and I was an unruly child.

“I never promised, plus this is a sensitive matter. You can go help Martha if you wish.”

However, I placed my hands on my hips and jutted my chin.

“No, Your Majesty. If you want me to stick to my words, you should stick to yours as well.”

Callahan looked at me for a second and then at Elijah for help, but he only shrugged and patted on Callahan’s shoulder.

08:37

“I will let you two sort it out. I will wait in the office.”

Callahan looked at his gamma as if he had just betrayed him, but I mouthed Elijah a quick ‘thanks’ before turning my attention back to Callahan.

“You are getting very demanding. If you continue like this, I will have to punish you soon.’

Despite the slight anger in his voice, my toes curled at the words.

“Do as you wish,” I replied and Callahan shook his head before walking inside through the door, and me grinning like an idiot.

Elijah was waiting inside, staring at the large map on the table.

“So, the attack happened here,” He said, pointing to a spot on the map and added, “But the bodies were found here…” He completed, dragging his point through the map to another spot.

We peered at the places intently.

“What makes you say that?” I asked.

“Well, according to my intel, the people who died lived in spot A and their bodies were found in spot B. Given the distance between the two spots, I take it they were ambushed and then dragged at spot B.”

I stared at the map again. Spot A was just the very far end of the border of our territory while spot B was closer to the mansion, almost like a thirty minute drive from the mansion.

“So you are saying that the people were killed closer to their homes, but their bodies dropped in the middle of the forest and closer to Callahan so that he would find it?”

Elijah nodded. “I think so. These men all belong to the pack far south and they don’t generally venture outside their territory. So either they were kidnapped and killed at Spot B or killed in their homes and left for us to find out at an easily visible place.

Callahan’s fingers curled into fists.

“Have you spoken to their alphas? I want to have a meeting with them. Now!!” He demanded, but Elijah replied.

“There is no use, King. They are shocked themselves. The method of killing is quite brutal and unusual. We have not had such killings before.

08:371

So they are trying to investigate and present information to you when they find anything credible.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. At least Sid had not been lying about the photos then. Some part of me believed it had been a trick to get me to meet him, but one look at the photos told me it was the real deal.

“So the Rogue King finally decided to reveal himself after all this time?” Callahan asked sarcastically, his hands hovering over the map as the cogs in his mind were churning.

“Seems so. As you can see, there are no signs of injuries or anything else on the bodies. So, they were either killed by suffocation or some medicine.”

“Do they have anything weird or unusual about them? Any reason why they were picked as targets?”

Elijah scratched his chin.

“I have asked the alpha of their pack to inform me….” Callahan narrowed his eyes and Elijah corrected, “I mean..inform you of the findings. The attack happened two days ago, and the bodies were left to rot for a few hours before a patrolling werewolf found them. The family members of the deceased requested you to give them the right to bury them.”

Callahan thought about it for a second.

“I want to see the bodies for myself before you give them away.”

Elijah looked at me and then at Callahan.

“But…they are already starting to decay. We have to bury them as soon as possible.”

Callahan shrugged. “Well then, I can go and pay a visit to the morgue. But I have to take a good look at the bodies myself before they are burned.”

Elijah and I exchanged glances. Elijah had opened his mouth to add,

“But their families are already waiting..”

Callahan’s reply was curt. “They hid the fact from me for 2 days. They can bury the bodies when I am done inspecting them. It is final.”

His tone did not leave any room for disagreement. Elijah nodded his head and replied, Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

08:37

“Sure, King. I will have the alpha arrange it, then.”

“Good. We are leaving in five minutes.”

Then Callahan looked at me. “I am leaving. If you think you are brave

enough to not puke or faint at the sight of the bodies, you can join me for a ride.”

What?