Come Home

Fredrick

The minute I got back to my room, I could smell it. This time was different though, there was death mixed in. Once we finished searching the room and didn't find anything, I noticed Chloe had disappeared. My first thought was she had been taken but I could still trace her scent within the house. When I went to follow it, I found her standing outside the door, safe. Connor standing beside her looked up with concern as I opened the door.

"There you are. Connor, the smell was here."

"What? Did you find it?"

"No. Could you help us sweep the three rooms? I checked outside and didn't find anything, but I think they might have been here a few minutes ago."

"Do you think they were planning on going after you?"

"Either me or Chloe," I said, glancing towards Chloe to reassure myself that she was still safe.

"How can you tell the murderer has been here based on a smell? And why can't I smell it?"

"Fredrick has super smelling abilities. He could probably tell you the minute someone started cooking downstairs from this room."

"But that's impossible."

"Only for the rest of the world. If you're going to trust anything, it should be Fredrick's senses."

"Okay?"

"I don't think they're here anymore. Chloe, I am so sorry I left you alone in here without securing the room. I should have been more careful."

"It's alright, I'm safe. I didn't see anyone outside and all the doors were locked, besides the ones they were standing at," she said, gesturing towards the two men I had put on guard.

"But still, I wasn't thinking and you probably wouldn't have noticed if someone had been in position to attack."

"All clear in here alpha. What should we do next?"

"We're moving into my office and securing it for the night. Chloe, can you help me grab blankets and pillows for the couches?"

"Of course."

"Connor, can you have everyone meet me in the second floor hallway? I need to make an announcement."

"Yes sir."

While Connor moved down the stairs, Chloe, the two guards, and I grabbed all the blankets and pillows we could find and moved them into my office. I helped her set up the couches for sleeping before going around the office securing the windows and making sure no one had already snuck in. Making sure Chloe was well settled on the smaller couch, I moved out of the office and towards the guards to give them their instructions.

"Keep her safe until I get back. Upon my return, you'll be able to retire for the evening."

"Thank you alpha."

The walk down the stairs was silent until I reached the third floor and could hear and feel the murmur of the house members. Reaching the second floor landing, I'm met by the sight of the entire pack, some in their sleep clothes, awaiting what I have to say.

"Thank you all for coming so quickly. As many of you might know, we had a death within the household last night. Sheila was murdered and we have not discovered the culprit. Along with this, Roxee has gone missing. She was last seen in the fourth floor south hall. I have come to realise that no one is safe right now, and am putting in several precautions to help us stay safe until the murderer is discovered. For the next few nights, we will all be sleeping in Declan's, Roxee's, and my own office. These rooms have one door each, two large windows that can be securely locked, and a closet leading to nowhere. We will have these rooms locked from the inside from dusk until dawn and all bathroom runs will be done in groups of three with a fourth person awoken to wait at the door for the group's arrival. During the day, no one shall go outside without permission from myself, Declan, or my father. We are also working to put in a guard system for inside the house. I would like all of you to return to your rooms and collect everything you will need for the night and meet back here in fifteen minutes. Don't separate from the groups for any reason."