Rosie's Book

5

"Same family Ástríðr, different wolf"

"Yes Rosie, this male is desperate to please. That sweet smell is not one of your sugar treats. That is the scent of marking. This wolf is warning others to leave his property alone"

This is only part of a conversation I have been having with my wolf. We are out on patrol or on the hunt, depends on your perspective. Tonight I would say we are out on the hunt, the scent we discovered in Jackson Square is familiar to us, another reason why Ástríðr has been restless. She imprinted with me a couple of months ago when our bond had grown stronger, not only did she want us to be able to communicate with our words as well as our emotions, she wanted to be able to share memories and scents from the past. The two of us have always been bonded, it was explained to me that I am now in my fourth life cycle. When she told me this and Antonia was able to confirm this tit bit, I laughed so hard I swear I broke a rib or three. Telling the two of them I didn't believe in that hocus pocus was comical considering I was talking to my inner wolf and a witch. While they didn't try to convince me I was wrong, the black wolf living within me took it upon herself to imprint on me. I felt violated, which is embarrassing considering I was told that I had basically violated myself when she committed this 'violation'. Matthew, my adopted brother, explained that usually a male and female animal imprint on each other in our world when they have bonded and mated. It is part of the ritual if they are true mates, which means no secrets can be kept from the past present and future. After the shudders, multiple showers and begging for an internal scan, yes overkill I know, I finally accepted that the imprinting was a benefit. Since then I have seen my past lives, my senses are heightened and my emotions are still struggling to remain under control.

Leaving Jackson Square, we notice the scent from Jessica's abduction is stronger than before, this indicates the wolf has returned to the scene of the crime. This isn't the abduction we are out to track. We should ignore it and stick to protocol. We should allow Jeremy and the NOPD to handle this case, we are meant to be on the hunt for the 'OG Girls' but there is a second scent circling Jessica's wolf. Hey, we have our ways to keep track, it's the autistic brain, so it may not make sense to you but keep up ok. Before this hunt continues, I have to call Jeremy and find out if there is an update since I have been out of the office. Tapping my chest twice, the tracking - with a chip embedded that calls the 'on call hunters' line' is activated, the call is placed to Jeremy.

"Jeremey speaking"

"Standing in the middle of Jackson square, any updates from NOPD?" When we are out on patrol and communicating with other team members, we don't have time to be polite. Direct conversation and sometimes in a voice equivalent to shorthand is used. We have worked together long enough to understand these conversations.

"No updates, feels like they are stalling boss!" The frustration in his voice is enough for me to be pissed off. Putting a little smile on his face isn't something I live for, but he needs to have his spirits lifted here so I update him on my findings.

"There is a second scent surrounding the original. No idea why I began the hunt for the OG crime scene. Two scents around J's scene. My gut says they are related." While I give him time to process the information my eyes are scanning the area, ears listening out for anything unusual for this location and time of evening. Resting my body against the Andrew Jackson Statue, right leg bent with my foot resting against the plinth. My head bobbing up and down to give the outward impression that I am relaxed and listening to music. My senses are not noticing anything new from before I made the call, my mind begins to wander until Jeremy speaks.

"You don't need me to tell you what to do boss, I have made a note in our files. Follow where your evidence takes you and keep me updated." He signs off. The wolf and I dance internally knowing we have just been let loose.