USELESS?

30

With the bulk of the planning for the mating ceremony complete, my sessions in the library return to studying what I need to know as a Guardian and Luna. Training in the morning is now split between human and wolf forms, while I continue training with the scouts in what they call "how not to get killed" lessons in the afternoon. These have moved on to training with human weapons, including swords and knives.

Joseph says that these will be in the arena during the challenge, and that Dale and I are allowed to fight any way we choose. The only rules are no sabotage or assassin's tricks. The sorceress, a woman a little older than Angela, arrived two weeks ago, and shielded the area where the arena is under construction.

She tells me each batch of cement being used for the arena is being imbued with the wards, to make the wards stronger. She'll work directly with the workers crafting the plexiglass walls to place the wards on those as well. Talia mentions that she grew up on the other side of the rogue territory from us, but her family moved across the country when her younger brother, Justice, disappeared without a trace.

Intrigued, I ask her if she has a picture of him. She shows me an old one of her whole family, and I recognize the boy immediately. This is not good. I need to talk to Tristan and Reine.

While I continue talking to Talia, I mind link Anthony and ask him to set up a meeting with the pair of investigators. When he asks why, I tell him that I have discovered the identity of his father's mate. We will need to research sorcerers to find out when they get their abilities and if they can feel a mate pull.

He agrees, and tells me the meeting will be set for tomorrow morning. I suggest calling my father during the meeting to fill him in on what we've discovered. If I'm right, this could cause a major issue between sorcerers and werewolves.

The following morning, I join Anthony in his office, moving my chair next to his behind his desk. When Tristan and Reine arrive, we usher them in and ask them to have a seat. After calling my father and putting it on speakerphone, I jump right in to the topic at hand.

"What do you know about Sorcerers?" I ask the pair.

"Sorcerers?" Asks Reine. "They're trained in non-magical facets of their abilities until their gifts manifest, usually at 20 or 21. Why do you ask?"

"Because," begins Anthony, "we have reason to believe that the boy who may have been my father's mate was a sorcerer. We have a sorceress here helping build a challenge arena, and she told Hunter yesterday that her younger brother, Justice, disappeared without a trace when he was 18."

"Did she happen to have a picture?" Tristan asks.

"She did. It looks like the boy in the pictures we received from Mr. Reede," I answer.

"Well," my father says, "if the boy was 18, then he wouldn't have felt a mate pull. Sorcerers CAN, but only after their gifts manifest. Until then, they appear human to all intents and purposes."

"So, now we know WHO the boy is, now to find out how he came in contact with Ty." Reine says. "Although, it's possible that he had planned to reject any mate that wasn't of an Alpha bloodline, and had the rings crafted for when he found a suitable partner. He could have had an enchantment on them for them to adjust to fit whoever wore them."

"That would make the most sense," Tristan agrees. "And since warlocks and sorcerers are often in close proximity in human cities, that could be how he came across Justice."

"The only question left," my father adds, "is what to tell Justice's family. He's been gone for nearly 30 years. I would bet they blamed his disappearance on the warlocks, which would be why they moved across the country, and requested the right to settle inside my pack's borders."

"We have to tell them something," I argue. "But perhaps just tell them that a current investigation has led to information regarding their son's disappearance? Wait until after the challenge to give them the details. Bring her parents here with you, and sit them down to explain everything then? I'd rather not show them the photos we received, though. No parent should see their child like that."

"I agree with that" Tristan shudders. "Reine and I have been special investigators for ten years, and I've never seen something that brutal."

"I haven't seen them," my father says, "so I'll have to take your word for it, although I suppose I'm going to have to see them when the investigation comes to a close if I'm to make a decision regarding Ty's involvement. Tristan, Reine, in your opinion, would this warrant posthumously stripping his Alpha title, and striking his name from pack history?"

"Definitely, your majesty " Reine declares. "But in that situation, who would be listed as Alpha in his place?"

"May I suggest my mother?" Anthony suggests. "As Luna, it would have been her job to step in until the next Alpha was old enough to take over...and she was definitely the Luna, even if my father is stricken from the records as alpha."

"Sounds about right." My father agrees. "Once I've seen the evidence; if I agree with Reine and Tristan, which I most likely will, I'll issue the proclamation for your mother to be named Luna Regent in absence of an Alpha from the time she assumed the role of Luna until you took over as Alpha."

"Sounds like a plan," I say. "Tristan, Reine, I'd appreciate it if you would continue the investigation, see if you can confirm everything we've come up with."

"Shouldn't be too difficult, now that we know where to look." Tristan says "Do you want to talk to the Sorceress first, or should we?"

"Let's head out to the construction area together, " Anthony suggests. "The four of us. Hunter and I can explain why you need to speak to her, without revealing too much of what you're investigating."

"I'll let you get to it, and see you in about a week." My father says before hanging up.

With that, the four of us stand from our seats and head for the door. I'm lost in thought as I lag slightly behind. Ten more days, and this will all be over, one way or another. Anthony waits for me to catch up, taking my hand and giving me a reassuring smile as we reach the nearly completed arena.