Alpha Erebon

Chapter 21

Eliza's quiet and kind daughter, Breanna, comes forward the next day with her black hair swept to the side, asking Noah and Alice to come to the mess room. She wants to teach them to fight with the rest of her sisters, who are being instructed by Seth. It's been a few hours now and I've watched the training closely, relieved that it seems to be a great distraction for both my daughters. They're already smiling and laughing with the others, which is better than crying about last night.

The morning earlier had been extremely tense at Firwood. I ate breakfast in my room with my girls, avoiding everyone, while Erebon went back out to consult with Orpheus and the Sub-Alphas.

"Come with me, please, Sabrina, I need your help," Orpheus appears behind me with Becca, they just entered the mess room. I turn to see Orpheus looks stressed. I silently follow them down to a meeting room with a large wooden table where the Sub-Alphas are already waiting with Scorpeo and Caspian reclining close by as well. Erebon is somewhere else.

This is official pack business, since we're all together, minus one.

I sit down with Becca at the table while Orpheus rounds it to speak to me direct.

"Have you ever heard of Wolf Trap?" Orpheus asks me.

"No."

"They are actively searching for wolves to lure out of packs and kill them, the aim of these bears is simply revenge for territory taken by wolf packs who forbid bears co-exist on their lands," Orpheus explains, "We have a list of the names of the guests now. But narrowing down the suspects will be difficult. You may be able to help with your jams, now that you've connected to the fae around the witchwoods in my territory. If you can work out the right recipe, you can erase any magical properties interfering with anyone's aura. A detoxifying jam. If you can do this, Seth will send out the jams to each person on the list as a gift, then we can figure out who's carrying the stench of a rotting soul when they've been cleansed of any witches' interference."

"B-but I-I just began making the jams," I stutter, "I can certainly try – it's a big recipe book. I'll have to read through every note to make sure I am making the correct concoction."

"Can you do it, Sabrina?" Orpheus asks me without pressure, just honestly wanting to know, "You made Petal Wood Jam – can you work this out?"

I eventually nod, "Yes."

"Erebon will take you back to the cabin."

"Is the Greywood safe from bears?" I ask, needing to know.

"They physically can't enter, it's the safest wolf territory in the country," Orpheus reassures me, "One more question. How are you doing? And Erebon? My brother? How are you two progressing?" The Sub-Alphas watch me carefully, Becca too, while Orpheus doesn't look away. The pressure is on, "Before you answer me," Orpheus drawls low, sounding a little threatening, "Be perfectly honest."

"Okay... I will be. I'm having trouble with his extra-curricular activities. Erebon himself, I really like him, he's perfect. However, I am worried about my daughters and this violent world the Greywoods are known to navigate, due to your Royal bloodlines, and the Awstone on the property," I lick my lips nervously and purse them, looking down at the table when there's a lull.

"You're disempowered."

"What do you mean?" I ask Orpheus.

"You need security, financially and otherwise," Orpheus hesitates, glances at Becca and then seems to get her approval for something, and he turns to me, nodding, "You'll be safer married to Erebon, no one will touch you. Being a girlfriend isn't going to work."

"I was just widowed," I whisper.

"Are you loyal to your dead bear?" Orpheus stares at me critically, not pleased, his lips down turning. I shake my head, mouthing 'no', "Then stop defending him. He's a born enemy. He deceived you. You're free now."