Alpha's search for his Luna

Chapter : Fragmented Realities

Jim Corbett Resort: Five days since the group was spotted.
The resort's quarterly meeting.

Tanishq sat at the head of the long, polished table in the resort’s meeting room, reviewing the quarter’s financial reports. The windows overlooked the lush greenery of Jim Corbett, but the usual serenity the view brought him was nowhere to be found today. The numbers in front of him were decent, but the unease in the air was palpable as his employees quietly awaited his assessment.

“Alright,” he finally said, his tone calm but authoritative, “Let’s go over this quarter’s results.”

Arav, sitting to his right as the manager of the resort, nodded to Radhika, the young operations manager, to present the first report. She stood up, slightly nervous but professional, adjusting her glasses as she glanced at her notes.

“We’ve had a ten percent increase in occupancy over the last quarter,” Radhika began, her voice steadying, “primarily due to holiday travelers. However, we’re forecasting a significant drop over the coming months as monsoon season approaches. As you all know, tourists tend to avoid the area because of the risk of landslides and cloudbursts.”

Tanishq nodded, leaning back slightly in his chair. The monsoons were always a challenge. “How much of a drop are we expecting?”

Radhika cleared her throat. “We’re predicting about a thirty percent reduction in bookings for July and August. However, if we focus on offering special monsoon packages, we might be able to mitigate some of the losses.”

Tanishq considered this, his brow furrowing. “And what about the pool issue?” he asked, glancing at the maintenance manager, Vijay, who was sitting farther down the table. “The last I heard, we had to shut it down.”

Vijay looked uncomfortable. “Yes, sir. There’s a crack in the foundation of the pool, and the repairs are taking longer than expected. We’re looking at another two weeks before it’s operational again. We’ve already informed the guests and offered compensation in the form of discounts, but it’s… not ideal.”

Tanishq’s jaw tightened slightly. The resort’s pool was one of its main attractions, especially for families. A broken pool during peak season wasn’t the kind of setback they could afford.
“We need to get that fixed as soon as possible,” he said firmly. “Offer additional amenities to compensate for the inconvenience, but don’t let this drag on.”

Vijay nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”

Arav chimed in next. “On a brighter note, we’re also negotiating the purchase of another property here in Jim Corbett. A British family owns it, and they’re looking to sell. It’s a smaller resort, but it could be a valuable addition, especially with the right marketing push.”

Tanishq leaned forward, interested. “Have we made an offer?”

“Not yet,” Arav replied. “But I believe we can close the deal within the next month.”

Tanishq nodded thoughtfully. “Good. Keep me updated on that.” He glanced around the room. “Anything else?”
A few more operational updates were shared, mostly about routine maintenance and staffing issues.

Tanishq addressed each matter efficiently, his focus unwavering. He ran his pack with the same precision he ran the resort—a firm hand, clear expectations, and the assurance that everyone knew their role.

The meeting wrapped up after another twenty minutes. As the employees filed out, Arav stayed behind, while Samar Rudra and Ishaan entered the room, their expressions tense.

“What is it?” Tanishq asked, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. He could already guess it was about the group of outsiders.

Rudra stepped forward. “We’ve got more information on the group,” he began.
“They’re living in a villa registered under the Buddhist Gompa from Ladakh. The property itself is segmented, and the group stays in the section facing east, toward the forest. They’re all young, aged between 18 and 24. There’s at least one couple among them, and the rest of the property is occupied by humans, likely associated with a Buddhist monastery in Nainital.”

Samar scoffed, crossing his arms. “So, we’re wasting time on some Buddhist tribals. I told you, Tanishq, we should be focusing on finding a Luna, not sniffing around some humans.”

Tanishq’s expression hardened, but he remained silent, waiting for Rudra to continue.

“None of them have wolf scents,” Rudra added, “but the villa has sections that are mostly human-occupied. It’s… strange. These werewolves, if they are, are blending in with humans too easily. And our informers haven’t noticed any shifting or other obvious behavior that would confirm them as rogues.”

Ishaan, who had been standing quietly by the door, finally spoke up. “Maybe they’re using the humans as shields,” he suggested. “Rogues are desperate, but even they wouldn’t reveal themselves so openly.”
Samar, clearly irritated, threw up his hands. “Rogues using humans as shields? Even rogues wouldn’t be that reckless. This is ridiculous.” He turned to Tanishq, his voice rising with frustration. “We’re wasting time, Tanishq. The pack needs a Luna. Kaya wants a pup, everyone knows that. You’re running around chasing shadows when you should be focusing on visiting the packs in Myanmar and Bhutan. We all know why we need a Luna.”
His tone sharpened. “Rudra and Advik don’t even have mates. Maybe that’s why they can’t see what the real priority is here.”

Tanishq’s gaze snapped toward Samar, his eyes narrowing. “Enough,” he said, his voice low but firm. “I make the decisions for this pack. You’ll watch your tone.”

Samar looked ready to argue, but he held his tongue, clearly seething.

Tanishq turned back to Rudra, ignoring Samar’s outburst. “Keep watching them. I want to know everything about this group, even if they’re just humans. There’s something off here, and I want to be sure.”

Arav, who had remained quiet, finally spoke up. “We’ll continue to monitor them closely. I’ve already instructed others to keep a close eye, and they haven’t seen anything unusual yet. But we’ll stay vigilant.”

“Good,” Tanishq said. “I don’t like loose ends. Keep me informed.”

The tension in the room eased slightly as Tanishq dismissed them, though Samar was still visibly agitated. Tanishq watched as they left, his thoughts churning. Something wasn’t adding up, and until he had more answers, he wasn’t going to let this drop.

Finding a Luna was important, but leaving potential dangers unchecked wasn’t an option either. And if this group was more than they seemed, he would find out soon enough.