Alpha's search for his Luna

Chapter: The List of Chaos

Dun Pack House: The Dining Area. Same morning when Priyal and others were out for shopping.

Tanishq's POV:

The breakfast table was filled with the usual bustle of the morning. Misha and Kaya moved about the kitchen, quietly chatting as they set the table for everyone. Their laughter mixed with the sound of pots clattering as they worked together. I leaned back in my chair, sipping my coffee and taking in the familiar scent of the South Indian breakfast they'd prepared today. Dosas, sambar, and chutney-something new they'd learned from YouTube. It always amazed me how easily they had blended into this role of managing the house, providing for the pack in small but meaningful ways.

Samar was already seated across from me, his phone pressed to his ear as he finished up a routine call with the runners. He nodded at something the runner said before hanging up, Misha immediately serving him his plate as if in sync with his every move. Kaya followed closely behind, her hands full with the rest of the food.

It was peaceful-too peaceful. A rare feeling these days with everything that had been happening. The tension of running a pack while struggling to maintain control over dwindling numbers always weighed heavy on my mind. Today was no different.

Just as I was about to take another bite of my dosa, the sound of footsteps approaching caught my attention. Arav walked in, his expression unreadable, followed by Rudra and Roshan, our new omega. Something was up, and I could feel my wolf stir inside me, on alert. Arav came up to me and handed me his phone without a word.

"What's this?" I muttered, looking at the screen. My eyes scanned the photo of a list, my brow furrowing deeper with each item I read.

My grip tightened on the phone as frustration built inside me. "What the hell is this nonsense?" I barked, my voice loud enough to make Misha and Kaya turn their heads. Everyone else in the room went silent.

Samar, still finishing his breakfast, raised an eyebrow and took the phone from me. "What's going on?"

He scanned the list quickly, reading the items aloud. "Vermillion, saffron, sandalwood... iron knife, brass bowl. Tanishq, this sounds like list for some random rituals.It could be anything, Tribal, Buddhist, Hinduism. Mango Logs are used in almost every veneration" he said, chuckling as if dismissing the whole thing. "We're wasting time on this?"

I clenched my jaw, unsure if I agreed with Samar or if my gut was telling me something else.

Misha grabbed the phone from Samar, her curiosity piqued. She murmured aloud as she scrolled through the list. "Ochre-colored sand... and a wooden wolf toy?" She exchanged a glance with Kaya, who immediately leaned in to look at the screen too.

"A wolf toy?" Kaya repeated, her voice tinged with confusion. Without a second thought, she forwarded the list to Aunt Ira and Aunt Shayla. They might know something about this.

I sat there, my mind racing, trying to make sense of the situation. "Give me that," I muttered, taking the phone back and reading the list once more. I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just some random coincidence. There had to be more to it.

Before I could process further, Ishaan walked in with a stack of papers in hand. "Tanishq," he said, his voice low, "we've received official requests from three more couples. They want to leave the pack."

I slammed my fist against the table, making the plates clatter. "Three more?" My voice was strained, barely holding back the anger I felt rising within me.

"That makes five this month," Samar muttered darkly, shaking his head.

Misha's voice cut through the tension, soft but concerned. "Who are they?" she asked.

Kaya sighed, already knowing. "One of them must be Ruhi... she's been desperate for pups."

Ishaan confirmed it with a nod. "Yes, Ruhi is one of them."

That was the last straw. The frustration and helplessness boiled over, and before I knew it, I grabbed Arav's phone and hurled it against the wall. It shattered instantly, the pieces scattering across the floor. Misha and Kaya stepped back in shock, while the rest of the room fell into a heavy silence.

Aunt Ira came rushing down the stairs, her phone in hand. "Who gave you this list?" she demanded, her eyes scanning the room.

Arav, calm as always despite the chaos, gestured toward the broken phone. "Does it mean something to you?"

Aunt Ira nodded slowly, her expression serious. "This list... it's for a special veneration. A blessing from the Moon Goddess to protect a pregnant she-wolf and her unborn pup."

Kaya furrowed her brow, confused. "What for?"

Misha, rolling her eyes, answered for her. "Pregnant wolves can't shift, Kaya. The ritual is to keep them and the pup safe during the full moon."

Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place. This wasn't just any group-there was a pregnant she-wolf among them. It was the first real evidence we had. My thoughts raced as the reality of it all sank in. If they were performing the veneration tonight, on the full moon, it would be out in the open. We could finally get answers.

Misha broke the silence again, reminding us, "It's a full moon tonight."

Aunt Ira nodded. "Yes, and they'll perform the ritual. If they're really pregnant, they won't shift. It's the perfect time to find out."

Samar, still skeptical, crossed his arms and frowned. "And why haven't any of us heard of this ritual before?"

Kaya sighed again, exasperated. "Probably because there haven't been any pregnant females in our pack for years."

Aunt Ira's gaze softened as she nodded in agreement. "The males know what they need to know, but this... This is something only a Luna would teach."

Samar scoffed in disbelief and stormed out of the room, but I stayed focused. This was the chance we'd been waiting for. We couldn't miss it.

"If they perform the veneration tonight," Aunt Ira said softly, "it will be out in the open. Send wolves to keep an eye on them."
I looked over at Arav and gave him a firm nod. "Do what Aunt says. And send trained wolves-if they really are wolves they'll shift tonight".

Arav moved to leave, but Kaya grabbed his arm. "Remember," she whispered, her voice tinged with worry, "they're like us, Arav. If a she-wolf is pregnant, we need to be careful."

I didn't need to be reminded. This was more than just finding out about the group. If there was a pregnant she-wolf among them, we'd need to handle it with care. This was bigger than I had thought.