Scent of a Mate

Chapter 14

I'm writing this instead of my essay... Talk about bad  time management.... Hope you like it.

Torrvi

Nate
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What's happening to me?

I had never in my life placed my hands on an elder. Elders deserved respect... At least they usually did.

I looked next to me and saw Ricky chuckle and blush, probably at something Craig said in his introduction. She looked down at her hands and shyly picked at her already chipped, black nail polish.

So many things could have gone wrong after I threatened that elder. Elder Isaac could have been on his way to the Wolf King's high council to report my behavior as soon as he ran out that door, and yet... I still thought it was worth it because I did it for her  sake.

This girl's going to get me in sooooo much trouble...

"... Nate and I are now going to brief you all on what occurred with Alpha Alfred from Lake Side Pack. Nate, why don't you go ahead and start."

I snapped my head to Craig at the sound of my name. I looked around to find everyone looking at me, including Ricky.

"Right!"

I shifted in my seat uncomfortably and cleared my throat once. Then when I had no idea I was supposed to talk about, I leaned towards Craig and whispered,

"You want me to tell them about the note?"

Craig looked at me incredulously.

"Yes, Nate. The note. The one Alpha Alfred sent us. That note. Explain it. Please. Now."

I looked around the room and saw apprehensive looks all around. I heard Ricky chuckle next to me and ignored her. I had never been so distracted. I was always focused with my head in the game, but Ricky came in and was turning me into a sloppy mess. I rubbed the back of my neck and let out an awkward cough, desperate to try to get back into my business mode.

"Right. Well basically, long story short, Alpha Alfred sent us a letter asking us to come to his pack. Apparently phone use was "unsafe" and so was online communication. Once we got to his pack house, he locked us in a freezer and expressed that when Alpha Eric from South Point Pack visited him he bugged all the rooms in his house. He found small microphones and cameras in every drawer, and closet, and behind every picture frame and door. Now why would an Alpha do that?"

I let the question linger in the air. I looked around and saw everyone looking both perplexed and intrigued. I looked next to me and saw a very serious, thinking expression on Ricky's face.

I'm back in the game, baby!

I leaned forward and placed both hands on the table. Everyone leaned forward on their chairs.

"Alpha Eric is broke."

Gasps erupted around the room.

"His pack relies on oil to survive and, according to Alpha Alfred, oil is becoming harder and harder to find. Southern Point Pack is going to try to take over the packs in our surrounding area. We have to find out how he plans to do that and stop him. "

Everyone in the table was looking at me in awe and inspiration thanks to that speech. Everyone but Ricky who was frowning at the table still deep on thought. I was going to ask her what was wrong till Craig spoke up.

"Based on Alpha Alfred's information we were supposed to interfere a meet between a rouge and a member of Southern Point Pack. The member was supposed to be carrying information. He was going to give the information to the rouges, so that they would join the pack's side and help take us down. Luckily, we found the pack member."

The elders all sighed in relief.

"But he didn't have the information."

Gasps and yelling filled the room. One elder stood up and yelled, "Where is it then?"

Craig then slammed his hand on the oak table and the room silenced under the loud boom. Craig then fixed his gaze upon Ricky. She gave him a curt nod and stood from here chair. She then reached into her shirt and gingerly pulled out the lanyard making all the USBs rattle from the movement.

"I'm wearing the information around my neck. So rest assured it is safe from the Rouges' hands."

The elders were all confused whispering amongst each other.

Craig stood and walked over to Ricky and politely stood next to her.

"This is where your wisdom is needed. The lanyard is connected to Ricky's life force. I've done my own research on this part and..."

Craig looked over at me with pity shining from his eyes.

"According to folklore any disconnection between the cursed item and the victim would lead to said victim's certain death. We cannot remove the lanyard from Ricky and we cannot download the information from the USB without taking her life."

My heart raced. My palms were sweaty. I wanted my mate alive.  I had just met her and she was already becoming a huge part of her life. From the moment I stopped her from killing herself I decided that I would protect her with all I had. I looked over at Ricky and saw that although she was rigidly standing next to Craig, her face had paled and her hands were behind her back in fists.

I stood up and walked over to Ricky. I was debating if I should grab her hand, but decided on just putting my hand on her shoulder. A nice warmth was emitted because of the physical contact and Ricky turned to look at me. Her panicked eyes relaxed as soon as they met mine and she took a step closer to me making my hand shift onto her upper back. I took my gaze off Ricky and onto the elders as Craig continued his speech.

"You are all elders and leaders of this pack. Now in this time of darkness we are looking for your wisdom and objectivity. What do we do about the information?"

Silence filled the room the elders were looking back and forth at each other. Suddenly out of the silence an argument erupted. We could barely make out anything they were saying until one elder stood up, pointed at Ricky and screamed,

"RIP IT FROM HER NECK!"