"Roman, explain to me how these intruders were missed. It was your squad on patrol last night, under your charge?"
I'm seething, as I lean over the table, my face meer inches from Roman's. We've been here all morning questioning every remaining pack member one by one, the headache I started the day with only growing in strength, with each new interrogation. He has been one of the guard leaders for years, since before I was born twenty seven years ago. Not once has ever been out of line. Not once has anything ever gone awry on his watch, so I need to understand now, how he missed multiple wolves from various packs prowling past our border and murdering our pack.
It hasn't escaped me that someone on the inside had to have helped make this happen. We are too strong a pack, tethered too tightly in our military preparation for something like this to just happen as a fluke. I can't say if Roman is the traitor amongst us, but if he is, I will tear his throat out with my own claws, a punishment not quite as harsh as the one we have for those that turn their backs on our pack.
Wolves are communal creatures, craving companionship more than the desire for breath. The worst fate for any wolf is to be exiled from their pack, sent to live on their own or as a rogue. The telepathy we share melts away, the connections we feel to each other disappearing the instant the Alpha speaks the word exile. I've seen it once, the instant change from being one of us to becoming "other". Despite the loss of the strings that held us to him, his howls of agony and whimpers of loss nestled deep in my gut. It's a fate I would ever wish on one of my own kind. Many wolves wither away and die the ache of being cast out burrowing so deep inside them, the idea of meeting basic needs such as food and drink whittle away. We need one another like we need air to breathe.
"I've told you Katrina-"
Theo shoots in front of me a thunderous growl breaking free, saliva slicing across Roman's cheek as he bares lengthening canines centimeters from his face. It's a reaction innate in a Beta, protecting the respect the Alpha demands. Carefully I pull him back by his arm, his body slowly uncoiling to his full height, the features that had been feral only a moment ago going neutral once more.
"Apologies, Alpha," Roman amends. "We found twelve of the younger wolves on patrol unconscious near their posts. It's unclear what made that happen. Sonya has already sent off for toxicology to determine if it was a poison or some other sort of substance that remains in the blood."
"And where were you?"
My blood's boiling thinking about our young squadrons being so vulnerable patrolling out territory. It's something we've all done, a right of passage in a sense. I was never privy to the honor. An Alpha's daughter doesn't engage in what's considered a low-level position. Hell I didn't even get to train alongside my same-age packs mates, instead usually taking up private lessons from Theo.
"My posted tower. I never saw or heard a thing."
I'm not surprised. The unconscious wolves were found along the bank of the river and the far edge of the bayou. The leader post is expertly positioned at the front of our land, tucked into the highest branches, like the treehouses we sometimes played in as children. It's meant to be hidden, and keep watch over the true entrance to where the Crescent Moon Pack lines begin.
"That will be all. Please refrain from attending training sessions this week, until we get to the bottom of what's happening here."
He nods, then retreats from the room faster than a blink of my eyelids. My body sinks into the chair, my fingers massaging my temples. That same throb intensifies, radiating to the base of my skull and down my spine. We are no closer to finding out what happened last night, even after interviewing nearly a third of what's left of the pack.
All training and meetings have been canceled for today, until I announce a few other new leaders this evening. The last thing I want to do. I know I am going to piss some of the older members of the pack off, picking from a younger, fresher bunch. My father may have had the allegiance of every pack member, but I don't. I have to forge my own way and rely on my knowledge and gut to pick the right individuals to stand by my side.