Logan's POV
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I paced up and down with my hands behind me. I had a settled frown on my face and I had my teeth clenched.
"Alpha Logan". Beta Duncan called sighing.
I stopped pacing and turned to him.
"Who did you say she was?".
"Just like the guard had reported back to you, no one knows about her nor have they seen anyone like her but like she said, she is indeed a hermit".
"What did you find, Beta Duncan? Based on your research about her".
I asked so he would cut to the chase.
"She is an old hermit that lives in the woods of the forest, and the last survivor of a long-forgotten order of magic users".
"That being said, don't magic users still exist?".
"I suppose they still do, Alpha Logan". He agreed.
"Get me Garrett, the wisest shapeshifter who lives a little distance away from the territory".
"Right away Alpha". Beta Duncan bowed and walked out of my office.
I continued pacing up and down with my hands behind my back. I did that for quite a while before I finally took my seat but kept tapping my feet impatiently on the wooden floorboard.
"The wisest shapeshifter, Garrett has arrived".
I heard outside my office door after a while.
I immediately got up from my seat and went to stand in front of my desk as the door opened and the old man, Garrett, known to be the wisest alive strolled in shakily with Beta Duncan walking closely behind him.
I walked over to the table and chairs I had the housekeeper, Marcy, arrange. Garrett walked over to me and nodded his head in greetings.
"To what do I owe this invitation from the Alpha?".
"Please". I said gesturing towards the chair. "Be seated".
"I apologize the Alpha had to wait this long for Garrett's arrival". He said taking his seat.
"I need your wisdom, Garrett". I told him dismissing the fact that he arrived late and his acknowledgement of it. I also took my seat at the end of the table facing Garrett.
"I vow to use my wisdom to assist the Alpha in any way that I can". He bowed his head and placed a hand over his chest.
"Can the wisest man alive solve a riddle?". I asked and he seemed to be deep in thought. He rubbed his wrinkled forehead and nodded once.
"For the threads of destiny twist and turn and a fire of magic is captivating. But if the flame should be extinguished, then a storm of shadows will bring us the blackest night".
I stretched out my hand holding out my palm so that Beta Duncan could place a scroll on it. He did just that and I opened the scroll then pushed it towards Garrett.
He studied it for a while rubbing his bearded chin.
"Hmmm…". Garrett tapped his hand on the scroll. "For the threads of destiny twist and turn and a fire of magic is captivating. But if the flame should be extinguished, then a storm of shadows will bring us the blackest night".
"I doubt he knows what it means". Beta Duncan whispered in my ear.
"Destiny, flame, storm, blackest night. What is this flame? And what is the destiny? What does all this mean?". I asked staring intently at the old man.
"Alpha Logan". He started and looked up from the scroll. "Your destiny has been decided and the flame will create a storm that will cause the darkest hour or in this context, blackest night".
"That makes absolutely no sense". Beta Duncan whispered again. "He just linked the four words you mentioned together".
I held a hand up stopping Beta Duncan from speaking.
"So my destiny is decided and the flame will create a storm that will cause the darkest hour or blackest night?". I repeated what he said.
He closed his eyes and nodded slowly then opened them back.
"Get a token of appreciation ready for Garrett to return with". I ordered and a guard bowed and walked out of the office.
"Beta Duncan, his journey back home is in your care".
Beta Duncan also bowed and went to Garrett, bowing a little.
"Right this way". He directed with his hand towards the door and Garrett got up.
"I appreciate your wisdom, Garrett". I stood to my feet.
"And I appreciate the Alpha's hospitality". He bowed and moved shakily to the door.
As he went out with Beta Duncan, the guard who had gone to arrange the token for Garrett returned.
"The token has been prepared and is ready to be sent for him, Alpha Logan".
I nodded and walked back to my desk.
"Write out the words of the hermit and have it pasted for everyone in the Shadow pack to view. Anyone who answers this will be rewarded".
"Yes, Alpha". He bowed picked up the scroll and walked out of the office.
Hattie walked in just as he exited the door. She closed the door behind her and strolled towards my desk.
She stopped in front of it and bowed.
"Alpha Logan".
"Hattie, what brings you here?".
"As per my petition to keep the intruder alive, I found out that the information I passed is indeed true".
My brows furrowed and I looked at her. "Go on".
"She had something to do with the children's welfare. Their progress I mean".
"Hmmm…". I thought for a while. "What else? That is, if there is anything".
"The crystal pendant she wears on her neck daily".
"What about it?".
"When I saw her the other day at the health centre, I knew I had seen that crystal around her neck somewhere".
"Tell me, Hattie". I urged. "What about it?".
"It's a dysfusion crystal".
"So, that means…"
Hattie nodded slowly knowing what I wanted to say even though I didn't complete it.
"She's a witch, Alpha Logan".
I frowned feeling my crowded mind get more crowded. The kids were healed now, I had a ridiculous riddle to solve and a newfound witch to deal with.
"But there's something about that crystal". Hattie shook her head. "She doesn't have her powers. She is just a regular person baring the title of witch or calling herself a witch".
"So what do you intend we do?". I asked her.
"At this point, we keep the enemy closer than a friend".
"We keep the witch closer because she might help me achieve my goals".
I stated and Hattie nodded.
"Even though she doesn't have her powers".
"It is inevitable for her to not get her powers back sooner or later. You need her, Alpha Logan".
"I need her powers". I corrected. "Once she proves useless, I shall indeed have her beheaded".
"You do know she might have nothing to do with the witch who caused you difficulties right?"
I honestly didn't care, I just knew that I hated all witches just because of that one witch. The one who was behind this miserable hell I called a life.
"Hattie, get me the book of the magical crystals. I need to see for myself"
"Sure Alpha Logan, I'll have it sent to you".
"Okay Hattie, do so quickly".
"I wasn't aware that a hermit came over. Did she give the riddle everyone across the territory is trying to solve?".
I nodded thoughtfully and sat upright immediately.
"Can you solve it?".
Hattie shook her head and chuckled.
"I'm not smart enough to solve even something as simple as that. It seems quite simple but no one can for sure, tell you what exactly it means nor can you get the detailed meaning from anyone".
"That was the hermit's plan after all, for me to uncover its meaning myself since it relates to me".
Hattie nodded.
"I'll be on my way Alpha, the children are getting better now but I need to study more on herbs and medications".
She bowed and walked out of the office. I sighed laying back in the chair. This office was basically my room. I was always in here working until the dawn.
"For the threads of destiny twist and turn and a fire of magic is captivating. But if the flame should be extinguished, then a storm of shadows will bring us the blackest night".
I closed my eyes and the riddle kept replaying in my head. It was direct but was still cryptic and mysterious.
"Please". I heard someone yell outside my office. "I wish to see the Alpha".
My eyes shut to the clock and it was quite late.
Who was creating a scene at this hour?
"Alpha Logan, please hear me out". The lady cried. I could sense the pain and bitterness in her tune.
"Let her in". I ordered and soon after, the lady dashed into my office falling onto the wooden floorboard at the center of the office.
I stood to my feet.
"What is it?".
"Alpha". She cried. "It's my child".
"What happened to your child?".
"She's gone missing, Alpha".