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Chapter 28
-  Alibi -

- Demarco -

"For all we know, she's dead".

Alpha Romeo Griffin was a man full of impatience. Being summoned for this meeting made no difference in his usual obnoxious behavior. He's been nothing but arrogant, snappy and in a rush to leave as fast as he came.

As for his Gamma...well he showed zero interest and just as much enthusiasm as his Alpha in leaving as soon as possible .

Leave it to these two babies to complain about how there's a rouge issue, request we have a meeting, then complain about how inconvenient it was to have the meeting held in Alpha Bennett's territory instead of his own.

I never really liked Alpha Griffin at all to be honest. But despite my own personal feelings, it was important to keep as much peace between us, for the sake of our packs.

However his constant wining, and plain disrespect made me wish I sent Jordan in my place instead.

He was so much better at handling Alpha Griffin, even though Alpha Griffin showed little respect to anyone holding a title less than his own.

"Just because she hasn't been spotted doesn't mean she's dead" Alpha Bennett tried speaking sense into the ignorant Alpha. "The fact that she hasn't been spotted in over a week without a trace should raises more suspicion than settle our conscience".

Tyler and I were on the same page.

This rouge has an agenda. In order to figure out what that agenda is, we must first capture it.

It was easier said then done. This rouge has been more than a challenge to capture. It knew how to temporarily mask its scent, it was fast, and would disappear without a trace.

It was almost as if we were chasing a ghost of a wolf.

Something that started out originally as mine and Alpha Griffin's problem, was now also Alpha Bennett's problem as of last week.

The rouge was last spotted running from my northern boarder, towards Bennett's southern boarder and haven't been seen since.

"It's one rouge" Alpha Griffin snapped, refusing to diligently think the situation through. "When she shows up again we'll handle her once and for all".

His voice was enraged as he sharply stood from his seat at the conference table. His Gamma stood besides him, placing a firm hand onto his shoulder only for Romeo to viciously push it away.

Alpha Bennett was not phased by his outburst, yet his calm, unphased demeanor was fuel to the fire within Alpha Griffin.

Giving his temper tantrum no attention Alpha Bennett carried on. "That's if she crosses your boarder, correct?"

When the question was left unanswered for a long moment in time, Alpha Bennett raised a suspicion eyebrow at the duo before him.

Griffin said nothing.

By his silence we all knew the answer. He wouldn't mind breaking a law or two to get what he wanted, and what he wanted most was this rouge dead.

Breaking the dead silence, Beta Andrew Bennett came to his older brothers defense with the law in hand. "You do understand that you can only punish a rouge if he or she strays onto your territory. If I am correct, which I am, this rouge has only been spotted near your boarder...never on it, let alone crossing it".

"If you harm that wolf in anyway, and it gets back to the counsel, your problems will surpass this just being a bothersome rouge issue". 

Clearing my throat, speaking for the first time since the meeting started. "He's right" I said agreeing with Beta Andrew Bennett, "you'd be committing a crime by murdering a rouge wolf without reasonable cause".

Then Cleon backed me up. "The only pack who has the authority to make any decision regarding punishment of this rouge is ours at the moment. She's been on our territory a handful of times and has come as far as to trespass close to Alpha Felix's home".

Cleon response lit a unexpected fire in the eyes of Alpha Griffin's Gamma.

"But you've failed to capture her, correct?" The Gamma spat at Cleon. He was attempting to take a jab at Cleon's ego by belittling him. "You're duty to your pack as a Gamma is to protection whether it's defensive or offensive. It seems you're incapable of either".

Cleon had a more intimate history with the unfavorable Alpha and Gamma before us. He was born and raised for a majority of his life in Chicago, underneath The Griffin Pack. When his father, a fifth ranking warrior passed away unexpectedly when he was 16-years-old his mother made the decision to move her family back to her hometown in Richmond, Virginia underneath The Felix Pack.

These three spent their childhood years together so
Cleon knew exactly what to say and what to do to get underneath their skin.

He humorously laughed at the half-ass-insult that was thrown his way as he starred into the eyes of the annoyed Gamma before him.

They both knew Cleon was one of the best Gammas to ever exist. Which only intimated the opposing Gamma more, but what scared him the most was the fact that he was never going to be half as good as Cleon was.

"We obviously haven't captured her. If we had, then this meeting would be pointless, don't you think?" Tapping his finger on the table momentarily he continued. "With every attempt we've come closer than the last at capturing her. Close enough to be able to identify that the rough is indeed a female, something in which you couldn't figure out".

"If the rouge was in such close proximity I would've killed her on the spot" he lashed out once more.

"Killing the rouge is not the priority. Capturing her is. We don't know who she is nor her reason behind trespassing. All we know is its gender and nothing more. It would be stupid...senseless to kill her without knowing what she knows first".

Alpha Griffins Gamma refused to back down from a fight to Cleon. Whether it was physical or in this case verbal. "Stupidity is not taking matters into your own hands".

Cleon shook his head. "Now that's just reckless" he stated firmly, throwing the opposing Gammas word back in his face. "Like you said, I am a Gamma. I am not the judge, jury and executioner all on my own. It's not a discussion for me to make alone".

That was the straw that broke the camels back. "You've always been such a fucking pus..."

"Enough!"

Alpha Bennett demanded as he now stood up, glaring at Alpha Griffin and his outspoken Gamma. His sudden shift in mood caused the pair who were seconds away from excusing themselves to sit right back down, as quickly and quietly as possible.

With a high frequency of anger radiating off of him, Bennett sat down taking a deep breath as he tried recollecting himself.

"I called this meeting for the purpose of coming together to reach a common goal. Not to argue, and slander each other's names. Since both your packs" he said looking from me to Alpha Griffin, "have been struggling to deal her. I thought by holding a meeting it'll help us better our chances at figuring out who this rouge could possibly be".

No one said anything for a while as they took in his words, but I had something to say.

There was no doubt that pigs will fly before we all agreed on something common.

"I see where you're coming from and I know you're intentions good, but how do you propose we do that when we all don't have a common goal?"

Clapping obnoxiously, Alpha Griffin applaud as he let out a wicked laugh. "For once, I agree with the newbie" he teased. "We want her dead".

"We want her captured" Beta Bennett echoed.

And I just want this not to be my problem...

"I think this is where we'll have to go our separate ways. If we can't agree on something as simple as what we want to do with this rouge once we do catch it, there is nothing more to discuss. Especially if no one is willing to compromise ".

Alpha Griffin tapped the shoulder of his Gamma, as they both once again stood up.

"Well said Alpha Felix. If you men don't mine, I'll be on my way. I have work to do" Alpha Griffin sarcastically said as him and his Gamma left at once.

The only sound to be heard was their fading footsteps and the loud ticking of the old grandfather clock on the wall.

A three hour drive, all for a meeting that lasted less than 10 minutes...

Andrew tapped his pen on the table, slouching back in his chair as he turned to his brother. "You know you owe me five dollars right?"

Tyler rolled his eyes at his younger brother, as he retrieved the bill from his wallet and threw it down on the table.

"Talk about a short lived meeting" Cleon laughed with the duo.

"You can't blame me for trying" Tyler said frustrated. "I'm curious to why he left in such a hurry. It's like they planned to purposely sabotage this meeting so they can leave".

"I question everything that man does. He's an odd one" I said equally confused.

"So what's your plan Demarco?" Tyler asked.

As much as I didn't want to come here and would have much rather stay home with a special girl. I knew I still had a lot of work to do concerning this rouge, therefore I had to get back to work.

"Home I guess, try and figure things out at the pack house".

Tyler chuckled, "I didn't mean where are you going". He cleared his throat, asking the question lingering on his mind. "You said we all didn't have common goals. I wanted to know where your head is at. What do you plan to do to the rouge if you're the one who captures her?"

If he asked me that question two months ago I would've been on the same side as Romeo Griffin for once. I would've killed her instantly for trespassing .

However, time and experience has changed me. Last time I attempted to kill someone that trespassed my boarder I almost killed my own mate.

Then there was this big picture.

The rouge has trespassed in and out of my territory a handful of times. Every time it has never attempted to hurt anyone, and would suddenly disappear. That was a sign of a wolf endlessly looking for something, not a wolf who was trying to start a war.

But the question remained, what was she looking for?

And the even bigger question was, who was she?

"I've been a little preoccupied with juggling the new section of my territory, the rouge..."

He gave me a knowing look, giving me a wide smile.

"...I'm just ready to get this rouge issue situated so I can focus on other things".

"There's something that bothers me about this whole situation" he spoke as he starred off into space. "Maybe it's just me, but every time we mentioned capturing the rouge, to find out what she knows. Romeo and his Gamma grow more and more irritable".

Andrew nodded his head slowly agreeing.

"If you're hinting at the fact that they know more than they're telling, I totally agree. After all, they were the first ones to have this issue. Then they warned Demarco and not us even thought all three of our packs form the boarder of the neutral territory".

"Do you guys think this rouge is one of their own?" I asked.

"I'm not sure" Andrew continued. "But if it is one of his own, why hid that fact?"

"Maybe the situation is worth lying about because of the circumstances" Tyler said voicing his opinion. "That's the only logically reason why you'd want to kill your own, right? If they knew something you didn't want to get out".

"The only way to figure anything out is to first get an ID on her. Even if we were able to see her in human form we'd have a better lead on this situation" Cleon said which brought us back full circle.

So many question, and no answers other then a gender.

Romeo definitely had something to hide that he didn't want anyone finding out about. Why else would he kill someone on the spot without knowing who they were?

"Whoever it is, she's definitely not a stranger to Romeo or his Gamma. The only way to figure this all out is if we're able to catch her first" I said trying to brainstorm any other ideas that we haven't tried yet to capture her.

Only if we knew what she was looking for, then we'd be able to set up some type of trap.

"We have to figure out where she is" Cleon suggested. "Without any sighting for over a week, she could be long gone by now".

"My best guess is she's looking for something, or someone and I'm guessing whoever or whatever she's looking for is somewhere on my territory..."

As if a lightbulb went off in my head, an idea brought itself to me.

"We gotta go" I said abruptly standing up, as Cleon followed suit, confused as ever.

"Is everything okay?" Tyler asked slightly worried at my sudden announcement of leaving so soon.

"I think I got a lead".

"What's the lead?"

"She's looking for someone and whoever it is they're in my pack. Why else would she cross my boarder and not yours or Romeos?"

Cleon and I said our brief goodbyes to both Tyler and Andrew Bennett as we gathered our things and headed to the car out front to venture back home on our three hour long journey.

Wasting no time, I called Jordan to share my revelation and put my plan in motion. His phone went straight to voicemail, so I called the next person I could think of.

Oscar picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?"

There were other voices in the background and I instantly regretted calling. He was probably spending time with his mate, something I so desperately needed.

I should've called Denziel instead.

"Oscar I need you to do me a favor, are you with Nola?"

"No I'm with Patrick and Mia. What's up?"

"I need you to go to the pack house. In my office there's a list of names of every person in the pack. Ask Patrick and Denziel to help you, I need you guys to ask everyone where they were during each time the rouge trespassed. We'll all talk when Cleon and I get back, we're on our way now".

"Copy".

With that, the line went dead.

"I think I see what you're doing" Cleon said. "If we find out who she's looking for, we can figure out who she is".

"Exactly".

But everything was easier said, than done.

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It's been a while, but here you go.

I'm not a fan of basketball whatsoever, but the event that happened this pass Sunday unexpectedly, hit me hard. Rest In Peace Kobe & Gigi & All of the other passengers who lost their lives Sunday morning. Fly high! xoxo

K_26ss