The woman that entered the room had a deceptively harmless air about her. She wore attire more suited to a bygone era. Grey hair framed a thousand wrinkles, and she carried a long, ornately carved cane. Her eyes, however, glistened like sharpened steel; they saw everything, missed nothing... and were currently firmly fixed on her nephew.

She marched over to his desk, a militant expression on her face. "Is it true?"

"Good morning, aunt Sarah," Asher quipped. "Is what true?"

"That there's been another one."

Ah, the body in the woods. The pack's rumour mill was apparently in full swing this morning. "Yes."

His aunt bristled. "And what is being done about it?"

He fixed Sarah with a look that would have cowed most of his pack. "We're dealing with it. Was there anything else you'd like to talk about?"

Sarah was not most of the pack. She ignored the warning. "Is it linked to the others?"

"We're dealing with it," he reiterated firmly.

Sarah often forgot that pack business wasn't necessarily her business... it was one of the primary reasons his father had leapt at the chance to transfer her to his son's pack. "Was it Him?" she persisted.

"We are dealing with it."

They glared at each other for a solid minute, her lips pressing into a thin line of irritation.

Asher arranged his own expression into one of sublime disinterest; it was still far too early for an extended battle of wills. He waited.

"Are the humans are still in dark?" she finally conceded. "That, at least, is my business."

"Arthur is handling the diplomacy side of things."

Sarah let out a small snort of approval. For some reason, she carried quite a soft spot for the detective. Temporarily sated, she seated herself in the chair Katherine had not long vacated and eyed her nephew coldly. "You weren't at breakfast this morning."

"No, for obvious reasons." Asher stood up, stretching the kinks out of his limbs.

"You weren't there yesterday either."

Nor the day before, he continued for her silently. He'd been deliberately avoiding the onset of the conversation he knew his aunt was now working up to. "I've been busy."

She cast a condescending gaze about the room, her sharp eyes taking in the multiple piles of unfinished paperwork. "I can see that."

He held back a natural impulse to snap at her; he knew it wasn't worth the fall out. "Was there something in particular you wanted to discuss?" he asked glibly. "Anything not related to my love life, preferably," he added under his breath.

"I can hear you when you do that," his aunt informed him with a sniff. "And yes, you know very well we need to talk about arrangements for your mating. You've been avoiding it long enough."

"I've had a lot on," he drawled. It wasn't a lie either. Between the Elders, the SIA and his commitment to helping his brothers, he'd barely been home since the night his father had announced to the world that he'd chosen his Asher's mate.

He watched with concealed amusement as his aunt battled between a strong urge to berate him for his frequent absences from Darkmoon, something he knew she heavily disapproved of, and her conflicting desire to continue with her lecture now that she finally had him pinned down.

"There really is nothing to discuss." He made the decision for her. "I'm perfectly capable of choosing my own mate."

"Your father disagrees."

"In fact," he continued, "I have done exactly that." He enjoyed a brief moment of satisfaction as his aunt's mouth fell open, "and I asked her this very morning."

"You did what?" The cold snap could have frozen half the gardens.

She seems surprised, Zephyr noted.

She does, doesn't she?

There wasn't much capable of surprising Sarah these days - she'd experienced far too much in life not to have learnt anticipate each and every possible scenario - But her current expression suggested he'd actually managed to blindside her.

Asher smiled. "As everyone is so keen to remind me, it is my duty to mate eventually and, despite popular belief, I have been considering the issue for some time." Assuming a hundred and one ways to avoid the subject counted as considering.

His aunt frowned. "But the negotiations for your mating to Daisy have already begun."

Daisy? Zephyr snorted. Her name is Daisy?

"What sort of negotiations?" Asher's voice was cool, but he was sure Sarah could detect Zephyr's growl behind his words.

What kind of a name is Daisy? Sounds like something you'd name livestock.

Asher made his way around the desk to stand in front of the fireplace, forcing his aunt to crane her head upwards. "You're not seriously telling me my father is arranging to auction me off like a piece of chattel to a girl I only learnt the name of thirty seconds ago?"

In fact, Zephyr continued to grumble. I'd take bets that we own a cow called Daisy.

Sarah wrinkled her nose, an extremely patient expression forming as she fixed steely eyes on her recalcitrant nephew. "No one is auctioning you off, don't be so dramatic. Your father is simply trying kill two birds with one stone. You need a mate and Alpha Edmund needs an alliance with a strong pack."

D'you think she howls or hollers?

Shut up. "Daisy is Edmund's daughter?"

Sarah nodded. "Coldcrest is vulnerable..."

Of course, they're vulnerable, Zephyr mocked. They name their daughter's things like Daisy...

"But they sit in such a strategic position we cannot risk them falling to our enemies. Darkmoon is the closest pack. You are the obvious choice."

...names that practically scream 'please, eat me!'

Asher suppressed the growl working its way up his throat with great difficulty, but whether it was directed at his aunt or his wolf, he couldn't decide.

Will you shut up about the name? he snapped internally.

It's a silly name.

It doesn't matter, we're not mating her. Let it go.

He turned his focus back on his aunt: "I told you both weeks ago I won't agree to this scheme. I will not broker an alliance this way, no matter how much the family will benefit from it."

Sarah's eyes flicked past him to rest on the photo of her sister, and she let out an audible sigh. "Asher, please sit down."

He settled himself in the chair opposite.

Sarah gave him a steady look. "I'm almost afraid to ask. Who is she?"

"Her name is Katherine. Her grandmother lives in the village -"

Sarah's head jerked up, her face losing its cool composure. "A human?"

"Yes."

If anything, the alarm on Sarah's face grew stronger. "I have always believed that when you met the right woman, you might..." She stopped, her eyes full of concern. "But a human? Have you completely lost your senses?"

"Now Sarah, surely your prejudices aren't showing through?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I don't have an issue with humans -"

"Just humanity in general."

"Only when it chooses to spill over into our world," she corrected with a sharp look.

Asher knew Sarah had personal experience of the chaos a connection between wolf and human could cause, but he hoped it might work in his favour, rather than against it.

"The logistics alone involved in preparing her..."

He was also aware of the vast effort needed to prepare a human for the transformation, never mind to face a leadership role within a pack. But that was the whole point. They could hardly he expected to hurry their mating, Katherine needed time to learn everything she needed to know, and to fully understand how vastly, and irreversibly her life would change. Furthermore, it provided the perfect excuse for her to eventually back out.

"When did you meet?"

About nine months ago. I was instantly charmed."

Sarah looked at her nephew in exasperation. "And she's accepted?"

"She has not," he admitted. "But I hope to know her answer before the next new moon."

"Humph." Sarah narrowed her eyes. "If she believes in love at first sight, I fear she might actually agree. A pity. I'd rather hoped the woman destined to spend the rest of her days with you would be capable of showing you some resistance."

"Do you think Daisy would be capable of showing me resistance?" he snapped.

Her expression suggested not. She shifted, clearly agitated. "Asher, please, this is a very delicate situation. You have made an offer to this... this Katherine, and I will not interfere with that, much as I may wish to. But there is also Daisy to consider. Certain promises have already been made to her father."

"I didn't make them." Asher's frown deepened, and he bit back another wave of frustration. "Does she even wish to mate me? Has she given any indication at all that she's eager for this match?"

"No, she has not," Sarah answered slowly. "But she is an obedient daughter..."

Which means she has no will of her own... Zephyr sniffed.

"and the Hunter name carries great weight amongst the socialites. I'm positive she is not disinclined to at least meet you."

And don't we feel lucky? His wolf snorted again.

"The problem is with your father and the Alpha of Coldcrest. Both are likely to kick up quite a stink about this, Asher."

"Father will settle down," Asher shrugged. "He'll be so pleased I've finally done my duty, He'll care little who she is. And you can remind him that it could be worse. There are plenty of eager socialites waiting in the wings that would jump at the chance to claim the title of Luna. I could have chosen one of them. In fact, you might remember one of them from your time at Blackridge? Her father is Alpha of our closest neighbours, the Blue creek pack."

Sarah's face twisted in conflict. She remembered Victoria with an enormous amount of clarity, he knew. Especially when she'd almost gotten the current Luna of Blackridge killed in a spiteful act of rivalry. He could see the cogs turning.

"What are you up to, Asher?" she asked bluntly. "Don't think I haven't noticed how convenient it is that you've suddenly found yourself a mate so quickly. Do you love her?"

Asher shrugged, and said lightly: "I am very fond of her. She's has managed to intrigue me."

"You mean she's a challenge?" Sarah rolled her eyes.

A sardonic smile crossed Asher's face. "Is it really that difficult to believe that I might voluntarily wish to settle down one day? Don't be so quick to dismiss her, my dear aunt. She might surprise you."

"What will you say to your father?"

"As little as possible, until absolutely necessary... Or at least, until I have her answer," he added catching his aunt's disapproving glare. "I don't want to risk frightening her off." Which a visit from his father was certain to do.

Sarah gave him a long, steady look, then folded her hands in her lap - a sign she was saving any further lectures until after she'd had a chance to assess the situation for herself. "Your sister called."

Asher hid his relief. "And will she be joining us for the festival after all?"

At fifteen, despite her aunt's best efforts, Sky was still prone to the occasional strop; her latest resulting in the disowning of all her brothers after an argument over warrior training.

"I believe Tristan is bringing her," Sarah answered serenely as though her niece hadn't recently declared that she'd never talk to any of them ever again. "She's requested an extended stay for the summer, you know."

Asher grunted. It wasn't unexpected. Neither their father, nor their youngest brother was the best of company these days, and Sky had never been one to sit quietly in the shadows for very long. "I guess she's forgiven us then," he said dryly.

Sarah shot him a knowing look. "Sky never stays cross for long. Her moods are as changeable as the weather. She has not, however, given up on the idea of training."

Asher chuckled inwardly. "I'll discuss it with father. I'm not too sure he'll be thrilled by her desire to be anywhere but at Redwood though."

"He'll get over it," Sarah sniffed. "Though I may have to think about an extended stay there myself. Sky will need to establish herself in her own pack before long, and I have a feeling Avery could do with some help pinning her down."

Asher raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Are you sure you'll both survive the experience?"

"We survived a decade rubbing shoulders while I helped raise you lot."

"Yes, but for five of those you had our mother as a buffer." His cynical expression triggered a rare smile from Sarah.

"Your father and I will muddle along just fine. I know how to handle him."

Asher had no doubt. "I'm not sure Sky will appreciate your efforts."

"Sky isn't the only one I'm thinking about," Sarah sniffed. "I'd say Tristan could use better guidance than his father is equipped to provide round about now."

"He's two months off twenty," Asher observed mildly. "I was preparing to take over Darkmoon by that age."

"Exactly," Sarah said. "Until the council makes a decision, Tristan remains trapped by a birth right he cannot claim and wolves whose respect he cannot earn. Wouldn't you be miserable?"

Asher grimaced. "I had thought about having him come here for a while for training, and I know Ethan has reached out with a similar offer, but father..."

"Is concerned that leaving Redwood for an extended period of time might weaken his claim, yes I know." She stood up. "I'll tell Sky she can come then?"

"If father approves it, yes, but only if she keeps up her grades until the end of term."

Sarah fixed him with another condescending look. "Now, when did I ever give any of you the impression I'd allow you to be rewarded for skimping out on your education?" She headed for the door.

As she turned the handle, Asher silently cursed his own curiosity and asked: "Is she really called Daisy?"

His Aunt sighed. "Yes, I know, odd name for a wolf." She stared at the handle a moment as though contemplating a particularly difficult conundrum. "But when you see her... you'll understand."

*

To Asher's eternal relief, by the time he made it down to the pack hospital, the autopsy was over.

Built on the site of the former stables, the hospital was a modern addition to the stately home. The grey stone from the old wings had been reused, cradling black metal framework and floor to ceiling glass windows that maximised the sunlight flooding every room.

Down below, sat the estate's original wine cellars where the thick stone walls maintained a steady, cool climate regardless of the temperatures outside. During the renovation, they'd been converted into both operating rooms and the morgue, where their latest resident awaited disposal. As far as Asher was aware, his was one of the only packs in the region to have a fully operational morgue, and he had never really gotten a straight answer out of his father as to why he'd chosen to include one.

Upstairs, there were only two wards housing six patients each, and two private rooms. Each looked out onto what was once the kitchen gardens. Now the raised beds were home to a herbal wonderland. In the summer, the nurses would fling the windows open to allow the heady perfumes of lavender, rosemary and bergamot drift into the hospital.

Not that the patients were deprived of foliage inside. Every room and corridor was covered in greenery; the plants often threatening to outnumber the medical equipment.

After checking the waiting room where soothing spa music and the soft sound of trickling water played to a dozen or so plants and absolutely no patients, Asher ran into a helpful nurse who directed him past the examination rooms and into the heart of the hospital.

"No, Luke, I have absolutely no idea how that would work." Arthur's gravelly voice drifted from one of the private rooms.

"But, what if you used really, really thick steel and then filled it with salt?" Luke's eager question was met by a long and strained silence. If Asher knew his Gamma as well as he thought he did, Arthur had probably been battling bewilderment for some time.

As expected, when he walked in, Arthur was stood, a sheaf of papers hanging loosely in one hand, staring at Luke with an expression suggesting his brain literally ached.

"Make him stop," the detective appealed.

"I'm not sure it's possible," Asher apologised. He stepped carefully over two large boxes sitting square in the doorway. "What's the subject of the day?"

"Don't ask," Arthur muttered, throwing the papers on the bed.

Asher tilted his head towards his Gamma.

"Immortal snails," Luke explained happily, ignoring Arthur's groan. He dragged over a chair for his Alpha and waved at him to sit down. "What if," he started with an eager grin, "you were offered ten million pounds, but there's this snail that -"

"I will pay you not to complete that sentence," Arthur begged rubbing his temples vigorously.

Asher, who had been subjected to more than his fair share of 'what if' scenarios over the years, smothered a smile. "What are you doing?" he asked, redirecting his Gamma's train of thought.

"Joanna kicked us out of the waiting room."

"Not sure she's overly keen on us being in here either," Arthur murmured, laying two reports side by side on the table and staring at them intently. He looked up and nodded a proper greeting at the Alpha. "Where've you been?"

"Our Alpha's not too keen on surgical stuff," Luke chuckled.

Arthur raised his eyebrows. "A squeamish Alpha? That's new."

"I'm not squeamish," Asher disagreed lightly. "I've got no issues with blood and... stuff." Which was a good job really as he'd seen his fair share over the years. "Only the bones."

Asher lived with a firm belief that, unless he himself had dictated otherwise, bones belonged inside the body and out of sight. His aversion stemmed all the way back to his sixteenth birthday, and the night his father had overseen his first kill.

"Bones?" Arthur's nose wrinkled in confusion. "Well, avoid that folder then." He waved at a brown file on the bed. "It's full of all sorts of delightful photos."

"I'll do that. Where's Joanna?" Several untouched cups of tea cluttered up the side table; a heinous crime in the doctor's book.

"Just finishing up." Luke grinned. "She says if we absolutely have to be in her hospital, she'd rather we were out from under her feet." He followed Asher's gaze. "Arthur made the mistake of telling her he doesn't like tea, so the nurses have bought us three different variety's of herbal monstrosities to try so far."

"Apparently, I just haven't found the right flavour yet," Arthur said dryly. "I haven't got the heart to tell her I think all hot drinks are absolutely vile."

"I wouldn't risk it," Luke advised.

"A detective that doesn't like coffee?" It was Asher's turn to raise his eyebrows. "That's new."

"Touché." The detective lips curled in a small smile, and went back to staring at the reports once more.

"Does she want us wait?" Asher turned back to Luke.

"Nah, it's pretty much like you expected," the Gamma reported briskly. "Just like the last one. All but a few external injuries occurred no more than an hour before death, and internally..." He shuddered. "Mush."

Arthur shot him an exasperated look. "What she actually said is that it looks like the organs tried and failed to complete some sort of mutation and instead underwent catastrophic failure at a cellular level."

"That's what I said," Luke pointed out. "Mush. Either way, that's definitely what killed him."

Just like the last one. Asher sighed. "No marks or tattoos?"

"Nope. But that's not entirely unexpected, he was human after all." Luke retrieved a camera from under the map and scrolled through the photos. "We did find this..." He showed Asher a photo of a tiny pinprick on the side of the corpse's neck. The skin around it looked almost blistered. "Joanna thinks he was injected with something nasty before he died."

"To subdue him, or to kill him?" Asher murmured, half to himself.

"If we're taking bets, I'd say the latter," Arthur said. "There's no other obvious cause of death."

"She didn't find this on the last one, did she?"

Arthur grabbed a notepad from the bed and leafed through several pages of shorthand. "No, but she also said the salt water destroyed a lot of evidence. It might have been missed."

"But what is it?" Luke flung the camera back on the bed where it bounced forlornly into a pillow. "It's obviously deadly to humans. Some super drug meant only for werewolves?"

"Then why use it on humans?" Arthur countered. "Unless it's deadly to us as well, and the humans are just Guinea pigs."

You know it's them, his wolf accused.

I suspect it's them, Asher countered.

Of course, It's them. It would be a bloody big coincidence if it's not.

Luke was watching his Alpha with speculative eyes. "You think Lykoscorp is involved."

Asher nodded slowly, ignoring Zephyr's triumphant snort. "I do."

Arthur looked up with a frown. "The laboratory?"

Lykoscorp was one of only two laboratories with inside knowledge of the supernatural world, and they relied heavily on their services.

Luke rubbed at some emerging stubble with one hand. "Yeah, over the last year or so a suspicious number of their experimental drugs have been found causing havoc in rogue hands. Primarily around the Blackridge region so far, but we've had increasing reports of some of them popping up elsewhere. We think someone on the inside is working with our enemies."

"What kind of drugs?"

"Oh, nothing too outrageous." Luke shrugged. "Fear pheromones, rogue reversal pills, some really, really dodgy steroids... that sort of thing."

Arthur gave him a really long look. "Is that all?"

"I'll send you the report," Asher promised.

"It makes sense," Luke continued thoughtfully. "If it was a drug that killed them both, Lykoscorp would be the first place I'd be looking for answers."

Arthur frowned down at the notebook for a long moment. "My inspector called asking for a report. I might have implied that our dead guy was more... passed out than dead. Some sort of drunken altercation."

Asher breathed a sigh of relief. "I owe you one."

"You owe me several," Arthur agreed dryly. "You'll need to find me a willing victim to interview down at the station. I'm going to have to work hard to sell the 'beaten up, not dead' angle."

"I've got one for you," Luke grinned. "Similar build, hair... I'll even schedule an impromptu training session this afternoon so he's suitably battered and bruised. What?" He looked at the incredulous detective. "Gotta sell it, right?"

Arthur sighed, and fixed Asher with a firm look. "In the meantime, I want in on all the pertinent details of this investigation. No more secrets. Whatever's going on here is leeching firmly into my territory, deliberately by the looks of things... and I need to be prepared for next time. That would be far, far easier if I knew what was going on."

Luke and Asher exchanged a look. "Fair enough," Asher murmured eventually. "There's not -"

"Alpha?" Theo's voice broke over the gentle hum of the pack link. "You better get down to the village, we have some unwanted visitors."