HAPPY VIJAYADASHAMI :D

This Dasara, I pray that Goddess Durga bless you all with happiness, health and love :D

And Just like I promised, releasing the cover of THE SHREWD WOLVES >>>> (The book will be out as soon as I finish writing a suitable synopsis ;) ) SO DID YOU LIKE THE COVER ??

Finally, presenting Chapter 11 which is dedicated to @CampBookLover :)

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“When you really care about someone,

their mistakes never change our feelings because

the mind gets angry but the heart that still

cares.”

- unknown quotes.

EVERETT P.O.V

I leaned back on the couch and blinked in confusion. I recalled seeing Templar meditating once a few months back. She looked like she was in peace. Her face in tranquil and her body straight and stiff. Only now I understood why it was so. Why she always looked like she was out of this world.

She is dead at that time to this world. It’s just her body that will be there.

Taking a deep breath, I continued reading. There was further mention about White Wolf’s abilities. They always come to know the events that are connected with their life. Templar had already mentioned how she knew about Sir Thomas and the sacrifice made my others for her to get her wolf.

At this, I smiled because once Templar’s wolf has fully recovered; she will definitely come to know what happened to her and who all tried to hurt her when she was away from her home. However, I couldn’t wait for that. I badly wanted to find the culprit or should I say culprits?

The writer in the last paragraph of the chapter mentioned about the next White Wolf which is Templar. He had written that the next White Wolf would be born on the day of ‘King Tide.’ With a frown, I decided to look into the weather pattern and condition of the ocean tides, the day Templar was born. I suspected it to be the same as mentioned in the book.

The next chapter of the book was about other God-children. I was just about to read it when all of a sudden my stomach started growling. My eyes widened when I realized that it was twelve-thirty p.m. With a groan, I placed the book back on the table and decided to read it later. Standing up, I stretched my muscles and twisted my neck a few times.

Picking up my cellphone, I ordered lunch for both of us.

I went upstairs to call Templar. When I opened the door, Templar was in her room reading something in her laptop. As soon as she saw me, she minimized the page and looked at me expectantly.

“I have ordered lunch. It will be here in ten minutes” I said and she nodded. I turned to leave but paused and looked at her over my shoulder, “Come down.”

She didn’t come down.

She was avoiding me. She wanted me to stay away from her.

Last night when I attempted to touch her, she pushed my hand away as I was some bug that was disturbing her sleep.

I waited for a good fifteen minutes before finally taking her food upstairs for her. When I returned after ten minutes, I noticed that she didn’t touch the food.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to initiate a conversation. “You have to eat, Templar” I said staring at her. “It’s good for your health.”

“I don’t care” she replied sourly.

“Sveta said you should eat food good with proteins”

“I saw the list” she muttered uneasily.

“Please” I pleaded. Templar gulped and lowered her head.  “For my sake” I added softly. She didn’t reply instead just stared at her fingers. “Templar?” I probed.

“Did you eat?” she asked nervously, still not looking at me.

“Yes” I lied. “You should eat too” I pointed out.

She gulped before nodding, “Okay”

Letting out a breath of relief, I asked her, “Do you want to come downstairs and eat?”

“No” she replied picking up the plate. “I will be fine here.”  I didn’t like that answer. I wanted her to come downstairs. However, I let it slip this time.

“Alright. Call me when you are done” I closed the door behind me before going downstairs.

Well, since I had not gone to work today, I sat in front of my laptop and began searching for the ocean pattern on the date of Templar’s birth. It would have been difficult had it not been for internet. All I had to do was check the newspaper of 25th April 1991.

The page was loading when someone knocked the door. “The door’s open” I said to Keith. He came in and furrowed his brows when he did not see Templar.

“Where is Tem?”

“Upstairs” I muttered staring at my screen. “She is upset.”

“What the fuck did you do?” Keith growled all of a sudden and I sent him a furious look.

“I did nothing. She blames herself for…” I trailed off and Keith winced.

“Must be terrible” He said sitting on the sofa. “She doesn’t talk?”

“Doesn’t even look” I said and swallowed audibly.

“Well, let me try” He said standing up however I told him not to.

“In the mood she is in, I don’t think she will listen to anyone. You can talk but it will only make her upset because she will listen to only what she wants to hear.”

“And what is that?” Keith asked cocking a brow.

“That I blame her. That everyone blames her.” I said softly. Keith seemed to get the message because he sat down with a sigh.

“I am giving her some time but after that I am taking her away for-”

“Away? Where?” Keith broke in.

“I don’t know. Not decided yet. But she needs a change of place.”

Keith was silent for few minutes before saying, “I think that’s a good idea.” After few seconds of silence, he asked, “You do remember what Sveta said don’t you?”

“About not letting her sink into depression? Yes.” I couldn’t forget that. “When I went upstairs to call her for lunch, she was reading something but the whole room was dark. She had closed the windows, lowered the binds. The only light in the room was from the laptop screen.” I said gravely.

 “I think we have to try better than today to cheer her up” Keith suggested but I merely shrugged.

“Try for a week or so. After that I am taking her out.” I declared fiercely.

“What are you doing?” Keith asked staring at my laptop screen where the weather reports on the date of Templar’s birth was on display. As I looked at the ocean pattern, it was given that there would be a high tide that day but there was no news about a king tide.

So, I decided to read the report or an article about the King Tide on the next day newspaper.

“Are you seriously reading weather report?” Keith questioned incredulously.

“Yes. Of the day Templar was born” I answered staring at the screen where the page appeared.

“Templar’s birth? Why?” Keith asked in confusion.

Gotcha!

There was indeed a report of the highest tide of the year occurring the previous day, which is the day Templar was born. Some people had to evacuate their houses because of the rise in water level. There was also mention of the particular word, ‘King Tide’ in the article.

I smiled smugly after I finished reading the article.

“See that book there?” I pointed the book to Keith, who nodded. “The author of that book predicted that the next White Wolf would be born on the day of King Tide”

“So, there was a King Tide on the day…?” he cut off mid-sentence when I nodded. “Where did you get that book from?” Keith asked curiously picking up the book and flipping through the pages.

“Myron’s mate was reading it. Now I know for sure whatever is written in that book is hundred percent true” I declared with a smile.

“What is written in that book?” Keith asked staring at the picture of triple moon Goddess.

Before I could answer him, my cell phone started ringing, “Hello?” I answered.

“How is Templar?” was the first question Myron asked.

“She is blaming herself.”

“Uh-Oh! Not good” Myron said from the other end. “What are you planning to do?” he inquired.

When I told him I am planning to take Templar on a vacation, he agreed with the idea. “Is there some particular reason for this call?” I asked expectantly.

“Yes there is. Gen is officially being introduced as the Luna of the pack. You and Templar are invited to come for the ceremony.”

I was about to decline the invitation however, decided against it because maybe going out even for such a small visit might be helpful for her. “Okay, when?” I asked curiously.

“On 17th” he replied merrily.

“Next week?” I said sourly. That was like seven days apart.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Myron asked seriously.

“Nothing. I will be there” I said but before I could cut the call, I added one last information, “Tell your mate, her book is with me.”

“Is that rogue trustworthy?” Keith demanded as soon as I cut the call. “Myron’s mate” he supplied when I raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, she is. Doesn’t seem bad to me. She chose to become a rogue after Marco refused to hand her the title.”

“Yeah. Jan already told me. Said she was some sort of researcher too” He said with a smirk.

“I don’t know what research she does” I said honestly. “How is Trudy?”

“She gets extremely tired nowadays. Is unable to even work more than an hour” he said furrowing his brows.

“She will be fine.” I said shutting down the laptop. There was complete silence for few minutes before I asked Keith, “Does the whole pack know that Templar had a miscarriage?”

“I think so. They are grieving for her. Mom has organized a prayer on full moon day.” Keith said scratching his forehead. “They don’t blame her either. Never did. They know all Templar’s action even though done hastily is always for a good cause” Keith said and I agreed with it.

Keith stayed quiet for few seconds before adding nervously, “While you guys were away, the temple was attacked.” I stiffened immediately and sent him an exasperated look.

“And you are telling this to me now?” I asked in scorching emphasis.

“I didn’t want to trouble you guys. You were already worried about Templar, I didn’t want to-”

“You should have told me” I said cutting him off. “It’s the pack temple. Our foremost duty is to see that it’s protected” I said shaking my head with a frown. “Anyway, who attacked?”

“There were two rogues. They tried to steal the statue. As soon as I was told about it, I rushed there along with Ben and captured them alive. But they consumed cyanide before we could question them” Keith said clenching his fists tightly just like me.

“I don’t like what have been happening to the pack from the past week” Keith said somberly.

“Neither do I” Whatever was happening was horribly wrong. And this just felt like the calm before the storm. If the calm is this dreadful, I didn’t even want to imagine how the storm is going to be.

“It’s like sadness clouded the pack, once again” Keith said and I froze. “It was just like this, seven years ago. Grief, misery, death everywhere in the pack” Keith said staring ahead. “It’s more disturbing now because we feel like we are losing hope” Keith added pinching the bridge of his nose.

“What happened seven years ago will not be repeated” I professed. “Glen is not here.”

“But there is still a rogue who caused all this” Keith whispered softly and I inhaled sharply. He was right. Even though Glen wasn’t here, there was someone else who was causing trouble to Templar.

At that moment, I could only point out clearly that whoever that rogue or rogues are, had to have a connection with Glen in one way or the other. 

Running a hand through my hair, I lowered my head and muttered few curses. “What information did you get on Ryker’s family? Or anyone else who was working for him?”

“Still on it. But it is true that they were living in Lockwood territory.”

“Templar mentioned a father and an uncle.”

“Our agents from Lockwood say that it was the uncle who died and not the father” I stiffened and my wolf started growling the moment, Keith gave me that information.

Father?

Not good. Not good at all. How will a father take a death of a son? Since I recently went through that stage, I knew I wouldn’t take it kindly at all. I had wanted to kill the person who had hurt Templar and my child.

“This father… what’s his name?” I questioned in a whisper.

“Simon Ryker. He wasn’t there in their house in the Lockwood territory when the fighters attacked.” Keith responded.

 “He is hiding. Someone else must have helped him.”

“Some friends or some extended family” Keith stated.

“Find information about that” I ordered and Keith nodded. It has to be that father, Simon Ryker and another accomplice who had planned this whole thing. I was hundred percent sure of that.

I just wanted proofs.

“I will take this” he said picking up Genessa’s book before striding towards the door.

Templar didn’t come down to have dinner that night. I had to take it to her room. There she barely acknowledged me.

When I returned to our room after my dinner, Templar was fast asleep. However, I was relieved to see that she had eaten her dinner.

When I joined Templar in the bed, she was out like a light. However as soon as I wrapped an arm around her waist and attempted to pull her closer, I felt her stiffen and slowly take my hand off from her body.

As soon as I got that message, I shifted and turned sideward so that was back was towards her.

The same routine continued for two more days. Every morning pack wolves would come and cheer her but nothing would bring her out of her misery. She would be cooped up in the room staring at the walls.

Today was the full moon day and Ophelia had organized a prayer for it. Since Templar was unwell, she refused to come. So I had to go alone.

All the wolves prayed for the safety of the pack and also for Templar’s health.

At around two in the morning, loud noises in my head woke me up. Groaning, I sat up and opened my mind link. I connected with Terence first.

‘Rett’ Keith called hurriedly and I stiffened. ‘The temple…  Someone tried to burn the temple’

Growling loudly, I got off the bed. ‘Who dared to do that?’ I asked already pulling down my t-shirt. I turned to look at Templar, who was fast asleep and completely unaware. I debated on waking her up, however decided against it because this news would only cause her more stress.

‘Don’t know. Come here soon’ he said and I soon jumped out of the window and rushed towards the temple.

When I reached there, the fire had died down. Actually, it was only the garden in front of the temple that was burned. But how there was a fire on the garden was the main question.

“This is getting too much” Cam said from beside me staring at the burnt garden. I was shaking with anger but clenching my fists, I composed myself.

“Where is Templar?” Terence asked.

“I didn’t wake her up” I replied staring at the burnt moon flowers. The whole garden was ruined. “Call the guards” I decreed.

“They are here” Cam said nodding towards the fifteen guards who were answering to Keith.

Marching towards them, I stood next to Keith, “Anything so far?”

“They swear on the Goddess that no one crossed the territory” Keith answered with a sigh.

“Do they?” I asked glaring at the guards. Immediately, they all lowered their heads. “Then tell me, how did the temple get burned?”

“D-don’t know, Alpha” a guard stuttered, without looking me in the eye.

“No scent?” I questioned taking a deep breath. I frowned when I didn’t find any familiar scent either.

“There is. Of an unfamiliar one” Keith replied.

“Unfamiliar one” I repeated and growled at the guards who shook their heads in fear. Stepping ahead, I was about to strangle a guard when someone asked me to stop.

“Don’t” Ophelia cried out as I turned to face her. “They are telling the truth” She stated and I furrowed my brows. “Look…” she said pointing at her palm.

My eyes widened as I stared at the ash powder on her fingers.

“Ashes?” Cam said in surprise.

“Of our kind” Ophelia replied dusting them off. “Whoever attacked was careful enough to make sure no one doubts them.”

Ashes of our kind are used to cover scents. It’s an oldest but really effective method. In olden days, a wolf would roll itself over the ashes of a dead werewolf. This method was used because the ashes of a deceased wolf would be a shield for our kind. Our scent would get absorbed by the deceased wolf’s scent. Thus when the trackers trace, they will chase after the dead wolf’s scent which would be a dead-end for them.

“Great” Terence said sarcastically.

“But that person must have entered by crossing the territory” Keith pointed out in confusion.

“Or maybe that person was already in the territory” Cam added.

“And still is somewhere in the pack territory” I concluded with a growl.

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Hope you all liked it :) and BTW, The story just started ;)

Please vote, and let me know what you thought of this chapter.

Next update will be on 11th.

Enjoy your weekend :)