Faust

"So, what do you think of Wynter?"

Asking my brother a question I've been wanting to ask for weeks, I had to keep myself from blurting it out loud as soon as I came in the door. I knew telling him I'd go back out would be the only way he'd let me get away with asking after her so soon. But what I don't expect is his look of confusion.

"Wynter?"

I can feel myself become slightly annoyed. I know he isn't doing it on purpose, at least I don't think he is. His expression doesn't hold the tick around his mouth when he's hiding from me in jest. I've been thinking about that pale wolf for weeks, yet he's forgotten I asked him to keep a look out for her? Trying to hold my ire back, I nod.

"The runt I asked you to keep an eye on. What do you think of her?"

His expression has my gut tightening in dread. Did something happen?

"Sorry brother, but she never came. Everyone was accounted for except for her."

I stare at him for a long minute before standing abruptly, the urge to shift pushing at my skin. Needing to walk off the excess energy, I start pacing there in his office. Why would she not be amongst the others?

"Her Alphas explain why she wasn't with them?"

Dante starts searching through files in a nearby cabinet. The man is meticulous with recording everything even though I know his memory is just as sharp as mine if not better. Pulling one out, he tosses it to me. Catching it against my chest, I look down at it. The name emblazoned across the edge is Gallents, Wynter.

"I made that up shortly after you mentioned her. I have assorted information on her, but she herself never showed up. Shame really, her recorded skills showed real promise in areas that would have put her above members of her supposed station."

I already know the girl has talent, I've seen it firsthand. She's a survivor. She's had to be in the environment she grew up in. Most runts have to be, but most end up dead before reaching their eighteenth year. That alone shows how much grit and determination the girl has. Goddess knows her sister alone hasn't made it easy for her.

Inside the file Dante has written up reports from his inquiries after the girl, who fingered her as a feral, as well as school transcripts, work history, her total tithe amount to her Alphas, and older pages from when she did her survival training when she was younger. A jotted down note that he made of her doing better than their Alpha-in-training shows how much she's impressed him. The fact she has a tithe amount should say something about her alone, as her siblings don't. According to the report, she's been doing various jobs since she was thirteen.

Reading through his inquiry reports, I start with the Alphas. Even according to his notes, they didn't appear convinced that hearing her 'run away' was entirely true, especially Messina who had spoken to the girl personally before and had gotten a feel for her. She admits to the young woman being skittish, especially after being falsely accused of being feral by her own sibling, but she'd known her to be tenacious with sticking her course.

I scowl down at the file before flipping to another section. Her parents, Aurora and Kostakis Gallents, both stick to the story that she ran away one day while they were tending Pack duties and her siblings were at school. Looking at the date that they report noticing her disappearance has my teeth growing sharp. The day after I'd left.

"Before I leave I'd like to look into this."

"Sure, but don't take too much time. There are more important things going on than thinking with your dick."

I frown at my brother, but know better than to argue. If I do, he can always take the opportunity back and send me out immediately. Looking up in the files of just where her parents are living, I can't help the scowl that forms when seeing they're in one of the houses offered. Mythine and Adolphos would have been there as well before being moved to the barracks.

Stepping out, I debate how to go about this that will make the most impact to get the point across. For starters, I head for the Lunar Soul Alpha's home. If Messina had actually gotten a feel for the girl as she stated, then seeing her reaction to Mythine's claims should bear fruit. I'll get my answers one way or another.

It's a trek to get there, but I don't mind walking. Having not been here since they all moved in, it allows for me to get a feel for how things are going. Along the 'main street' were the empty storefronts and I'm pleased to see a few of them are already being set up. Werewolf communities tend to do a lot of online business, which is partially the need for an airfield. Those who come in can start their own businesses and use the stores as their workshops.

While humans aren't allowed here, there are certain times every few months that a type of market or faire gets hosted in the town down the mountain that our products can be taken to which helps both of our communities. Not everyone cares for us, but there's a treaty in place that aids if any trouble arises.

Stepping up to the Alpha's home, it's a larger house, one that could probably fit a couple families if they bothered. From what I've been told, Leilan is out doing his survival training so I don't have to worry about him being underfoot. While I personally have nothing against the guy, he and I just don't see eye to eye. Completely different upbringings.

Knocking on the door after stepping up onto the porch, it takes a few minutes, but Alpha Fen opens the door. His eyes widen slightly before he catches himself, smiling as he greets me warmly. He and his mate, while not new Alphas, weren't born to the position either. Fen had fought for his position shortly after mating to Messina when they were in their twenties. They've since been able to manage and hold this Pack together for nearly twenty years.

Getting led through their home to their living room after telling him I need him to call some members of his Pack in, Messina comes in from out back where she'd been doing something in the yard. She smiles when seeing me and greets with lowering her head before saying she'll be right back.

"She was doing some gardening. She hasn't done any in years and is thrilled to be able to do it again. There was even a possible request to do some work in the greenhouse."

Smiling at the man who's beaming at the direction his mate went in, I nod.

"I'm sure the other's would love the help, especially from someone who knows what they're doing."

Chuckling, we talk about random niceties and cordial nothings as a formality before the serious stuff comes up. When Messina comes back in asking us if we'd like anything to drink, it's waters all around. Werewolves can and do drink, I just prefer water when important subjects are the topic.

"So what brings you over today? You've been gone for some time, haven't you?"

Nodding as I take the sealed water bottle from Messina, she moves to stand next to her husband, handing him his.

"I was on the tail of a Rogue that had been in Grotto Falls. I had come across his companions and was able to dispatch them, but he eluded me. I had returned here to get everything in order for everyone's arrival, but then I'd gone back to see if I could find him, but he'd slipped me again. I tailed him, but instead of following everyone here, he went east."

Their brows furrow before looking at each other, perplexed as to the actions of a Rogue. I'd already told them before they'd moved of everything that'd transpired and the danger they were in. It was one of the key contributors that led them to agreeing to move so quickly. To know that one's young could be taken out so quickly is a sobering thought for any Pack.

"So what did you need from us today then? If the Rogue went east, are there others on his trail now?"

Shaking my head, I pace a couple of feet to the side before coming back.

"No, I'll be going out to track him myself, there's just something I have to see to first. Can you call Aurora and Kostakis Gallents here? There's a matter I'd like them to clear up for me."

Fen and Messina once more look to each other, their expressions closing down before looking back to me. It's Messina that seems to take the lead on this as she speaks up first.

"This is about Wynter, isn't it?"

My nod is clipped. I can see how the woman isn't too thrilled herself, yet if that were the case she should have acted sooner. Her lips purse as she nods.

"As soon as we heard about those feral rumors we knew they were bogus. Aurora and Kostakis spoil Mythine as if she were a human. I spoke to Wynter myself a couple of times and knew her to be a determined, strong willed, and competent individual, and warned her how things could be taken, yet ever since we moved to Grotto Falls, things just seemed to be extra heavy for the girl."

I frown and have to keep relaxed at hearing her words. She knew Mythine was treating Wynter the way she was, yet did nothing. My muscles clench with the need to tighten my fists, but I keep them loose at my sides before casually slipping them into my pockets.

"And this supposed rumor of her running away? Do you believe that?"

Messina doesn't even have to look at her mate before she shakes her head. Alpha Fen pulls his phone from his pocket and sends a text, meanwhile I pull mine out and send one of my own. Time we have a reunion I think.

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✰ \(‾▿‾\) 𝔇𝔬𝔫'𝔱 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔤𝔢𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔳𝔬𝔱𝔢 (/‾▿‾)/ ✰