Viola's POV
It was incredibly heart wrenching hearing someone's last scream and being cut off so instantaneously. I was at my father's heels followed by Alpha Jake to where the scream had come from, I wasn't sure who's wolf this was but I heard a howl of pain nearby, someone had lost their mate. My heart grew heavy. Their throat had been ripped out with bits everywhere, it wasn't even a feed, it was just a kill.
Whoever had done it didn't even leave a scent.
'Why can't we smell them?' I asked my father.
He shook his head. 'There are herbs, I've never heard them being used on this magnitude.'
Cade ripped forward completely naked as he had turned back and ran to the dead wolf. My eyes widened in surprised. This wolf was his mate, Kiersten. My blood went cold as I backed away so he could have some room. He pounded his fists into the ground, turned back and laid next to her momentarily before growling.
'We need to find them Alpha.' Cade's voice was desperate, I remembered him not being much of a fighter, but a scholar type.
'We will Cade, we will.'
Dalia stood next to my father offering him her shoulder for comfort. 'When we find them, we will show no mercy Cade.'
My skin crawled at her words, sure she was trying to comfort him, but they didn't know what I did about her. My eyes met Jake's and he looked away.
Sticks being broken under foot sounded nearby and everyone went after the noise. I sniffed the air and as soon as I realized there wasn't a scent I charged listening for more footsteps. I noticed then that there was a slight scent, it smelled like mildew. It was barely there but it drove me harder. The further I went the stronger I could smell it, mildew and decay. When I reached a small clearing the scent became muddled and whoever, whatever it was, was gone.
Everyone caught up with me. 'It's gone.' Vex said to me.
'I could smell it, whatever it was.' I mind-linked everyone else.
'Viola, we couldn't smell anything.' My father said.
I jerked my head to him as I took in his words. 'Is this, is this that hunter gene thing?'
He nodded. 'C'mon, we need to get back to pack territory.'
*****
When we got back my father, Jake, Jake's Beta, Kyle, Trenton, Dalia, Derek, Max, and I went to my father's study in the pack house.
"Why didn't you ask for reinforcement sooner, Alpha Drake? I mean no disrespect, but these rogues are literally at your doorstep." Kyle asked. "And we can't even track them." He added.
"Actually, one of us can." Derek looked at me and so did everyone else.
I squirmed in my seat. I hated being the center of attention.
Dalia's eyes narrowed at me. "You could smell them, that's what you said."
I nodded my head. "It was faint, not like wolves or like…" I looked briefly at Trenton and Derek and blushed slightly. "I don't know what it was. The scent wasn't strong until I realized it was different. That's why I was able to follow it as long as I did. Not that it got us very far."
My father and Alpha Jake gave each other a glance.
"What is it?" I asked noticing.
"Viola, we were an hour out of pack territory." Derek said softly. "You followed it pretty far."
I breathed out slowly. An hour?
'Vex?'
'I don't think that time is something that we notice when we are honed in like that.' I gave a mental eye roll. Clearly. 'Chill, you asked, it's all I got.' She responded with a huff.
"This could be quite the asset." Kyle's eyes brightened.
"It could, but Viola needs more training. There is no way she can lead on a hunt on the rogues without it." My father stated clearly making sure everyone knew that it wasn't negotiable.
"He's right, Viola needs to hone in on her abilities, we don't have a hunter to help train you. But there are people who know quite a bit about them." Max spoke for the first time during the meeting.
"I am one of them." Jake sounded. "My late wife was a hunter before she was murdered by those who sentenced their kind to death. It was a long time ago. My son and I know much about hunter's."
I looked at Trenton and felt an ache in my chest for him. I had never asked about his past, about his mom.
My father grunted. "Very well, if you are both willing to help her while we gather more information and find some refugees who knew the old hunters."
Trenton spoke first. "I'll do what I can."
Jake nodded in agreement.
"It's settled then, Viola will learn and participate in training with the warriors. I would suggest that everyone participate in the training if they are over the age of 18."
"Trinity pack will train with you, Alpha." Jake nodded his head as did Kyle.
"We all better get some rest, we have a lot to work on." Dalia said leaving the room.
The minute she left I started to feel less edgy. I hated being around her, being around her and not being able to tell my father especially put me on edge.
I realized that I was actually excited to learn and train. I remembered the first day of training and how much I had dreaded it. But things were different now, I was stronger and I had Vex. It felt like we could take on the world.
More than that though, because learning about hunters is something that came from my mom. I wanted to learn about her, about the heritage we shared.
I gave a small smile to my father as I left the room with Derek at my heels.
"Look, Viola, I know you're mad at me but please let me explain." I had got to that water fountain in the middle of the courtyard again when he grabbed my shoulder and made me face him. "Viola, there was no way that I could go against the Alpha. You can't be mad at me for following orders."
I raised a brow. "I think I can be mad actually."
His eyes searched mine, and I don't know what he found but he sighed. "I didn't mean it like that, I just meant that not telling you about Avery, for everyone, was a direct order."
I pursed my lips. "But you aren't everyone, Derek. You're my mate." As I said it his sweet scent began to get overpowering. "I'm supposed to trust you." I whispered.
He grabbed my hands. "You can trust me Viola. I will make it up to you." He kissed me and brought himself closer as sparks began rippling through me. He held my face in his hands and I brought mine around his waist as he deepened the kiss.
We heard a throat clearing behind us and sprung apart. "Glad you two made up, but pretty sure that shouldn't be a public show." Trenton said as his eyes glowed in frustration.