Jarek and his team continued their search with the trackers. Alpha Kaelion had ordered them to find a trace or clue of whoever was behind the killings, no matter how long it took.
About 20 trackers are out in the woods, searching for any hint, some trackers are in their wolf form as they are at their best in wolf forms.
One of the trackers named Nath walked up to Jarek,
Jarek he called respectfully, do you think we will find something? We've been searching for 3days continuously yet nothing. The person or people involved in this are smart, no hint, no trails, no scent.
What the hell is this?
Nath, i'm confused as hell also, Jarek said. I don't know who is doing this and for what reason?
But we have to find something.
Something like what? Nath asked. We've been here for days, searching yet there's isn't any traces. Let's just report to the Alpha.
No, we can't. Jarek said. The Alpha said we have to find something else we can't return.
What's this? Nath said, running his hands on his hair.
We just have to..... Jarek began but was interrupted by a commotion going on at the front.
What's going on? His voice echoed as he walked towards the noise with Nath behind him.
What's the noise about? Jarek spoke
A sharp howl rang through the trees, a wolf's call. Urgent.
Then came Rustling.
Jarek's instincts kicked in. "What's going on?!" he barked, already sprinting toward the sound, Nath close behind.
They pushed through thick underbrush until they broke into a clearing where a group of trackers had gathered, tense and alert.
"What's the noise about?" Jarek asked, eyes scanning every face.
One of the wolves shifted back into human form, Talric, one of their sharpest scouts. He stood naked and breathing hard, as he changed back into human form, pointing towards a dense thicket.
"There's something buried. A scent... faint. But old blood. Not animal."
Jarek's eyes narrowed. "Dig it up. Now."
Two trackers dropped to their knees, clawing at the earth.
Moments later, the scent hit them all, coppery, decayed, wrong.
They unearthed a blood-stained cloth and what looked like fragments of bone, burned, deliberately broken, and etched with markings.
Jarek knelt, staring at the pieces.
This wasn't just murder afterall.
His stomach turned.
"We are taking this back to the fortress," he ordered.
"I thank you all for your efforts so far, searching tirelessly, you may all head back home. Get some rest. I shall relay this to the Alpha." His voice was hard and grateful as he dismissed them.
-----
Silverclaw Fortress.
The massive doors of the Silverclaw Fortress creaked open as Jarek and two of his finest trackers stepped inside, mud-streaked, worn, and cloaked in silence. The weight of their discovery hung over them like a storm cloud.
Beta Darian met them in the corridor, his sharp eyes scanning their faces.
"Jarek," Darian said, his voice low.
"Beta," Jarek replied, bowing respectfully. The two trackers mirrored him, heads lowered in deference.
"I need to see the Alpha," Jarek continued.
"He's not here," Beta Darian replied, his tone clipped. "What is it?"
"We found something," Jarek said simply, eyes hard.
At that, Beta Darian motioned him aside. The two men exchanged words in hushed tones, voices just below a whisper.
After a moment, Jarek turned back to his team. "You're dismissed for now," he told them.
The trackers bowed once more to Beta Darian before quietly exiting the hall.
Let's go. Beta Darian said
Without another word, the Beta and the head tracker moved swiftly through the fortress, toward Alpha Kaelion.
----
Silverclaw Training Grounds
The sun dipped low, casting long golden shadows across the dust-ridden arena. Blades clashed, fists met flesh, and the sound of grunts filled the air as Alpha Kaelion moved with precision, each strike sharper than the last towards Rowan, his friend.
Rowan ducked just in time, laughing breathlessly.
"Damn it, Kael. Are you trying to kill me or just work out your emotional issues?"
Alpha Kaelion's eyes flashed. He launched forward again, forcing Rowan to block hard.
"Stop talking. Focus."
"Oh, I'm focused," Rowan muttered, staggering back. "Focused on not dying."
Another swipe. A sharp kick. Rowan rolled, came up panting.
"Alright, alright! You've officially got too much tension for one man," he said, lowering his stance. "This about the killings? Or… her?"
Kaelion hesitated for a second. Just a second.
Rowan grinned. "Ah. So it is the mystery dream mate. Again?"
Alpha Kaelion landed a punch that sent Rowan stumbling. "She's not just a dream."
"Ow," Rowan coughed, rubbing his jaw. "You could've just said 'yes,' you know."
Alpha Kaelion paced slowly now, chest rising and falling. "Her voice… it haunts me. I can't see her face. Just shadows. Like she's reaching for me but never close enough."
Rowan stood, brushing dust off his arms. "You sure it's your mate? Not just your overworked mind setting you up with a fantasy?"
Kaelion shot him a look.
"Alright, alright," Rowan laughed. "Let's say it is your mate. Important question, Is she hot?
Kaelion rolled his eyes, turning away.
"I mean, it would really suck if the Moon Goddess gave you a mate with the personality of fire and the face of a gremlin," Rowan teased.
Kaelion smirked slightly but said nothing.
Rowan's face sobered. "Jokes aside… you think this is connected to the killings?"
Alpha Kaelion paused, jaw tight. "Velmira thinks she's the key. That if I don't find her soon, everything I've built will collapse."
"And the bodies?" Rowan asked quietly.
"Ritualistic, my guess" Kaelion muttered. "Using my people to do it." He added, angrily.
Rowan's hands clenched. "Then we find them. We stop them. Before this turns into another war."
Kaelion nodded, eyes hard. "I won't let Silverclaw fall."
Rowan stepped beside him. "Then let's start by finding your mate. And maybe, just maybe, she is hot."
Kaelion didn't smile, but his eyes softened slightly.
"Get ready," he said, lifting his blade again. "Next round."
Rowan groaned. "Oh come on, Again? Bro, I'm bleeding for your emotional peace at this point".
Just as steel was about to clash again, the training ground doors opened.
Beta Darian stepped in, followed closely by Jarek.
"Alpha," Darian called out, his tone serious.
Rowan immediately lowered his blade and gave Darian a grateful look. "Blessed interruption."
Alpha Kaelion turned, eyes locking on Jarek. "You have something?"
"Yes, Alpha," Jarek said, bowing low.
Kaelion grabbed a towel from the bench, wiping the sweat from his hands. "Then let's go."
Without another word, the four of them strode back to the Silverclaw Fortress, heading straight for the Strategy Chamber, Equipped with maps, tactical tools and planning table.
___
Inside the Strategy Chamber, a large round table stood at the center, carved from obsidian stone and marked with runes that pulsed faintly with energy. Maps of the territory sprawled across it, pinned with colored markers. War banners lined the walls. This was where kingdoms rose or crumbled.
Alpha Kaelion stood at the head of the table. "Talk."
Jarek stepped forward and laid out A blood -stained cloth and a symbol looking like fragments of bone - burned and broken, etched with markings.
Kaelion unwrapped it slowly. The moment the scent of dried blood hit the air, his jaw clenched. He picked up the charred bone fragment, turning it in his fingers. The strange markings carved into it glowed faintly under the light.
"We found this buried beside a tree, two miles east of the last victim's site. "It was buried deep. Hidden with care. No scent. But this…".
A sigil none of them recognized.
Rowan leaned in. "This is not from any of our clans."
Alpha Kaelion's brows furrowed. "It isn't."
"Ritualistic," Alpha Kaelion murmured. "The markings… they seem ancient.
"Velmira needs to see this," Darian said grimly.
"She will" Alpha Kaelion replied, his voice a growl. "
He wrapped it carefully and handed it to his Beta. "Get this to her."
Then, turned to Jarek, his voice dropped, low and sharp.
"You did well. But this doesn't end here. Whoever dares bring forbidden magic into my lands will learn the weight of Silverclaw's wrath."
He stepped closer.
Double Security. Keep the borders tighter than ever. And make sure to report any suspicious activity.
"Yes, Alpha," Jarek replied, bowing deeply.
"You may leave. Get some rest, you've earned it."
Yes Alpha. Jarek responded bowing.
Leaving Rowan and Beta Darian with Alpha Kaelion.
Rowan exhaled, rubbing his shoulder. "This is deeper than I thought… and not just because I almost died sparring with you earlier."
He gave a crooked smile. "I'm off. Good luck, Alpha. Try not to murder anyone without me."
Kaelion offered no response, just a faint glance. Rowan smirked and left the chamber.
Silence returned, heavy and thoughtful.
Darian shifted. "I'll deliver this to Velmira. He said breaking the silence.
Kaelion nodded his head.
As Darian turned to leave, Kaelion spoke again, voice quiet but firm.
"She hasn't said anything yet?" from the body we sent earlier."
"Not a word. But I'll press her for answers," Darian replied.
Alright" Kaelion said, his gaze darkening. "I'm sure this new findings will help more."
Darian bowed and left swiftly.
Alpha Kaelion stood alone, the symbol still etched in his mind, his instincts bristling like a storm on the horizon.
Something was coming.
And Alpha Kaelion would be ready to meet it, fangs bared, blade drawn.