6. Jesse

SIX

JESSE

The journey up the mountain was typically a time for me to clear my mind, focus on the tasks ahead, and ensure the safety of our territory. But on this particular evening, my thoughts were anything but focused. They kept wandering to a place they shouldn’t–Marie. After the way I embraced her today, I just couldn’t stop myself from imagining what it would be like to be with her, really be with her. I could tell that she was thinking the same as me. It was evident in the way she looked at me as I left her home. The way she had looked at me when I dropped off Belle earlier was etched into my mind, a look that hinted at a longing that mirrored my own. Her beauty, her intelligence, her strength–all of it combined to create a potent attraction that I couldn’t ignore.

Big Ed, my loyal beta and dear friend, had noticed my distraction. He was never one to beat around the bush and decided to address the issue head-on. “Jesse,” he said in his typically blunt manner, “you need to leave Marie alone.”

His words hit me like a cold splash of water, a stark reminder of the complicated situation we found ourselves in. Marie was significantly younger than me, and her infatuation with me was clear. I had no intention of exploiting her feelings, but I couldn’t deny that I was struggling to push her out of my thoughts. He could see it because his connection with my mind was so strong that I could hardly keep a secret from him, no matter how hard I tried.

I didn’t want anyone to know that I had a secret crush on Marie, but he caught on to it anyway.

“I’m not trying to exploit her, Ed,” I replied, my voice tinged with frustration. “It’s just… I can’t seem to get her out of my head lately.”

Big Ed raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of understanding and concern. “I get it, Jesse. Marie’s a great girl, and I’m not saying you’re doing anything wrong. But you need to be careful. She’s young, and she looks up to you. You don’t want to lead her on or hurt her.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of his words. He was right, of course. I couldn’t afford to let my attraction to Marie cloud my judgment or affect her in any negative way. She deserved better than that. So did the town. I mean, everyone was relying on us, and we needed to do it right.

“Plus,” he continued, “you know that Mike will kill you, don’t you? He’s always been very protective of Marie, and I don’t think he’s going to be happy that one of his friends is thinking of her like that.”

“I won’t act on it,” I assured Big Ed, but I wasn’t sure he was totally buying it. “It’s just a little hard, that’s all. Especially with her looking after Belle.”

“Just another reason you need to keep your distance. You don’t want to make things more complicated than they already are.”

Big Ed cocked a knowing eyebrow at me but left it there hanging in the air for me to ponder.

As we continued our ascent up the mountain, I couldn’t help but wonder how I had let myself become entangled in this emotional web. The situation was complicated, and I needed to find a way to maintain my focus and keep my feelings in check so nothing got worse as we tried to deal with this. I couldn’t deal with any more death.

But as the night sky darkened and the Patron’s place came into view, I couldn’t escape the nagging thought that Marie had become a distraction I couldn’t easily shake.

The Patron’s grand stone mansion stood atop the mountain, a testament to his wealth and influence. It served as a neutral ground where representatives from all three could come together, both as friends and rivals, to discuss matters of importance. As the Alpha of one of the Crescent Moon packs, it was my duty to represent my clan in these gatherings. That didn’t make me any less nervous though, because there was no telling which way things would go. Especially since I was not entirely trusting of the other clans. I didn’t know if they were going to be the culprit at the end of all of this.

But I had to push all of that to one side. I wasn’t about to show anyone any weakness. Not a chance. So, I put on my game face and the mansion’s grand doors swung open to welcome us. As I stepped inside with my pack, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation in the air. These meetings were a delicate balance, a chance for the clans to cooperate while also guarding their interests and territories, which of course could always go one of two ways.

But tonight, we needed to at least try and stick together. For the sake of Wolf Mountain.

The room was filled with a mix of familiar faces and strangers. Representatives from the Blackpaw Clan, led by James Carmichael, were present, with an air of anger already rolling off them in waves. It didn’t matter that we hadn’t even started talking yet. Their aggression didn’t bode well. Then there was the World Walkers, with their leader, Octavio Dellums. He was surprisingly becoming a friend of mine, despite the tensions that sometimes simmered between our clans. His presence represented hope for a more unified future, though I knew not all within their ranks shared that ideal.

The meeting commenced, and the discussions began with the usual formalities and courtesies exchanged among the clans. The representatives from each group acknowledged one another, recognizing the delicate balance between cooperation and competition that defined our interactions.

The first topic of discussion was, of course, the recent disappearances on the mountain, a topic that had been on everyone’s minds. It was a shared concern that transcended clan boundaries, a threat that needed to be addressed collectively.

“We’ve all felt the weight of these tragedies,” I began, my voice carrying a sense of solemnity. “Our priority must be to ensure the safety of our people and the integrity of our territory.”

The leader of the Blackpaw Clan nodded in agreement, though his expression remained guarded. “Indeed, we cannot allow these killings to continue. It reflects poorly on all of us.”

The tension in the room became palpable. Each clan had its own interests and priorities, and it was evident that we were all trying to find common ground while safeguarding our clan’s interests. The delicate dance of diplomacy had begun, and it was clear that navigating it would be no easy feat.

“The disappearances in the mountains affect us all,” James stated diplomatically. “We should focus on finding a solution together rather than letting our differences divide us. Our common goal should be to ensure the safety of our people. No one is safe at the moment, and for that, we need to work together.”

One of the Blackpaw representatives, a burly figure with a perpetual scowl, leaned over to a fellow clan member and muttered something under his breath. It was just loud enough for me to catch, and I clenched my jaw in response. The words were laced with thinly veiled hostility, a challenge waiting to be accepted.

But before the situation could escalate further, their leader, a more levelheaded and experienced member of the Blackpaw Clan, surprised me. He raised a hand, silencing his fellow clanmates, and shot them a stern look that brooked no argument. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about his leadership and the delicate balance we were all trying to maintain.

“Enough,” he growled, continuing the stern look at his Pack members. “We’re here to discuss a serious matter, and we won’t achieve anything by bickering amongst ourselves.”

The room fell silent, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief that the leader of the Blackpaws had intervened. We had enough challenges to face without internal conflicts.

I knew the road ahead would be filled with challenges and uncertainties, but as I looked around the room at the diverse group of individuals gathered, I also felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, in the face of adversity, we could find a way to bridge our differences and forge a path toward a more united future.

“The most important thing right now is to protect our people and ensure their safety,” the Alpha of the Blackpaw Clan emphasized. “We need to increase our patrols and coordinate our efforts to track down this rogue wolf.”

I nodded in agreement, recognizing the wisdom in his words. The safety of our community was paramount, and it was heartening to see the clans coming together to address the threat.

The discussions ranged from increasing nighttime patrols to setting up traps and surveillance points around the mountain. It was a collective effort, with each clan offering its resources and expertise to help solve the mystery and eliminate the danger.

The room fell into a hushed silence as the sheriff arrived, his presence adding a sense of gravity to our already tense gathering. I cleared my throat, feeling the weight of the situation, and began to explain the grim circumstances that had brought us all together.

“Thank you for coming, Sheriff,” I began, my voice steady but heavy with concern. “We’re facing a dire situation up on the mountain. There’s been a body we discovered, and it’s not the first. We’ve been dealing with a string of disappearances in the area, and all signs point to a dangerous rogue wolf.”

The room’s atmosphere grew more somber, and I could see the worry in the faces of the assembled representatives from the clans and the World Walkers. This was a problem that transcended our usual tensions and rivalries.

The sheriff nodded, his expression grave. “I’ve been hearing reports, and it’s clear that this situation needs to be addressed promptly and decisively. We can’t allow any more innocent lives to be lost.”

Some of the Blackpaw Clan members exchanged uneasy glances, while others from different clans whispered among themselves. The tension was still present, but there was an undercurrent of shared concern. Well, that was what I thought until one of the Blackpaws couldn’t seem to resist yelling out again.

“What about them?” the Blackpaw member exclaimed, his tone accusatory. “We’ve got these World Walkers with their lone wolves and broken packs. Who’s to say they’re not behind all of this? How can we trust them when they just turn up here and act all different from the rest of us.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through some of the Blackpaw representatives, while others exchanged wary glances with members of the other clans. It was a precarious moment, one where old rivalries threatened to bubble to the surface and derail our efforts to address the real threat.

Before I could respond, the sheriff stepped in. His voice was firm but even-handed as he addressed the room. “Let us not jump to conclusions. We are here to find the truth and work together to protect our community. Blaming one another won’t get us any closer to that goal.”

His words carried a sense of authority that commanded respect, and the room gradually settled into a tense silence. It was clear that we needed to focus on the task at hand, putting aside our suspicions and grievances in the face of a common enemy.

“We need to work together, okay?” The sheriff looked at us all in turn, almost scolding us like we were children in trouble. But then that was how some people in this room were acting, and it was embarrassing. “So, let’s work on a plan, shall we? Let’s do this properly.”

But as the meeting continued, a sudden, haunting sound shattered the fragile peace. Wild, barely coherent howling echoed from the depths of the forest, sending shivers down my spine. It was a sound that spoke of desperation and danger, and it demanded our immediate attention.

Without hesitation, my pack and I rushed out of the mansion, following the source of the chilling howls. The forest was alive with the sounds of our rapid footsteps and the rustling of leaves, but the eerie howling persisted, growing louder and more frenzied.

As we ventured deeper into the woods, my heart pounded in my chest, and a sense of dread washed over me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

And then, as I followed the winding path through the forest, I stumbled upon something that sent a jolt of fear through my veins. A single set of wolf paw prints imprinted deeply into the soft earth, which led down toward the hamlet.

My mind raced as I realized the implications. It was a lone wolf, and it was heading toward the town–the place where Marie and my daughter, Belle, were together. Panic surged within me, and I knew I had to follow those tracks. Yes, they had Mike with them, but I needed to be there, too. I had to be.

My instincts kicked in, and I sprinted down the trail with my pack close behind me. The urgency of the situation weighed heavily on my shoulders. I had to reach the hamlet and ensure the safety of those I cared about most.

My thoughts were a tumultuous mix of worry and fear, each step pushing me closer to the source of that anguished cry. Marie’s face filled my mind once more, her radiant beauty contrasting sharply with the gruesome images of the hiker’s demise. It was a relentless battle, a constant reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows.

The forest seemed to close in around us as we raced through the night, the haunting howling growing louder with each passing moment. My thoughts were consumed by worry for Marie and Belle, and I couldn’t shake the fear that we were running out of time.

As we drew closer to the hamlet, the tension in the air was palpable. The fate of our loved ones hung in the balance, and the race against an unknown danger had only just begun. But one thing was for sure: it couldn’t have been anyone who was at that meeting because I had my eye on them the whole time. That eliminated some suspects, but not enough. There were still so many variables, and I couldn’t quite wrap my head around any of them. All I needed to know for sure was that everyone I cared about was safe. I wouldn’t be able to relax until I looked them all in the eye and saw for myself how they were doing. Until then, I was in full-blown panic mode.