one
Serena
“Arsenic.” I whispered as my hand glided through the river’s water. “The water has been contaminated.”
I retracted my hand from the water, and slowly stood from my crouched position.
My brother, my future alpha, Soren raised his eyebrow at me. “How can you tell?” He asked.
“We need to get a sample to be sure, but I know it is. There is no distinct smell, but the symptoms that a lot of our pack members are dealing with point to high levels of arsenic.” I responded.
Three days ago everyone a part of the Blood Moon pack started to deal with symptoms that were similar to one another.
Our skin began to swell, a lot of us were nauseous, and some even had excruciating muscle cramps.
The adults are healing fairly quickly, but it’s the pups that I am worried about.
A lot of their bodies haven’t developed the ability of healing rapidly so they have been dealing with severe arsenic poisoning.
Hunter, one of my best warriors stepped through the trees of the forest. “Serena, you said that there is arsenic in the water?” He asked.
I stiffly nodded. “Yes. The one thing that everyone in the pack has in common is the water that we use. Drinking it, cooking with it, and bathing.” I shook my head.
This would be a brilliant strategy to use against an enemy. Arsenic could be used an odorless, and tasteless weapon.
Soren nodded. “I will speak to dad about this.” He said before he began to run in the direction of our pack house.
I turned my attention back to the water.
“Whoever did this is an enemy of our pack. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was someone from the Datura pack.”Hunter said bitterly.
“It might now have been done by someone purposefully. We need to remember that before we jump to conclusions.” I said before I sighed. “We are going to need to speak to the high council.”
The high council are highly ranked wolves from each pack that will come together to make decisions for the continent they represent as a whole. Usually the alpha of the pack will be the one who takes the seat in the council, but some will appoint someone that they think is better fit for making those decisions.
“It’s a good thing that you are in high standing with them.” Hunter said.
I nodded.
Being the highest ranked female in the Western Hemisphere had its perks, but that doesn’t mean that I will get special treatment while I plead my case to them.
Just like the human society, pack members are averse to paying high taxes, especially if they are not directly benefiting from it. The high council will have no choice but to take that into consideration when making any decision.
“We need to get back. Just in case someone is attempting to poison us we need to have patrol expanded to this area as well.” I said as I began to walk in the direction of the pack house.
“I will speak to the alpha and pick the wolves who will patrol the area myself.” He responded.
I nodded.
I trust his judgement.
He wants to keep our pack safe as much as I do.
We walked through the forest in silence.
I took a deep breath as a different scent hits my nose as the pack house came into view.
“Alpha Caspian is here.” My voice coming out in a low growl.
Alpha Caspian is known for his chaotic and impulsive nature, so any interaction with him is like walking through a minefield.
Hunter left to speak with the wolves in charge with patrolling our territory while I walked to my dad’s office in the pack house.
I don’t know what business Alpha Caspian has with the Blood Moon pack, but I will make sure that I find out.
I knocked on the door to my dad’s office when I made it there, and waited for permission to enter.
“Ahh, Serena. Just the woman that I have wanted to see.” Alpha Caspian said as I stepped through the threshold of my father’s office.
I shut the door behind me before I bowed in Alpha Caspian’s direction. “It is an honor for you to be here, Alpha Caspian.”
A slow smile climbed on his lips. “There is no need to be so formal.”
My dad cleared his throat. “I had made the high council aware of the problems that our pack had been dealing with. Soren informed me that you believe that it is the water that is causing this.”
I nodded. “Yes, I believe that there is a high level of arsenic in the water. I believe that it is environmental causes, but there is a chance that someone could purposefully be doing this to us.”
Alpha Caspian hummed. “What a brilliant mind. It’s not wonder that you are so highly praised in our world.” He said before he stood. “You think as if you are an alpha. You would make a fantastic Luna.”
I don’t visibly respond to his words, but I feel the disgust at them in my chest.
My dad raised me to be the next alpha of the Blood Moon pack from ages two to fifteen.
He and my mom struggled to conceive, so everyone assumed that I would be the first female alpha of the western hemisphere.
It was a relief when my mom fell pregnant with Soren, but the training instilled on me will never go away.
Caspian stood in front of me, blocking my dad from view. “Now, I know that you’ve already come up with a solution.”
“Filtering the arsenic out of the water supply, as well as adding filters to each shower and sink. It will be expensive, which is why I want Alpha Julius’ permission to plead my case to the high council.” I explained.
I didn’t react as he brushed his hand against my cheek, and tilted my face up. “As much as the high council favors you, I believe that they are much too stingy to help you.” He stepped away
from me and sat back down in the chair he was once sitting in. “Though, I believe that I can offer you a solution.”
My father and I’s eyes connected at his words.
“What do you propose?” He asked warily.
“More than half of the members of the high council owe me a favor. They will vote yes if I tell them to.”
“What would you get out of it?” I asked.
I know that there is a catch to his help, there always is.
“I will take Serena’s hand in marriage.”
