Chapter 3
The red stone is missing? How come? My mind was blank for a while and I suddenly zoned in.
“Does Lian know about this?” I asked without thinking. “Girl, how are we supposed to know that? You came together.” Jabi said sarcastically and I realised the question was kinda dumb.
Who could have take the stone from it’s place?
*** Julian’s POV
I barged into Mr Hicks’ office, the human principal. I started to burn with rage as soon as Marlin informed me about the missing jewel.
Mr Hicks stood up as soon as I walked in. “Alpha Lian.” He called with fear. “How did it happen?” I asked calmly. There was no reply.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“I said how did it happen?” I yelled and he shook. “I. I. . don’t.. know.” He stuttered and I stared at him in disdain.
He hung his head low, of course… he dared not look at me.
I walked out of the office and met Marlin and Shane outside. “What did he say?” Shane asked. “What’s he gonna say? He doesn’t know of course.” Marlin replied him.
“Assemble all the pack’s guards, now!” I ordered.
Author’s POV
Julian stared at the men standing orderly in front of him. They were about forty in number, due to the fact that diamond pack is the largest pack in the territory, which makes Lian the strongest among other Alphas, even though he was young.
Diamond pack stretched to about thousands of miles, very large.
“How did the red stone go missing?” Julian asked the men, whose heads were bowed a little. None of them replied.
“Am I talking to stones?!” He raised his voice and the commander of the guards, who was at the front, fell on his knees at once with his hands at the back and his head bowed.
“I’m sorry for what happened Alpha, I’ll take responsibility for the missing jewel.” He said, in a grieved tone.
Julian smirked. “Are you sure you can bear the burden of others?” He asked in a cold, icy voice.
There was no reply from the commander again.
“I don’t think you can.” Lian said and turned to Shane and Marlin. “Select another set of the pack’s warriors as night guards and put these fools into the basement cells without food or water till the stone’s found.” He stated firmly and walked out.
The guards all knew Alpha Lian was still being merciful, to have passed that kind of judgement. If he was ruthless, he would have given them death letters by then.
As he walked away, his phone started ringing. It was the chairman of the school pack’s welfare committee.
***
“Who do think could’ve taken the red stone?” Jabi asked. “I have no fucking idea.. ughh..” Axel groaned as he ran his fingers in his hair. He couldn’t think of anyone and it was driving him nuts.
This has never happened before, and now that it happened.. they couldn’t even guess who the thief is not to talk of finding a way to retrieve the jewel.
“I can’t think of anyone also.” Jabi said out of frustration.
“I think I know who the thief is…” Mia, who hasn’t uttered a word since the beginning of the discussion, chipped in.
Axel and Jabi leaned in…”Who?”
** Lian’s POV
I’m here trying to figure out things and these fucked up assholes are making a hell of a noise?
I stood up angrily and banged the table, which got their attention. “Everyone get out this instant!” I yelled and they all scurried out in a second, leaving I, Shane and Marlin alone in the classroom. Why are we even here?
“What are we gonna do Lian?” Marlin asked. “Yes Lian, we all know the red stone mustn’t stay out of the pack for more than three days.” Shane added.
That was true, I need to find that stone, it needs to be back in it’s place.
I rubbed my temple gently. “The red stone is at the peak of a mountain which is 100 miles away in the pack’s forest. Definitely a fellow stole it.” I said and they reasoned for a while.
“I totally agree. No human in his right sense will travel miles in that thick forest.” Shane said. That’s true, there are lots of wild animals in the forest of Hez, that could seat up people in a minute.
“We can never tell. It might be a human that actually took it ” Marlin chipped in. He was so calm and cool.
“So what to do?” Shane asked.
“Put up a search.” I heard a voice say.
We looked up at once, to see Mia and her friends walking into the class.
“What do you mean?” I asked, going straight to the point. Mia leaned on a desk opposite me and my Betas.
“It’s very simple. First, put up a search on day students, since there is a high probability that a day student stole it. No boarder in his right sense will steal the sacred stone and hid it in the hostel.
If not found still, the go ahead and search the hostel.”
She spoke like a pro! “Wow, great idea Mia.” Shane complimented. “Yeah quite smart.” Marlin added.
“Are you guys joining the search party?” Shane asked and Jabi nodded. “Of course, you can’t bring in any of the pack members ’cause we don’t even know who it is with.” She explained.
“You’re also part of the pack.” Shane pointed out.
I sighed. “Let’s go on with the plan. When does the next lesson start?” He asked.
Axel glanced at his watch quickly and replied. “In the next 30 minutes.”
“We’ll be starting the search today, you got no problem missing classes?” Lian asked again. I wasn’t going to force them.
They all shook their heads consecutively. “Good! Now y’all should go to class and clear up your things. Then you should wait in the parking lot, Marlin will pick you up. Don’t forget to hold your tongues well.”
“Hold our tongues well? How?” Jabi asked.
“Common Bud, you see the reasons why you shouldn’t miss English and Literature classes?.” Axel said.
She sneered at him.
I glanced at my wristwatch. “3 minutes is gone.” I announced and the three buddies left.
“I don’t think we should trust those three.” Shane said with all seriousness. “No worries, I’ll probably take out a search on them too.” I replied.
***
This is like 198th house we’ll be searching. We got all the students’ residences thanks to the students’ files.
Gosh.. I’m really exhausted but my wolf isn’t. He is pestering me to find the red stone as soon as possible. Of course, everyone knows the implications if the stone is not returned to it’s place.
I hung my head low in frustration as I placed my hand on my forehead. I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Mia. “Hey.” I greeted, bluntly.
“Hi, you’re frustrated huh?” She stood in front of me with her hands folded and I stared at her. She sighed and pulled me into a hug.
“I understand…. we’re gonna find it okay? Take off that weary look please…” She said.
“Uhmm.. it’s not here.” We heard Marlin say as they all walked down the stairs and we disengaged the hug.
“I think it’s time to move the search to the school hostel.” Jabi said.
I glimpsed at my watch, it was few minutes to 7pm. “We’ll get on that tomorrow, it’s getting late. You guys should go home now, Marlin will drop you off.” I said.
“The thing is.. we gat some things to pick up at school. And you can just drop us at school, my car is probably waiting patiently for me at the lot.” Axel chipped in. “That’s no problem.” I said and turned to Marlin. *You can take them right?* I asked through mind link. *Sure.*
He replied and as we were about to go out, we heard a car driving into the compound. Everyone gasped almost at once.
“Is it what I’m thinking guys?” Mia was the first to talk. “Don’t tell me….” Jabi’s voice trailed off as they soon heard footsteps. “We’re so fucking dead right now.” Axel said.
Wtf! “Everyone gather up now!”