16. The Book of Witches.

Logan's POV

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I threw Beta Duncan a look and he shook his head slowly. I wanted to make sure what I heard was right.

"What?". I asked requesting the woman to repeat herself.

"Alpha Logan, my daughter has been found by the maiden, Astrid".

The mother of the child that had gone missing met me the next day to report.

"Where was the child when she was found?". I asked looking forward to the answer. If the child was nowhere to be found in the pack, why was the intruder also out of the pack?

"In the woods, Alpha. A little distance away from the pack". She answered with her head down. "They weren't doing their jobs".

"Who exactly?".

"The guards, enforcers and scouts".

I clenched my teeth and balled my fingers into a fist.

"And where were you?"

Her head jerked up as though she wasn't expecting the question.

"Al-Alpha Lo-Logan?".

"I asked where you were when your daughter went missing". I seethed.

"I…I was doing chores at…at home". Her voice was low but the last word was even lower. I could see her chewing on her bottom lip nervously.

"You were at home but couldn't take an account of your daughter's whereabouts? Were you even supervising her?".

She went silent and I stood from my seat strolling towards her.

She immediately fell to her knees.

"I…I deeply apologize for…for my…my shortcoming as…as her mother". She closed her eyes placed her hands in front of her face and rubbed her palms together.

"Did you see her leave the house or not?".

She dropped her hand and opened her eyes then quickly nodded.

"I sent her away to her friend Iva's house".

"You sent her away". I repeated staring daggers at her.

"And where was your husband?".

"He…he was at work".

I nodded towards Beta Duncan and he walked to me.

"Be rest assured it shall be dealt with".He said and I nodded once giving the woman one last look before turning and walking away.

I waved my hand in the air and the guards got the signal. They made the woman get up.

"Th-thank you". She bowed and stumbled out of the office.

I'm sure she was expecting to be punished but I had other plans. Immediately, I got seated in my chair and nodded towards Beta Duncan.

"I shall have a word with the pack members by evening".

"All…of them?"

"Every single one of them".

Beta Duncan bowed and walked out of the office to give out instructions for the pack members to be gathered by evening.

I later walked up to the podium by evening and took my seat as I stared around the faces of the pack members who were gathered at the persecution square.

They all kept quiet abruptly and Beta Duncan stepped forward to speak to them.

"A pleasant evening to every one of you. The Alpha wishes to pass a very important information to you all and we are here, on that note". Beta Duncan stepped back.

"Alpha?". He called notifying me it was my turn so I then stood from my seat, stepping forward.

"Good evening everyone". I greeted and they all greeted back in unison.

"I gathered all of you this evening on a very important notice. Because I have noticed…".

My eyes fell on the intruder who was just coming to join everyone else. Her eyes met mine too.

"I have noticed some lackadaisical attitude from you". She quickly looked away and stood behind someone more than she was.

"To be very short and brief, I implore you all to take accountability and responsibility very seriously".

I looked around and found that they were listening with so much attention.

I cleared my throat and continued.

"The top priority of the pack guards, enforcers and scouts is the security of every one of you but most importantly, it is our very own duty to take our security and that of our families into account".

The pack members all turned looking at each other and I could see many nodding their heads in approval.

"Family is the first agent of socialization and so should it be the first agent looking out for our wellbeing. The guards are here to protect the environment but that doesn't mean we should be relaxed about the wellbeing and safety of our family members…".

I looked until my eyes found the woman.

"... especially our children's safety".

She looked down holding her daughter closely.

"If we all help ourselves, the pack as a whole will be a place where peace reigns".

Surprisingly, they all broke into a round of applause and I nodded turning away from them and walking away with Beta Duncan following closely behind.

"That was a speech well given Alpha Logan". He said and I nodded.

"You always show how much you care but never smile and it can or might be interpreted as insincere".

I stopped in my tracks and turned to him.

"Is that supposed to matter? I passed the information across I don't need a smile attached to it". I told him. "Or do you expect that I smile like…this?"

The corner of my lips rose in a smirk and Beta Duncan immediately put on a horrified look on his face.

"Please don't, I was wrong". He shook his head and the corner of my lips dropped.

I shot him a look and he laughed. When I turned, I found the head of the guards, enforcers and scouts bowing in front of me.

"We deeply apologize for our lackadaisical attitude, Alpha Logan". They all said in unison and the chief of the guards stood upright.

"We put the life of a young girl in jeopardy by not performing our duties".

He bowed again and they all repeated.

"We deeply apologize for our lackadaisical attitude, Alpha Logan".

I clenched my teeth and stared around them. They must have rehearsed this before coming to meet me.

"Fine". I started simply walking away. "You've all been dissolved of your positions".

"What?". I heard one of them ask and they all fell to their knees.

"Please Alpha Logan".

They pleaded.

"We promise to be on the lookout".

I walked away not even looking back at them. I was even angry. Did they think the safety of the pack members was a joke? Always pleading to be given a second chance while they mess up again and again.

"What do you intend to do with them, Alpha?". Beta Duncan asked immediately I took my seat in the office.

"I shall take the matters of this pack into my hands".

"How so?"

"You'll see". I replied simply and Beta Duncan nodded before turning to me again.

"What do you intend to do now?".

"A child went missing and the intruder almost escaped. I'll deal with those".

"The child has been found so how about the punishment for the girl?". He asked.

"That intruder not only tried to escape but she escaped". I informed. "I would have punished her, but she did a selfless act by saving a child and bringing her back even when she got the opportunity to run and never be seen or heard of".

Beta Duncan was silent and so I continued.

"Bring that intruder girl to my quarters".

"The one whom we were just talking about? The one whom the woman called a maiden? The intruder and ex-prisoner?".

"Too many questions at once don't you think?". I asked and came to stand in front of my desk.

"We don't even know if she's a werewolf nor do we know if she is to be trusted". He argued.

"She's a witch but shall be taken to work in the pack from today henceforth, serving me in my quarters".

"She's a witch, Alpha Logan. What are your thoughts exactly?".

"Bring her to the quarters at the soonest. She shall join Marcy in housekeeping".

Beta Duncan bowed and walked out of the office with Hattie entering as soon as he went out. She closed the door behind her.

She approached my desk and dropped something wrapped in grey silk on it.

"The books you requested for".

She stated simply and I nodded untying it.

"I found two books about the crystals, Alpha". She informed and I brought one out and placed it in front of me.

"A guide on eccentric witches and magic users". I uttered the title that was written in gold italics.

"I'll take this one so it'll be faster". Hattie said picking up the other book and moving to the window where she got seated on a chair and placed the book on the round table there.

I opened the centre page of the book 'A Guide on Eccentric Witches and Magic Users~Sea Witch: Oceans/lakes, Lunar Magic, Weather Magic.

~Paranormal witch: Flying, levitation, Telekinesis, portal creation…

I immediately closed the book.

"This is ridiculous". I muttered and pushed the book aside.

Hattie turned to me and gave a low laugh.

"Nothing?".

"I just can't Hattie". I laid back in the chair.

She laughed low again and flipped over to the next page of her book then she stood to her feet abruptly.

"Alpha Logan?". She called turning to me. "You might want to see this".