_ Deep Crave

Reluctantly, Kylo gave his account of the crime scene at the Vientiane restaurant. This would serve as a distraction for him; Gamma Rhett thought. Worrying about the security of the pack would take his mind off the mate bond warring for dominance in him.

"Kylo, if possible, avoid places that are closer to the borders like the Vientiane restaurant. It doesn't make sense to risk your life because of childish infatuation." He implored. "Stay…"

Kylo interrupted him abruptly. "I told you many times, Dad – it's not infatuation. Isleen and I are in love." He stood up. "And as far as I know, I can take care of myself."

"You got lucky this time because many other wolves and two fairies were around. If cornered, I'd hate to see you hurt. Prevention is better than cure, Kylo." Rhett stated, hating how his son had inherited his defiant spirit.

Kylo shook his head, already heading to the door. "It doesn't matter to you if I'm hurt, Dad. Don't act like you care. You are already hurting me more than any vampire could."

Rhett was silent. He had no idea what to say at this point. His son was being irrationally pompous. He needed to understand that life goes beyond a childish crush.

He let him go, tension building inside of him. When he interrogated the two witnesses' fairies, he made sure to put in a little bit of pressure.

There was no way the vampires could have broken in through the veil without the help of a fairy from the inside.

They both sat across the chair from him, their wings shimmering like butterfly wings behind their garments. One of the many ways to distinguish the fairies from elves apart from their ears was the color of their attires.

The fairies would always wear white and the elves, black. Still, their outfits usually bear the same resemblance of silk; flowing Gossamer garments as though they weren't aware of civilization.

Looking at their skin which usually shifts in color depending on their emotions remained pale now, Rhett knew they didn't belong here in the Ravenwood pack or outside their realms. He just couldn't wait for this war to be done with and everything to return back to normal.

He loved balance.

Rhett rubbed his temples, trying to quell the throbbing headache that pulsed between his eyes. These two fairies in front of him were suspects.

"We were so shocked to see them break through the veil, weren't we, Acatha?" One of them turned white as she recalled.

The other whom she called Acatha placed her hands on Rhett's table and nodded at him as if he was the one who asked the question. "Something's wrong, Gamma. Our veils are forever strong and unlikely to be infiltrated by magicless creatures like the vampires."

"The vampires knew where to strike," The other one began. "They knew the exact layout of the restaurant, the movements of the patrons. It's impossible without help from someone familiar with both worlds!"

Rhett scribbled down, discreetly searching their faces for any flicker of deceit. "Since you both were the magical creatures present at the ambush, I think it's safe to ask you how the impossible came to be possible." He said calmly.

"W– what?!" Acatha's wings dropped dejectedly as she shook her head, turning to her friend. "Willow, we would haven't known why, would we?"

Willow bristled, facing Rhett once again. "We risked our lives defending that restaurant! Do you think we would turn around and jeopardize everything we hold dear? Aceco can't be endangered. Our brothers and sisters here would be hurt too!"

Rhett noted the confidence of Willow and Acatha's seemingly frail demeanor. "I see. Thank you." He stated. "We will keep everything under control. Thanks for your cooperation and diligent fighting during the ambush. You may take your leaves now."

"We, the fey started this war. It is only right that we keep fighting, isn't it, Willow?" Acatha clasped Willow's hands, all sickening for Rhett to watch.

The fairies were one odd creatures in their mannerisms while the elves were dead weird. He didn't like any of them. It wasn't that he hated their beings but just the disorderliness of having their presence around would cost their pack.

The Moon goddess didn't create the werewolves to live around fey. He hated anything that didn't align with the Moon goddess's wishes.

"Yes, yes, Acatha. We fight without bloodshed." Willow replied and again turned to Rhett with hopeful eyes. "Your kind and the vampires – they shed lots of blood last night. Bloodshed is taboo. You as the Gamma can enforce a 'no-bloodshed war', can't you? I heard you are a good law enforcer."

That was it, he'd had enough; Rhett groaned as a line appeared between his brows. "Time to leave now. Go." He nearly barked.

The two fairies rushed out as the urgency in his tone settled on them.

"Finally. Done with this." He sighed, following their exit. "So much happening at once." He rubbed the bridges between his nose and removed his glasses.

His pondering was short-lived when the Military advisor stepped in. "Rhett." He mused as he took his seat. "You seem beaten."

"Oh, Farkas. I'm not beaten." He scoffed, forcing a smile. "I'm just pissed that one of those we have sheltered has betrayed us."

Farkas tapped his desk. "Understandable. But we can't afford to falter now. The vampires won't wait for us to get our house in order. Kylo seemed upset though. Everything fine between you two?"

Farkas was like the only person close to being called a friend that Rhett had. Most of the time, it was always Farkas doing the most in igniting conversations between them while Rhett quenched every fire.

"Don't tell me you didn't notice that everyone who left here leaves upset." He shrugged.

Farkas laughed, his entire mouth wide apart. "That is your forte, Rhett. That is your forte."

A very ugly laugh, that was.

Uninterested in causalities, Rhett went straight to business. "Those fairies who left just now, I want them under surveillance."

"They seem suspicious?"

"No, not really. It's just that one of them seems overly confident and the other, overly timid. I wasn't able to decipher what from what during the investigation with them. I'd like us to take extra precautions."

Farkas's smile disappeared like it was never there. "What?!" He blurted, jaw slacked. "Everyone knows you have the knack for deciphering liars during investigations. That is why you handled this yourself. Are you saying you suddenly lost that ability of yours? Something has definitely happened during this investigation, Rhett. I'm very sure of it."

Hell, Rhett knew Farkas would question him if no one else did. He couldn't possibly say…

'Yes. I found out my son's girlfriend is my mate and now, a deep craving for her has materialized in my Wolf. I want her.'

Could he?

He could not.