A Meeting and A Calling

*The name at the top of each chapter is the point of view the chapter is based on. Bold is inner wolf voices, italic text is mental links*

Silas:

I listened to the meetings, Harvest had accepted four rogues into their pack, no large crime offenders so no complaints. Claw was offering to trade the low-level rule breakers in their cages for additional crops so Harvest could gain a few more members and Claw could make it through their harder winter months. My mind was split, thinking back to the elevator. The scent when I had gotten in to go and meet Daniel made my head swirl. It smelled like a river, right where it meets the earth and the wet soil and flowers it touches would erupt in scent. I'd never smelled anything like it. I knew Sin had smelt it as well, or something similar. We had both got lost in the scent until Daniel called our names when the elevator opened. 

"What about Shadow?" Blood Moon's Alpha had just asked. I'd only been half listening but I knew what question he had asked. 

"We handled a total of fifteen rogues since the last quarter. Five were for more serious offenses that resulted in death. Nine were low-level offenders, out of the nine three remain in holding cells. Two of the nine rejoined their original clans after paying for the deeds. Four of the low levels," I motioned towards Harvest, "joined Harvest at their request. One of the overall fifteen escaped, wounded and marked for his crimes." One out of fifteen was excellent levels, a six percent escape record, but it was still one lawbreaker running free. 

"Hmm, you only had one escape?" Blood Moon's Alpha had a questioning tone. He had five out of twenty-three escape, which was about a twenty-two percent escape record. They definitely had more rogues to handle, but the percentages didn't lie. 

"Yes, only one. I believe our trackers said they headed to the South border, we alerted the neighboring packs there but they are unlikely to report the outcome until the official meeting." He stood with his head still cocked a bit to the side, waiting for more information. "Why Slade? Did you have something to tell me about my pack's rogue count?" I didn't look at him as I spoke, I sipped my drink then turned to face him after. My eyes met his, the shine in them almost taunting me to misstep and say something that I definitely need to keep to a mental comment. 

After a few moments he finally shrugged and seemed to move on, "No, those are pretty good stats." Pretty good? They were phenomenal! He had won the last quarter only because we had a small self-made pack of rogues that crossed the border above us into Canada before we could catch them. We'd alerted the proper channels and they were caught quickly on the other side once they had let down their defenses, but it still went against our own counts. 

"What about illness or injury reports?" Claw's Alpha asked.

"A few general illnesses with the season change, no real injuries other than basic training. We do have a few elderly who are getting weaker so we expect some injuries due to their age and a rise in illness by our next meeting, but we've prepared and got additional supplies." Sin shared the information while I looked into the sky. 

That scent was driving me crazy, it was almost like it was still near. I turned to the tents being set up by the catering company, a strong breeze blew towards us and the scent from the elevator caught me again. I let my eyes find Sin. He was looking in the same direction, he must have smelt it as well. What was that scent? 

"We took in a total of thirty-six rogues, all low-level offenders or deserters. Any deserters were reported so no longer marked as missing. Our pack had no injuries other than the ones brought in, but we did get hit with a bad case of a flu that affected those who hadn't shifted yet." Shifting often came around sixteen to eighteen years old. Some would be a bit early but no one had ever reported being later. 

That meant the flu affected children, which was not unusual. Once a wolf could shift the immune system became much stronger, their physical strength and durability increased because of their wolf. Thankfully the pups still kept the ability to withstand the cold and a general physical strength boost compared to mortals, and no matter what age a wolf came with healing benefits. They just enhanced even quicker once the wolf was awake.

"Did you find a remedy or did it pass on its own?" I asked, wanting to know if we should prepare for it ourselves and worrying a bit about the smallest pack in our group.

"It mostly passed on its own, but we did use herbs for pain relief as necessary, especially with the youngest ones. The duration of it seemed to be about four days with the last two days being the worst of it. We didn't lose anyone to it thankfully, a few close calls but they are mending well." Good! The last thing Harvest needed was an illness running its way through their members. 

"Good to hear." Slade said, and for once I believed him. We really did all appreciate what Harvest did for us in the past, they were like the child we wanted to see grow up and be a success. 

"I'm glad you got a few new wolves this last quarter." They were still less than a fourth of our population, but they were making progress. 

"What about you Claw? Any illness or injury reports?" We had beat them on rogues handled and they hadn't come close to matching our training upgrades. However, their handle of poisons often meant a high immunity built up to most general illnesses."

"No illnesses other than related to training, a few injuries because of training. One death to report, they didn't react well to one of the poisons we make all members build a defense to. His family understood and had no aggression after his death." Poisoning their own members seemed harsh even for me. I could understand it, their soldiers and fighters needed immunity to their own weapons. 

They worked with venoms and poison. If they didn't have some level of immunity to them it'd be too easy to turn the blade around and use it against them. Similar to our work with energy training, we had to teach our members to know when to cut the energy loose and take the drain versus keeping attached. 

"Well, seems like no major business to report, no wars being declared today or peace treaties needed to stop one. Seems like a good quarter!" Harvest's Alpha was smiling and I couldn't help but smile with him as we all began to laugh a bit. He had a point, of course, it had been a pretty quiet quarter, which was nice. 

We all shook, gripping our opposites at the elbow in honor of each of their status as Alphas or Betas. Slade seemed to squeeze mine a little longer than most, the light in his eye shining a bit more brightly. He was definitely planning something soon. I heard all the wolves entering the park, each finding their own way to the event. The catering company employees were doing some sort of getting started cheer. "That was interesting." Sin's voice brought me back to where we were.

"That it was. I really think Blood's got something going on they haven't shared yet. We need to keep on high alert for the next quarter." 

"Agreed." We headed to the main event tent, as the leaders we would be on the stage for most of the event, watching the others and monitoring behaviors. Any mates found would have to report to us directly and if cross packs we'd settle where they return. 

"Do you want the main event or the dining tent?" I might as well let Sin choose which place he wants. No matter where I was I planned to try and track down the source of that scent that I keep noticing. It had to be coming from something, or someone, at the event. I wouldn't leave without finding it. 

"I'll take the dining tent, the music is at least a little quieter in there." I nodded and let him part as he took the direction to the dining tent. He was clearly trying to avoid the main area, probably putting his own wants aside for me like he always did. He was a hell of a Beta because of that, but as his friend, it was hard not to push him to try and focus on himself more. It was a hard line to balance, but he usually found the balancing point on his own without my help. 

I went into the main tent and took a long, slow, sniff of the room. The scent was here but faint, it wasn't current. Whatever was causing it must have been here and then left. I followed it around and found it lingering on the speakers around the stage. There was also a tree and it seemed some of the higher decorations had the scent lingering around them. It must be someone or something involved with the catering company. 

Not that knowing that really limited it down, there were dozens of people working theeven. At least I could rule out anyone I saw in the room right now, none of them had the right scent. The party was in full blast in no time. Dancing, music, and food and drink were offered on black trays that moved through the room at lightning speed. I grabbed a cup being offered by one of the trays and caught a whiff of the scent again, the same dew-kissed soil scent from earlier. 

I watched as the person with the tray walked just past the entrance to the tent and then immediately turned around and walked back in with a full try. "Excuse me." The man with the tray stopped and faced me with a customer service smile. "Where do you get the trays refilled?"