CHAPTER 15

"What?" Her voice was unbelieving. Melisca thought Lorna was the one who ended the life of one of Jethro's friends. But having heard it from the girl that she wasn't the one who did it, thoughts came up from her mind that maybe she was with the wrong person.

Yet she had seen her with the syringe and even injected one on her too. So how was she not the killer?

"It was my partner. I was the distraction, and he was the killer." Lorna just answered her thoughts.

So, she had a partner in crime. "Where is he now?"

"He's long gone before the wolves found their dead friend's body."

"How did you know they were werewolves and they were there at the same time?" She still wondered how they had come to know about them. Surely humans can't detect anyone with their lack of super abilities. Only one thing can come up in her mind.

"We have our source. And even I don't know where it came from."

Right, they, of course, have their mastermind. Their leader could be something for having such a basis of information. The wolves were fucked up already. Someone is a bane in the group. But that's their war to conquer, for she has her own.

"Why a partner? Can't you kill on your own?" She had let her tongue spat too much boldly. She should learn to just shut up then.

Lorna, from behind her, went still having heard those words. "I chose not to when other people can do the work."

"Are there others like you? And what's with the syringe, by the way? How did you formulate the poison?"

"You'll find out in time. If you can prove your loyalty and dedication to our purpose."

"And what is that purpose?"

"To remove the existence of powerful monsters in the shadows of the Earth."

"Doesn't that just sound pitiful and insecure to other beings?" Her tongue got the best of her again.

Lorna laughed at what she said. "You don't have to question everything. Like why one of them killed your family. Simply because they are monsters. Born predators."

Melisca's face turned sour. Somehow, the girl was right. They are just the way they were. But loyalty? Dedication? If those two were broken, does it have to be paid back by life? Just like how her parents ended up dead? When did they choose to let go of what should be their purpose and instead got along with fate even though it led to each other's destruction?

Is that how it should be? No. Monsters aren't just monsters by nature. But monsters by their choice. And humans are not an exception. Her mother's side was completely human after all. Yet they killed her mercilessly.

Then she just realized this plan to infiltrate the girl's group and get to the bottom of them may take a while. But either way, she would get to it. No matter how long it takes, she could be killing two monsters with one shot, a taste with their own purpose.

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The castle-like mansion at the top of the forest mountain grew eerily quiet. Its solid brick walls, among hundreds of years, remained its original color of ivory. Having it maintained by professionals. The yellow dim light of lamps surrounding the whole mansion made it look like a candle-like glow from afar. The same shade of light from the chandeliers inside, not to irritate the sensitive eyes of the owner.

"Argon," Ezekiel mumbled when he sensed his friend approaching quietly. He was at the backyard pool. Dipping himself with the freezing temperature of the water. Hoping for the coldness of it to ease his boiling frustration.

After having the news that one of the men he deployed got killed and the hunter had run away, he had to cool himself down to have a clear mind of what to do next. He can't just let his furiousness cloud his head to thrash everything around.

So, he jumped on the pool and swam back and forth to somehow exude the tension in his body. When he felt better, he stayed at the side and reached for his red drink in a glass wine to fulfill his hunger and picked a fresh green grape served to him in a bowl by one of his housemaids.

He had five housekeepers in the house, a gardener, and a chef by his request. All werewolves though. He cautiously chose them, for he doesn't want anyone to enter his private mansion randomly. The servants would come to his place every other day to maintain the cleanliness of the entire property. Even a driver should heat up his car engines, for he can't use them all at once.

The mansion below in the village is only for his duties and the pack organization meetings. His property above is his only place to relax and free himself of workloads. Though he had people to do his businesses and run his empire, the final decisions of every important matter still need his approval.

From investments, projects, partnerships, marketing, and contracts, he had a word before closing big deals.

Ezekiel Rawson is the owner of one of the world's excellent and biggest construction companies. They provide all types of construction work. Either it is renovations, contractual projects, real estate developments, or government reconstructions, they even have their own architects for any projects requested and investment plans.

He also owns mountain villas around the world for him to have a place to stay whenever he plans to visit one of the company branches across the countries or for just the pleasure to unwind. Sometimes visiting his favourite island that he bought decades ago, it became his vacation spot. But he mostly stays at Vrona, where the city he currently is and the pack he handles personally.

His people could choose whatever career they want and he can give them a job under his companies if it fits their qualities and educational backgrounds. At the same time, he won't always babysit his society, for they also have to stand on their own individually.

The area around his mansion's property was also secured by some of his people. In case anyone might try to invade his domain. And the rangers can ward humans off the area.

His place with the over-looking view from the top of the mountains, some people had somehow got a picture of it and posted on social media as one of the dream houses of many, and it could be a destination also for the excellent view of city lights below and the vast expanse of the forest with the ocean from afar. Sunrise and sunset can be seen on the opposite side of the area.

When one of his home security had seen a photo similar to his mansion on the internet, Ezekiel had it remove on any platform and file storage for he found out that it was exactly his house. Not wanting anything from him to be seen by human or to be feasted by them.

He had paid a large amount to the government to put anyone in jail if one of his private properties had been featured in the public's eye. Of course, that only applies to humans, but if one of his people had broken the rule, he'll be the one in charge of the punishment.

"Zek, what do you want me to do?" Asked Argon, he had broken him from his deep thoughts.

"Still no clue about her, right?" The heaviness in his breathing as he said those words really burdens him. He can't even think straight of other things he should worry about because she now occupies his top list of concerns.

Without sparing Argon a glance standing behind him. He already knows the answer as he heard him sighed.

"No."

With that, he changed the subject to his other problem. Maybe in this one, he can have some outcome.

He sipped the wine in his hand before saying, "They were heading to Farden City. The Wildcrest pack is there. Maybe it's time to visit Rullo again." His voice low and almost matches the water temperature he soaked himself in.

The hunter and the human ally that his warriors reported said that the two planned to go to the next town from the diner where the incident took place. The next place is the Farden City, where one of his pack managed by Rullo who he assigned to be the alpha five decades ago.

Ezekiel being an Alpha king of all the leader of the packs in the Asian continent, but handling his own society aren't that hard, for, among the supernatural beings, werewolves is one of the top lists that nearly goes to extinction. They were endangered race. Despite having immortal lives, hundreds of thousands had been killed during the last war against vampires and supernatural hunters.

"When would you plan to go there, alpha? And who do you wishes to come with you?" His beta asked.

"Prepare the jet now, I'll be leaving in two hours. You stay at the village and manage the pack when I'm gone. I won't stay there for long. Maybe I can have clues about this hunter and the human ally when I get there. Also to warn the Wildcrest pack." He finally stepped out of the water and approach one of the umbrella sits to grab his bathrobe to cover his nakedness.

"You're going alone? How about bringing Drasco with you. Even just one person to accompany you there." Argon worried of his friend, he might be ridiculously powerful but still, an extra precaution wouldn't hurt.

"Fine, tell him then to get ready, also warn Gandolf that if anything happened to the pack while I'm gone, I would make you two homeless for a decade."

"That's too cruel!" Argon responded with incredulous tone to his friend. But Zek's had been long gone for him to debate.