Anna... Deep Doubts And Scents Of War

Anna's day of work was usually boring. She was just the figure needed to attend the corp main base each day to show everyone she was monitoring what they were doing.

However she barely knew anything about the legal acts of the corp.

All she cared about was the illegal dark actions of the other side of the corp, the true side, the werewolf side.

"So, vampires are trying to infiltrate our regions," she sat in the middle seat while gazing up at the top leaders of her pack.

Jeremy was there, plus four others. Each one of them was strong in his own trait.

And she was the only female among them, but they never showed any discomfort or discontent to her. Or to the public eyes at least.

"Our grip over our lands weakened through the last decade," a thirty years old looking man said while his black eyes showed how smart he was.

After all he was the head of the intelligence department in the pack, Chris.

"Oh, so it's another piece that's added to the whole mess I inherited," Anna said in obvious anger while her aura made everyone startled.

"It's the responsibility of all the noble families in our pack," another one said, while his eyes showed how daring he was.

His words were an obvious challenge to the authority of Anna's family. Her family was, after all, one of the noblest families not only in this pack but in the entire werewolf world.

"Watch your tongue, James," Jeremy, however, was the one to reprimand the leader of the enforcers in the pack.

James had western features with his red hair and blue eyes. He had freckles on both cheeks, which added more cuteness to his handsome face.

However if anyone tried to deal with him as being cute or decent, he or she would end up losing their lives in return.

He was a brutal werewolf, one who didn't like the new rules of not killing humans. He kept blaming the elders in the open while keeping his ruthless teachings to the enforcers.

Many times the elder council tried to push him away from the picture. Yet no matter whom they sent to get rid of him, he always came out unscathed.

"I'm not but stating the truth," James wasn't fazed by the warning tone in Jeremy's voice before he shifted his gaze towards Anna. "We need to send a strong message to our enemies."

Anna knew how strong James was, and how deep the hatred of him ran towards the elder council. After all he lost his dearest mate for a foolish decision that happened centuries ago.

"What message do you refer to?" Anna didn't stand beside her brother on this. In fact her mind was devising a plan a long time ago, a contingency plan, a safe path for her if things went south.

And James was simply the perfect werewolf for her plan, the crucial piece she needed.

Beside her the face of Jeremy slightly changed before he regained his composure and said nothing.

"We should assemble a hit team," James noticed the slight friction between the brother and sister, and yet he didn't care about it. He only cared about gaining more power and fame. "We should hit the vampires in their newly formed bases near our borders."

"That will be a direct declaration of war!" Jeremy instantly objected, "we can't risk that. Especially when our pack isn't stable and united."

His words piqued Anna's interest while her mind didn't struggle for long to figure out what was going on.

"Did the leaders from yesterday cause any problems?" she asked, and Jeremy took in a deep breath before responding.

"They didn't say anything in the open," Jeremy turned to Chris who cleared his throat. He was a smart werewolf, one who realized hidden issues were boiling under the surface.

He was smart enough to keep his mouth shut and lower his head like the other two silent werewolves here.

So he took a moment to think about a diplomatic answer, yet Jeremy's glaring eyes left him no room to do that.

"Tell her what you told me before the meeting," Jeremy said this in a low, yet intimidating tone. "Tell the alpha what you told me."

Chris couldn't help but feel more uneasy before he started to speak.

"There is news of them gathering together after the meeting in complete secrecy."

"Which group of them did that?" Anna calmly asked while Chris felt more nervous.

"All of them," Jeremy didn't wait for the nervous Chris to speak before he turned his eyes towards James, "they are planning something."

"If it's a coup," James shrugged as if it was nothing, "then we can use this chance to train our forces. They were lazy for a long time and their fangs were dull with no blood or flesh to sharpen them."

"Humph, I bet yours are more dull than them," Jeremy provoked him and yet Anna had to stop them here.

"Enough!" she slammed on the all metal table with a marble covering before everyone looked at her, including Jeremy.

"Leave me alone for now," she returned her back while resting on her seat. "I'll tell you about my decision… And bring me everything about that meeting, and any other meetings before that."

Her words were meant for Chris, but she said them to everyone. They all stood up and bowed in respect to her before leaving.

"Not you," but she suddenly said, stopping James from leaving.

James stopped with a big smile over his face. Jeremy gave his sister a long gaze before he buttoned his black suit and left.

"My lady, I believe you missed your night dose of the pill," the butler moved from her side and handed her a small pill.

Anna looked at the pill for a moment before her mind started to have second thoughts about it.

"Go out as well," she took the pill and put it in her mouth before adding, "don't let anyone enter here until I say so."

"Your orders," the butler bowed before he slowly left and closed the door behind. Anna kept her face stern and serious before she was all alone with James.

And James bowed to her in respect before sitting on the seat next to her.

"Take this," she took out the pill from her mouth. She faked taking it but in fact she didn't.

"This…" James was taken aback when he saw this. But Anna pointed to him to come closer.

"I believe the threat isn't from the outside, or those who are supposed to be working under us… This pill is dangerous."

James took the pill while watching it closely with his eyes.

"I believe… Someone is trying to poison us," she added in a whisper and the more she talked, the more shocked James became.

"But… these pills are commonly used by everyone," he put his hand in his inner pocket before taking out a golden small case and opening it. "I even carry a few with me all the time."

"Stop using them," she warned in a serious tone, "make everyone in the enforcer force to stop taking these. It won't end up good when our main weapon is poisoned and paralyzed, right?"

James' blue eyes turned all serious while he didn't say anything at first.

"From what I know," however he couldn't help his curiosity, "these pills are the product of the research department."

Anna knew what he was referring to. "You also know such a department is under the direct orders from the noble families, in other words…"

"The elder council," James' grudge was something he couldn't resist. Anything related to the elder council held a significant meaning to him. "But, if you let me ask, you are one of them."

His eyes showed how much doubt he had at the moment.

"You are asking why am I giving this to you, and telling you all this, right?" Anna couldn't help but sigh, "I don't have proof yet, but I can tell you this… The last alpha didn't disappear normally."

"I didn't do that!" James instantly refuted the hidden accusation in Anna's words, "and I guarantee that no one from my wolves did that!"

"I know," Anna nodded to reassure him, "I know you have nothing to do with this crime… But you also know who has the best interest in doing that."

James kept his silence for long minutes while Anna did the same. She knew taming this wolf wasn't going to be an easy task. After all she hailed from one of the families he hated the most.

However she also was certain of her ability to make him on her side.

"What do you want me to do with this?" he finally decided to play her game this time as he played with the pill she gave to him.

"I want you to send this one to a lab," Anna paused before stressing in a serious tone, "this has to be done in utter secrecy. Any leak of this matter and we all are going to face deadly consequences."

James' face didn't change as if he already was aware of this. "What are you seeking exactly?"

"Analyze its composition and effects," Anna calmly said, "compare it with the ones you have, the ones your wolves got. See… If there is any hidden toxin planted there, even if it was in traces amount. Also see if it has any side effects we don't know about."

"Like what?" James' interest was getting deeper in this issue.

"Affecting our transformation, our strength when we are wolves… Also our senses and special powers… Strictly speaking; everything!"

Her words made James feel the gravity of the situation. "This might take some time though," he warned.

"How long?"

"At least a week, if not more," James hesitated before he took out a small red envelope from his pocket and put that pill inside. "What about the vampires? And those traitors?"

"You know the rules of the pack," she finally returned to sit leisurely on her seat, "traitors can't be allowed to live. As for any threat against the pack, it must be eliminated."

"So… It's war?" James slowly asked while trying to confirm her orders.

"It's war as long as they want to harm my pack," Anna acted as an alpha at this moment. "Make sure to get your wolves ready," she waved her hand towards him before adding, "I'll be busy this entire week. So get everything ready next weekend."

"Your orders, alpha," James stood up and bowed. This time Anna felt she gained a little more trust from him than before.

And that drove a little smile over her pretty face while watching the door closed behind James.

"You are trying to weaken me…" her face suddenly turned dead serious while she grabbed a file from a desk beside her. It was the file she requested from her butler about the big red moon.

She read many stories about how brutal and strong werewolves became through that special night. But she never experienced any of that.

Her only suspicion was over one thing, that pill she kept eating for a long time now.

"Humph, trying to get rid of me? But why?" This was the only piece of puzzle she couldn't solve up till now.

In her mind, she was convinced the elder council was trying to kill her. In her mind they used her butler to poison her through the pills and make her weak.

But looking back at the matter, they were the ones who forced her to be the alpha in the first place.

"What changed then?" she kept tapping on the table before she felt more headache and no good ideas at all.

"Screw it! I will go and have this day off," she stood up and went towards the doors, intending to spend the rest of the day at one of the spots she loved since she was a kid.

An amusement park!