Emma's Pov

　　After lunch, Charlotte wanted me to play with her. However, I needed to find that black, blue, and red cat that supposedly held the healing potion for Ava.

　　"I promise, as soon as I cure my best friend, I'll play with you. Okay?" I say, crouching in front of Charlotte, who is still seated at the table. Her light green eyes narrow at me as if weighing whether my proposal is enticing enough for her.

　　"Okay, deal, Emma." Charlotte extends her short arm, and I grasp her hand as if sealing an agreement. I plant a kiss on the top of her head before leaving the kitchen.

　　Alpha Matthew is in conversation with Beta Liam when I reach the hallway leading to the office. They both seem tense and don't notice my presence right away. Matthew is dressed in casual business attire, a navy blazer with a white V-neck shirt, black trousers, and white athletic shoes, matching his shirt. His hair is combed and slightly damp, the scent of his cologne permeating the corridor, but it's a delightful scent. I watch as Matthew gestures to Liam, who has his back to me, his hand moving with determination and his lips set in a thin line when closed.

　　"No matter the price the sorcerers demand for the armament. I want them! Negotiate with them, Liam," Matthew orders harshly, and as I approach, his dark green eyes meet mine, and his face quickly softens. "Give me the casualty reports and the RSVPs for my birthday by the end of the day, please, Liam." Matthew requests with a softer, calmer voice now.

　　"Of course, Alpha Matthew, I'll continue the negotiations and handle everything else," Beta Liam declares before turning and noticing my presence. "Hello, Emma, good afternoon."

　　"Hi, Liam, good afternoon," I reply before Liam walks away from me and Matthew. "Is everything okay?" I ask, concerned, Liam's face was creased in thought.

　　"We're just trying to figure out how to deal with the sorcerers. Nothing for you to worry about, Emma," Matthew replies seriously. His dark green eyes flicker with excitement when they meet mine; I wonder if my brown eyes have the same sparkle when looking at him. "How can I help you now?"

　　I clear my throat before answering, "Find a black, blue, and red cat, maybe?" I ask in a playful tone, and Matthew lets out a soft, pleasant laugh.

　　"Yeah, about that. We might need to call a pet store or a vet, who knows?" Matthew jokes before turning and gesturing towards the office door, giving me passage to go ahead. Like a gentleman, I mentally note, making a joke, but as I enter the office, I notice something different.

　　There's a potted plant on the windowsill. It's a pot with a fern cascading almost to the floor. I raise my eyebrow at this new addition to the room.

　　I turn to Matthew, who is also looking at me with some curiosity in his gaze. "That's new," I point with my finger to the plant pot, and Matthew breaks into a corner smile.

　　"Yeah, like it?" he asks in a sweeter tone, taking his seat in the chair facing the computer. I follow suit and sit across from Matthew, on the other side of the desk, seeing only the back of his computer monitor. It's a beautiful contrast to the otherwise empty and lifeless office; the pot brought some more color to Matthew's otherwise monochromatic space.

　　"Yes, I like it. It's bringing more life to this place; I'm glad about that," I confess with a gentler voice. "Congratulations on the choice." I praise him, and Matthew's eyes light up for a moment upon hearing that.

　　"Well, from what we know so far. I tried to dig up some data to try to find any sorcerer who knows how to deal with chronic illnesses. If what Emily said is true, about memory loss, and blackouts, then a sorcerer who specialized their powers in that area might help us. If it's also bewitched, he'll help us anyway." Matthew explains as he types quickly on the computer. I listen attentively to his words, watching his fingers move on the keyboard, his eyes glued to the screen in front of him. Alpha Matthew is very intelligent; I wouldn't have thought of any of this, to be honest. I would simply wait for Emily to come tomorrow and hope for the best.

　　"Tell me there are sorcerers nearby who specialize in this, please," I ask hopefully, and Matthew smiles in response.

　　"I found one, and it's not far from our wolf pack. His workplace is in a neighboring pack that I've never had problems with," Matthew replies as his eyes remain focused on the computer screen.

　　I know he's not referring to the Moonshadow Pack, but when he informs me of the true one, my heart skips a beat. "It's at the Direwolf Pack."

　　Daniel Garcia's face quickly pops into my mind, his contagious laughter and outgoing demeanor fill my heart in a way that surprises me. Will I see him again? The hope of meeting Daniel Garcia again surges within me like a small spark. "We can go see him now, if you want..." Matthew suggests, and I quickly agree. "Wow, I thought you'd argue against me accompanying you; I'm impressed, Emma. Are you starting to enjoy my company?" Matthew teases with a sarcastic tone, and I roll my eyes and get up.

　　"I'm starting to consider the idea of asking the sorcerer to turn you into a puppy, that's for sure," I reply annoyed, and leave the office; I hear a burst of laughter erupt behind me, and I know it's from Matthew.

　　I arrived at Matthew's garage before him; my irritation with his teasing had already subsided when I met him again.

　　"What's the name of the sorcerer?" I ask as soon as we're on the road to the guy's address. Cars pass by at a moderate speed; I observe the colors and even some drivers. Matthew turned on the car radio and left it on a station with older, softer songs, serving as background music for our conversation.

　　"Vini Lockytree. The website said he's a young sorcerer; hopefully, he's good at what he does," Matthew comments as he drives. I nod in agreement.

　　Sorcerers have a different learning process from us werewolves. They get involved with magic from childhood, while we only have our wolf powers when our wolf awakens, and that only happens when we're eighteen years old. That's why many sorcerers can be skilled with magic even at a young age. Of course, if it were a sorcerer of a hundred and fifteen years or more, we'd have more confidence in the service proposed.