THE STRANGE TOWN

　　"What other problems do they have?" Peter asks still not believing that they can possibly have more problems. Even bigger towns didn't have as many problems as they claimed to have.

　　"There is this house with a strange basement right at the beginning of town. Everyone avoids heading there for reasons I do not comprehend," Ethan says.

　　Peter Is quiet for a moment as he rolls the news over in his brain. What can be in a basement that werewolves can be afraid of? It made zero sense.

　　"What will you do about it?" He finally asks.

　　Ethan heaved another sigh. "Well, I will throw it at the meeting and see how it goes with them. Because I plan to solve everything before I return home," Ethan says.

　　"Please be careful and if anything comes up, do not hesitate to call me. I will be there in no time," Peter says, raising his voice in determination.

　　"Yes, Peter I know, but I need you to focus more on the girls over there, I will work better knowing Jessie isn't trying to poison Camilla," Ethan says with a distant smile on his face. Knowing Jessie, she is capable of practically anything and everything as long as she feels like she is fighting for her right then stopping her will be close to impossible.

　　"Of course." Peter chuckles at Ethan's statement.

　　A sharp knock comes to the door and Ethan has to end his call to be able to answer it.

　　"Peter, I'll call you in the morning. Be good." With that, Ethan hangs up the call and goes to unlock the door. With the heartbeat and scent of the person behind the door, Ethan knows it is Max, his driver, and bodyguard.

　　Max is about to knock again when Ethan opens the door wide enough for him. His fist hangs in the air and Ethan grins staring at it.

　　"Alpha, I am sorry for disturbing you. I just came in to check how you are settling?" Max says bringing his hand down.

　　"Is that why you want to give me a knock on the head?" Ethan jokes and Max smiles.

　　"No, Alpha, that was- that was a-" he stutters fearing he may have said more than he should, but Ethan waves him off with his right hand.

　　"Forget about that, it's not important," Ethan tells him. "Come in and have a seat," he adds directing Max to the small sitting area in the suite. "So, how are you? Did you get a place to stay?"

　　"Yes I did, Alpha," Max replies politely. "But it's not as fancy as yours," he jokes.

　　"Ah! I see, we could share this if you want." Ethan counters and Max grins. "My bad, yours was supposed to be a joke but I really mean mine. If you want, you can stay here, the bed is too large for me anyway." Ethan shrugs.

　　"Thank you, Alpha, but my room is cool too." Max beams.

　　"Permit me to say this sir... " Max trails and Ethan raise his brows.

　　"What is it?" He asks him.

　　"This town is cursed. I don't think you should be here.

　　Despite the fact that Ethan is very young, the entire community loved and adored him. No one wanted anything bad to happen to him for they feared the next leader they get may not be this competent. Ethan is known to be power hungry but he isn't a heartless ruler and that is why the people loved him.

　　"Max, I understand your concern but I can't leave this town without solving their problems what sort of a leader will I be if my people are crying and I can't wipe their tears?" Ethan asks him.

　　Max is unable to talk as he bends his head low in shame.

　　"Don't feel bad about that Max, look, I just found my mate, and more than anything I want to stay alive for her. So, I will be careful if that's what your warning means." Ethan assures him with a tight smile.

　　Max's face brightens up as his smile takes over his face. "Thank you, Alpha." He says, bowing slightly in respect.

　　"Okay. Now, I need you to do something for me," Ethan tells him.

　　"Sure, anything you want Alpha. What is it?" Max says his chest rising in pride.

　　"I want you to go call Mike for him, I need to speak with him and it's very important."

　　Max is already on his feet before Ethan even finishes, hi, request. "I'll go get him, sir," Max says and he moves with the speed of his wolf and disappears out the door.

　　Ethan watches him move and his own wolf groans. It has been a while since he had allowed his wolf out. Being in the same house with Camilla, he didn't want to transform into his wolf and risk her seeing him while she doesn't know what he is. He didn't want to scare her. This afternoon when he changed, it felt really good and his wolf was dying to be released again. He flexes his muscles, calming his wolf, there will come a time when he can be free around his mate, very soon.

　　"Alpha, you called for me," Mike's gruff voice echoes In the room.

　　Ethan raises his eyes to the door and sets it on Mike's frame. He is standing at the door, putting his weight on his right leg and his eyes look clouded with so many things. For his own good, Ethan wishes none of those things should have anything to do with the problems the town is facing because if he is hiding something, Ethan will have no choice but to bring it out of him roughly.

　　"Come, have a seat," Ethan says waving him over to him.

　　Mike approaches and seats at the edge of the couch.

　　"You look like you are in a hurry to leave, is there a problem?" Ethan starts to play with his intellect.

　　"No, I am good." Mike stammers as he settles farther into the seat. Yet, Mike doesn't stay still, he keeps adjusting and readjusting himself on the couch, like something is pricking him in his butt.

　　"I want to have a meeting with the elders and stakeholders of the town tomorrow," Ethan begins as soon as Mike stops moving around on the couch like some worm.

　　"That can be arranged, Alpha. What should be the agenda?" Mike starts rubbing his palm together in anxiety.

　　"The disease we are battling obviously and of course that basement at the outskirts of town. We need to know what is going on in that place." Ethan folds his arms across his chest and watches all of Mike's movements.

　　"With all due respect, Alpha, no one will want to go in there, it's too dangerous," Mike says, as sweat starts rolling down his cheeks.

　　"If you haven't been in there as you say, how then do you know that the place is unsafe?" Ethan asks him calmly.

　　"We- well- I-" Mike stutters over his word not knowing which to say first.

　　"If you don't have an answer for me, I believe the elders and stakeholders will have something to say," Ethan says with a note of finality in his voice.

　　"Okay, Alpha," Mike says. He gulps down his saliva and makes to stand up. Ethan raises his hand asking him to stop.

　　"Where are you going?" Ethan asks him.

　　"I- I thought we were done..." Mike stammers looking like a lost child.

　　"Well, I am not done with you. Seat down." Ethan snarls.

　　Mike shakily returns his behind to the seat and looks down at his fingers, unable to speak.

　　"I will also be talking about the money aspect of running the town. I give out too large a sum for this town to be like this. I advise you to prepare a report for that.

　　"I will not take these gibberish answers you are giving to me. The money spent on my towns is not picked up from the ground. I work hard for it. And I will not appreciate it, if they are not used for what they were meant for, do you understand?" Ethan growls.

　　Mike jumps to feet at the intensity of Ethan's voice, fear crawling to his insides at the same time. "Yes, Alpha."

　　"Good. You may now leave."

　　Mike makes an awkward bow with his shaky legs and carries out of Ethan's room.

　　As he leaves, Ethan wonders what he is hiding. It is very much certain at this point that Mike is hiding something and the fact that Ethan wants a meeting with the elders and stakeholders is making it harder for him because all his secret deeds will be exposed in front of everyone. Mike may not know what is killing the pack members, but he does know where all the money is going and he is going to answer to that.

　　Before retiring to bed, Ethan takes up his phone for the last time and decides to call Camilla. He hopes she is awake by now because listening to her voice will make both his wolf and him, be able to sleep better.

　　"Hello?" She answers in a sleepy voice.

　　"I am sorry, did I wake you?" Ethan says scolding himself inwardly. He should have controlled himself and let the phone lay on its own, now he has disturbed dear Camilla.

　　"No, I was just about to sleep. How are you?" She asks. Her voice is a mixture of sweetness and innocence. Ethan feels his insides melt at each syllable she produces.

　　"Hello?" She repeats and that's when Ethan realizes that she had stopped talking and was waiting for his reply.

　　"I am doing just great." He adds after getting a hold of himself.

　　"That's uhm, good news," she says sniffling a yawn and Ethan's wolf purrs in excitement at the sound which is very close to a moan.

　　Before he gets carried away by his wild imaginations he quickly speaks up, "you should go to bed, I will speak to you in the morning."

　　"You're sure, you'll call?" She asks in a small voice.

　　"Of course, I will..." He assures her.

　　"Good night then," she says.

　　"Good night, Camilla."

　　Ethan lets the phone slip to the bed and he remains with a permanent smile on his face. He can't wait for Camilla to be in his arms so he can whisper sweet words to her until she falls asleep in his embrace.