Obsessions (22 page)

She nodded, but still looked frightened. He would
jump Jamie’s ass for scaring her like that. He could have just called.
Something was wrong when he scented Jamie’s anger. Ryder jumped up and ran out
of her office and turned the alarm off then unlocked the door. Jamie’s fear and
anger hit him hard as the door swung open.

“You have to come now. I’ve never seen anything like
it. Someone killed Kenny Davis,” Jamie sputtered out.

“What? Kenny is dead?” Ryder couldn’t form a sentence.
His heart was crushing. He should have felt it. Kenny was part of his pack. Why
didn’t he feel it, if he was dead?”

“Who killed Kenny?” Ryder roared.

“I don’t know Alpha…but they carved him up like a
sacrifice on our own land. They… butchered him.” Jamie’s voice was smaller as
his head fell forward. Ryder caught his head in his hands and pulled Jamie
toward him rubbing his face with his. He could feel Jamie’s pain as he held his
second in command.

The pain he felt had to be held inside until later.
He couldn’t fall apart now. Jamie and his pack would need his strength. He
needed to get to where Kenny’s body was found. Ryder held Jamie for a few more
minutes until he felt London walk up carefully behind him.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered, as she took in the
scene.

“Kenny Davis was murdered on pack land.” Ryder heard
her gasp as he continued to hold Jamie.

Jamie pulled back. His face was detached as he
stared at the floor. He knew this was the only way Jamie knew to protect
himself. He needed to detach from it so he could figure out what was going on. Ryder
didn’t need to say anything to his Second. He had seen tragedy before in his
Seals days, but pack was family and it would hit them all hard.

“Let me get some clothes on,” he said walking back
into London’s office. She sat down with her head in her hands. No noise escaped
her lips as she rocked herself back and forth, and Ryder knelt in front of her
placing his hands on her legs. Her rocking didn’t stop as her anger surged
forward. He could feel it as it surrounded her.

“London? We need to go. I can’t leave you alone—I
won’t leave you alone. You will be safe with me, but my pack needs me now.”
Ryder explained. He ran his fingers through her hair trying to calm her down.
He needed her calm for what they were about to see. If it shook Jamie up then
he knew what it was going to do to London and him.

London stopped rocking and looked up into Ryder’s
eyes. He could see the anger and decision in her eyes. Her green eyes turned
brighter as her anger vibrated around her.

“Let’s go. I need to see his body and call Me-Len. I
read something in her journals about this happening in the past. She will know
what it is. Can I call her to come to the scene?” London asked.

He didn’t know if she had heard what Jamie had said
about Kenny’s body being carved up. If this wasn’t an animal killing his wolf,
then it was something dark and evil. London was right when she said someone was
on pack land and masking their smell. It cost him a member of his pack when
they didn’t believe her.

“Yes, call her. Tell her to bring Meryl and the
Coven.” Ryder kissed her forehead then stood up and started putting his clothes
on. He couldn’t think properly right now. Too many questions needed to be
answered. The biggest one was why he didn’t feel Kenny’s pain since he has a
direct link to every one of his wolves. One of his pack mates had been killed
and the feeling of not knowing what to do continued to grow in his chest.

Chapter
29

Ryder sat in the back with London as Jamie drove
them to where Kenny’s body had been found. She was staring out the window when
her phone vibrated. He knew she had called Me-Len and asked her to come to the
scene. She read the text and showed him that it was from Donnie. He wanted to
know where she was. He must have found out and it scared him since London left
last night.

He placed his hand on her thigh as she texted him
back telling him she was safe and with Ryder. When she was finished typing she
picked his hand up and held it. He could feel his body relax a little as she
snuggled closer to him. Right now he needed her comfort. He would need it a lot
more once he got to Kenny’s body.

He could see the tension in his wolves as they
pulled up at the gate. The guards had been doubled which was what he would have
suggested, but he didn’t have to because Jamie had taken care of it.

Jamie drove past the road to his house but continued
to travel toward the mountains. Ryder could feel London’s heart speed up. This
was the area she said she had seen the woman on top of the mountain. Her eyes
weren’t as good as a wolf’s, but she stood by her story that the woman threw
some type of magic toward her. They had messed up by not believing her. Now one
of his pack members was dead, and he didn’t know if he would be able to forgive
himself.

Ryder could see fifteen of his Enforcers standing
with their heads bowed as they looked at something on the ground. Jamie stopped
the vehicle and Ryder got out and helped London out. The sight that greeted him
was like nothing he had ever seen before. The rage that he felt was so powerful
that every wolf in his pack started howling. Ryder dropped to his knees in
front of the circle. His pain swept through him and into every pack member’s
body. He couldn’t stop the change as his wolf demanded to come out. Ryder’s
body shifted faster than anyone could see. His body transformed until his clothes
shredded off of his wolf.

The wolves howled as their rage pierced the sky.  He
could hear more wolves in the distance as they howled for their lost pack mate.
How could someone do this?

Ryder watched as Meryl and Me-Len pulled up.  The
look on Me-Len’s face said enough.  London said that Me-Len thought that dark
magic was being used.  Me-Len walked toward Kenny Davis’ body.  What was left
of him lay in the circle.  His body had been tortured and cut into pieces. They
had placed different parts of his body into different spots inside the circle.

Ryder’s wolf was restless as he watched Me-Len walk
around Kenny’s body. She took something out of her pocket and began to drop it
around the circle. It was some type of liquid.  Ryder stepped back as Me-Len
continued to drop more of the liquid.

As soon as the substance hit the ground, London dropped
to the ground. She grabbed her head in agony. Ryder could hear her heart beat
faster as she tossed and turned on the ground.  London’s scream clawed at his
insides as he watched his mate begin to seize.  Ryder immediately shifted back
and went to London when Me-Len shouted at Ryder not to touch her.

* * * *

Opening her eyes, London could see everything that
was happening as she floated in a cloud above the circle.  Then time started
flying by like it was rewinding a movie then it stopped as London watched Jim
Sanders and Metilda Blackwood cut into Kenny Davis’ body.  Metilda was chanting
something as she cut into his skin.  Each time she cut white smoke left his
body and Metilda sucked the smoke into her mouth like inhaling cigarette smoke.
She couldn’t understand what she was chanting but the pain Kenny was going
through was obvious. They had tape over his mouth so nobody could hear his
scream. Wolves surrounded them as Metilda continued to cut and inhale the
smoke. She wanted to close her eyes to the evil act but she couldn’t. Her
grandmother had performed the ritual so she could see what had happened and
before she could continue to watch it was over.

London gasped as she took a deep breath. Her eyes
opened to Me-Len sitting beside her.

“What happened?” London asked. She looked at her
grandmother for an answer.

“Ryder brought you here when you passed out. You
kept going in and out. I explained that it could be a while before you woke up.
He wanted you at his house where it would be safe. Did you see who did that to
Kenny?” Me-Len asked. London’s eyes teared up.

“Yes, it was Metilda Blackwood and Jim Sanders. They
tortured him Me-Len. They tortured him.” London couldn’t hold it in any longer
she broke down in sobs as Me-Len held her.

“It’s okay, baby girl. It’s okay.”  London held onto
her grandmother as she rocked her until she regained her composure.  Her
grandmother had been through wars where witches had did terrible things but
this was unforgivable. 

“I had to do the spell.  You are the only one who
could have seen it. You have the Tree of Life. Tell me what you saw.” Me-Len whispered
into her hair as she held her until she stopped crying.

“Where is Ryder?”

“He had to go to Kenny’s house and tell his mate
what happened. He wanted to stay to make sure you were okay but he knew someone
would tell his family and he needed to be the one to do that. He said he would
be late and for you to stay here. The coven has added more protection on the
house. I don’t want you to relive what you saw, but I need to know what they
did, London.”

“They had him tied down and his mouth was taped. Then
they cut pieces off him, and she chanted something then white smoke left his
body and she inhaled it. Each time she cut white smoke came out. She inhaled
the white smoke as if it was a cigarette. Why, why…did they do that to him? He
was in so much pain Me-Len.”  London held on to her grandmother’s arm as she
struggled to tell her what she had seen.

“She is taking his life force. He was an Enforcer
for the pack. They need the wolf’s energy and power if they plan to take over
the pack.”

“What? Taking over the pack? She can’t do that. No,
no, no…Ryder is the Alpha. Nobody can come in and be the Alpha. It has to be a
member of the Malone Pack. Zoey explained it to me. Me-Len don’t you know how
Alpha City was founded?”

“London, if Ryder is dead and Jim Sanders becomes
stronger, then he can take over as the Alpha.  This will only be the beginning.
They want this land for the Blackwood Coven. I have been sworn to secrecy but
you need to know because without your help we won’t be able to fight them. They
have a lot of power and if they can get to each Alpha and set their plan in
motion then they will get the land. Same old story, just a different time. You
asked how I knew about Alpha City. Well I was here once when I was only
eighteen. My coven was needed and this time it was a different coven of witches
trying to take over. The group was small and thought they were more powerful
than ours were but you see I wore the Tree of Life. It helped my coven and I
defeated the witches and most of them were killed, very few escaped. One of the
ones who escaped was Claudia Blackwood.” 

London sighed. “What…now she has sent her daughter
to Alpha City to start her plan into motion again. Does she think that by using
dark magic she can win?” London asked.  She rose up in the bed angry at how
cruel these people could be.  Now more than ever she needed to know how to use
her magic.  “This changes everything, doesn’t it Me-Len?”

“Yes, sweetie it does.  They will always use dark
magic against us and when they use it-it taints their minds allowing them to do
terrible things.  The magic we use is good, but they consider it weak. Why? I
don’t know. We continually beat them with it, but they continue to try.” Me-Len
shrugged her shoulders as she explained to London about the Blackwood Coven.  “I’ve
waited a long time to tell you about your magic and how it can help you and
keep you safe too.  When you were a child and just hit puberty your magic
started to blossom.  That is why you got stronger as you hit your teen years. You
loved to practice martial arts and that is one of your powers.”

“What do you mean I can fight and that is one of my
powers?”  London questioned.

“You can fight with magic or without it as Jena
found out at the dinner table. The Tree of Life is very powerful, London. It's
probably the most powerful stone known to our kind. It has linked with you and
absorbed your essences.  You are now the keeper of it. Powers will come to you
when you are in need of it. It will manifest within you and help when you are
in danger. For example, when you felt the need to drop to the ground and the
energy flew over your head. The Tree of Life protected you. I suspect that is
the reason you start getting panic attacks. The energy is so strong and when
you came to live with me it wanted to be with you. Power that is that strong
can call to you and it seems that every time you got a panic attack it was
because you were near it.” A knock at the door stopped Me-Len from explaining
further.

Zoey poked her head inside. “Hey?”

“Hey you.” London answered.

“Can I come in or do you need more time with
Me-Len?” Zoey asked.

“Come in, Zoey, you need to hear this too.” Me-Len
waited until Zoey sat on the bed before she finished. “Now let me tell you both
something. I want you to be extra careful because these witches are evil and
they want the land here in Alpha City.” Zoey glanced back at London. She looked
confused. Me-Len patted her hand. “I understand you are confused but London
will explain it in a few. Just let me finish.” Me-Len cleared her throat before
she proceeded.

“Each Alpha owns a parcel of land here. It was sold
to the most powerful Alphas so they would protect Alpha City. It wasn’t
coincidental that your grandfather was lead here. A spell was cast by the man
well I should say the Elf, who sold them the land. He handpicked each Alpha to
come to Alpha City. Somewhere on this land is a portal for the entrance to
Valceria. The Elves moved that portal here a long time ago, but when the
population of humans continued to grow, they knew it was just a matter of time
before someone found it. He told the Alphas to pass it down to each Alpha in their
family but to no one else. The only reason we know is that the Alpha’s
understand that times have changed and so have the threats. If this area fell
into the wrong hands…I fear what they would do.” Me-Len shivered from what she
was talking about.

“The Blackwood’s are known to practice in the dark
arts. Claudia Blackwood has always wanted power and will do anything to get it.
Their first step is to get control of the wolf pack and that is the Malone
Pack. They will kill until they have enough power to open that portal.”

“We have to warn everyone that it was Metilda and
Jim Sanders. We can’t let …”

Me-Len stopped her. “London we don’t have the proof
we need. I did the spell so we would know whom we were working against. It’s
not the type of evidence that can be used when Metilda’s mother starts
protesting. It’s magic, not real tangible evidence. We need solid proof. We
need more,” Me-Len answered.

“Then I need to get it. I’ve got to go to the
office.”

Me-Len watched as London started getting up. “But
London…Ryder said for you to wait here until he returned.”

“I know but I think this is more important. We need
the proof and with the program, I’m working on maybe we can get them on tape. 
Would that be enough proof?” London asked her grandmother, who looked concerned
that London was leaving.

“Yeah I think it would but London, Ryder said to
stay put. We know she has already tried to hurt you. Let’s not give her any
excuses.  Please for me. Can’t you and Zoey work from here?” London could see
the worry expression on Me-Len’s face. She needed to work but she didn’t want
her to worry either. Plus, she just started a relationship with Ryder and
leaving would be too much for him to worry about.

London turned toward Zoey. “Are you okay? I’m sorry
about Kenny.”  She felt like a total douche bag now. Kenny was in Zoey’s pack.
He was her friend and family. She hadn’t even checked on her. London hugged
Zoey until she felt her relax some. She looked tired, but she knew Zoey would
do what she needed to do to put Jim Sanders and Metilda Blackwood in jail. She
wondered if they even had jails for shifters and witches who broke the law.

“Zoey, what do they do with shifters and witches who
commit crimes? I would think they couldn’t put them in human jails for fear of
them finding out.” 

“We have shifter jails. Witches go to them too. They
have wards and a coven that guards the witches. If not they would be coming up
with spells so they could escape. The jails are constantly moved and nobody
knows where they are located. The Sentinels are the ones who decide who goes to
jail,” Zoey answered.

“Who are the Sentinels?” This was all new to London.
She could sit and listen to more and more but time wasn’t on their side.

“The Sentinels are a group of shifters who can
change into any type of animal. They are all Alpha’s and stronger than most
shifters.” Zoey got up and paced the room. Apparently, talking about the
Sentinels made her nervous for some reason. Chill bumps appeared on her arms.
Who were these people if they scared Zoey like this?