ALFRED POV
Crystal salt?
But it's very rare. It can only be found in the north mountains pack, a faraway land appointed with the task of safeguarding the poison and it has been in their possession solely for over a decade. To my knowledge, no wolf can just go—no matter his rank and request for a crystal salt, if he does…he will be arrested.
So how is crystal salt smuggled into my pack, when it can't be smuggled out of the north mountains pack?
Unless….
But first, I have to be certain because this will be a big accusation and it won't be taken lightly if false.
"Are you sure?" I asked as I turned to face her "are sure it's crystal salt? You do know all about it right?"
She paused for a minute and then nodded.
"In my pack not too long ago, a young pup had the same symptoms of poison like your pack members…at first, we thought it was just wolfsbane." She laughed shrilly and continued, "but then we checked his vitals and discovered that he was deteriorating fast…his health…his organs shutting down and we panicked for we immediately knew we were wrong with the prescription because wolfsbane can't kill that fast. Some minutes later, we lost the pup and we just stood there for hours looking at the lifeless body, unable to say a word.
Soon later, after many tests, study and speculation done on the case, we landed on one cause of death…crystal salt poison."
I stood silently, slowly digesting all I've heard for I have so many questions…
"Alpha, you sent for me." Andre called out from the chamber corridor.
Good! Just at the right time. "Enter" I said, then he opened the door and bowed to Hanni, looked up at me and said, "you sent for me."
I have a lot to tell him, but first Marcus needs to be also…we three needs to hear this together for I can't be the one hearing this alone. I mind linked Marcus to join us immediately and soon he was with us like he teleported.
Then I turned to Hanni and smiled, hoping she will be comfortable with all this and said;
"Sweetling, why don't you tell these gentlemen all that you've told me…but if you can't, I will be able to do it" I said, watching her closely for any sign of discomfort, but she smiled and nodded.
"It's fine" she said and repeated everything she had told me earlier—word for word and I stood there watching as ripples of shock hits them over and over again.
And then they both turned to face me, looking they had just seen a ghost and I wondered if I had looked the same way earlier.
"The crystal salt poison?" Marcus managed to whisper as he regains his color back.
"That can't be possible!" Andre said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Well, we thought that at first, but after the encounter with the pup, after seeing his organs shut down like that so fast, we had to believe it." Hanni replied.
"So what did your alpha do about it?" Marcus asked.
"Since we didn't have any substantial evidence, only just tests and theories, we couldn't confront the north mountains pack for they will take it as an offense if accused."
"Apart from the pup, was there anyone else poisoned?" I asked.
"No Alpha." She replied, "that's why the case was buried for we were told to take it as a lost."
"I need to be sure it's crystal salt before taking any action, because if it is, I won't be able to bury things under the rug for I had just lost twenty of my pack members…"
"Twenty three, my king, for we have just lost three of the remaining five."
**********************
I stood there dazed for a minute for I just lost more of my pack members and it was then I realized…
We are running out of time!
"Andre, council woman Michelle just made a report" I said, trying to look for a way forward, "she said the rogues are in the high land territory for she noticed a winery—so close to the palace contaminated with poison."
"They are advancing" he replied, "obviously increasing in number, because a small group of wolves can't be attacking the low and high lands together."
"Yes and we need to make a move now. First of all, any food and drink entering the palace must be screened properly and secondly, we need to go confirm with the physicians if it's Crystal salt poisoning." I said.
"If it's Crystal salt, then this is huge Alfred…it's a rebellion and if investigated properly, we will no doubt uncover a lot of sacrilege." Marcus said.
"Then let's uncover it all! How dare they discriminate my kingdom with that moon's curse?" I growled under my breath angrily wishing I had a rogue's neck to snap.
"The whole system will be thrown apart" Andre said thoughtfully, "the north mountain pack will have a lot of explaining to do…if Hanni is right."
"True…" Marcus chippped in, "because how on earth did the Crystal poison leave their pack? In that large quantity for that matter."
"There's only one explanation—even though I don't want to believe it, because it can't be right." I said, siting on the bed, beside Hanni who had be watching the conversation quietly.
"I think I know what you want to say, Alfred" Andre said, pacing from side to side which is very strange, for he has always been a calm thinker. "Someone is authorizing this…and for it to be moved successfully from pack to pack in large quantities—it's someone powerful."
"Like their alpha? Maybe he wants to start a war using the weapons at his disposal—Crystal salt." Marcus said with his face grim.
But I shook my head doubtful, for I know the Alpha…he was my father's friend. Old Alpha Anderson will never authorize something like this, it's against his principles.
No, it's someone else.
"It's not Anderson" I replied curtly, squashing any suspicious that may arise, "I know that old wolf, he believes in taking lives with swords and battle, not in something sneaky like a poison and he is a good wolf, he respects life a lot so I believe it's someone else."
"You are right. Anderson is a good wolf…a bit rough in the edges, but he won't be involved in something like this." Andre said, nodding his head in agreement.
But Marcus wasn't done.
"Then it must be someone from inside his court, someone who has authority in his pack so things can done without the Alpha's permission."
"Like his beta" Andre said, pausing in his pacing and turned to face me, "what about his beta? Do you know anything about him?"
"Ofcourse" I replied, wondering where this is going to end up, "beta Damon has always been known as the Alpha's shadow. He is someone who doesn't like fame and does his duties quietly and that's what I know because whenever papa was with Anderson, he always asks Damon to excuse them for he doesn't like his cold exterior."
"Then we have a suspect, don't you think?" Marcus asked with his arms spread wide.
I sat quietly, thinking, trying to make sense of it all for as long as this case is urgent, it have to be treated with care and precision, if not…things will turn to bite me in the ass.
"This is what I think. First of all, we need to confirm if it's really Crystal salt poison…that will answer some of our questions and bring things out to light, then we will know what to do next."