Cernunnos - 4. Chapter 4

Arric’s mind has never been on a shorter fuse. I’m sorry...but did I just learn that the Tracking Commander was the one to bring the deer to the hospital? “You want to run that by me again, Shea?” With the anger flowing through his body, he was surprised that the phone hadn’t been crushed by now.

“Yes, Alpha. I brought the cernunnos to the hospital, and I had Kara and Jaime by my side.”

“You three. The hospital. Immediately. I’ll be in the surgery observation room.” Arric could almost smell the guilt from the other side of the phone call. “Three more things before I hang up. One...I still need a few teams to track down the second cernunnos’ whereabouts and verification of all shifters present during the incident. I want to know if the deer is dead or alive, and do not engage if it is alive! Two...I want a full debriefing when you get here. Who was there, who was doing what, and why this all happened.

“And lastly...and I want you to listen and listen closely.”

Sheamus trembled on the other line, on the edge of pissing himself. Oh, God...he’s going to eat me!

“You have done an excellent job on this, and I expect your full cooperation in handling this matter with me.” Shea’s eyes widened as he was given the first compliment from his Alpha. I...what? He...he’s capable of saying something nice?

“Uh...sir?”

“I’m asking you to assist me on this case. The primary suspect is a silver wolf of some sort, and that matches several...certain wolves. I need someone who doesn’t meet that description. Seeing how you were the one to rescue Cyn and has some sort of leadership skill, you’re the man for the job. Now, hurry up and get here with the other two!” Two beeps rang in Shea’s ears as he sat in complete silence. Well...I was going to tell him who the wolf was...but I guess I can do that when I get there.

Sheamus Farren got up from his crummy black futon and started texting with his massive thumbs. Okay...new group message...Kara...Jaime. Meet at hospital. Alpha’s pissed, needs details. Need you two there. He put his phone back in his pocket and ventured to his bathroom. Turning on the light, he let some cold water run from the faucet and scooped it up into his face. The water woke him up as he began combing his fingers through shaggy brown hair. He had been letting it grow out, but he had not found the time to find the right hair product to make it appealing. It’s just going to be curly and bouncy until I get a straightener and a good conditioner.

He grabbed a disposable razor, dipped it in the water, and began trimming the edges of his neck beard. Taking a step back, the wolf was pleased with the muscles the lycanthropy virus gave him, but wished his muscles were a bit bigger. Time to get my gym membership back. Shea stood at a proud six foot and two inch height and carried himself well at two hundred and twenty-five pounds. As he put on a healthy amount of deodorant, several messages came in on his phone, causing him to look through him.

Kara: Are you kidding me, right now? You just had to go and save the deer!

Jaime: Better than breaking laws, Eike Jr.

Kara: What...did you just call me?

A laugh echoed through the small one bedroom apartment Shea rented and put his thoughts in the chat.

Shea: Guys. Focus. Hospital. Alpha wants me on this case. I think he suspects Eike anyway so he can’t go to his council right now.

Kara: Oh, look at you, Mister I might get a promotion wolf.

Shea: You’re being a lot, right now. Just be there. I’ll wait in the lobby.

Kara: K

Jaime: Yes Alpha Jr.

Kara: HA! Good one

Shea was slightly amused by his friend’s joke. I am not an Alpha. Never will be! Well, I got the nose of an Alpha, but that’s just about it. It was during wolven training in his teenage years when the instructors noticed on the tracking tests that Shea’s nose was next to the top percentile in the National Lycan Standards. He was quickly put in the pack’s tracking team, and before he knew it, he was both the Commander of the Tracking Team and a supplementary instructor for the yearly lycan academic classes. I get a great schnozz and now I’m important.

It also helped that Shea was built like a brickhouse. He wasn’t Delta-classed, but he could start going to the gym and that would put him in consideration. Being promoted to Delta means a bigger paycheck. Bigger paycheck means buh-bye crappy apartment! The wolf quickly decided on a black polo shirt with his slim straight denim jeans from his closet, and slipped on his red running shoes. Phone, keys, wallet...Yeah, I’m good. Let’s go get barked at! With a nagging despair on his mind, he left the apartment and made his way back to the hospital.

On the drive over, he couldn’t help but wonder how the deer was doing. I should have asked Alpha if he was making a recovery. I don’t think I’d like to be in his position. Poor guy, getting chased and almost eaten alive. Giving a sigh as he made a turn, Shea couldn’t help but grow frustrated at Eike. Who the Hell does he think he is? Sure, the laws changed a year ago, but it was for the best! They’re shifters. The deer shifters deserve to be left alone. And quite frankly, it should have been done a long time ago. I’m pretty thankful that Alpha Claude saw the reasoning behind the rule.

Pulling into the hospital parking lot, he saw Kara and Jaime’s car and parked in the empty spot next to it. He opened the door to his beat-up red 2007 Toyota Camry and got out. I really need to look into getting some new wheels. Sorry, Ruby. You’ve served me well, but you're on your last leg. The doors to the 2016 beige Ford Fusion opened as he closed Ruby’s door. “So? How pissed is Arric at us?”

Kara Turbin stood at an imposing six foot in height, impressive for one of the female shifters in the pack. Her vibrantly dyed red pixie cut could have been spotted miles away, but she was second only to Shea in terms of tracking ability. Her mate Jaime rose as well. He was slightly shorter than his mate, but that didn’t bother either of them. They were high school sweethearts and bonded with each other the moment they could within pack standards. He brushed his long blonde bangs out of his face and carried himself without a care in the world. He was placed on the tracking team as an expert in psychology and animal studies. Together, they were the top duo in the pack’s tracking division. And the best comedy tag team in the late night open mic-night scene in the whole Sheboygan area.

Shea crossed his arms and smirked. “Somewhere between a lot and fuming.” Jaime wiped his face with his hand, hoping that the statement was some sort of terrible joke. “Relax. If Alpha wanted me to come here, and...give me a compliment, I don’t think we’d-”

“Hold up!” Kara put up her hands in a time-out pattern. “He complimented you? In what interplanetary dimension did that come from? I believe the Alpha, but I don’t believe you, bro.”

Jaime Turbin, as always, was able to play both sides of the fence in any argument. “I don’t know, babe. Shea did save a cern. I think Arric could consider that compliment-worthy. Although the whole story needs to be told. We were there, after all to back you up, big fella.”

“Yeah! Where would you have been without us?”

The commander raised his hands in defense. “I’m going to tell him everything, don’t worry. And he also asked for you two to be there. I imagine he’ll throw you a positive comment or something.”

Kara and Jaime looked at each other with flatlined eyebrows and huffed at the same time. “Alright, let’s go to our funerals, then. After you, Commander.” Shea nodded and accepted the lead from his subordinates and friends. Well, if one of us is gonna get our heads chopped off, at least they’ll get a running start out of there. Not that Arric wouldn’t catch up. The three wolves walked through the sliding glass doors and made their way to the counter. They noticed a nurse waiting near the reception desk, but continued to head for the lady behind the counter.

“Hi, we’re here to see Cyn. Room 224, I believe.” Just as the receptionist began typing, the nurse stepped forward and gave her a hushed hand movement. So, she was expecting us.

“Hi, Commander Farren? I was instructed to bring you to the observation room. If you could follow me, please?” The nurse was firm in her words, but knew to bow her head to respect a higher rank. The four took an elevator to the second floor and stood in silence. As the doors opened, Arric was right in front of the way off the elevator.

All four of the shifters quickly dipped their heads in respect and as Arric turned and took a few steps, the tracker team followed, but the nurse remained in the elevator. “Glad you all could come. We’ll speak more in the observation room. I want you all to look at the work you’ve done.”

Shea exhaled from his nose in a controlled pace as he followed his Alpha. Turning down several halls and through a door, they came into the small room with the window into the operating room. There Jaime immediately saw the body being worked on and turned away. “Squeamish, Jaime?”

“Yes, Alpha. Very much so.”

“Then it is a good thing you’re on the tracking team and not the hunting team.” Arric smirked as he stared down the three shifters before him. “First and foremost. I want to thank each one of you for a job well done. You’ve done our pack proud by upholding one of the newest governing laws in our lycan community. I want it to be clear that you did everything correct. Secondly, I hope you all understand the severity of the situation. As of now, the only shifters to know and work this case are standing in this room. Is that clear?”

All three collectively understood. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Good.” Arric put his hands behind his back and closed them into one big fist. “Because if I have any inkling of who is behind this, I need some back-up. And you three are a good start. Now...tell me who is behind all this. And there are to be no minced words.”

Shea took command of the speaking on behalf of his team. “Eike, sir. It was his silver wolf that attacked the cernunnos. I didn’t get the best look at the other two, but their scents are unmistakable. Marric and Hauser.”

A low snarl came from their Alpha, causing the trio to dip their heads once more. “Do not bow. My anger won’t subside anytime soon. Can you two confirm Sheamus’ allegations?” Kara and Jaime quickly nodded. “I’m in a very shitty situation, you three. I can’t just accuse these shifters without more than the Tracking Trio’s word. It would be a case of he-said-she-said. I’m putting you three on a new mission, along with Shea’s responsibility of forming the report from the team scouring the Kettle.

“You are hereby in charge of protecting this cernunnos. I don’t expect there to be any closure plots against his life, but I refuse to let this one die. He...has to be the one to identify the accused. Adding that to your testimonies and hopefully, some progressive details in your team’s report, I’ll have enough to submit a report to my governing liaison to have them tried and convicted. Is the mission clear?”

“Yes, Alpha!” All three gave the Arric their loyal glares as they understood their mission.

“Commander, I want an update on every major event. When he wakes up, when he sleeps, and when he is discharged. When he is released from the hospital, I’ll need you to bring him to my manor. And I hate to reverse-impose, but you’ll be staying with him as well.”

W...What? I’ll be staying...in the Alpha’s manor? That’s...crazy! “I see the look in your eyes. There is no better option for this scenario. He is fast, and you're the best tracker. So if by the slightest chance that deer escapes, I’ll need you to track him down and bring him back to safety. And there is no place safer than my home.” Darting his menacing glare to the other two. “You two will be working ten hour on and off shifts. The Commander will be with the cernunnos at all times, while you two are for support. Even as the Commander sleeps, one of you must be with him. I don’t have the extra space in my home for all three of you, so that’s how it will be. Is this clear?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“There is another matter that needs to be addressed. You are protecting a deer, inside a wolven pack. There are two matters of discretion that need to be abided by. The deer’s name is Cyn. And he is incredibly timid. He understands that he is surrounded by wolves. Unfortunately, that means he’s almost always in a panic. Your first goal is to gain his trust. One...of you...at a time! Any more than two in a room will spell trouble. Commander, you’ll be up first. Put your puppy voice on, and I suggest brushing up on your psychology. Jaime, this is your field of expertise, correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, you and Doctor Ronnet will need to work together on getting these two to understand what is necessary to earn a mentally-damaged shifter’s trust. The utmost sincerity must be kept. Doctor Ronnet will be here shortly to discuss what worked and didn’t work for the cernunnos when he first woke up.”

Shea couldn’t help but be inquisitive. “First time, sir? He’s...is this a second surgery?”

Arric huffed and furrowed his brows. “Yes, and I’m afraid it was my fault. Ronnet and I thought he could handle a conversation, but he panicked, tipped over his bed, and reopened the wound. The second matter of discretion should be a no-brainer. He is a deer being taken care of in a wolf pack. There will be pack members that are in the same boat as the accused, and will treasure the opportunity to eat Cyn. This is to be prevented. When you leave for your shift, you go straight home and shower. We can not have the cernunnos' scent wafting throughout the pack lands and tracked to my manor for others to find.

"I have business to attend to in regards to this case. Are we clear on the mission?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Good. Get to it. Kara, Jaime, one of you needs to get rest and be back in ten hours.” Arric made his way to the door and the three moved to give their Alpha a walkway. As the menacing Alpha closed the door behind him, he snarled and plotted his next move.

Eike. What the fuck was my Enforcer thinking?