The Werewolf King’s Mate
Chapter 47

Lucas'

POV:

At this moment, we are waiting for new information from Silas. When I spoke with the Alpha a while ago, he was not quite in the right condition to speak after losing his mate. He told me what I already knew. "Alpha Cedric. My deepest condolences for what happened to your pack and your Luna."

"Your Majesty, thank you for coming and helping us replace justice for our losses..." He started to sob at the recollection of what happened. "I didn't know how it happened. It was all so sudden..." Another sob, "I was in my office meeting with my Beta, and then..." He sobbed hysterically this time. "We were under attack. We fought off a couple of rogues, and then, I felt my heart being ripped off."

"You don't have to continue. I understand your situation. We'll take another time."

I asked what happened to Luna, and a pack member told me she died protecting the children. The attack happened late in the afternoon when schools were about to be dismissed. She rushed to help them hide in the secret lair. However, she came across three rogues. The Luna died a hero. We continued helping the pack fix the damage-still no words from Silas.

"Silas, any updates?"

"Your Majesty, I got to talk to the young lad's mate. And we're trying to trace and look into those she mentioned."

"Good work. Get back here as soon as you have more information."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

I broke the mind link and sought after Beta Anderson. There could be something left at the place of the ambush. I found him inside the packhouse. "Beta Anderson."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Have your trackers found anything at the scene? A vial? Or anything that could point us to someone?"

"They haven't found anything yet. Currently, they are in the woods right now searching."

"Can you lead the way? I wish to join the search."

"Uh, yes, of course, Your Majesty."

He led me to where the second batch of trackers was. They were preparing for their envoy, and I was glad I made it on time.

"Everyone, His Majesty Lucas will join you for today. Please take care of him." Beta Anderson introduced me to everyone.

"Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to have you here. I am Liam, the leader of this batch. Let us know if there is anything we can do." He dipped his head down.

"Thank you, everyone. If you replace something unusual, inform me as soon as possible."

We ventured out into the woods, where the attack started. It was quite near the pack's borders, so the scent from the potion reached him that far. The effects could be similar to the real one. Whoever did this must be an expert at practicing dark magic. We kept looking around the bushes, the trees and their branches, and the river. We have yet to replace anything.

This is frustrating! I need to get answers from the prisoner.

The team continued to search while I went back to their packhouse. I looked for Elias to join me in the basement to interrogate Victoria. Hopefully, she's in a sound mind to ask our questions.

We arrived at her prison cell. Today, she was sitting on the ground, rocking her body back and forth.

"Victoria," Elias called to her. She looked up. Her deep green eyes were wet from tears.

"P-please! L-Let me out!"

"What is your full name?"

"V-Victoria Scott."

"Do you know where you are?" She shook her head in response.

"You are in the Nightshade pack. You met a young man yesterday. Do you remember?"

She was quiet. I was unsure if she was trying to recall what happened or if she was being careful. I continued telling her what happened and asking her questions.

"The young man called out to you. But wolves attacked him and ripped his throat out. The rest of them attacked the innocent people living here. They hurt and killed men, women, elderly people, and children." "N-no! No! No!"

"Yes, they did that. They were able to do so because YOU helped them."

"No! T-that's not t-true!"

"It is true! You lured the man to them. You pretended to be his mate! You masked your scent with hers!"

"Noooo! S-she told me that I, uh, I would f-replace my m-mate there! A-And it will be easier if-if I use the p-perfume she made."

We're getting somewhere! Finally!

"Who told you that? Who gave you the perfume?"

"I d-don't remember!"

"Think about it! Those lives they ruined! This pack lost their Luna! A young woman like you lost her mate!"

She was sobbing uncontrollably from the madness and guilt of everything that happened. All this was because she was tricked into replaceing her mate.

"So, I am asking you again. Who was she? Tell me anything! Anything at all!"

"I-I m-met her at school. She t-told me that she could help me. Then, w-we met again, and s-she handed me a perfume bottle. S-she told m-me to s-spray it at the c-crook of m-my neck." "Do you know her name?"

"Now that I-I think a-about it, I a-am u-unsure if it's h-her r-real name."

"It's OK. What name did she give you?"

"S-Sheila, hm, Weber?"

"Good. This would help us a lot!"

Elias and I went out of the basement, and I tried to reach out to Silas to cross-check this information with the mate. I also instructed Elias to inform the Twins and Sir Kingston.

"Silas, we got a name. Check if she mentioned going home to a SHEILA WEBER or if anyone is connected to that name. Also, the woman who we interrogated was tricked by the rogues into using perfume so she could replace her mate." "Tricked?! What do you mean?"

"Yes. She was tricked. I will let you know later. For now, try to replace a connection between them."

"On it, Your Majesty. I will get as much information."

We're close. I feel we are getting close to discovering more about this. We have to replace out who this woman is. Elias had already contacted Sir Kingston and the twins.

"Your Majesty, according to Sir Kingston, they will track the name and ask the other pack if it rings a bell or if someone interacted with her."

"Has Sir Kingston found out who the woman who used the potion before was?"

"Unfortunately, they weren't able to do so. She ran off with the rogues."

"Damn it! We have to make use of what we have now. On another note, how is everything in the palace?"

"Everything is good, as per Iris. Her Majesty is just worried most of the time."

"Good. Keep me posted on anything from Sir Kingston."

The day passed us by quickly. We were making progress in repairing and building the houses and other facilities. The day was almost over when Silas messaged me through the link. "Your Majesty, I found something."

"We're on our way."

Oh, goddess! This had better be good! With Beta Anderson and Elias, we quickly went to the old Alpha's office. Silas, Gabriel, and the woman sat by the table, looking at pictures and other documents. Everyone rose to their feet as soon as we walked into the office. "What is it, Silas?"

"Your Majesty, this is Analise. She was Bret's, the young man, mate."

"Analise." I shook her hand. "My sincerest condolences for your loss."

"T-Thank you, Your Majesty." Tears have fallen. Her eyes are all red and puffy from grieving the loss of her other half.

"Sit down."

Everyone took their seats, and Silas started discussing what he had discovered.

"Alright, we were discussing with Analise a while ago the people in her circle. None of them seemed suspicious. She only told her best friends about her plan and believed none of them would be a tattletale."

"Y-yes. We've been friends ever since, and I trust them. So I know they wouldn't do it." Analise added.

"So we tried to re-enact what happened that day. And when you mentioned being tricked and perfume, Analise was able to recall something."

"The week I was planning my return trip, I wanted to buy perfume for my mom. She's human, you see. She loved collecting perfumes, so I asked some friends where I could buy one besides the usual boutiques. That's when I met Victoria." "Victoria? Victoria Scott?"

"Yes! That's her! I forgot her last name."

"W-wait! How did you know that, Your Majesty?" Silas asked curiously.

"She's the woman who was tricked. Apparently, this Sheila Weber gave her a perfume bottle so she could easily replace and attract her mate."

"What the " Silas was surprised by all the information.

"What did Victoria tell you?"

"That she knows someone who sells perfume. She is not yet well-known, but the fragrances are better than those in the town's shops. Then, she gave me Sheila Weber's number."

"Do you still have it? Her phone number?"

"I-I do, but when I was supposed to pick up the perfume, she was not answering my calls. I couldn't wait for her any longer, so I left the town without the perfume. I'll write it down for you."

"That would be great, Analise. Thank you!"

"So, this Sheila Weber has supplied perfumes or potions to desperate young women. But I think we're still missing a piece of important information. I can't help but feel a bit uneasy about something." Elias was skeptical. "What is it?"

"How could they convince these women to go with the rogues? How are they working together? If Victoria said that she was only tricked," That's right. Elias made a good point here.

"Victoria would have noticed if there were other wolves around, and she would have been worried and skeptical about why they would be there. Unless..." I lost my train of thought. My mind went blank. What is the missing link? "Unless they were not rogues. Maybe they also used dark magic or potions to smell or look like one...I-I am sorry. That doesn't make sense." Beta Anderson spoke.

"No, no. That could be it. It is certainly a possibility, Beta Anderson. We could look more into it. Check the identities of the prisoners and see if they match anyone." "Yes, Your Majesty."

We're edging closer to uncovering the mastermind's identity behind it all, as well as Sheila Weber. All we have to do is follow the trail of the most recent call and replace out what we can from there.