Alpha Nocurne's Contracted Mate

“I just can’t figure out how so many men could disappear so easily like this. It doesn’t make any sense that there would be no sign of any of them” Bertram continued with a deep frown.

Allen could feel Lexi’s tension rise as Bertram spoke, so he reached for her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

He knew damn well that her anxiety was rooted in her concern over Greyson more than anything, and as much as he wished that their relationship would only ever be about the two of them, he had long since accepted that the Moon Goddess had plans for them all, and it was a matter of trusting in her wisdom rather than his own selfish desires.

“Do you think they are in some sort of trouble?” Lexi asked softly.

“Who knows,” Bertram snorted, “The whole area is a dead zone for communications. The last contact I had with them was here,” he said as he pointed to an area on the map, “and with the second team here,” he continued, moving his f*inger to a location slightly to the west of where Greysons team had last been seen.

“Strange. I understand there’s pockets of poor coverage here and there, but…” Allen began but he was cut off almost immediately by Bertram’s snort as he slammed his hand down on the map in front of him.

“Look, this whole area here,” he said as he indicated a circular area on the map that had been shaded with parallel lines, “It’s a complete dead zone. After I lost contact with the second team, I sent one of the handlers in with his direwolves, fully equipped with a tag and a scanner so that I could track it’s movements from here and map it out in real time.”

“Pity you didn’t attach a camera to it too,” Lexi muttered bitterly.

“It might interest you to know that our Dire Wolves are fitted with pinhole cameras as standard on their collars,” Bertram smirked, “I was able to map the entire dead zone by having the handlers stay in areas that they had a strong signal to maintain the connection with me, and then sending the wolves in whilst they monitored the signal strength.”

Allen frowned.

“Is there anything in that area that could be causing this? Could it be some sort of naturally occurring phenomena?”

“If you want to call forbidden rites and depraved daemonic magick naturally occurring phenomena, then sure.” Bertram scoffed before his eyes widened and he turned to Lexi with an apologetic smile, “No offense of course.”

taken.” Lexi smiled

explained, “Multiple ritual sites are scattered around the area where the dead zone is at its densest. So, to me at least, it seems as though

take the next step and test this theory, shall we?” Lexi

your theory is correct, then the destruction of these so-called altars should enable communications to be re-established…

stammered

down then.” Lexi suggested with a hint of irritation in her voice, “I don’t understand why you all have to spend such a long

make decisions in the field without at least running it past the higher ups!” Bertram blustered as Lexi

a commander title if you have to run back to us with your tail between your l*egs every time something crops up?! We shouldn’t have to hold your damn hand!” Lexi fumed as Allen sighed

don’t have the authority to dispatch anymore men to deal with

giving you the f****

due respect, it doesn’t

your respect Bertram!” Lexi spat, “Either get it done or I’ll f*****g go and

don’t have the authority to

a limit to how many people are allocated to defense at the Enclave, if I go below that number

she narrowed her eyes at him, “I’ll do as I said. As soon

silence him and the fire that burned in

map with the list of altar locations, their appearance and any other information that we may need ready

the face of her fury and the insinuation that he had

make sure it’s ready

stood and stormed out of the room leaving Allen alone with