Northwood

Adline’s face paled as the meaning of the words sunk in, “what?!” She questioned in disbelief.

She’d only just been with Kane and now he was missing?

“I am really sorry Alpha but he was there......and then he wasn’t.” Taylor looked up at Adline apologetically. “We took him in and by the time we got to the door to leave he was gone.” It was clear that Taylor was having a lot of trouble coming to terms with the fact that someone had taken his Alpha’s body. It was a strange occurrence that baffled everyone.

Adline’s head spun as she griped onto the doorframe for support. How could this happen?

“Did you pick up a scent?” It was the only thing Adline could think to say. Surely they picked up Kane’s scent. It was a dead body. They had a unique scent all of their own.

“Er....” Taylor began again. “There’s something you need to see.” With that the group headed downstairs to the formal dining area where a laptop had been set up. Adline did not have a good feeling about what she was going to see as the hair on her neck and arms stood on end and her skin prickled as if she were freezing cold.

Taylor pulled the seat out for Adline to sit and she did so with great anticipation. What were they about to show her?

“I didn’t know what to make of it and I’ll warn you now. It’s weird.” Taylor was shaken and very much disturbed by everything that had happened.

Pressing the play button on the screen he stepped back and stood with the others as Adline watched the screen. Split four ways each of the camera views showed different angles of the morgue.

She saw the men take Kane in through a door. Three carrying him and two holding the door open. The mortician, a local elderly man that had long known of werewolves greeted the group and directed them to a room near the back.

They placed Kane down on the table respectively and lay his arms at his sides. After a short while everyone left the room leaving Kane alone on the table. She saw the mortician walk the back to the door before noticing movement at the bottom of the screen.

Casting her eyes towards bottom she felt her stomach churn and her head spin. Kane was standing, his eyes open but seemingly blank as he stared up at the video camera expressionless and emotionless.

“What the hell......” Adline sighed as she sat there shocked and completely taken aback.

Kane walked out of view just as the mortician re entered the room. He looked startled and ran out only to return with Harvey and Taylor who frantically searched the room and sniffed the air.

It was bizarre, it was shocking and caught everyone off guard.

“When we got back into the room he was gone.” Taylor exclaimed as if he were in trouble.

“Maybe he went out another door. Are there more cameras?” Adline asked as she felt her desperation to find him grow. She had killed him and was sure Nox had even trapped in the obsidian. How could Kane suddenly spring back to life and vanish without a trace?

“The only other door is next to where we took him in. If he went that way he would have walked straight past us and Wick,” Though Adline’s question was intended to be gentle she couldn’t help but hear the defensiveness in Taylor.

“No one is in trouble,” she urged gently. “This is just a really weird occurrence in a week full of weird occurrences. No need to panic! I’m sure he’ll turn up somewhere. We just have to keep an eye open for him and a nose to the ground.” She was well and truly out of her depth. She felt like she was drowning in a tidal surge that kept sweeping her off of her feet.

“You got that right!” Mused Babel as she rubbed her growing baby bump.

Adline turned to look at her and gave her a gentle smile, “How are you doing? Are you alright?” Adline couldn’t help but feel sorry for Northwood for what they had lost. In one afternoon an entire family had been wiped out leaving a very inexperienced young woman at the helm of three packs.

“I’m fine honey don’t you even worry about me.” Babel swatted her hand at Adline somewhat shrugging off her concern. “It’s you I should worry about.” Babel had always had a soft spot for Adline e and she always felt the need to watch over her despite her state.

“This is all her fault!” An accusing statement sounded through the room as everyone’s attention was suddenly focused on Taylor who now stood pointing a shaky finger at Adline.“All this trouble started when she got here.”

“Taylor,” Someone warned as Adline glared at him wickedly. “Don’t start throwing accusations at a time like this.” warned Harvey as he stepped towards his friend.

“Don’t start what! You’re all thinking it aren’t you? I can see it in your eyes. Her!” He yelled again, “it’s all on her!” In no more than five minutes everyone saw Taylor go from concerned and afraid to angry and completely irate.

“Well,” Adline started carefully. “What shall we do about it?” She replied calmly as she old. She didn’t want to intensify the situation when she didn’t have the energy to fight.

“Come on mate,” Harvey thumped Taylor on the back as he put his other hand over Taylor’s forearm, “I think it’s time we get some rest. It’s been a long day for everyone.” Harvey nodded his head once at Adline e a d took his leave.

The room fell into silence again as everyone looked around awkwardly. “Well I don’t know about you guys but I’m hungry,” Babel laughed as she tried to lighten the mood.

Small smiles broke out on faces as Neal walked in behind them, “You’re always hungry. You don’t count.” He turned away slightly as Babel swatted him away playfully. “Anyway just came to let you all know I cooked some breakfast. Frosty was hungry so I thought I’d just do it for everyone.”

The boys cheered and left as Babel placed a gentle hand on Adline’s good shoulder, “Come and eat when you’re ready.” She urged her friend warmly as Adline smiled and nodded her head gently.

The room grew quiet around her as Adline turned her attention back to the laptop screen. She played through the video again and again and again trying to find clues as to what happened to Kane.

She couldn’t see anything strange and there seemed to be no others present but as she slowed it down and watched frame by frame she noticed a wispy like cloud shrouding Kane. It was as if a veil of fine mist surrounded him and when he left the frame of the camera Adline saw a very faint flash of light just as the mortician walked in.

“Was he abducted by aliens?” She questioned out loud. Her confusion only grew more as she watched it over and over.