Regretted Rejection : Wrath of the Moon

The Next Day:-

Maya had spent the entire night studying the Forrester file. She had made some phone calls to double check on things and had a few insights to offer to them. If, after introduction, they decided that they are not going to ask for her help, she would gladly give them to whoever takes up the case.

She completed her usual workout routine and checked on the progress of her team. After a lengthy discussion with her team last night, she had decided to take only Jeff to the initial meeting. Jeff usually kept his head and didn't lose his temper easily. The rest of the team were given time off till a decision was made on whether or not they will be working on this project.

The Council Headquarters:

Justin and Ken reached the Council Headquarters. They made their way to the office main building where a secretary met them and took them to the Councilman Dylan's office.

"Good Morning, Mr. Dylan. The people from the Forrester pack are here to meet you.", she introduced them.

Dylan nodded to her and said, "Alpha Forrester and Elder Forrester, please take a seat. The Team Leader of Wrath of the Moon will be with us within a few minutes.”

"Councilman Dylan." Justin started, "How... How is...? Where?" He couldn't seem to complete his sentence, words were getting stuck in his throat.

Fortunately, the door opened and Dylan didn't have to pretend to not understand what he meant. Anger towards his attitude was rippling just under the surface. Jeff walked in and greeted the people inside, "Good morning, gentlemen. Hello, I am Jeff from Wrath of the Moon."

"Team Leader Jeff..." began Ken. However Jeff put up his hand and said, "The Team Leader is on the way. She stopped by the secretary to pick up the files describing your case.”

Just as Jeff finished talking, a knock on the door sounded and the door opened. Maya walked in with the air of confidence and took her seat. "Gentlemen.”, she greeted lightly, placing the file in front of her.

"M..Ma..Maya.. you? Here? How? What?" Ken stuttered.

"Alpha Forrester, please restrain yourself. I haven't omitted your title. I suggest you afford the same respect to me. I don't take disrespect towards me or my team lightly.”, Maya replied in a firm voice with her brows furrowed a little. Jeff slanted a glance at her and then looked back towards the Forresters. His posture grew more relaxed. Dylan was also showing a hint of a smile.

Elder Justin was the first to recover from the shock of seeing her alive and well. He placed a hand on his son's arm and began, "Excuse us. We are just surprised to see you here, Team Leader Maya Forrester.”

"It's understandable. Also, I go by Maya Wright now.”, Maya stated. Justin flinched as if slapped across the face. To give up the family name was to clearly state that she didn't want to be considered a part of family. It was a rejection of her bloodline and of him as her father.

Maya continued as if she didn't see his reaction, "Alpha Forrester, considering our past history are you sure you would be comfortable working with us? We would after all have to step on your territory and have the access to completely explore it."

"We would like to discuss this." Ken replied.

Maya just raised an eyebrow and said, "Okay. Sure.”

"Privately." Ken clarified after she didn't move.

"This is my office Alpha Forrester. If you would like privacy you can step outside in the corridor.” Dylan interjected ruthlessly.

Ken pressed his lips in a straight line and stood up to step outside. Justin followed him. Dylan reached over to Maya and squeezed her shoulder to offer comfort. Jeff too held her hand.

"I am fine." Maya said, "Really... It should have hurt or angered me even but strangely I feel... Nothing. At all. This is just another case for me. Nothing more, nothing less.”

On the other side of the door;

"What do you think we should do Dad?" Ken asked.

"On one hand, she is the Team Leader of Wrath of the Moon. It is the best team out there who can help us. And on other hand, having her on pack grounds might be dangerous for Claire and your son.” Justin replied.

"We should just ask for someone else.” Ken said.

"If you think that is the appropriate decision then let's inform them." Justin replied.

They opened the door and heard Maya saying "This is just another case for me. Nothing more, nothing less.”

As the door opened completely, the three people inside turned towards them.

"We... We will be fine working with you. Just you have to promise that you will never try to hurt Claire.” Ken announced.

"Why would I want to hurt Luna Claire?" Maya questioned with a smirk on her face. She had suspected that his decision would be the same. Ken was too predictable for her.

"Because..." Ken paused as he considered that Maya may not know the truth of who had sold her to the rogue.

"If you are talking about the fact that she sold me in a seedy bar infested with lowlife thugs, then you can rest assured that as long as she won't be alone in the same place as me, I won't hurt her.” Maya purposely revealed that bit of information.

"I will ask Claire to keep her distance.” Ken bit out angered by Maya's response.

"Sure. Then would you like to discuss your problems now?" Maya replied a smirk playing on her lips "I think we should get down to it. Could you describe the problem from your viewpoint Alpha Forrester?" Dylan interjected before Ken could reply.

Ken sighed, ran a hand through his hair and started talking, "We have always faced problems with rogues roaming on our territory. But we have always been able to chase them off. Later on we even installed wireless cameras to survey our property. It didn't start until three years ago, the rogues entering our territory were not the normal one who would leave after a warning. The rogues had started attacking our warriors. Soon we started facing other problems, women were disappearing from our territory. We suspected the rogues took them away. They have also started kidnapping children. Recently an old couple was found killed in their cottage.”

"What's the name of the old couple that was killed?" Maya asked Alpha Forrester.

"Old man Quinn and his wife.” he answered

"What did they do? What was their position in the pack?" asked Maya.

Justin thought for a while and replied, "Old Mrs. Quinn helped the kitchen staff and Old Mr. Quinn used to help the pack historian.”

"How many people disappeared from the pack till now?" Jeff asked.

"Around 35 people. 15 kids and 20 female werewolves. Also 7 of the warriors are hurt and in the medical facilities.” Ken replied giving the exact tally of casualties as well.

"When did the violent attacks start?" Maya questioned Ken.

"Around 3 years back.”

"And the disappearances?”

"About the same time.”

"Why did you wait for so long to report this situation?" Dylan interrupted.

Ken hesitated before answering, "I didn't... I thought we could solve this on our own. I never expected this to escalate so much.”

"What is the age of the kids and the women who have disappeared?" Jeff asked.

Elder Justin scratches his head and answers with his own question, "Does that matter?”

"According to my research, it does matter." Maya answered.

"Why is it a factor?" Ken asked.

"Why are you assuming that the people who have disappeared are abducted by the rogues?" Maya questioned their assumption.

Ken replied indignantly, "Who else could have done it? No other pack would have attacked another pack so covertly."

Maya raised an eyebrow and answered with a firm voice, “I know. I am an Alpha myself. According to my findings, your pack is not ailed by one issue but rather there are two different problems you have to tackle over here."

"What? How?" Justin asks incredulous.

"The pack members that have disappeared are not kidnapped. They left the pack of their own violation." Maya explains.

A silence reigns in the room as people digest this news. Each person draws their own conclusions from this statement and the Forresters' are most shocked to hear this.