'Do not let Carson leave the territory!'
I said in the mind-link to all warriors and ranked members.
Alex looked at me and then back to the door.
"Something is off with that guy, huh?" He asked me.
"It sure is. The question is what? And why did he have such a need to meet Avery?" I asked no one really. I merely spoke aloud.
'Alpha, Carlson is in his room. It seems he is packing'
Jackson said through the mind link.
I and Alex went to Carlson's room and sure enough, he was gathering his belongings.
"Going somewhere?" Carlson spun around. He looked jumpy, as if he didn't expect someone to visit him.
"I and my brother were thinking. Why is it you want to meet the Luna?" I asked him.
He scoffed and shrugged, shaking his head. He continued packing the little things he had in his bag and zipped it up. He threw the bag on the floor before turning back to us.
"It's nothing Alpha. I simply feel that I should take my leave now." He said.
"But I thought you wanted to meet the wizard? Get revenge and all that?" Alex asked him sarcastically.
Carlson didn't take well to his tone. His eyes grew serious and he stepped towards us.
"I do, but something tells me that this isn't the place to wait," He said, spitting venom with his words.
"Yeah you're probably right. We can handle the wizard on our own anyway. He's pathetic and weak, a coward if you will." Alex said, crossing his arms and smiling big.
Carlson's eyes were growing black, his body was tense and his hands were balled up into fists.
Something about degrading the wizard made him mad. I wonder why? It was as though he wanted to protect the wizard rather than fight him.
"Enough of this. Why don't you grab your bag and we'll go downstairs, grab something to eat, and then you can be on your way?" I said, extending my hand for Carlson to shake. He looked at me for a moment. His body started to relax.
"Sounds good." He said and shook my hand.
We were in the kitchen eating lunch. Alex and Carlson were talking about the fighting and the wizard. Nothing to domenering as we didn't want our guest to up and leave just yet.
I was waiting for the final piece before I could put everything together.
And then I sensed it, the final piece to unraveling the truth.
"Hello Natasha," I said when I smelled her walking into the kitchen. I looked to my left and saw her standing a few meters away, staring at Carlson. My gaze turned to him and once again he tensed.
"Who's your guest?" She asked me as she came closer. Natasha extended her hand which he took and shook.
I saw Natasha's face upon contact and knew that something was way more off than I thought.
"Natasha, this is Carlson. Carlson, meet Natasha." I introduced them both and then leaned back and waited for the mask to drop.
Natasha pulled back her hand and gave Carlson a polite smile.
"Pleasure to meet you," she said with a slight head bow. Leaving me utterly confused. I thought there would be some sort of revelation.
"Likewise," Carlson said.
I looked between both of them and leaned forward, placing my hands on the table.
"Carl come play with us!"
"Yeah I wanna punch!"
Two pups came running into the kitchen and started pulling Carlson to go with them.
"Well I guess a little play before departure won't do any harm." Carson said with a big smile on his face.
"No!" Natasha started before seeing everyone's confused faces.
"I mean, does your teacher know where you are? Ms. Wallis gets worried when you run off like this." Natasha said to the two pups who lowered their heads and pouted.
"But we want to play," one of them whined as her bottom lip trembled.
"You can play later, now go find Ms Wallis." Natasha said.
The two pups grabbed each other's hands and ran off, pushing each other and playing chase on the way out. When they were gone, Natasha's face faltered. With a swing of her hand, she closed the doors to the kitchen. She turned around to face Carlson who was standing as well. He had a grin on his face and he had a pretentious attitude.
Natasha raised her hands, causing a whirling wind to move across the kitchen. With it came glass, porcelain, and utensils. It all gathered behind her before she swung her hands forward, aiming at Carlson. I jumped to my feet.
"Natasha what the fuck are you doing?" With the flick of her right hand, I flew to the other side of the room and Alex to the opposite side.
I saw the objects flying at Carlson, but instead of running or moving, he stood still, awaiting the damage. He raised his hands in front of his chest, his palms pointing outwards. And as the objects were about to hit him, they instead turned into smoke and evaporated.
He knew magic? What the fuck was going on here?
"We'll be seeing each other soon," He said with a grin before ripping his necklace from his neck and tossing it on the ground. As he did, he too disappeared into thin air. There was no sight of him.
Natasha looked blankly at the emptiness in front of her.
I stood up and walked over to her. I pulled out a chair and Natasha sat down. Her face looked as though she had seen a ghost.
"Natasha, what was that? He's a wizard?" She looked at me, a single tear falling down her cheek.
"Did you tell him anything about Avery?" She asked me.
"What does that matter?"
"Did you tell him anything about her?" She repeated, louder and more impatiently. I nodded my head.
"He only knows what I allowed him to know. I told him that Avery wasn't coming back. He showed an interest in her. I said that she's gone, for good." Natasha closed her eyes and sighed.
"I need to move her. She's not safe. Prepare your warriors, the war is about to come. I give it forty eight hours before they're here." She said and stood to her feet.
"Who was he, Natasha? He smelled like a werewolf and told us about the wizard, how he had slaughtered his family and then attacked Carlson. Is he working for Crow?" I asked her. If he was, I'd fucked up badly. Natasha looked at me. She took her hand and laid it on my shoulder. She looked up at me through hooded eyes before turning back to the spot he had been standing in.
"That was Crow, James."