Page 16 of Red Hood, Bad Wolf

The communication spell required precise setup. Rowan drew the runic circle in salt while Alder gathered the other components—blessed water, sage, witch-fire crystals. The mate bond buzzed as she worked, his power supporting her magic, making the spell stronger than she could have managed alone.

Magic flared as she completed the final sigil. In the crystal's depths, a face appeared—Elspbeth, one of the Order's senior members. Her eyes widened slightly at seeing Alder standing protectively behind Rowan.

"So the rumors are true," Elspbeth said. "You've taken a wolf mate."

"That's not why I'm calling." Through their bond, Rowan felt Alder's tension at Elspbeth's tone. "I need information about missing cloaks. Someone here is using one to frame the Order for murders."

"Ah." Elspbeth consulted something off to the side of the vision. "We've had three cloaks stolen in the past year. Two from retired members, one from unfortunate circumstances."

"Circumstances?"

"The owner was killed. By a loup garou, we thought, but..." Elspbeth hesitated. "The evidence never quite added up. No signs of moon-madness on the body, but clear wolf marks. Almost like..."

"Like someone was trying to frame a werewolf," Rowan finished. Hope flared. "Can you send me the details? Locations, dates, anything unusual about the thefts?"

"Of course. But be careful. Something about this feels wrong. The timing of the thefts, the way the cloaks were taken—it suggests inside knowledge of our ways."

The crystal darkened as the spell disconnected. Rowan sat back, processing. Three missing cloaks. Three opportunities for someone to impersonate a Red Hood. But why? And what was the connection to Alder's pack?

Her magic stirred uneasily, trying to tell her something just beyond her grasp. Like a scent that triggered memory but vanished before you could place it.

Alder pulled her close, their bond carrying his concern. "What are you thinking?"

"That we're missing something obvious." She turned into his embrace, drawing strength from their connection. "Three cloaks, multiple murders, the River Valley wolf's death. It’s all connected, but I can't see how."

"You'll figure it out." He kissed her temple, his certainty flowing through their bond.

But as his power wrapped around her protectively, Rowan couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time. Something was coming. Something that smelled of old magic and older grudges.

And somewhere in the pack house, a trophy ring glinted in secret hands.

***

THE PACK MEETING THATevening crackled with tension. Rowan watched from her place beside Alder as Serenity delivered the news about River Valley's response to their wolf's death.

"They're demanding answers," the beta reported. "And compensation. They say we either hand over the killer, or they'll take territory as payment."

"We don't even know who killed him," Danny protested.

"Don't we?" James's gaze fixed on Rowan. "A Red Hood arrives, and suddenly wolves start dying. Just like before."

Through their bond, Rowan felt Alder's control snap. He surged to his feet, power rolling through the room. "Enough! My mate is not—"

"Your mate?" Marcus stood, others rising with him. "That's the problem, isn't it? You've let your urges cloud your judgment. First you let her investigate us, now you've actually mated her—"

"She's a were-hunter," someone shouted from the back. "She'll destroy us all."

"No, she's trying to help." Erica jumped up, other young wolves following. "You're all too blinded by the past to see—"

"The past?" James snarled. "You mean like when they murdered our Alpha's mother? Or my cousin? Or—"

"I'm leaving." The words cut through the chaos. All eyes turned to Thomas, one of the pack's oldest members. "I won't stay and watch another Red Hood destroy my family. Anyone who remembers the old ways, who wants to preserve what we are can come with me. I'll be gone by morning."

Others stood with him—nearly a third of the pack. Rowan felt each departure like a physical blow through her bond with Alder. His pain crashed through their connection, nearly bringing her to her knees.

"Think about what you're doing," Serenity pleaded. "We're stronger together—"

"We were stronger before her." Thomas's words carried the weight of years. "Choose, Alpha. Your mate or your pack."

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