"Wow. Nice spread. Very old school." Julia commented as she, Dyson, Erik, Tamsin, Reed, and Clio pulled up to the Stonehaven Estate in Bear Valley. Dyson got out of the SUV first followed by everyone else, and his eyes immediately shifted as he sniffed into the air.
"What is it?" Erik asked.
"This is pack territory alright. Smell wolves everywhere." Dyson replied.
"Are they trying to hunt us?" Clio asked.
"No, but they are near. Observing." Dyson answered.
"Let's get to the house." Reed said. They all jumped back into the SUV and drove up to the house.
After they pulled up to the front door, and all got of the SUV a tall, dashing-looking man with medium length, wavy dark hair, lean build, approached them with a gait that clearly stated he was in charge.
"Hello, I am Jeremy Danvers. Welcome to Stonehaven!"
"I'm Dyson Thornwood." Dyson returned as they shook hands. "This is Clio, and this is Julia Jenkins. These are the two with whom you spoke about our meeting today?"
"Yes, of course. Welcome ladies." Jeremy greeted as they shook hands.
"This is Tamsin, Erik Lykke, and Reed Evangrassi." Dyson introduced.
"Welcome to you all." Jeremy said as he shook hands with all of them. "Please come in."
As they walked inside, they all nodded respectfully to the three gentlemen who stood at the door as they passed, and who had returned nods of welcome.
Jeremy led to them to his main drawing room. As they went, Clio couldn't help to comment on the three gentlemen they passed. "Hotties abound." Julia smiled in agreement.
After they entered the drawing room, Jeremy then introduced the three gentlemen who met them at the door.
"This is Nick Sorrentino." Jeremy introduced.
"Pleasure." Nick replied.
"This is Logan Jonsen." Jeremy introduced.
"Hello!" Logan said.
"This is Clayton Danvers, my son." Jeremy introduced.
"Hello!" Clay said.
"Please take a seat." Jeremy motioned. Everyone took a seat except for Tamsin who stood off to the side and leaned up against a wall. Jeremy looked around. "Where's Elena?"
"Here." Came a voice from behind them. They all turned and saw a beautiful, very slim, slightly tall, long blonde-haired woman enter the room.
"This is Elena Michaels." Jeremy introduced.
"Welcome." Elena said.
"Thank you, the pleasure is ours." Dyson said quickly. Tamsin let loose a quick smile, shook her head slightly, and extended her hand.
"Hi! I'm Tamsin." Then proceeded to point out the rest of the group. "That's Dyson, Erik Lykke, Reed Evangrassi, and those two are Clio and Julia Jenkins." They all exchanged short head nods.
"Would you like something to drink?" Jeremy asked.
"No, thank you. We're all fine." Dyson answered for them all.
"So, Mr. Thornwood, how can I help you?" Jeremy asked Dyson.
"Dyson, please." Dyson said.
"Very well." Jeremy acknowledged.
"Have you ever heard of the Fae?" Dyson asked.
"In what context?" Clay was the first to answer. Dyson and the gang all looked at Clay.
"Do not let Clay's youthful looks fool you. Clay is a learned Professor in Anthropological Studies." Jeremy explained.
"There are mentions of Fae throughout the various mythologies. What type of Fae are your referencing?" Clay asked.
"The actual kind." Dyson said then looked straight at Jeremy who met his gaze.
"Actual kind? Explain?" Nick asked.
"Absolutely." Dyson said then shifted his eyes which caused Nick, Logan, Clay and Elena to leap from their seats and take a step back. Jeremy was the only one that did not move.
"As a well-lived Alpha, I take it you have encountered the Fae before." Dyson said to Jeremy.
"You are supposed to be a myth!" Nick blurted.
"And so are you, being that you are all Werewolves, but yet here we are." Dyson replied.
"What makes you think we're Werewolves?" Nick asked.
"I can smell you." Dyson answered quickly.
"Are you a Werewolf?" Elena asked incredulous.
"No. I am a Shifter. My shifter form is that of a Wolf." Dyson answered.
"How?" Elena asked.
"Genetics." Dyson answered.
"How?" Elena asked again.
"Being a Fae is his genus, being a…Shifter is what species of Fae he is." Clay surmised then surveyed the others.
"Are you also Shifters?" Clay asked.
"No." Tamsin answered. "Clio, Erik, Reed and I are Fae."
"What kind?" Clay asked. Tamsin answered by spreading her wings which caused Nick, Logan, Clay and Elena to take another step back.
"Are you kidding me?" Nick replied.
"A Valkyrie?" Clay said as he walked up closer to Tamsin. "A mythological collector of the dead."
Nick looked to Julia.
"And you're what? Human?" Nick asked.
"Yep! Good, old-fashioned human!" Julia replied as she gave a quick wave. Amid the revelations, Dyson never took his eyes off Jeremy.
"I ask again. What you do you know of the Fae?" Dyson pressed. Everyone looked to Jeremy.
"Enough." Jeremy answered.
"You know about these…these… Fae?" Nick asked.
"Yes." Jeremy replied.
"How?" Elena asked.
"My mother was a Kitsune." Jeremy answered.
"And?" Nick said.
"Kitsune are Fae." Jeremy replied to gaped mouths from Elena, Clay, Nick and Logan.
"Now that we've got all the real introductions out of the way, how can I help you?" Jeremy asked Dyson.
"Have you seen this item before?" Dyson replied as he handed Jeremy a picture. Jeremy looked at it then shook his head.
"What is it?" Jeremy asked as he passed it to Clay who looked at it then passed it onward to Elena.
"An old relic that its owner wants found." Dyson replied as Elena passed the picture to Logan, and then Logan to Nick, all of whom shook their heads.
"And it takes five of you to find it?" Nick asked.
"It's been a bit of a quest." Clio replied.
"I see." Nick said.
"A photographer caught it in a background photo while hiking in the area. One of my Investigators discovered it on the Internet from an algorithm he wrote." Julia explained.
"Why not just ask the hiker?" Elena asked.
"We would, but there is one problem." Julia replied.
"What's that?" Elena asked.
"They're dead. Killed by a wolf attack." Julia replied. Jeremy and his group looked at one another.
"When did this kill happen?" Jeremy asked.
"The picture was taken a little over a week ago so we assume around that time." Julia replied. Nick peered at the photo closer.
"This looks like this is near Deapers Mountain." Nick said to Jeremy.
"We've had several Mutt encounters there." Logan added then looked to Dyson and his group. "Mutts are…"
"Yep, we know what Mutts are." Erik chimed in. "They are your so-called lawless werewolves."
"Pretty much. How did you know?" Logan asked.
"Julia does her homework." Erik pointed out.
"That is why we have come to you. We are aware there's hostilities between you and these Mutts, but we do not have a clear view as to how and where they operate, and so we seek your assistance in navigating the territory until we secure this relic in hand." Dyson said.
"Deapers Mountain is huge." Nick replied.
"And time is of the essence." Dyson replied then focused on Jeremy. "We are prepared to compensate you for your time and efforts."
"The talk of money is quite vulgar." Jeremy replied.
"Apologies. My offer was not meant to offend so much as acknowledge that the commitment of time and resources is a costly endeavor." Dyson replied.
"I understand." Jeremy said. "I don't see an issue with assisting you with your hunt for this relic, but I do have one condition."
"What is that?" Dyson asked.
"An explanation on the community of the Fae. I want to know. I have been wanting to know for quite some time ever since I learned my lineage hails from the Fae. That would be sufficient payment." Jeremy said.
"Then we have an agreement." Dyson replied as he stood up and extended his hand which made Jeremy and everyone else stand as well. Jeremy shook his hand then turned to Elena and Clayton.
"Elena is our best tracker. She can help you. Clayton and Nick can go with you as support." Jeremy offered.
"Thank you." Dyson replied. Elena stepped forward.
"We have a briefing room. Please, this way." Elena said as she motioned Dyson and the rest of the group.
When they entered their briefing room Clayton pulled out a map and placed it on the center of the table.
"Here's Deapers Mountain. It is a big one. It is also quite hilly." Clayton explained. "It's not Mutt territory, per se, but they do like to dump their kills in the area from time to time."
"How often?" Julia asked.
"Often enough. It was smart of you to request assistance first." Nick said. Dyson and his group looked to Julia who smiled.
"Is there anything more you can tell us about this relic?" Elena asked.
"Beyond what it looks like, no." Tamsin replied.
"Is it harmful?" Logan asked.
"In terms of it being a danger unto itself, not that we know of. However, lives have been lost over its recovery." Tamsin replied.
"How many lives?" Elena asked.
"More than should have been." Dyson replied.
"Nick, is there any type of markings you recognize from that photo that could narrow down our search area?" Jeremy asked. Nick looked closer but then shook his head.
"Nothing!" Nick replied. Everyone collectively inhaled.
"Maybe we should try a different approach. Look for people instead." Clio stated then pulled out her phone, and after a minute of swiping held up her phone. "Do any of you know, or have seen these guys?" When Jeremy looked at the photo of the four men, he perked up right away and pointed at two of them.
"I've seen these two around town. It's my understanding from the Sheriff Morgan they pop in and out of town on business." Jeremy replied. Clio looked to Dyson and the group and then back at Jeremy.
"Have you ever met them up close and personal?" Clio asked.
"No." Jeremy replied.
"Do you know their names at least?" Clio asked Jeremy which made him close his eyes in thought. He then opened his eyes after a few moments.
"The Sheriff pointed this one out as Forest, and I believe she said this other one was called Marcus." Jeremy replied. Clio looked at Dyson. "Is there a problem?"
"This one, whom you said their name is Forest is Fae." Clio replied.
"What kind of Fae?" Clay asked.
"Trust me, you don't want to know." Clio replied. "But this other guy whom you call Marcus is most definitely a Mutt."
"How do you know that?" Nick asked.
"Because this is my second time in this area, and let's just say the first time it was quite the encounter." Clio replied.
"Well, you're in luck because that Marcus guy is in town. I saw him earlier today at the Donut Hole." Jeremy said.
"That's great news." Clio replied.
"Yes, he's been in town for a while. I've seen him at the Donut Hole every morning for the last week or so. And I saw him talking to that guy like more than a week ago." Jeremy pointed at the fourth man in the picture. It was Rumlar.
"Okay. That's not so good news." Clio replied.
