Gamma's Energy Attracts

Part 4

Terri’s POV

I rock up to my Nonna’s (Grandma’s) cottage, not looking forward to my weekly chewing out from the tough old bird.

“You are late, Cucciola (Puppy). What time does dinner start at my home? How old are you? I thought Gamma’s were supposed to be responsible!”  She starts in on me two seconds after I step in the door. I roll my eyes, without letting her see me. “Don’t you roll those eyes at me!” She must have eyes in the back of her head.

“Schedules aren’t my thing, that’s Colin’s department. I was helping Caly with some Elder’s Council business,” I invoke the name of the Luna for selfish purposes, anything to do with Caly is like a get outta jail free card with my Nonna, and it works with one hundred percent efficiency.

I kiss my Nonno (Grandpa) on the top of his thinning, grey head of hair. Wolves don’t really get male-pattern baldness, so it’s just a bit thinner. He grabs my hand and kisses the back of it, smartly keeping quiet and off of Nonna’s radar.

A huge plate with three types of stuffed pasta is plunked in front of me while I sit down. Nonno looks at the plate of salad he was given with disgust. I pick up his plate and scrape half of the veggies on top of my pasta, then scoop him out some of his favourite pasta onto his plate. 

“My lovely Mate is trying to kill me slowly with all her healthy nonsense. Thank the Goddess Theressa doesn’t want me to starve to death,” He says pointedly, I admire his bravery.

“You had three cannoli’s at Leo’s Bakery. You aren’t going to starve, you old wolf!” Nonna grumbles and takes her seat. “What is going on at the Council these days?”

“We are looking into cold cases of missing wolves.” I fill my face rather than expand on my answer. Can’t talk with your mouth full, it’s a rule.

“Oh? Are there many?” Nonna grabs the spatula as her Mate tries to sneak another helping of manicotti and whacks Nonno’s hand with lightning-quick reflexes. If she had held the utensil sideways she might have cut his fingers off. I inherited my quickness from my Mother’s side of the family, apparently, I also got my mean streak there too.

“A couple hundred,” I say quietly. I dunno why, but I got a bad feeling about this job. My wolf, Enyo, has been pacing in my head all day. She is getting itchy to do something, sitting at the computer isn’t enough for her, she wants to be biting @sses and taking names.

“Oh, Mia Dea! (My Goddess!)” Nonna gasps and gives me a hard glare. She drops the spatula and Nonno swoops in and scoops up some tortellini while she’s distracted. “What are you going to do, Theressa?”

“I have a spider program going through the files, but it will take some time.”

“Spiders?!” Nonna tenses up and white knuckles that spatula.

“Not real spiders, Nonna. A computer program, and reaches out like a spider building a web, spreading into other public databases, searching for names, Packs, human licenses and government departments.” Her eyes glaze over. Yep, I’ve lost her. Nonna thinks texting is sending secret messages and I have to talk her through emailing the Luna every single time, she finds it too stressful. She's one step below Stav on the technological ability scale.

“The only thing I can do, take one case at a time. I’m starting with the connection to Tabi first.”

“Ryan’s Tabitha? She’s not missing, is she?” Nonna takes in a deep breath, dear Goddess, she’s gonna blow her top. The stress can't be good for her blood pressure. 

“No. Tabi’s fine! Her sister went missing about 10 years ago."

"That poor girl's family. Maybe that's why no one looked for Tabi when she was taken. They must have believed she was as good as dead. I will go visit her tomorrow, I made her another blanket for the pup." Tabi’s Alpha didn’t try to claim her when she turned up with the other kidnapees, her parents were equally as shocked when Tabi phoned out of the blue. They were very mistrustful of Ryan, not believing her Mate was real before they met him in the flesh. Oh, and the fact we were Blood Pact, that didn’t go over well either. We earned our badass reputation, but I think it will take a few more decades for the rumours to settle down. I’m not sure how knitting is gonna help Tabi, but they both could use a distraction. Anything to keep Nonna from her favourite topic…

"Are you going to the Mating Ball this year, Cucciola?" F*ck me, I f*cking jinxed myself. “That nice young Alpha Tucker is hosting it.” Seriously, she considers F*cker Tucker a nice young Alpha? She visited his pack ONE time and he let us stay on the Alpha floor, and she’s all ga-ga for him. He’s one of those pretentious super-pricks who always looks good to parent-types and Teachers. It’s how he got out of trouble for being a bully to Caly when they were younger. He grew up a tiny bit, a small miracle I also attribute to the Luna.

"Kinda busy, Nonna." I close my eyes and brace myself for impact.

"That is no excuse! I want to plan your wedding sometime this decade. I want to see my great-grandpuppies before I die." Here we go again. Although the Luna is even sexier than before she had pups, I am at my fighting weight and I ain’t going to risk ruining my figure birthing little hellions. With me as a Mother, I’m sure they will grow up all ten shades of f*cked up.

I mind-link Colin, 'S.O.S' I speak quickly 'cause I can't let the old bird catch me.

"Nonna, those stupid dances are for h*rny teenagers! What the f*ck would I have in common with those young punks?" The vast majority of attendees are 18-19 year-olds. This Pack just had a dry spell and no one found a mate for like 6 years before Caly showed up and blessed us.

"Watch your tongue at my table! You forget there are years between Alpha and Caly, and the Doctor and Beta."

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind an age difference if they were older. And pups?!? Really? Don't put all your eggs in one basket with me, I want to have a chick with her own eggs...Not some Coc---" Nonna has that dirty spatula at the ready and an evil glint in her eye, I know damn well she wants to cr*ck my head with it, but the last thing I need is tomato sauce and ricotta stuck in my hair. She’s got this whole Pack fooled into believing she's this sweet old grandma, they never see her murderously wielding a spatula like this. "...Rooster!" I finish weakly.

P'Ching! My phone alerts me to a new message from Colin: Head down to cells ASAP. 

"Gotta go, love you guys." I stand and give them each a kiss on the top of the head.

"I want to see the message, I don't trust you!" Nonna folds her arms over her chest and gives me the eye. You know the one, angry Mom crossed with a promise to curse you for seven years if she finds out you're lying. Too bad she's already got me for at least seven times seventy years, I would need more lives than a friggin' cat to serve my penance at this point. I roll my eyes obstinately and grab my leather jacket. Nonna hands me an armful of plastic containers, enough for lunch for a whole week if I didn't have to pay off my accomplice.

I head towards the cells until I hit the side of the Packhouse, making sure the coast is clear. I head straight up to the Alpha and Beta's floor. Colin has his handout for the containers, that d*ck thinks he gets the first choice just for helping me. I need to remind him of the rules, "You only get three if you pick, four if you let me take my top three favourites."

He narrows his eyes shrewdly. "Fine, be that way. I'll take my chances with four. Caro is working this week." If he thinks that will make me feel all sympathetic for him - it won’t. 

"You don't even need four! You'll eat with Stav and Caly anyway!"

"Midnight snacks. One of them had better be pasta!" he grumbles.

"What?!" I squeal in mock outrage. One time he got four containers of mashed potatoes, and he's been suspicious ever since.

"I'll just mind-link Mary and tell her it was a false alarm, and you can go back to dinner with your grandparents." I let out a snarl. F*ck. She would believe him, too, Colin's always been the golden boy who could do no wrong around here.

The door to the Alpha’s apartment swings open, Caly pops her head out. "Are you arguing about pasta again? Do I need to mediate? It will be super easy, I will randomly assign three containers each, and the kids will split the last one for a bedtime snack." I sigh. The things I do for my future Little Alphas. I hand Caly a container of homemade Mac 'n cheese. We hear her call out, "Auntie Terri brought over Nonna Mary's cheesy pasta!" I can hear the thundering of tiny feet running to the kitchen table before the door even closes.

“I think you just got scammed, Theressa,” Colin says with a mischievous smirk.

“What do you mean? We actually were arguing about leftovers.”

“And how would Caly have heard us over the soundproofing, we were just talking. I think you are teaching her how to be devious just a little too well.” He laughs uproariously as he takes his containers into his own apartment and slams the door.

Well, sh*t. I am a good teacher. He’s right. I wanna punch him, but it’s too late. 

‘No such thing as too late,’ Enyo reminds me. She’s up for a fight anytime, anywhere.

‘You’re right. I’ll bide my time and beat the piss out of him tomorrow morning during training.’

‘That a’ girl!’ says the wolf-devil on my shoulder.

I trudge downstairs to my place and toss the containers in the mini-fridge. I hit the space bars on both the laptops I have running, the screens lighting my room with a blue glow, enough for me to see the lamp and switch it on. I am using mine and Stav’s, I liberated it from his office. He doesn’t really need his, I mean he just reviews documents to give his okay and maybe plays something basic, like spider solitaire. He can do that crap from his phone. We all know Caly and Colin do most of the work around here.

I take a peek at each screen. No hits yet, but it’s only been about two and a half hours. I grab a quick shower, leaving the door open so I can hear the computer’s alert tone. Law of the Universe, if you distract yourself with something else, you will miss something important. I’m sure the philosophers said it better, but you get what I mean.

As I dry off I hear a gentle chime. I grab the computer that summoned me and flop down on the bed. Naked. It’s just how I prefer to be. 

Pauline Green, no identical matches. Pauline, 14 suggested matches. Thank the Goddess that Pauline isn’t a popular name anymore. Green, 256 matches. Packs including the word ‘BLACK’ no identical matches, 117 suggested matches.

Let’s see if we can’t narrow that down a bit. I run a comparison on the new lists. Two hits. Only one in the US. It’s a good lead, but it’s too late to call them tonight. When you call looking for info you want the person answering the phone to be receptive, not tired and cranky. Besides, I need Stav’s comp to finish looking up the supposed Mate, Rocco.  

I close up the laptop and set it aside. I make sure Stav’s computer is on silent. A girl needs her beauty sleep. Can’t try to cripple the Beta and pretend to be pleasant on the phone with a bunch of idiots if you let yourself get run down. I chug down about four shots of whiskey before I lay down and try to meditate, TRY being the operative word. I’m not sure if I am so good at it that I completely relax or so terrible that I just give up and fall asleep, but either way works for me. 

I wake up to my internal clock and get ready to head outside. I stretch, you need to be limber to take out a Beta. Colin may not be as fast as I am, but he’s a smart fighter and picks up on his opponent’s cues and mistakes easily. I fake him out by lunging left. He sidesteps me and I jump on his back, wrapping both my arms around his left shoulder. I give a good kick on the tendon at the back of his left knee before I wrap my legs around the same thigh. He’s off-balance on a bad leg and soon we fall in a heap on the ground, with me on top. I sit back on my knees stretching his torso and pulling his shoulder backwards. He tries to power out of the move to no avail. He growls deeply, knowing he will have to submit or I will pop his shoulder right out of its socket. I gather one more burst of strength for a final tug.

“You win!” Colin growls out, pissed off that I beat his @ss again. This is the third time this month. Not to toot my own horn...wait, screw that, taking down a Beta is impressive. I’m a total badass.

“Say it!” I try to keep my voice level, I can’t have him knowing how hard it is for me to keep a hold of him in this position. 

“Theressa is the strongest, smartest, prettiest she-wolf on the planet. I submit to you, O’ Great Terrier.” What?! I was nine when we agreed that if I was ever able to take down the future Alpha and Beta, they would have to acknowledge me. It’s completely legit. I release his arm and fall back on the floor, panting and sweating, our legs still tangled together.

“Also meanest and craziest,” he adds as he kicks his legs free. He’s such a sore loser. I give him the one-finger salute.

“You forgot bitchiest,” Stav adds. 

“Keep it up, @sshole, and tomorrow you will be next,” I growl and give Stav my dirtiest glare. “Don’t think I won’t put you in your place, Alpha,” I say sarcastically.

‘Why don’t we challenge him again?’ Enyo asks, once again trying to incite my dissent.

‘Because our Luna doesn’t deserve to be demoted just because her Mate is a goon.’

‘Right, I forgot. Can’t we get rid of him and keep her?’ my wolf says seductively purring into my mind.

‘I would have to kill Stab to get the Pack, it might make the Queen less than happy with me,’ I remind her. She just hums in response.

I need to grab a quick shower. Usually, I don’t break a sweat training in cool weather, but I had to use all my muscle strength taking Colin down a peg or two. I get dressed and head upstairs to visit with Caly and the kids. I’ll need a full belly and Caly’s calming influence before tackling a bunch of cold calls.

By noon hour, I realize I have nothing but a dead phone battery to go with my dead ends. I want to stress eat and talk to a person in real life, so I mind-link Caly to see what she’s up to. She volunteers to take the kids to the Den Mother’s so that she can help me with the Council stuff. I grab a box of treats from Leo’s and head up to her floor.  I love working in Caly’s presence. She’s calm and quiet as she works, and offers helpful insights and information.  Not like sitting downstairs in the Alpha’s office with all that swinging d*ck testosterone, while they man-splain s**t that's irrelevant to the current task.

'Why don't us she-wolves have a cool office like the boys do?' My wolf starts planning a bitchin' new crib in my mind. Black and chrome-themed, very sleek. The Luna bent over to shuffle things on my glossy new desk. I know for a fact Stav asks her to reach for things just to see her bubble-butt wiggle in his face.

"Why don't we have an office up here?" I plan to pitch Enyo's idea to the real boss, Caly.

"Two reasons: Stavros thinks if I have an office up here I would never leave the apartment. The real reason is because if I go downstairs to the guy's office I can make sure they are working and not drinking at two in the afternoon. You're right though, I have been thinking about remodelling but I only have five rooms to work with. I would love an office for me and some big pup rooms, they have already grown out of those toddler beds and it's time they each have their own space. Stav wants to keep the nursery, just in case and the guest room, but then I don't have space for an office. So I end up sitting at the kitchen table." She gestures to her laptop, phone, pens, paper and coffee mug that are scattered on the table.

"But enough about that, how did your search go?" She smiles radiantly as she opens the powder blue box from the Bakery and she shimmies her hips. She does this cute wiggle when she gets excited, it’s adorable.

"Dead ends. Those two cupcakes are for the kids," I tell her, but she probably already guessed that. I bought espresso bars and tiramisu for us big kids who need caffiene.

"I know that helping Tabitha is personal but perhaps it's time to look at a different case. If you could try working backwards, the most recent file would be easiest to find information on. Or download the full files you could try to do a keyword search, look for more commonalities. Or…" Caly pulls her lip between her teeth to nibble, a nervous habit of hers. "What if they were being hidden or they ran away because they didn't want to be found? The first thing they would do is change their name and their look. That would make it nearly impossible to find them."

The doorbell rings. Not too many people have access to the sixth floor of our Packhouse. I hop up and look at the security panel, the doorbell causes a camera above the door to take a candid shot. The she-wolf looks upward with a cheeky smile, since she knows it's there.

Caly looks over my shoulder and raises an eyebrow then says, "Or we could just ask her."