Any hunters who had been caught doing this had been handed over to the police. A little worse for wear after Adam was been done with them. But still more kept coming.
Acksel couldn’t see the point in setting traps. He liked nothing more than hunting in his wolf form. Where was the fun in hunting an animal that was trapped and bleeding out? Where was the thrill in that? The chase was the thing! Humans had some funny ideas.
Felicity insisted he come out and see the trap himself. She was sure there was something off about it. Acksel didn’t doubt her word. Even though she was new and still learning she was well on her way to being his best Enforcer.
Acksel had called both the Alpha and the Beta too. Adam always wanted to deal with hunters personally. Acksel called in all his other Enforcers as well as any volunteers he could lay his hands on to do a sweep of the woods to check for other traps. It was vital that they find them before the snow started falling; if the ground was covered in snow they truly would be invisible to the naked eye.
In the meantime the Beta had put out word to all pack members that they weren’t to go out running until they were sure they had found them all. Thankfully given the cold temperature it wouldn’t be much of a problem.
Acksel had arrived shortly before the Alpha Adam, then the Beta Alec and Gabe who had been out on a call with Alec.
Felicity was right; there was something off about the trap. For one thing it was brand new. The type of men who came sniffing round their land were those who were too cheap to actually travel to the real hunting areas. The traps were usually old and well used. This one was a fancy ass piece of equipment.
For another there were no human scents on the trap. Felicity had carefully untangled the deer and dragged it away. The stench of the blood was strong but there should have been some lingering human scent of the men who had placed it here.
Lastly if hunters had set the trap where were they? By the time Felicity found the deer she estimated it had been there for at least a couple of hours. Why hadn’t the hunters checked on their trap? It had been set and then seemingly just left.
Unfortunately Don the pack tracker was out of town for the day. Otherwise he could have come and taken a look around and perhaps gotten a little more than them. Acksel had spent hours training with Don but still couldn’t quite measure up. The wolf was a marvel. It was a source of frustration to Alec that Don had scented his mate Liv’s pregnancy before he did. Acksel and Adam ribbed the stuffy Beta about it as much as possible.
Alec turned back to them. “That was Mal. He just found two more traps a mile from here. They were covered in leaves. They hadn’t caught anything but Mal thinks he can detect wolfsbane but he isn’t sure.”
“Do you think human hunters are using wolfsbane to throw us off?” Asked Felicity.
Adam grunted. Humans didn’t generally realize the full effects of wolfsbane on shifters. Only someone with knowledge of shifters would know how bad it was. Humans in general assumed that wolves when in skin form were just like them. Thankfully most didn’t realize how debilitating silver truly was to shifters either.
“I doubt it. Even if they did all we have to do is sit here and wait for them to come and collect their traps. I don’t think the people who set these traps cared about coming back for them.” Adam breathed in and out. “Where are Kira and Lilah?”
Gabe snapped his head in the direction of his Alpha as his wolf howled. “You think this was done by the Charming pack?”
Adam shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Lilah’s at Jolene’s and Mac’s with her. Kira’s at work.” Said Alec.
“Alec send Jake over to the Jolene’s and Felicity you get over there too just in case.”
Alec started dialing while Felicity nodded at her Alpha quickly stripping and shifting. Her wolf loped off mindful of the potential traps.
“Kira…” Ground out Gabe. His wolf was prowling.
Adam gave the younger wolf a steady gaze. “Is at the Diner surrounded by people. The Charming pack want Lilah. She’s next to the Sheriff’s station. If she needs help back up will be close.”
“You don’t know that!” Roared Gabe.
Acksel stilled as Alec moved forward to Gabe. Adam motioned for Alec to stop. “You two go and join the search.”
Immediately Acksel and Alec moved off.
Adam’s jaw twitched. As far as Alpha’s went Adam was pretty easy going but he expected his orders to be followed. Wolf packs weren’t democracies. And Adam expected to be treated respectfully at all times.
Gabe in spite of his wolf’s snarls bared his neck in submission to his Alpha.
Adam nodded his acceptance. “Our priority is finding the traps. I can’t risk a member of the pack getting hurt by one. Our pups play in these woods, they have to be safe. And I need to know for sure that whoever set these traps isn’t hanging around. That means every available pack member is out here looking. Kira is part of the pack but she doesn’t take precedence over the other members.”