Magnus’ p.o.v. It takes everyone about an hour to read through the file. I believe that everyone had some trouble reading certain parts of it. “Okay, let’s get through these messages. The first message we received came in about six months ago and at first, we assumed it was about the attacks we had been experiencing. We didn’t read it until a day later and that is when we realized it was a separate matter.” Elder Chelsea says. That explains a little about this file, but not enough. If Dad were made aware of this first message, he would have taken action within minutes. “Elder Chelsea, I mean no disrespect with what I am about to say. This should have been dealt with months ago. This first message is enough to send most Alphas into a war.” I state. “We are aware of this fact, but we left a tiny piece of information out of the file. I wanted Meadow on this case and I couldn’t risk pulling her from her assignment. I have a feeling that you can understand this, Young Alpha.” Elder Chelsea responds. Damn, she has me there. Meadow’s team was formed for a reason and that tells me that whoever sent these messages is a woman. “I asked for all of you to come down here for a reason. I need your Father’s help on this one and I know that he will lend a hand in any way that he can, Young Alpha.” Elder Chelsea continues.“The sender of the messages is named Milcah and she is the Daughter of Alpha Ferdinand. Her Mother is Alpha Ferdinand’s fated Mate and that makes Milcah, by Pack-law, the heir to Frozen Star Pack.” Elder Josiah explains. The screen displays the Pack-law of succession for Frozen Star Pack, which is dated over three hundred years ago. The firstborn will take over the Alpha position, but only if the child was born to fated Mates. It makes no difference if the firstborn is a boy or a girl. Firstborn outranks gender. If an Alpha takes a chosen Mate after losing, rejecting or getting rejected by a fated Mate, their offspring will have no claim to the Alpha position. The Alpha title will then go to the firstborn of the reigning Alpha’s sibling, the secondborn or oldest Cousin. If an Alpha tries to break this Pack-law, he or she will lose the title and the oldest sibling or Cousin will take over. “What if Milcah signs over her rights to the Alpha title?” Myka asks. “In that case, the position would go to Alpha Ferdinand’s Cousin or his firstborn. Under no circumstances would that position go to Landis, the Alpha’s Son.” Elder Josiah answers. He points out another part of their Pack-laws. Whoever was responsible for drawing up this Pack-law considered every scenario; they wanted to make sure that no one could take the Alpha position without the proper bloodline. “Milcah is aware of this part of their Pack-laws, but she doubts that her Father has any idea about it. She even doubts if her Grandfather knew about this law. Milcah also informed us that her Mother has not left the Alpha floor in almost twenty years.” Elder Chelsea says, while showing us the second message. I don’t understand why an Alpha would choose a chosen Mate over a fated Mate, but then again, I have no idea about the circumstances that made Alpha Ferdinand choose a chosen Mate. Was his chosen Mate already pregnant? Did he decide that he didn’t want a low-ranking fated Mate? “Elder Josiah, how much age difference is there between Landis and Milcah?” Meadow asks. “Landis is a week younger than Milcah. According to the information we have, Milcah was born a week later than the due date and Landis was born two weeks too early.” Elder Chelsea mutters. Gilliam growls at the injustice because we all understand that Alpha Ferdinand cheated on his fated Mate. At least now I know why Milcah has been informing the Elders about his behavior, the best way to get justice for her Mother. “How did he manage to keep all of this a secret from his Beta and his Gamma?” A Squad member asks. “Katreena is the Beta’s younger Sister, he might know the truth and decided to look the other way for his baby Sister’s sake.” I answer. “As for his Gamma, I have no idea. He could be in on it or he isn’t allowed on the Alpha floor.” I look at my Betas and Gammas to see them deep in thought, “Probably trying to find out how an Alpha could hide something like that from his Beta and Gamma.” I mumble.No matter how I try to turn it, I can’t find a way for Dad to keep something hidden from Lennox or Layton. They know him too well for him to pull that off. Damn, that is the answer. “Elder Josiah, when did Alpha Ferdinand get a new Gamma?” I ask. Meadow snaps her head up to look at me and I give her a smirk. “I need to check that, Young Alpha.” He replies as he starts typing on his laptop. Around the time that Landis and Milcah were born and he was from another Pack, located hours away from Frozen Star Pack.” “That explains why his Gamma never suspected anything. He didn’t know any of the Pack-members and hiding his fated Mate became easier. Leaves us with another question, though. Why didn’t other Pack-members question the absence of Milcah’s Mother?” I retort. We discuss the recordings Milcah sent and Meadow asks Elder Chelsea to play them for us. “I want each of you to listen to the tone of voice and what is being said. That combination might tell us a few things this file doesn’t.” Meadow says. Most of the recordings are from Luna Katreena to Milcah’s Mother, whom I now know is named Zaphara. It is clear that Katreena loathes Zaphara and I don’t have to spell out the reason for her hatred. “Why does Alpha Ferdinand react so strongly to Katreena’s actions?” Captain Miles asks. “It isn’t Alpha Ferdinand, it is his Wolf. No Shifter will allow this kind of treatment of their Mate, not even if they aren’t marked.” Meadow answers. “A Shifter will always protect their Mate, no matter the type of relationship.” This reminds me of something that happened when I was nine or ten years old and an Alpha had visited Black Valley Pack. His Beta had remarked on an Omega, and the Alpha lost it, nearly killing him. Dad told me that the Alpha was the Omega’s fated Mate, but rejected her for her rank. Despite the rejection, the Alpha’s Shifter half hadn’t given up on his fated Mate yet and had taken control at the disrespect his Beta had shown. It would make sense that Alpha Ferdinand’s Wolf wouldn’t tolerate any disrespect toward Zaphara.