Chapter 24, murder, murder!

`After the news of Christine’s transformation spread the others were happy and yet curious about how they were going to tame a young wolf and a young goddess. It was going to be a challenge but Alex is doing a good job so far. They were hunting one morning when they smelled blood in the air.

“Thought bubble, you smell that?” Alex grew concerned with the smell of blood.

“Yeah is that blood!? I think don’t it's human… it's animal.” Bernardo was with them to help Alex and Christine with their first hunt together.

“Hey Riff there’s animal blood in the air and it’s new.” Christine grew concerned too...she never smelled animal blood or any blood for that matter with her new sense of smell before.

“I got Carmen and the other girls and they’re ok but you and Christine investigate where you are and I’ll do the same.” Riff left Carmen and Marie with Anita and quickly phased to his wolf form to check out what was going on.

“Ok, we're on it!” They look around and from what they’ve seen so far they still smelled blood in the air but haven’t found the source yet.

“That’s odd haven’t found anything and yet we still smell blood strange.” Christine wasn't going to give up on this nagging feeling that she had in her and it was driving her nuts that she couldn't find the smell.

“Uh, Alex over here and it’s not a pretty sight…you’re not going to like it.” Bernardo found the source...with a sad look on his face, he showed his on...

“Oh no Fernando…Riff you might want to come here we found something.” Alex looked to see what had happened and found not only his friend...but his wolf brother...

“What is it, Alex?” Riff's concern grew more and more. He got there as quickly as his wolf body would go.

“Just come here you got to see this I can’t describe it.” When Riff did get there he could tell why he couldn’t.

“No…Fernando…he-was a good wolf…Marie isn’t going to like this…guess he got into a fight and lost.”

“Thought bubble, Riff we found something come quick.” Riff said goodbye to Fernando and he went back to Carmen who he was glad to see, but the other sight not so much. When they got back to Bernardo and Anita's house they realized that more of the pack were slowly trickling in.

“How did Chino die?” Riff wanted justice for his brothers...they all did...

“We’re not sure by the looks of it it's pretty new-bout an hour.” Bernardo with his medical background could help with the time of death.

“That’s funny that’s about the same as Fernando I wonder…” Riff realizing that they both died roughly the same time figured that they had to be together when they died...Alex and Christine found their way to the others and Christine started crying. She and Chino got along and he helped her as much as Alex did! She had Alex to guide her whom she didn’t mind but she liked that she had a different point of view on things. When everyone heard about Fernando and Chino’s deaths they had a ceremony and everyone got to say goodbye and share memories. Alex and Riff stayed behind a bit longer.

“Both so young…both became wolves not long before you did, Alex just wish I knew who did it.” Riff trying to grieve for his friends but also trying to keep it together for the rest of the pack.

“We’d all like to know Riff but there’s nothing we can do…but we know it’s no one from the pack since you had the girls and I had Christine so either it was an outsider or they killed each other.” Alex trying to figure out what happened between the two..and how this would change things with leadership.

“Yeah guess that’s our choices, but they didn’t seem mad at each other before they left so it might have been an outsider. We only have one enemy and they don’t live in this part of Spain or other werewolves. We know it wasn’t one of us so it must be from another pack.” Riff trying to figure out the details.

“That’s what I’m thinking, but I’m not sure if they’re any other wolves in this area” Alex agreeing with him.

“I’m not sure either guess we’ll find out soon if they are any,” said Riff in a sad but knowing tone in his voice...

“Guess so but for now let’s just comfort the others.” Alex tried to comfort not only his alpha but his friend by putting his arm around his shoulders...

“That’s probably best for now.” Riff smiled as he knew what Alex was trying to do. Alex was right there wasn’t anything they could do except comfort friends and family. Mostly Riff and Alex were trying to figure out what happened any everyone could tell…the others were trying to figure out the murders but mostly those two since they were the closest to them. Weeks pass and months pass since their murders and still nothing; then Christine got an idea.

“Alex don’t you remember the day of the murder that they did get into a fight since I think you could hear one of them howl so maybe the fight turned into something else,” Christine suggested with the hope that it could lead to something.

“Yeah I do remember and we could hear them too something about-about…I don’t remember what they fought over!” Riff got excited thinking that this idea could help somehow...if he could just remember!

“I think it was who got to their prey first or something like that you know those two get competitive with everything.” Interjected Alex.

“Yeah that’s true just didn’t think they’d kill each other over something silly as that.” Riff agreed but was in disbelief. He didn't want to think his two friends and brothers would kill each other over something silly as what was their latest meal.

“I know it is but we weren’t there when it happened so we just figure it out or we can just forget this happened. I know you were close to them but I can do my best to cheer you up.” Christine smiled and leaned her head on Riff's shoulders...trying to help her new alpha.

“I know you will Christine and I’m thankful I just-just wish we could solve this.” Riff appreciated the help of the newest wolf, and it was sometimes nice to have another girl werewolf well at least for Marie's benefit. 

“I know you want to but it’s out of our hands we should report this to the police,” suggested Bernardo. He wanted to help too, he couldn't watch as his son's pack was falling apart around him. 

“Or we could investigate this as a pack we could probably find things easier and faster than the police,” suggest Riff..which was probably true. With a wolf's keen sense of smell, they probably would find things easier and faster than the police.

“True but what if someone saw the fight and already reported it what would happen to us?” asked Christine worriedly. What if there was a pedestrian passing by and saw what happened??

“Then that’ll expose us and we’d have to leave Spain and then the police handle the investigation,” said Alex sadly...he didn't want to leave Spain. He pulled Christine aside from the others to talk in private in his bedroom.

“Leave Spain I don’t want to leave! We met here, fell in love, had our first date, I became a full goddess and you became a full wolf, we had our first kiss, made love for the first time, got engaged and I had hoped to get married here. This city means so much to me it brought me to you.” shouted Christine angry and upset.

“I know you’d like to stay here but people talk they’d spread the news around and eventually the whole city would know. I originally was living in Paris but somehow my nature spread and I had to leave it. I didn’t want to but now I’m glad I did since I got to be with you.” said Alex with a little smile on his face.

“Aww, Alex well if we had to leave where’d you like to go?” Christine blushed with the compliment. She wondered where he would pick to live next.

“I’ve always wanted to see Verona or Venice those would be my choices.” Alex tried to smile at the thought of living in Italy with Christine.

“Italy huh, I was there for a few days it’s beautiful over there. So full of romance oh it’d be perfect for us.” Christine smiling at the memories with her crew at their time in Italy, but mostly trying to remember Sapphire...she didn't want to think about Will or Grace.

“Yeah it would, but as long I’m with you I’ll be happy.” Alex smiled thinking of them starting a new life together.

“Aww, Alex.” She kisses his cheek and slowly moves to his lips.

“Ooh, Christine I know what that means….let’s do it.” Christine was doing her part to cheer Alex up…and she did a really good job he was happy again two minutes later. He didn’t want her to stop. Slowly it went from kissing to make out in the middle of the forest near his parents' house. She questioned whether this was appropriate since his friends had just died moments ago. She did want to cheer him up though which didn’t take long. They even forgot they were in a forest for a moment but since they were they didn’t do much.

“Feel better love?” smirked Christine as she realized where they were.

“Much better thanks for cheering me up babe,” smirked Alex. He was thankful for Christine for letting him forget for a little while the sadness he felt for his friends.

“You’re welcome, small kiss, come on we should head back to our pack.” They put their arms around each other’s waist and started to head back to the house.

“Sorry to make you worry mom we wanted to investigate what happen and we argued for a bit about it but changed our minds.” Alex hugged his mom to comfort her

“Alright guess you got lost on the way back.” Anita smiled at Alex glad to have him and Christine back home.

“Yeah sure let’s go with that.” Christine and Alex smirked at each other knowing their little secret.

“I don’t want to know what you were doing so I’ll go with that,” Anita smirked too guessing at what they were doing but didn't want to think her son and her eventual daughter in law getting frisky,

“Smart idea mom so what are we going to do?” Alex knew it was time to be serious again and figure out how to keep Fernando and Chino's death a secret from the people.

“Well, Alex-we might investigate ourselves since nobody reported it yet.” Riff was relieved when they found out that no one had reported it. No pedestrians got hurt during their fight. 

“Well that’s good, but who will help with the investigating, Riff?” asked Christine with curiosity. She wanted to help just didn't know how yet.

“I will and maybe two other wolves who’ll be my new second and third command,” said Riff with a confident smile.

“Oh and who would that be?” asked Christine. She couldn't tell if he was trying to be funny or serious.

“You two.” Riff said with a firm and confident smile on his face.

“What!? Were still young wolves we’re not sure how to control ourselves yet,” said Alex with a surprised look on his face. Christine was shocked too. Both didn't think they would be leadership material and thought someone else with more experience would become the new leadership.

“I know but you two are leaders. I’ve seen what you guys can do together and it’s just amazing!”  Sure he thought of some of the more experienced wolves in the pack, but he knew these two could do it.

“Uh thanks, Riff it’s an honor that you’d do this.” Christine still in shock and fumbling her words.

“You’re welcome Christine, but you shouldn’t freak put about it. For being a young wolf I’m surprised how calm you are plus a young goddess! It blows me away how you do it!” Riff has been very impressed with these two young wolves and how they've handled everything.

“It makes me wonder as well…” Christine blushes with the compliment and rubs her neck with embarrassment

“I’d be honored to have you two as my co-leaders.” Riff puts his hands on the shoulder of both of them showing them he's confident in them.

“We accept.” They both say in unison and smile.

“Great now let’s go to the scene and figure it out.” As all 3 of them phase and run off to the crime scene.