Chapter 6

Faolan looked down at the young woman who stared back at him. He was trying not to scare the poor thing but  then she practically rammed into him. Faolan reached out to steady her and took a beat too long touching her before letting her go.

"You ok? Didn't think I bumped ya that hard." Margret just stood still staring at him eyes wide open. Faolan could look at those eyes all day. "I saw you at the Tavern the other night. Didn't get a chance to introduce myself. My name is Faolan." Faolan stuck his hand out for a shake but at the sudden movement Marget flinched away form him. Interesting. Margret stared at the hand a moment before responding.

"...Margret." She didn't move but instead just stared at the offered handshake. Faolan didn't want to push her and lowered his hand and put it in his pocket trying not to be too miffed she didn't accept it.

"Nice to meet you Margret. Where are you from?" Margret to continued to look anywhere and everywhere but at the Alpha.

"No where in particular," she replied quietly. Strange how a woman who was so confident in the tavern was now so shy in front of him. Maybe it was because he was an Alpha, though she seem fine with Alpha Bob. As he much as he wanted to, Faolan was struggling to find things to say to her.  He was left using generic unoriginal questions he found on a self-help dating site he looked up on his phone. Pathetic. But it was all he had to go on so...

"You excited for the gathering next week? Should be nice to have so many different packs around."

Margret demeanor changed at the mention of the gathering. She looked straight in his eyes this time with no fear of shyness. Her answer was firm and definite with a growl.

"No." This took Faolan back a little bit. Marget didn't give him a chance to recover. "My friend is waiting for me." Faolan was going to try and stall her but both were interrupted by a shrill voice.

"Maggie! There you are. I have the sodas grab some food and let's go." Candace stopped and looked poignantly at both Margret with me with one eyebrow raised. "Alpha Faolan, have you met Miss Margret Fellows?"

"We were just getting acquainted. I saw her at the tavern back in town but was unable to introduce myself."

"The tavern you say?" Candace's over the top tone was pointed to Margret as her face changed to a mischievous smile. Margret's eyes grew wide trying to communicate with Candace silently. A message Candace ignored. "Maggie has been the manager there for two years. Turned that place around real quick. Did you know that Maggie can bake? She makes amazing deserts you should-" Candace finished her sentence with an oof as Margret elbowed her.

"Scuse us Alpha." Margret replied. "We won't take up anymore of your time." She grabbed Candace's hand and began to walk away. Faolan couldn't help but to call out to her one last time.

"It's Faolan. No need for Alpha here. Just Faolan."  Margret paused to look him curious as to his statement. The pause gave Candace enough time to call back.

"Then you should call her Maggie. Or Mags. Never Magpie though. The young boys only call her that cause she makes them listen to her." Margret's eye grew wide silently communicating with her friend once more. Faolan just smiled. Margret might be wary of him but Candace seemed to be on his side.

"Maggie it is then. I look forward to seeing you again." With that last comment Maggie pulled the pair to the back of the lodge and outside.

.......

Maggie woke up to her phone's ringtone blaring on her nightstand. She glanced at the clock next to it and groaned. Whoever dared to call her at seven in the morning better have a good reason otherwise they are going to regret it. She turned on the lamp and picked up her phone and glanced at the screen to see who was calling. Calling ID said Patrick. Not good

Patrick was her number two at the tavern. He was a wolf but one with his head on straight. Although he was part of the pack he stayed on the outskirts of it. He helped with some of the evening shifts during the week but most importantly he was there to sign for any shipments that came in during Maggie's off hours. If he was calling there must be something wrong with the shipment. Maggie tapped accept on her phone.

"Tell me you butt dialed me." Maggie mumbled.

"Sorry boss. We got a shipment issue. I know ya ordered extra kegs for the gathering but the delivery guys just brought our regular order. Also some of the wait staff are looking for extra time off last minute. I'm having trouble scheduling everyone and leaving enough staff."

Yeah Maggie was going to have to deal with this. She kept all her purchasing records organized in her office and she didn't want Patrick to go in and mess it up. Plus she felt bad. She was dumping Patrick with the tavern for a week while she holed it up during the gathering. The least she could do is make sure everything was ready for him to take over.

"Alright. Alright. Let me make some tea and I'll be over." Maggie stumbled around in her trailer putting on the same jeans and sweatshirt she wore the night before. Her trailer had a propane stove which she lit to put a kettle of water on. Everyday she had the same routine. Get up. Get Dressed. Make some tea.

As the water heated Maggie went to get the other ingredients. Out her door were giant planters filled with lavender. She snipped a few of the buds and brought them into the kitchen where she put them into her mortar and pestle. She ground the lavender a few times before reaching in to her cabinet for the green tin she had stashed away.

Margret couldn't help but look around as she opened the tin. If the pack knew what she had, not even the Alpha could spare her. As she opened the lid the acrid smell filled her nostrils. Even with her wolf suppressed she could feel the effect the drug had on her. Wolfsbane. There were few things that were a threat to wolves. Wolfsbane was one of them.

She took a small scoop of the illicit herb and added it to her mortar to grind up with the lavender. By the time she was finished the kettle has begun to whistle. She scooped the herb mixture into a to go coffee cup and then poured water in. Topped it with a scoop of honey and then closed the lid before taking a sip allowing the bitter taste to fill her mouth.

Three years. Three years she had been drinking the tea. It had a few side effect which included suppressing her wolf. She often had migraines and was always tired. She missed her wolf. It had been two years since she had let her wolf out and that was only to help save Candace. She longed to let her other half take the reins and run again, but her wolf couldn't be trusted right now. She didn't know if her wolf could ever be let out. Along with suppressing her wolf the tea also muted her smell. Made it harder for others to track her.

Sipping her tea she grabbed her key and sling bag before walking out the door to her car.

.....

It took her about one and a half hours to sort everything out. The beer distributer promised her the missing parts of her shipment would be delivered the next day and the schedule was all sorted out. Not everyone got what they wanted but everyone got something. By the time she was finished her tea was cold. She nuked it in the microwave and wished Patrick good luck before heading further into town to hit the bookstore.

The town's bookstore was small but she sipped her tea while perusing the mysteries sections. She loved a good murder mystery. Maggie laughed at the huge Twilight section followed by the Charlaine Harris Display.  Harris had it closer to the actual truth. She settled for a copy of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. She had read it before but her copy was worse for wear and she wanted to get a fresh one. She also grabbed a new release that looked promising.

With books in hand she left the bookstore and started walking down the street back towards her car. The weather was still cool. Fall was in full force with is brusk wind. Maggie loved fall. She stopped at the corner to wait for the light to change before crossing. She brought her tea up to her lips and froze as she glanced across the street.

On the opposite corner stood a tall bulky man with grayish brown hair cut short. Maggie didn't dare breathe. She didn't want to alert the man to her presence, but as she stood there staring at him she couldn't move. She was frozen in place with her tea held halfway to her lips. Her arm began to shake with her fear.

The man across the corner continued to look around waiting for the same light to change. When his eyes fell on her he paused. He smiled a bit looking amused at her and then slowly let his smile fall. Move Maggie. She couldn't. She could not will her body to move. The man squinted his eyes at her staring before they went wide with recognition. RIONA MOVE!

Margret's body unfroze and she walked briskly in the opposite direction. She was holding everything in her back to keep from running away from the man alerting him more. She needed to be smart. She directed herself towards groups of people trying to lose him in them, but every time she dared to look back he was still a few yards behind her.

Eventually the dam that held her panic at bay broke and she ran as fast as her legs could carry her. It wasn't long before she grew sluggish as the effects of the tea took its toll. At full strength she might have made it, but she wasn't capable of outrunning him now. Her only hope was to make it to her car before he caught her.  The man was running at her at full force now and gaining ground quickly.

Margret put her whole self into her stride. She felt her hair whip behind her, but did not dare to slow down. She was still running full speed when she ran into another body and the pair almost tumbled over from the force. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her. Maggie immediately began to struggle against them.

"Margret what's wrong?" The more she struggled the tighter the arms became around her. Her captor was yelling at her but she wouldn't relent.

"MAGGIE!" She stopped at the sound of her nickname at looked at the person who held her. Dark blue eyes met her and she stilled. Her lungs gasping for the air her body desperately craved. She looked around her. The man who was chasing her was gone. She was safe for now.

"Goddess Maggie! Are you alright. You looked scared half to death." Faolan still stood in front of her rubbing her arms to comfort her. Her hand had fisted the front of his shirt which was wet. From what she did not know. "Maggie do you need anything? Can I do anything for you?" Faolan face showed concern as he looked down on her. What could she say? Some man was chasing her and she ran for her life. That would just raise more questions.

She looked at her hands which were still scrunched up in his brown t-shirt. She quickly let go and stepped out of reach.

"Forgive me...I..." What did she tell him. She looked around hoping to find an answer somewhere. Any excuse she thought of seemed not plausible. "Um... sorry...I was just going for a run and ran into you."

"A run." Faolan gave her a confused look as if to ask if she was really going to blame the collision on a run. Time to make her excuses and run.

"Yes. Forgive me.... I did not see you.... I will try to be more careful next time... If you'll excuse me." Maggie turned to walk away but was pulled back by the arm.

"Maggie..." Faolan eyebrows were furrowed with concern. Once she met his eye he let go of her arm giving her the space she craved. "You sure you are alright? You'd tell me if you were in trouble right?" Faolan continued to stare at her worried. There was no demand for answers. He could have easily used his Alpha power to rip them out of her but he just waited and allowed her the chance to answer. He was actually being sincere she realized.

"No. I'm fine," She nodded. "Just caught up in my run. Thanks for your concern." Faolan nodded one last time in understanding. Whether he believed her or not, he wasn't pressing it. Maggie gave him a polite smile and then calmly walked away from the Alpha.

..........

Faolan watched as the girl walked away. She said she was fine but he could smell her fear floating around still. She wan't lying when she said she was running but he wondered what it was from. He watched her silently as she walked down along the shops only looking back at him once. It took everything not to run after her. His wolf wanted to grab her and demand to know what danger she ran from so they could eliminate it for her. But Maggie was wary of wolves especially Alpha's. He didn't want to scare her.

Once she walked around the corner Faolan was able to look down at himself. She had splashed him with something upon their impact. It vaguely smelled of lavender, honey and something else. He sniffed his shirt and his nose burned from the inhale. He quickly pulled his nose away. Wolfsbane.

What the hell? Why would a human carry wolfsbane on her? It was taboo to be found with it. If someone were to be discovered with it they would be banished from the pack if not something worse.

Looking around Faolan spotted a small coffee cup with its lid close by. Faolan picked up the cup and smelled it. The same acid smell burned his nose. Inside the cup he saw the dredges of tea leaves swirling inside. She was drinking it? Wolfsbane was know for harming wolves but it was also just as harmful to humans. Why would she willingly drink it?

Faolan pulled his cell phone out and made a call. It two approximately three rings before it connected. The phone was answered in an annoyed tone.

"Dawson speaking," Dawson was the royal pack's doctor. He was brilliant if a little eccentric. He was constantly toiling away at some new project and did not like to be disturbed.

"Dawson, it's Faolan."

"Yes, Alpha" Dawson had corrected his tone addressing Faolan as was appropriate of his rank.

"What do you know about Wolfsbane." There was a pause before Dawson replied

"Apart from the obvious? It's potent against werewolves. When used it weakens us or if in quantities large enough it can actually kill a wolf." Yes Faolan already knew that.

"Want about drinking it?"

"Drinking it sir?"

"Yes, like in a tea or something."

"Sire I'm confused. Is everything alright down there? We're not going to war or anything?" Faolan couldn't blame Dawson for the curiosity. Normally her was forthright with is requests but he didn't want to give too much about Maggie away until he was sure of her intentions.

"I want you to go through all the pack records. See if you can find anything on why someone would willingly drink wolfsbane. I expect the information upon your arrival."

"Of course Alpha, I'll get right on it." Faolan ended the call. One thing was for sure. Maggie was hiding something. He just didn't know what.