Chapter 43
Chapter 43
“Have a seat,” Jason nodded as he grabbed a folder from his desk.
Reed stepped into the office still apprehensive and he was surprised to see they were not alone.
Seated in a chair, Elder Ansel benignly smiled as he sipped his coffee.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Jason said. “I asked Elder Ansel here so that he could answer any
questions you have.”
Reed nodded to their elder. Now he was confused and intrigued. Luna Ceremonies were usually conducted by a member of the Wolf Council, so Ansel’s presence was not unexpected, but now Reed was even more intrigued. They weren’t generally needed for an alpha meeting and certainly
not an informal meeting between two alphas. He watched Jason curiously as he joined them.
“Coffee?”
“No, thank you,” Reed shook his head.
“Very well. Please take a look at this,” Jason handed him the file and sat quietly as he looked it
over.
Opening it, Reed quickly read through it. His pack specialized in medicine, so he easily identified the results of a medical trial. Flipping over the first sheet, he found a series of photographs, depicting a young she-wolf with four deep lacerations across her cheek. There were five pictures
total, showing the healing of the wounds until the final picture where she was fully healed. There
were no scars and one would find it difficult to believe she had been wounded at all. What was
even more remarkable was that the duration between pictures was only twenty-four hours..
“And what am I looking at?” Reed finally asked.
“Two weeks ago, my pack applied for a patent for a new healing balm,” Jason explained. “That is the result of our study as well as the Council’s preliminary study. The pictures are of a she-wolf in this very pack, who was wounded and received treatment with the balm. It is designed to heal wounds inflicted by silver.”
Reed had been ready to shrug off the results until Jason delivered the final sentence. His eyes went wide with shock, though Jason remained calm. Reed’s gaze flickered to the elder.
“I can confirm everything Alpha Jason said is true,” Ansel nodded.
“But…how?”
“I’m afraid I don’t have the knowledge or expertise to even begin to explain the medicine or the process to make it,” Jason admitted. “You’d have to ask Phoebe or Bridget for more details.”
“Why would…you mean..”
Chapter 43
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Jason nodded with a smile, “Phoebe and her good friend created it in her kitchen no less, using herbs from her garden. Her friend is a nurse.”
“But she only recently arrived here,” Reed said, “which means this was developed elsewhere, in her former pack. Shouldn’t the patent belong to them?”
“If the Luna and her friend used any of their pack’s facilities, then yes,” Ansel agreed. “Since it was
created in her private home without relying on pack supplies, we determined it should belong to
the she-wolves who created it, giving their current pack full rights to a patent.”
“But still…the other she-wolf is a nurse.”
“She’s also here,” Jason said. “One is her mate, so she naturally came with us.”
Howly of my warriors
Reed sucked in a breath, slowly processing everything he had been told. Two she-wolves, working
independently, had managed to create a medicine hundreds had tried and failed to do. It sounded
like a fairytale, but with the Elder present he had to conclude it was the truth. One of those
she-wolves was the destined Luna of one of the largest, most influential packs in the entire world.
“Why would they ever attempt such an enterprise?” Reed wondered out loud.
“I don’t suppose there is any harm in revealing details,” Jason replied. “The Luna of their former
pack liked to paint her nails with silver. She also liked to turn her claws on pack members if she
was displeased.”
Reed stiffened. She-wolves were generally weaker than males, but also faster. A quick strike with
silver was not the most ludicrous idea for an attack technique. But actually painting their nails with
the deadly substance was a new technique most shunned because of the risk of harming allies or themselves with exposure. The thought a Luna, of all wolves, would employ it so readily and harm
pack members was unbelievable.
“I see,” Reed nodded. It would certainly give anyone, especially Luna, motivation for a cure.
“We now own the patent for this medicine, but we lack the facilities and infrastructure to manufacture and distribute it effectively,” Jason said. “It would take us months, maybe years, to
build it.”
Reed settled in his seat, understanding Jason’s meaning. If the medicine was going to benefit the
werewolf community as a whole, Blue Moon would have to build the proper facilities, or partner with a pack already possessing such facilities. For this endeavor, Jason selected Harvest Moon. Reed felt honored, but that didn’t mean he was ready to commit just yet.
“Just how difficult is this medicine to make?”
“It’s too early to be giving you details about the process,” Jason said. “But I can tell you the ingredients: chamomile, sage, thyme, comfrey, vervain and balsam. As I understand, they are herbs easily cultivated as long as the conditions are right.”
Akunte d
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“They are,” Reed nodded, “but some can be difficult to use. Comfrey, for example, is poisonous if
not properly managed. And vervain is not easily acquired since it’s not widely cultivated. Its main use is against vampires. Since the end of the werewolf-vampire wars, no one has had much reason
to grow it in great quantities.”
Jason nodded, saying, “So I’ve been told. Bridget mentioned the possibility of substituting vervain to make a vampire-friendly version.”
“Nearly every poison has medical benefits if used in the right preparations,” Reed agreed, “even
wolfsbane, but removing vervain or substituting it is the only option if we want to offer a balm to
give vampires the same benefit.”
There was still some animosity between werewolves and vampires, so offering a healing balm
could help maintain friendly relations with them. But in order to create, it would mean further
experimentation and trials that Reed’s pack would be able to handle.
“I wonder why vampires can’t build up a tolerance to it,” Jason said.
“My pack has researched it in the past,” Reed admitted, “but we never had conclusive results. Not
many vampires are willing to sign up for medical trials.”
“The balm was tested with the Fae, as I understand it,” Jason glanced at Ansel.
L
“Yes. It was effective against silver wounds and to a lesser extent iron ones. As you know, iron is quite deadly to the Fae.”
Reed nodded. Just as with vampires, there was the possibility of adjusting the formula to make it
more effective for the Fae and other creatures. There were a myriad of possibilities and Jason was
astute enough to see it. Still, it left questions about supply, in particular, the needed herbs. Reed
looked at Jason to see his eyes glazed and distant. He instantly knew the alpha was mindlinking
someone,
“How goes the negotiation?” Phoebe’s voice intruded and Jason willingly turned his attention to her.
“He is definitely intrigued. What about you?”
“The other Lunas don’t seem very impressed with my pool party idea. Oh, well.”
Jason was ready to console her, but she didn’t seem concerned. Some Lunas held their positions
for decades, so it wasn’t any wonder most wouldn’t want to alter the status quo. Even so, he
wanted her to be accepted for no other reason than for her to have more friends and
acquaintances. But perhaps Phoebe was more comfortable with a smaller group.
“Pool party, huh? So what are you doing now?”
“Sitting in the pool chatting with Lucille, Norah and the daycare wolves.
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“Right-in the pool? What are you wearing?”
Chapter 43
“My bikini. Why?”
+25 Points
A growl slipped into Jason’s mindlink before he could stop it. It was just like back at Rimrock. His mate was wearing practically nothing while his warriors watched. Phoebe’s laughter intruded, distracting his thoughts. He relaxed. Even through a mindlink it was an intoxicating sound.
“These are your handpicked warriors chosen to be my guard…and two of them are female.”
Jason stified a chuckle. That was right. Garrison’s team had taken over their duties. Watching over
Phoebe during the gathering and ceremony was their first official assignment.
“So how are negotiations?”
“Good…although Reed has brought up a concern that it may be difficult to procure some of the herbs.
Comfrey and vervain particularly.”
“In that case, you should introduce him to Alpha Atticus of Peace River.”
“Who?”
“His pack specializes in harder to grow and rare herbs. Their operation is small, but they have room to
expand with the right capitol and support.”
“How do you know this?”
“I’m talking to his Luna now.
Jason shook his head, unable to stop his smile as he opened a new mindlink, “Luke.”
“Yep.”
“Do you know Alpha Atticus of Peace River?”
“Yeah. He’s still in the dining hall.”
“Invite him to my office.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very.”
Jason stood as he closed the link and went to his cabinet. Selecting scotch, he took several
glasses to the table before pouring. Reed watched him.
“Prematurely celebrating?” the other alpha asked.
“Not quite,” Jason smirked as a knock at the door announced the arrival of their visitor. “Come in.”
“Alpha Atticus,” Luke announced, letting in the nervous wolf.
Atticus was on the shorter side for an Alpha, but had broad shoulders, giving him the build of a linebacker. He had reddish-brown hair and sported a full beard, making him look like Grizzly
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“Please, come in and join us,” Jason smiled. “Ansel, Reed, Alpha Atticus of Peace River. Atticus, Alpha Reed and Elder Ansel.”
Reed raised an eyebrow as the alpha joined them. He wasn’t sure what Jason’s intentions were. Harvest Moon wasn’t the only pack specializing in medicine. Perhaps Jason meant for them to compete for the rights to make and distribute the balm.
“Atticus, my Luna tells me your pack specializes in herbs,” Jason said after they sat down again.” Does that include comfrey and vervain?”
“Y-yes. We currently have a field of each.”
Jason glanced at Reed, whose eyes suddenly lit up with understanding. If Peace River could
guarantee a supply, then manufacturing large quantities of medicine would be possible.
“How large are those fields?” Reed asked. “How much can you harvest?”
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