“The ninth, that’s what the symbol means.” She said.
“What day is it?” Thomas asked.
“Tuesday, why?”
“He’s not asking for the day of the week, he’s asking for the day of the month. And coincidentally, today is the 9th day of the 9th month, so she must be right about the symbol.”
“I don’t think that’s it.” She said and rubbed her head to relieve the ache she started feeling again. “I think it’s the mountains.”
“Well, I only count eight mountains, so it’s most likely the dates.”
“She’s right, it’s not the date, it’s the mountains.” Thomas said.
“Either your math skills are below par, one of us is blind, or this mate thing is seriously screwimg with your head.”
“I’ll explain when we get back. Right now, my wolf is restless because she’s hungry.”
“I’m not hungry.” She said and he smirked.
“Honey, I kept you up most of the night, so I have to feed you.” He nuzzled her neck as he walked.
“Both of you please dial it down. You’re torturing me with your pheromones. I can’t join this rescue mission if I die of blue balls you know.” Carson said.
“You’ve been celibate for a whole day. It’s a miracle.” Jerald snorted.
“That won’t be the case anymore if Tommy here doesn’t keep it in his pants in public.”
They got back to the pack house they were all staying in, cleaned up, ate breakfast and met in Thomas’ office.
“We have a prison at the edge of my pack’s territory, close to the mountains. It was nicknamed the ‘9th mountain” because of their proximity.
“Okay, so we’re supposed to go on a quest to your pack’s prison?”
“When I was younger, my mother used to tell me stories about the 9th mountain. She said dangerous things lurked beneath the prison.”
“Beneath? Beneath means going underground. How do we do that if the prison is built on ground level? I’ve never heard of prisons having basements.”
“There’s a part of the prison no one goes to for some reason. My mother said the darkness is so thick there, it could choke you.”
“Your mother clearly didn’t know what stories are inappropriate for pups.”
“So do we need to check the place out?”
“No, we just need to get there before the full moon rises. The rest of the lines we’ll figure out when it’s time I guess.” He sighed. “For now, the preparations for the festival tonight are in full swing. Everyone thinks I invited you all here for the festival.”
“It’s better they think that for now till we have this thing figured out. There’s no need to raise an alarm.”
“Let’s hope we all come back in one piece for the ceremony.” Carson sighed.
LATER THAT NIGHT
“We need to get going, it’s almost time, I can feel it.” Thomas said.
“You guys ready? We need to leave” Margaret asked as she joined them and Thomas frowned.
“We? Maggie you’re not coming with us, it could be dangerous.”
“I’m coming whether you like it or not. One is because I won’t let you do this alone, and two is because of the line of the prophecy that says ‘Do not despise the power of eight.’.”
“That line was about the mountains.”
“There are 9 mountains remember? 7 Alphas and a Luna make 8. I’m coming.” She said and Thomas sighed. He knew there was no way to change her mind.
“Fine.” He agreed begrudgingly. “I just don’t want anything to hurt you Maggie. The thought of that scares me.” He pulled her closer and she smiled.
“Don’t worry Tommy, I’ll protect you, and you’ll protect me.”
“Can we leave? We have a deadline to keep to.” Keith frowned and they separated.
Thomas led them to the prison, the ninth mountain.
“It’s eerily quiet.” Carson said as they got there and stepped past the gate.
“The cells are empty. The elders insisted that the prisoners be allowed to join the festival.”
“And you think they’ll want to return here after tasting sweet freedom?”
“They’re aren’t completely free, I’m not stupid. They’re in open cells, specifically built for the occasion, so they’re part of the festivities but at the same time not part. Most of the prisoners are unstable, I’m not crazy enough to trust them, especially with so many pups around.” He said as he led them deeper into the prison.
Hayden turned and stared at the cell with the number 9 as they passed by it.
It was dark but they didn’t need lights, their wolves had excellent night vision. They all paused at an archway that had stone steps leading down.
“This is it.” Thomas said.
“I can’t see beyond the first step.” Raymond said.
“Neither can I.” Keith said. “It looks impossibly dark.”
Thomas brought out a rope he came with and stretched it out.
“Just a precaution so we don’t lose each other.”
It was long enough so each twined it around their waist and they were now in a single line with Thomas at the front and Margaret right behind him.
“Here goes nothing.” He said as he took the first step forward.