Healing His Broken Luna.... Chapter 113

Chapter 26 - Swamp

Lukas POV

"So, if we find him, what do you want us to do?" Angelo asked me.

"Let him know I have an urgent matter, involving powerful magic and need his help. I'm willing to pay anything."

"Do you want us to bring him back here?" Camille asked.

"No, we can meet him anywhere he wants us to. We just need him to agree to help us. Angelo, let Camille do the talking, he might feel more at ease with a local."

"Alright. I don't know if the mind link will reach from that distance, but I've got my cell phone if you need to get ahold of us." Angelo said as they left for the cemetery.

Our hotel is the garden district, so I was within walking distance to Lafayette Cemetery. I made my way towards Washington Avenue and walked by the black iron gates that were closed. I kept walking and decided to climb a tree to scale over the concrete wall of the cemetery. I realized the wall was very thick and it wasn't until I dropped down on the other side that I noticed the wall that surrounded the cemetery was actually a burial wall. It was stacked with four levels of internment chambers.

I tried to stay in the shadows, some of the crypts were much taller than me. I looked around and could feel an unusual vibe, maybe it really is ghosts giving me the heebee geebees.

"Great, now you sound like Angelo." Luke scoffed. "The sooner we find Magnus, the sooner we can set my mate free."

"You're right. We're still a little early so let's find a place to sit and watch." I told him.

The graveyard was mostly concrete and brick, with some patches of dirt and trees. Over the years as the concrete cracked, weeds, ferns and other lush plants grew through the cracks of the floor, up the walls and on the roofs of the crypts. A witch would have to put some real effort trying to collect dirt through small cracks. I sat in the shadow of a tree that had overgrown vines growing around its bark. If I needed to, I could always use my element to restrain someone with the vines.

"Or you could just use two neck ties." Luke snickered at me.

I looked at my cell phone and it was a quarter to midnight. I had observed two female witches also scale the wall and walk off in the opposite direction. I decided to walk around and see if I could sense anyone else there. Nothing.

It was one in the morning when my cell phone rang. I was just leaving the cemetery and answered it.

"Any luck?" I asked Angelo.

"Just a few human voodoo practitioners and a few low ranked witches." He said. "You?"

"Nothing. Think you can ask Camille to talk to her father and see if he knows anything else about Magnus or how to find him?"

"Sure thing. Listen, the beignet place is open around the clock, you want us to bring you some back?" He asked.

"I'm good. Thanks. See you in the morning." I hung up and raced back to my mate.

When I entered the room, I found a still tied, sleeping little mouse in my bed. I stripped my shoes and clothes off by the door and walked towards the bed. I considered giving her that punishment I promised but decided to save it. I didn't want to deliver the unsuccessful news of the night to her and worry her.

I quietly untied her wrists and climbed into the bed, pulling her to my chest. Her scent alone calmed me and eased my frustration. I wondered if my parents had any luck finding the other grand wizard, Ezra.

Angelo woke me in the morning with a mind link. "Camille is off work today, and she's planning on visiting her parents. She asked if we wanted to join her and you can ask her father or Alpha Chatom about Magnus."

"Already meeting the parents." I teased. "What time is she leaving?"

"In about an hour." He said.

"We'll meet you downstairs for breakfast."

I looked down and found Syble was awake and looking up at me. "How did it go last night?" She asked.

"Uneventful, but Camille has invited us to visit her pack today and ask her father about Magnus. We leave in an hour."

It was just after ten in the morning and we sat in an air-boat operated by a low ranking wolf who seemed to know Camille. He greeted her in French, and she instructed him to take us to the pack. He kept his head bowed in submission and I could sense his nervousness from my Alpha aura. Of course, he wasn't the only anxious wolf on the boat.

"We're sitting kind of low here. Can alligators jump out of the water?" Angelo asked.

"If one does, I'll turn it into delicious Cajun fried alligator fillets for you." Camille smiled and sat down next to Angelo.

"What other animals live in the waters here?" He asked.

"The usual, bull sharks, alligators, snakes, flying wolves."

"Flying wolves?" Angelo asked.

"Yes. You. I'm going to throw you overboard if you don't put on your earmuffs so we can take off." We all laughed as she placed the muffs over his head.

The big fan started buzzing and the boat started gliding over the water and the wetlands. The deeper we got into the swamp, the thicker the trees got. We glided right by a wild boar who didn't even flinch when we passed. A few small houses up on stilts could be seen along the water, and we even passed some patches of high ground that had nice homes built on them.

Thirty minutes later, we arrived at a dock that had several acres of high flat ground with dozens of mobile homes and trailers. The homes were very well maintained and backed up to the woods.

"A big fancy pack house way out in the swampland's would have attracted lots of attention. The weather here is mild, humid of course, but mostly mild and most of the pack members prefer to spend their time outdoors." Camille told us.

"Very smart." I told her and she smiled. I stepped off the boat onto the dock first and turned to help my mate step out safely, then Camille and even offered a hand to Angelo who batted it away.

"There are more houses situated in the woods and an outdoor training arena." She said as she led the way to an outdoor dining area where a big fire was being stacked.

"It's Sunday, we do a big crawfish and shrimp boil on Sunday."

"IS THAT MY BABY GIRL?" A large high ranking wolf approached and judging by the nervous look on Angelo's face, it appeared to be Camille's father.

"Hi Daddy." She smiled and hugged him.

"You've brought home an Alpha." He looked at me and he dropped his head in submission to my aura though he tried very hard to resist.

"Daddy, this is Alpha Lukas LaRue Theodorus-"

"A pleasure to meet you Alpha." He quickly added as soon as he heard my name. "Your Uncle Ranger LaRue is an old friend of our previous Alpha. His son, Alpha Chatom, will be pleased to meet you. Welcome to Rougarou Pack."

"Thank you." I added.

"Daddy, this is the Alpha's mate, Syble, and his Beta, Angelo. This is my father Beta Cody LeBlanc."

Her father stared at Angelo for a moment, they were nearly the same size. His eyes moved to Camille and back to Angelo as the tension seemed to build between the Betas. "Well Beta? Are you going to make an honest woman of my baby girl or what?"

"DADDY!" Camille screeched. "It's okay Angelo, he's just kid-"

"I would love to." Angelo said before she could dismiss the comment her father made.

"What? Really?" Camille looked at Angelo with shock.

"Absolutely." He grinned and she threw her arms around his neck. 

"Welcome to the family son." Beta LeBlanc beamed at both of them and Angelo finally looked at ease. "Now, get him in there and introduce him to your mamma and brothers. I'm taking the Alpha and Luna to meet with Alpha Chatom."

"Good luck." I mind linked Angelo as Camille led him to the Beta home. I couldn't be happier for Angelo; Camille is perfect for him.

We followed Camille's father into the woods and a large home came into view. He led us inside and we were greeted with refreshments.

"Alpha Lukas LaRue Theodorus, Luna Syble, I'd like you to meet Alpha Chatom." Camille's father introduced us.

"What a pleasure to have you here, Alpha Lukas, Luna. Please, sit down." Alpha Chatom eagerly greeted us. I sat with Syble on my lap, who sipped her lemonade.

"Thank you for meeting with us." I told him.

"I met your Uncle Ranger when I was a pup, he was a friend of my late father. May I say, the LaRue genes run strong in your family, the resemblance is uncanny."

"Thank you. My Grandfather Diesel and Uncle Ranger could have been mistaken for twins despite a few years age difference."

"I understand you're the only one who has not taken a pack yet. You're not here to take mine are you?" He nervously laughed and I chuckled.

"Of course not. Camille LeBlanc is my Beta's new mate. You're now part of our family's alliance." I assured him.

"What great news! Camille is wonderful and will no doubt fulfill the Beta female position with excellence."

"We're honored to have her. I have yet to select a pack as I've just found my own mate and Luna. I wanted to wait until the Moon Goddess' blessing had finally come to fruition before I move forward to claim a pack or conjoin a few."

"Will you remain in the States or return to Europe?" He asked.

"I've yet to decide. But rest assured, Camille will have full access to return for regular visits. We will also be honored to receive visits from anyone in this pack."

"That's very gracious of you Alpha. I expected nothing less from a LaRue." He smiled.

"Alpha, we also have another urgent item of business we're hoping you or Beta LeBlanc can help us with. There seems to be a binding curse on my mate that keeps her from shifting. We were told that only the witch who cast it can break it, or a grand warlock."

"You're looking for Magnus?" He asked.

"Yes. He's been hard to track down." I said.

"There's only a dozen grand warlocks and witches on the seven continents. They usually conduct most of their important work at night, which means they sleep during the daylight hours to restore their energy. I understand that Magnus has a home that sits on Lake Pontchartrain, large, grand. He also has a home in Paris, so I'm not sure if he's in Louisiana or not."

"We missed him at the French Quarter a few days ago, I think he's still here. Any idea how we find the house?"

"I've heard, though I'm not sure, that it sits on the south shore of the lake. Your wolf should be able to sense the energy coming from the house. He's very powerful. I don't care for witches, but if anyone can break the curse, it will be him."

"Thank you."

"Of course. I imagine you probably haven't had the chance to take your wolf out for a run in the city. You're more than welcome to stretch out and enjoy our woods. It would also be an honor to have you join us for the Sunday boil before your return."

"Sounds wonderful. Thank you Alpha." Syble smiled.

We sat at a large table with a pile of crawfish, shrimps, sausages, potatoes, and corn, piled high in the middle of the table on butcher paper. Syble peeled a jumbo shrimp and lifted it to my mouth, I couldn't resist nibbling and sucking on her fingers.

"How did you enjoy the run?" Camille's mother asked us. Camille had taken us for a nice run through the woods and wetlands while Syble enjoyed a ride on Luke's back.

"It was wonderful and unique. It takes a lot of effort to run in the mud, but I enjoy the feel of earth and water on my paws." I told her. Luke was happy to blow off some steam before we needed to leave and find Magnus' house. Angelo almost caught a raccoon; that is, until a coiled snake scared him off.

An hour later, we thanked Alpha Chatom and the Beta family for their help and hospitality. Camille called for the air-boat to return us and we walked down to the small dock to board the boat. I placed the earmuffs on Syble's head and held her close next to me.

"I saw something moving over there. Is that a snake?" Angelo asked and Camille placed her hand on his knee to calm him.

The buzzing of the fan kicked in and we zipped by the sights we passed on the way here. Twenty minutes later, the boat slowed down as we maneuvered a tight squeeze in the water around some fallen trees. I was considering moving them with my element to help when I noticed several red eyes stepping out of the surrounding wooded area, snarling at us.

Their foul stench carried in the breeze and hit my nose. I let out a ferocious growl.

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