Capítulo 43

"Have a seat," Jason nodded as he grabbed a folder from his desk.

Reed stepped into the office, wildly 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. It wasn't all that unusual for the Wolf Council to send a representative to a Luna Ceremony, especially when it involved one of the larger packs, but 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: healing rate increased fifty percent, scar formation decreased sixty percent, and such. 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 for more details."

"What do you mean..."

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, so..."

"She's also here," Jason said. "One of my warriors is her mate, so she naturally came with us."

Reed sucked in a breath, slowly processing everything he had been told. Two she-wolves, working independently, had managed to create a medicine to heal silver wounds, a feat 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. Silver was deadly to werewolves, which made it an effective weapon against rogues. 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 that a Luna, of all wolves, would employ it so readily and harm pack members without a thought was unbelievable.

"I see," Reed nodded. It would certainly give anyone, especially a Luna, motivation for a cure.

"As you know, my pack specializes in security," Jason said, "we now own the patent to this medicine but we lack the facilities and infrastructure to manufacture and distribute it effectively."

Reed settled in his seat, understanding Jason's meaning. Blue Moon would never be able to manufacture enough medicine to benefit more than his own pack and maybe one or two others. 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. Partnering with another pack meant less immediate profits for his own pack but ensured wider distribution of the medicine, which would mean greater profits overall. 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."

"They are," Reed nodded. "But some are rather difficult to use. Comfrey, for example, is poisonous if not managed properly. 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. Though he lacked knowledge in herbs, this had already been discussed with Bridget and Phoebe. Aloud he said, "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 has medical uses as long as it is used with caution. But removing vervain or substituting it would make it safer for vampires and give them the same benefits it gives us."

There was still some animosity between werewolves and vampires, so it was possible offering a healing balm would help establish 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.

"The balm was tested with the Fae as well, as I understand it," Jason glanced at Ansel.

"Yes. That is correct. 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 was a myriad of possibilities and Jason was astute enough to see it. Still, it left questions about supply, in particular with the herbs. Reed looked at Jason to see his eyes glazed and distant. He knew instantly 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."

"Right... in the pool? What are you wearing?"

"My bikini. Why?"

A growl slipped into Jason's mindlink before he could stop it. It was just like before. 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 stifled 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 is small, but they've been cultivating herbs. They specialize in harder-to-grow and rare herbs. Their operation is small, but they have room to expand with the right capital 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 brought 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 Adams.

"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 at the Alpha who joined them. He wasn't sure what Jason's intentions were. Harvest Moon wasn't the only pack specializing in medicine, after all. 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 the medicine would be possible.

"How large are those fields?" Reed asked. "How much can you harvest?"