"Dead? What do you mean dead?"<br/><br/>Of course, Stellan was already quite aware of Alden's death, and how his body was most likely buried somewhere deep in the forests in a shallow grave, perhaps already picked clean if any scavengers had managed to dig up the corpse. Werewolves in Lofgren's pack didn't put so much ceremony into death like humans did. Once a wolf was dead, he was useless to the pack, and though his memory lived on in those who appreciated his company, spending countless hours, days, or months mourning did no one any good. It didn't benefit the pack. The sun still rose and set, the moon still waxed and waned. Bitches and pups still needed to be fed. Alden was dead, and Stellan had taken a moment to think on this as he rode his bike back to pack territory, but Lofgren didn't know that. Feigning shock was the easiest thing he could do to keep Lofgren from asking him any more disagreeable questions.<br/><br/>"One of Sieger's wolves? Alden was never very combative. I dunno what would make him want to challenge a wolf from Sieger's pack." That, at least, was true. Stellan had assumed Eivind had killed Alden as a way to get back at Lofgren, just an arbitrary casualty, but the tidbit that Alden had been the one to challenge Eivind put a wrench in that explanation. What could have possibly caused Alden to do something so stupid? Alden should have been able to smell immediately that Eivind was an alpha. He'd have no chance.<br/><br/>Lofgren shrugged off his questions about Colten. Wherever the young wolf was, it didn't seem to be much of a concern. Stellan was even more eager now to probe the spry lupine with questions. Knowing why Eivind attempted to hunt him down might possibly shed more light on what the fuck was going on.<br/><br/>Stellan wasn't expecting his alpha to bring up the old wolf and his brows knit together with concern. Jamsen and his father had been good friends prior to Edmun van Houten's death, and while Stellan considered all members of his pack to be an extended family just by default, Jamsen was probably the only one he truly felt close to. Stellan was well aware that Jamsen was no fan of Lofgren's, considering the hulking wolf to be nothing more than a spoiled, violent pup in a brute's body. But Jamsen had always been quiet in his disagreements with Lofgren, maintaining his position as second merely by keeping the pack intact behind the scenes. For the graying wolf to physically challenge Lofgren at all Jamsen must have been gravely offended by the alpha's actions. Things were becoming more confusing with each careless word Lofgren spoke.<br/><br/>"I'll visit him soon," Stellan remarked stoically, briefly licking at a scrape on his forearm, still trickling blood. "It's gonna be a short visit, I'm afraid. I have some business back in the city. Money opportunity. Big payday." Another lie, but it didn't matter to him much. Stellan was good at finding odd jobs and getting work when he could, and sending a good portion of his money back to the pack was something not unusual for him.<br/><br/>It seemed their scuffle had attracted attention, and a few of Stellan's packmates came skulking out from the woods, Colten among them. Lofgren's comment didn't go unnoticed as he walked off, most likely eager to find another solitary area to laze about now that Stellan had been put in his place. The other wolves gathered around, and Stellan waited patiently while they took him in, recalled his scent, most instinctively baring their throats in case Stellan wanted to nip, though he rarely did.<br/><br/>Stellan tried to focus on the young wolf's scent, intermingled with all the rest. Though he caught it easily enough, he couldn't detect any hint of recent sexual activity on him. "You have fun while I was gone, Colt?" Stellan queried, wrapping his thick arm around the young man's shoulders and pulling him close. "What's this I hear 'bout you finally breeding? You don't smell like you found a mate."<br/><br/>A harsh snarl sounded from behind Stellan, causing the wolf to snap his head back. Garlan stood a few feet away, hands crossed over his scarred chest. "Colt didn't find any damn mate. Wasn't breeding, either. Just sticking his dick in some human slut," he growled.<br/><br/>"Human?" Stellan repeated, frowning. "Where'd you get a human, Colten?"