Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Aron
The longer I stare at the whiskey, the more I feel tempted.
Hands run down my chest as a certain voice settles behind me. “Do you want more? Or are you done drinking for now?” Valerie’s voice trails from my back.
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She’s dressed in nothing but white lace. Her lips have a faded tint to them as she presses them onto my cheek. I tip the glass up, tilting all the liquid down my throat. I swallow it, letting the heavy, distinct burn sear inside my throat.
I tap the table before leaning back into the couch. She is on me again. Her hands all over, her mouth so willing to serve me.
“Kovas told me you were lonely,” She whispers in my ear. “Are you still?”
My phone buzzes on the side. I glance at the number and then continue to ignore it. Taking any calls right now isn’t my priority. I’ve got other things in mind, and they’re the ones that are important.
My fingers find her hair, pulling on it and positioning her just where I want her.
“Do not-
There’s another sound. It’s a knock this time. My body stiffens, and I groan, considering whether I want to be disturbed or not. Maybe not. Maybe yes. It doesn’t matter because whoever is on the other side of the door walks in without waiting for my permission.
“Oh,” Kovas slows on his steps. “Well, I think I came at the right time. Valerie, why don’t you return home and call it a day? I think we’re done here.”
“I haven’t even started,” I say, glancing back at him.
“You won’t need to.”
He steps toward me, and at the same time, Valarie leaves the room with nothing but disappointment on her face. Kovas nears and hands me his phone, which displays a call from an unknown number, similar to the one that was calling me.
“What?”
“It’s important,” He nudges his phone to me. “Take it.”
I take it from his hand and bring it to my ear to hear who’s on the other side of the phone. There’s a male. I can tell that from the breathing alone.
“Yes?”
“I’m Tony,” he pauses for a second and continues. “I–I work here, at the Blackfang pack house. And–I know a girl, Rhea, and I also know about her connection to you.”
I pull the phone away from my ear and take another glance at the number. My brows furrow. “And?”
“I–I don’t know how to explain this, but-” He pauses. Again. “She was framed to assassinate Alpha Elias, and they are planning to execute her tonight. Midnight.” The boy on the other end is hesitant and unconfident, clearly nervous and unsure if what he’s doing is the right thing. It doesn’t help him, however; I catch on to every single word he says the moment he mentions the girl, and my eyes go sharp.
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“And there’s something more you should probably know if you’re interested-”
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I take a deep breath while glancing at Kovas, who’s pacing back and forth in front of me. He stops when I look at him. And then there’s that moment when we share a look and a conversation silently.
“Tell me,” I say.
And he continues. I momentarily blank out as he goes on and on. His words are so outrageous, even farfetched, that the corners of my eyes tighten with disbelief. When he’s done, I drag the phone away from my car and end the call.
Then, it’s silence.
“What do you say?” Kovas questions, curious.
I gaze at him and remain quiet before pulling my head back. “Well, I’m no longer tied to the girl.”
“You’re going to let this happen?”
+23)
My hand falls over my forehead. “Are you surprised?” I mutter. “Of course, I can’t let this happen. Isn’t it obvious?” I tell him, getting up from the couch.
Kovas steps back, allowing me room, “What do we do?”
“Get the title deed on the land on the east border from my office. It’s in one of the side drawers. And then meet me in the
car.”
He nods to himself. I pick up my coat and glance outside the window before leaving. It’s early in the evening; the sun has set. And if I’m right, there are only five hours until midnight–four of which are going to be spent on the drive to the Blackfang territory.
And precisely one to spare a presumptuous girl from her doom.
I take Kovas along with me and leave my Beta in charge while I’m gone. It won’t be long, just a night, I tell myself. But I don’t know what will actually happen when it comes to getting into the Blackfang territory and meeting her and seeing her.
It’s been a lifetime.
Though, there’s nothing I feel anymore toward her. The bond I felt, the connection–it’s broken and irreparable. Maybe it’s pity I feel for her now, or perhaps it’s just seeing her come crashing down from her high horse that amuses me.
It does feel good.
I had forgotten what she looked like, not completely, of course. Only bits and pieces as the days went by. Now, she’s a mere face, which I don’t mind forgetting.
When we leave the territory and head down toward the Blackfang territory, I notice the skies becoming a dark, dull grey. The weather looks ugly and torrential. There’s no guarantee it isn’t going to storm soon. And if a storm arrives, it will be far more difficult to get where we had to be in time.
Kovas places the car on full speed and drives.
The roads are empty, unsurprisingly. No sane man would want to be caught in a threatening weather like this.
A drop of rain lands on the glass window soon. Then, there’s another drop, and then another, and yet another. Until the pouring goes on for an hour. We are miles off, and miles still have to be covered.
Kovas speeds on, tires skid on the wet road.
Time nears midnight, and a massive thunder crackles in the sky. As he drives into the Blackfang territory, the skies roars
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with heavy downpour.
“I’m a little curious as to what you are going to do when we’re there,” Kovas admits cautiously. “Especially with the deed you asked me to bring along.”
“That is a last resort.”
He glances at me before returning his eyes to the road. “And what’s the first one?”
“You’ll know.”
I plop open my pocket watch and watch the time. The dial reads exactly an hour before midnight, just as 1 assumed.
The front guards at the gate of the pack house allow us in, no questions asked. The other car behind, with severd of my men, follows us into the driveway, and then we come to a complete halt.
“Tell the others to stay put,” I say, getting out of the car. “And you come with me.”
I start my way into the pack house. It’s an absurd tradition to have such kinds of houses built and used. If I cared enough to show opinion, I’d say the entire custom needs to be chucked into the dust.
But alas, a pack house is a pack’s symbol of power–or at least was once.
Now, it doesn’t really hold much meaning anymore. And it’s far easier to attack a pack if they have a pack house, considering that all the important wolves are under one roof, easier to be killed in one sweep rather than individually. It’s almost suicidal and completely unnecessary, this pack house thing.
When I step inside, I don’t see anyone at first. Everything is quiet, and the place is mostly clear. However, a moment later, 1 can hear feet scurrying toward me. I turn and look at the woman who approaches me.
“Alpha Aron?” She eyes me. “You came right on time.”
“You’re aware.”
“I’m aware,” She gives me a nod. “Some rumors were being spread and Rhea confided into me a while ago, the whole truth. I had Tony, a staff member here, try to contact you to try to change Alpha Elias’s mind.”
“Well, where is she?”
Ethel bows her head. “In the cellar behind the house. However, I’d suggest that you speak with the Alpha first before seeing her. It would raise suspicion otherwise, as no one else knows of your connection with her.”
I think and look down momentarily, “Where is Elias?”
“I’ll lead you to him. Follow me.”
Kovas and I follow behind her without further words and make our way to the upstairs floor of the pack house. Compared to the days I’ve stayed here before, there’s a shift in the air, and the house appears to be far quieter.
The woman leads me toward Elias‘ office, which I enter, and then she leaves.
“Aron,” The Alpha of the Blackfang pack immediately rises from his desk and comes forward. “What an unexpected visit! Please, come in. Have a seat.” He motions his hand toward the seats near the desk.
I make my way into the room before I catch onto something that wasn’t there the last time. A female’s scent over Elias. It doesn’t take me by surprise as I’ve already learned that he has taken a mate, one I had already bet at that mating ball weeks
ago.
I settle down, and Kovas stands behind me even when he has an offer to sit. I’ve gotten accustomed to him doing this in
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places I go and decide to no longer draw any attention to it or force him to sit.
Elias speaks, “What brings you here? Especially in such, He glances at the window. “Awful weather”
“Well, I was nearby dealing with some matters, so I thought I’d pay a visit, I admit. “And I would lie if I didn’t admit that I’ve heard of some interesting news about your pack”
He sits up, stiffens, and sighs, “You heard if too, then?”
“A little,” I say. “The attempted assassination was–interesting, to say the least
“Interesting might be a decent way to put it. Otherwise, it’s nothing but disturbing” Elias picks up his cup of tea that sits on the edge of the desk and drinks from it. He seems terrified, a little out of himself,
Did my dear mate really try to kill him?
I cross my fingers under my chin and lean on my elbow, “And who, pray tell, was the person who tried such a thing?
“A runt. If it weren’t for my second in command sniffing out the potent drug in my tea yesterday morning, my wolf would’ve probably already died by now,” He heaves in, and there’s another hesitant sip of his tea. “Oh, you must have seen her that day. In the library. That short one.”
I nod, acting as if I’m not already aware of it all. Of course, I need a ruse. I can’t come inside someone’s territory and demand for a girl who’s about to be killed.
“What do you plan on doing with her?”
Elias twists his mouth. “Punishment has to be set for an act as outrageous as this, so I’ve decided to use an old punishment since nothing of the current punishment fit. Death by fire that’s laced with silver dust and wolfsbane. It’ll be tonight. My people must be already preparing for it. I’d invite you to come and witness it, too. That’s if you’re interested”
I lean back against the seat and bring my hands to rest on my lap.
Kovas goes stiff behind me, and I glance over my
shoulder.
“Well, there was something else in my mind.”
“Oh, please, do share.”
“It is a bit of an odd request from me, but would you consider giving the runt to me?” I ask, “I’m a curious man, Elias. And if you’ve heard, my pack and I find amusement in hunting down runts and killing them. I think what I want to do is far better than burning her alive. You wouldn’t mind, would you?” The words come out of me slowly, carefully measured as I watch the other alpha closely and judge his every move and reaction.
He gets concerned, suddenly. He puts his tea down and straightens himself. “And what would you do with her?”
“Something interesting. You wouldn’t want to hear the details of such savage acts,” I lean back and settle a blank, rather charming look over my features. “But, I’m in need of entertainment, and this runt of yours certainly seems to catch my interest.”
“I wouldn’t want her to suffer for too long. I would rather prefer it if she’s dead and done with.” He admits, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
I can tell he’s a little nervous with the thought of giving her to me while knowing the things I can possibly do, which makes me want to believe that the execution isn’t entirely of his choice.
“What if there’s something I can offer you?”
“Like?” His eyes shift to attention.
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There’s a moment before I reply. Kovas pulls out the land deed and hands it over to me, which I put over his desk.
Elias is rather struck. A soft breath escapes him.
This –
I cut him of ‘I want the runt. In return, I’ll gift you the very mystical I possess. You told me once you’d kill for such land. Raghu
He bines the inside of his cheek before looking up at me, “For a runt?”
“Well, I’ve some sick desires. And runts are rare to come by.”
I can already tell that I have piqued his interest.
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“A strange and peculiar offer from you, Aron. But I’ll take it,” He smiles, offering a slight nod. “Shall I have someone fetch her for you and lead her out?”
No, that would be fine. I’d rather get her myself. After all, she should see that her fate is going to be far worse than death tonight” I rise from the chair as he rises from his.
By all means, then”
AD
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