ROME
The ride to Alkarod flew by faster than anyone would have expected but Rome was grateful for the brevity of the journey as he didn’t think he could bear to spend any more time away from Elora. It had been only a day and half since her capture but it felt like it had been ages.
His beast had gone through a range of emotions and had settled on sadness now, whining constantly inside of him and setting him on edge. He had snapped more than once at the captain of his Elite but the Lycan, already used to his antics, showed no grief or frustration.
Shouts went up at the Darwin pack gate tower as his riding party approached. He knew that the dust they kicked up must have made them look like bandits plus their lack of armour and his angry look wouldn’t help matters.
“Stop!” A guard yelled just as they rode through the gates. “Who…”
He didn’t give the man the benefit of an answer as he plowed past him, nearly running him over with the horse. His eyes were on the pack house of Darwin Pack’s Alpha. If the man was cooperative in his search for Elora, he would be gracious enough to grant him a quick and slightly less painful death.
Traders dove out of the way, barely saving their good and themselves, as he rode past. His men already knew what to do and spread out, creating a perimeter around the castle.
The jarring tone of the warning bells had armed guards pouring out of pack house but instead of menacing, they looked comical with their poor state of dress and confusion marrying their faces.
Deciding he’d at least try to show them mercy, he stopped and dismounted his horse.
“I’m going to be merciful because my reputation matters to me.” He started. “You could either lay down your weapons and show me to your Alpha or I could make your mother’s rent the air with funeral songs come evening. Your choice.”
One of them stepped forward bravely brandishing an iron tipped sword.
“Who are you to trespass on Alpha Rasmus’ lands?” He asked although his voice rose an octave at the end putting an end to his brave charade.
Rome raised a brow at the man.
Perhaps he hadn’t made himself clear enough.
He sent a look to Higuain who dismounted as well as the rest of his Elite, transforming partway into their beasts.
“Lycans!” Their cry came as they stumbled back.
“You dare raise your weapons before the King?” Higuain growled out.
“The king?!” Their startled whispers rose irritating him.
Rome dismounted, sure his message had been made clearer.
“I’m not a man used to repeating himself.” He stated. “Where is Alpha Rasmus?’
“My King.” The same wolf from earlier started. “Please accept my apologies. Had we known you were coming we would have…”
“Answer him!” Higuain yelled stepping forward.
“Stand down, soldier.” He ordered. “Well?”
“Rasmus isn’t here.” He answered causing Rome to frown. “Packed his wife and son out to goddess knows where. The only thing he said was he’d be back soon.”
Sweat beaded on the man’s forehead and his eyes darted around.
“Galdan.” He called.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” His second in command answered.
“Find out whether or not he’s lying.” He told him calmly walking past the stunned wolves to sit in the garden pavilion he spotted. “Make it as painful as possible so he’d know better than to lie to me next time.”
“Yes your majesty.” The man bowed, smiling as he dragged the pleading wolf away.
The man’s friends looked stunned and shrunk back as if they could hide themselves.
Although he didn’t approve of the Lycan’s methods, using Galdan had proved in times past to be useful in procuring information from more resistant prisoners.
He let his eyes scan the small courtyard and tried to picture what life would have been like for Elora if her father had never been framed.
Would she perhaps have sat in this same seat reading one of her poetry books?
The wind blew past, carrying the sweet floral scent of the garden. A small smile broke out on his face as indeed he could picture her now with her long auburn hair ruffling about.
“Your majesty.” Higuain’s voice came breaking him out of his daydream. “Pardon my interruption.”
“It’s alright, Higuain.” He answered waving off his apology. “Tell me.”
“Galdan didn’t have to get to work before he began singing like a canary.” He laughed. “Pulled out a few toe nails as punishment for wasting his time.”
Rome managed a small chuckle at that.
“Where is Rasmus?” He asked leaning back.
“Didn’t have a clue. Just knew that the man took his family and gone somewhere. Told them he’d be back soon.”
Rome frowned.
“Did they have any strange visitors before they left?”
“None,” Higuain answered. “Although he mentioned that they had a Lycan with them. From the description, it seems Lord Kain is their traveling companion.”
Kain?
“He’s been coming around a lot lately.” He continued. “Alpha Rasmus and the other Alphas have been meeting a lot lately. Been secretive. Never lets anyone in the room except his valet and their…”
“Their what?”
“Sex slaves.”
Rome’s frown grew deeper than it had before.
How had he not known all this time?
How did he miss these obvious clues when he had come the first time?
“And where are those slaves now?” He growled out suddenly rethinking his decision to be merciful.
“In the dungeons,” Higuain muttered, spitting on the ground like the report had left a sour taste in his mouth. “I sent Wes and Tyron down there already.”
He left him standing there and walked towards one of the guards, his fangs and claws elongating as hopelessness and anger did a number on him. He didn’t have the faintest idea where Elora could be now and he was only now discovering that all this time, they had blatantly disobeyed the law he’d passed against slavery.
For a moment, he couldn’t help but picture all the ways he’d make them pay but would that change anything?
He had a strong hunch that finding Rasmus was the key to finding Elora.
But what if he was wrong?
What would he do then?
As if sensing their impending deaths, they whimpered and pressed against each other.
Rome crouched down, putting himself at eye level with one of the guards. He could smell the tempting tang of fear and could hear the rapid pounding of the man’s heart.
Despite his anger and near desperation, he smiled brightly, although that did nothing but heighten the man’s fear so perhaps he shouldn’t have.
“I find that I’m strongly rethinking my decision to be merciful because in no wise have you been able to give me what I want.” He mused as if he were talking to himself.
The man shivered and swallowed audibly looking around for someone to help him but his friends had problems of their own with his soldiers.
“Aren’t you going to ask me what I want?” He asked leaning closer, dropping his voice an octave.
“I… I don’t want no trouble, yerr mmm…. majesty.” The man stammered.
“Oh?” Rome asked lifting a brow.
He laughed darkly and stood.
He didn’t want trouble?
The first kick he threw sent the man to the floor, his head hitting the floor with a loud crack.
He twitched then stopped moving altogether.
He spat at how weak they were.
“Does anybody else want to talk to me about avoiding trouble?” He yelled as all eyes were still on him at the guards’ death. “Well…?”
“Your Majesty.” A man called.
He turned to see the man supporting a badly beaten female. She had marks on her face and arms and just about everywhere on her person that had him cringing.
“What is it?” He asked impatiently.
“This woman reports that she may have information that will be useful to you.”
“Your majesty.” She greeted, bowing. “I am Alma.”
He frowned looking at her.
Could she have any useful information for him?
“I used to be the cook until Alpha Rasmus’ son, Ethan, decided he’d use me to punish his mate.” She explained.
His expression turned curious before he could control it.
Elora’s mate was named Ethan.
He’d gleaned that much from her letter.
Another person whose death would please him greatly.
He shook his head reminding himself that he didn’t have time for the history lesson.
“What information do you have?” He asked, his voice betraying his anxiety despite his calm exterior.
Her eyes were misted with tears even though her gaze was cold and dark.
“I overheard them talking once about a meeting with someone powerful in the far east. At the outskirts of Bale.” She started. “And whoever it was, it was clear that he put fear in the Alphas and even their Lycan friend.”
Far East at the outskirts of Bale?
There was nothing there but miles and miles of dense forests.
Or was there?
“How does this help me? What does that have to do with me?” He asked impatiently.
She smiled knowingly at him.
“I know who you seek.” She smiled. “They said you would come for her.”
He grabbed her by the shoulders suddenly, releasing her when she winced.
“I’m sorry.” He apologized. “I shouldn’t have been so rough with you.”
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You care for her.” She stated matter of factly. “I’m glad. She’s been through so much…”
Her voice broke but she cleared her throat and continued.
“They’ve taken her somewhere no one has dared cross in years. Where an old enemy lies.”
Somewhere that no one has dared cross in years?
An old enemy?
What could…
Realization struck him as the cryptic words unraveled before him.
Did those dumb wolves even know the sheer evil they were playing with?
“Higuain!” He called.
“Your majesty?” He answered reading him in a single glance.
“Get me a bird.” He ordered. “This battle’s only just beginning.”