Emily’s POV
“I am not in a position to discuss or reveal any part of the investigation,” I said, feeling a knot form in my throat. “I can only tell you that the pack is under investigation.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Alex asked, his hands balled into fists, and his face turned hard and cold. The surrounding temperature started to shift, and I shivered, feeling cold.
Willow came closer, her gaze pinned on Alex.
“You sure know how to piss off an Alpha,” she chirped. “Just tell him.”
“Can’t,” I said, answering both of them, dropping my gaze to my hands, and sighed.
“I am your mate, Emily!” Alex roared, the coldness in his voice touching my inner core. “I have the right to know why you are investigating my pack and what evidence you have!”
“I know,” I said, searching his gaze. This was hard for me too, but I was under orders-orders I cannot ignore.
Alex narrowed his eyes, and for a second, he just looked at me.
Was he trying to get a read on me?
When he couldn’t read me, I could feel him tapping into the bond, searching for any clues or information.
“I assume he will not be able to find anything,” Willow said.
I nodded.
“I have taken precautions,” I said. “There is no chance he will be able to access it.”
I made sure to block and lock anything involving the White Moon Pack off where Alex couldn’t access it through the bond. It wasn’t just my memories that roamed there, but also White Moon strategies and secrets. Xavier would have my head if Alex had access to those.
I sighed, thinking back to when Paul rudely interrupted and spoiled my wonderful morning with Alex and Luke.
I wasn’t too surprised about the visit. I suspected that Xavier would send someone to bring me an update, but I never thought he would send obnoxious and pain-in-the-ass Paul to bring me the news.
“Tell me!” I roared, increasing my aura and making Paul and the surrounding warriors whimper in fear.
I knew I couldn’t push my aura any further; it had reached its limit, but it was still wonderful to see how something so small could bring Paul to his knees.
But I knew if I dared push my aura any further, I might trigger an automatic shift, and Willow would take her natural wolf form.
It wasn’t a pretty sight, and I might hurt the wolf warriors standing around us. It happened once before.
“I have news about the attacks,” Paul replied. “An informant took a good look at the perpetrator behind the attacks.”
That caught me by surprise.
I withdrew my aura, and Paul and the warriors gasped, finding their breaths.
Paul slowly raised his gaze, his eyes flicking at Alex and back to me.
“Will you be able to send me a sketch?” I linked.
“I can do better than that,” he replied.
I narrowed my eyes at him. I could see he was up to something, but what?
“Really?” I asked skeptically. “How?”
“The informant managed to capture an official photo of him using his phone,” Paul added, smirking as he looked back at Alex.
What did it have to do with Alex?
Was Paul implying that the person in the picture was Alex?
“Bring me the proof,” I ordered.
“Very well,” Paul said, capturing my gaze. “I hope you know what you are doing!”
A dark grin followed on Paul’s lips. He was enjoying this.
“I don’t know what you are referring to,” I said.
“Your mate, Alexander,” he said, his gaze moving back to Alex.
“Alpha,” I corrected.
“Alpha!” Paul linked, rolling his eyes. “He is not as innocent as he looks. Be careful!”
The warning rang loud and clear in my ears.
“Move out,” Paul called his warriors to attention, and they shifted.
Paul’s beast nodded his head and took off back into the forest.
That evening, I received the proof. King Alpha Xavier delivered it himself. He mind-linked me and told me he was at the border, and I went to go meet with him. I didn’t even need to be sneaky; Alex and Luke had already gone down to Michael’s execution.
I got dressed in my warrior clothes, knowing that it would please Xavier to see me all dressed up.
“You look well,” Xavier said when he saw me crossing the boundary.
“So do you, my king,” I said.
“How are you these days?” he asked, sounding like a concerned father. “I heard you have been in heat.”
“I am fine,” I said, finding his gaze.
Xavier knew I had never been one for small talk.
He sighed, handing me the big yellow envelope.
“I know this will come as a shock to you,” Xavier said. “But it is better you know before things escalate.”
Escalate in which direction?
I opened the envelope, retrieved the contents, and gasped upon seeing a photo of Alex and Angelica having a meeting. The two looked kind of cozy, with Alex’s hand on Angelica’s lap.
“When and where were these taken?” I asked, trying to keep my emotions intact.
“If I’m not mistaken, the photo was taken at the Tango Heart club,” Xavier said. “I think two nights ago. The informant heard them discussing their next move.”
My heart started to rise, and tears welled up behind my eyelids. It was the same night Alex left me alone in his quarters.
I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding and popped the photo back into the envelope.
“Are you alright?” Xavier asked, sounding concerned.
I nodded.
“Are you still up to solving the case?” He asked.
I nodded again.
“Very well,” he said, squeezing my shoulder. “Then I will be on my way…”
“Xavier,” I said, stopping him.
“Yes?”
“Alex is about to execute a warrior for attempting…” I dropped my gaze. I wasn’t able to complete my thoughts.
“I know,” he said. “I am familiar with the details.”
“You are?” I gasped, surprised, lifting my gaze in search of his.
“Yes,” he said. “Mila’s father informed me. I agree with Alpha Alexander’s decision. I would have questioned him if he hadn’t.”
I nodded in understanding, feeling relieved.
“Thank you,” I said, turning on my heels and heading back.
Even though all the evidence points to the Opal Pack, I couldn’t help but have this nagging feeling in the back of my head. I couldn’t just disregard my six senses. Something didn’t add up. Something didn’t make sense.
Why did Alex arrange an attack on his pack and take his best friend and Beta’s sister?
Why would he do that?
And the million-dollar question: where was he keeping the rogues and the prisoners?
There was more to it than meets the eye. That photo doesn’t tell me much, except that maybe Alex is lying to me about his feelings for Angelica.
“What are you going to do?” Willow asked.
“I am giving Alex the benefit of the doubt,” I said. “He is my mate.”
That was the main reason why I decided to complete the bond.
Alex’s gaze suddenly relaxed, as if he just figured out why I couldn’t say anything, bringing me back to my present situation.
“King Alpha Xavier ordered you to stay quiet,” he calmly said. “He used an Alpha order on you!”
I froze, unable to meet his gaze.
“The same way he ordered Mila’s parents not to say a word about your whereabouts,” he continued.
“Yes,” I lied. Alex didn’t need to know that Xavier’s orders didn’t work on me. This was all my decision. “And just as much as I want to go into detail and tell you, I can’t. He is my Alpha and…”
“Ask for a transfer,” Alex said, cutting me off.
“I can’t,” I said. “Not while I am investigating the rogue attacks. I am so close to finding who is responsible and bringing them to justice!”
Alex’s face turned red. He wasn’t happy about my reason.
“Don’t you think it is ironic?” He snapped, his gray eyes suddenly hard, making me shiver.
“What?” I asked, unsure what he was hitting at.
“That you, a Lycan Queen, take orders from a wolf who claims he is king?” Alex sneered.
“Alex,” I said, trying to reason. “Xavier was there for me when I…”
Alex’s face twisted in anger upon hearing Xavier’s name roll off my tongue.
What the hell was going on in his head?
“So all of this,” he said, cutting me off and sneering. “Is this just some kind of act?”
“Wait? What?” I gasped, surprised, seeing him gesturing between us. “You just lost me?”
What the hell was he going on about?
“He thinks you are using the bond to get close to him,” Willow explained.
Alex picked up his jacket and headed to the door.
“You played me!” He accused, raw emotion audible in his voice. “You use me for your investigation!”
Did he just lose all his sense of reality? What the f*ck was wrong with him?
I wasn’t the one who called my best friend and threatened her if I didn’t return. Jax was supposed to visit the Opal Pack, not me!
“I-”
“Exactly what I thought,” Alex snapped, cutting me off. “You can’t even be honest about it!”
Alex turned on his heels and exited the office. I jumped out of fear when he slammed the door shut behind him.
What the f*ck just happened? Did I lose Alex’s trust forever?
****