NALEDI’S POV
“Find Flora and everything will fall into place.”
The words remained rooted in my mind, long after I left the crappy hotel. I took a cab back and dailed Korah who picked at the first ring.
“My lady! Where are you?” Her tone was distressed. I’d taken more than the three hours I’d originally requested.
“Did you return to the headquarters?” I asked, hoping and praying they didn’t.
“How could we?! The Alpha would have our heads if he found that we lost you.” That was a relief to hear.
“Good. I’ll meet you at the junction where we parted. I’m right on my way.” I dropped the call and my brain worked overtime – thinking of the best way to go about the situation.
Soon enough I reached my destination and the car was parked right at the junction, waiting for my arrival. As soon as I got out of the taxi, I saw the silhouette of Korah who looked anything but happy to see me.
As soon as she drew closer, her nose scrunched, and I was reminded of the odour around me. “What the hell is that?” She lamented, but I didn’t humour her with a response.
Instead, I headed right for Marcel who was standing in front of the car, waiting for us with an unreadable face. As expected, he perceived the atrocity that was me and his face morphed into confusion.
“What happened?” He asked and I shrugged, making my way into the car, only to be stopped by them.
Marcel muttered some spell words and I was good as new. I didn’t think I’d appreciate Caellum’s scent but after wearing a dog’s shit smell for the most of the day. It wasn’t all that bad.
“Now you can go in,” Korah said, heaving a dramatic sigh.
We entered the car and Marcel started the engine. The silence in the car was overbearing. It was clear that they wanted me to explain. Their question was heavy on the air.
I weighed my options. If I told them, I could only see things happening in two ways. They could either help me out or rat me out. Depending on what they got out of it.
I figured if I didn’t they would definitely tell Caellum about it. And the last thing I needed was to have him questioning me in front of his missy. I guess I’d take my chances with Korah and Marcel, hoping they could see reason with me and ultimately help me.
“Take us to the nearest restaurant,” I ordered, testing the waters.
“You are hungry?” Marcel said in a tone that told me I needed to set things straight sooner rather than later.
“I’ve had a long day. Just do as I say.” I gritted and Korah watched me from the mirror. There was a restaurant up front and just when I thought they’d speed past it, they did the opposite, parking right up front and killing the engine.
A smile threatened to break out my lips. “We don’t have much time. The last thing we need is the Alpha getting back before us.” He yapped from the steering and unbuckled his belt.
I stepped out, as did my human towers. Together, we walked into the restaurant and got served water while waiting for our orders to be taken.
“I know you are upset and angry I ditched but I swear I have a legitimate reason for that.” I spilt when I couldn’t take the silence anymore.
“And that is?” Korah prompted, and Marcel wore an equally inquisitive gaze. There was no running now.
I leaned towards the table, speaking with a dramatically low tone. “Can I trust you?”
A sigh. “I think with how today’s gone, we should be asking that question Naledi.” Korah deadpanned.
She used my name. It was that bad. I nodded, seeing sense in her words.
“I found out that Arturo is trying to kill his son.” I blurted and their jaws hit the floor.
I watched the storm happen and the shift between them. They didn’t believe me. So I went on to feed them every single thing I knew and saw.
Marcel shook his head in anger. “That bastard. Just when the Alpha was forgiving him for the evil he has done, and he plans this?”
“I never trusted that old hag. Always been power-hungry and brutal. It’s insane how far he is actually willing to go. The Alpha needs to hear this.”
Korah’s loyalty was fierce when it came to Caellum. Them both. A worrisome fact when I took into account what I wanted to request of them.
“Do you trust me?” I asked again, and this time, their convictions were clear in their eyes, if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be here.
“Then please do not tell Caellum about this,” I said and that conviction was replaced with questions. I quickly explained. “The last thing I need is for you to involve Caellum, who would most likely think this is my way of trying to stop his whirlwind wedding with Donna,”
“Is it?” Marcel asked, and I didn’t know what to make of that.
“Of course not!”
“Then I don’t see the problem.” He finished, talking like that’s all there is to it.
I shook my head. “There is a girl who has been kept captive by Arturo and used to blackmail them into doing something this crazy. We have to save her. If we are going to attack this case, we have to start from the tap root.”
Korah looked sceptical. “That might be a scheme. Knowing Arturo, he might have killed the darned girl.”
“And if he hasn’t? Are we just going to jeopardize the life of a woman’s child based on assumptions?” I looked between them, “If Caellum hears of this, he will confront Arturo, kill him even. How then do we save the girl he’s kept hostage?”
“I don’t think we should face him head-on.” Marcel added his cents, “Arturo might be dethroned as an Alpha, but he has a number of people who are loyal to him. Which means he is not to be taken lightly. The best way we can take him down is by bringing in the Alpha.”
“No!” I yelled, holding my hair in frustration. “Don’t you get it? I don’t care about whatever politics of power going on here, but hell will freeze before I let you both expose this to Caellum before I am certain that the girl is safe and out of his hands.”
Silence.
“Why?” Korah asked and I swallowed. “Do you think the Alpha will not try to save the girl?”
I shook my head, no. “I don’t want it to be an option. I want to save her.”