Alpha Kael’s POV.
I leaned against the doorframe, watching Akira pace back and forth in my chambers. She was furious, and I couldn’t blame her. Two days locked up, with no end in sight, was enough to drive anyone crazy.
“Kael, this is ridiculous,” she said, spinning around to face me, a frown on her face. “I can’t take it anymore. I need to get out of here. I can not breathe Kael.. look at me I am losing so much weight.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going anywhere, Akira. You’re safe in here. And you are not losing weight, you are getting fat… look at your cute belly.”
“Safe?” she repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You call this safe? I’m a prisoner, Kael. A prisoner in my own home. And get your eyes off of my tummy.” She said, narrowing her eyes as she spoke.
I chuckled. “You’re not a prisoner, Akira. You’re just… under protection.”
“Under protection?” she mocked. “From what? The big bad wolf? Newsflash, Kael, I can take care of myself and my tummy.”
I smiled, enjoying the banter. “I’m sure you can, Akira. But I’m not taking any chances. You’re mine, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
Akira rolled her eyes. “Yours? Possessive is the perfect word to describe this charade that is happening, Kael?”
I shrugged. “Maybe a little. But you’re worth it.”
Akira stopped pacing and looked at me, her eyes flashing with anger. “I’m not some possession, Kael. I’m your mate, your partner. Treat me like it.”
I pushed myself off the doorframe and walked towards her. “I am treating you like it, Akira. I’m protecting you, providing for you… loving you. You are my mate after all.”
Akira snorted. “Love? You call this love? Locking me up, controlling me… that’s not love, Kael. That’s obsession and that is fake mates for you mister!”
I stopped in front of her, my eyes locked on hers. “Maybe it is obsession, maybe it’s fake,” I said, my voice low. “But it’s the only way. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, even if it means locking you up for the rest of your life.”
Akira’s eyes widened in rage, and I knew I had gone too far. But I didn’t care. I would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
Just as Akira was about to respond, Zephyr burst into the room, his face etched with concern.
“Kael, Akira, I have some bad news,” he said, his voice urgent.
I turned to him, my instincts on high alert. “What is it, Zephyr?”
Zephyr took a deep breath before speaking. “Another batch of female wolves with their pups have been abducted by the waterside.”
Akira’s eyes widened in horror. “What? How many?”
Zephyr hesitated before answering. “At least five females, and their pups. We’re still trying to get an exact count.”
I felt a wave of anger and frustration hit me. This was the third time in two weeks that our females had been targeted.
“Who is doing this?” Akira demanded, her voice shaking with rage.
Zephyr shook his head. “We don’t know yet, but we’re working on it. I’ve got a team tracking the scent now.”
I turned to Akira, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. “This changes things,” I said. “You’re not going anywhere until we figure out who’s behind this.”
Akira’s face fell, but she knew better than to argue. “Fine,” she said. “But you have to promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“You have to promise me you’ll do everything in your power to get those females and pups back safely. And stop looking at my tummy!”
I gave her a small smile before turning to face Zephyr. “I promise. Zephyr, get me everything you can on this. I want to know who’s behind this and I want them brought to justice.”
Zephyr nodded and turned to leave, but Akira stopped him.
“Zephyr, wait.”
He turned back to her. “Yes?”
“What about the stranger who attacked me? Could it be connected to this?”
Zephyr’s expression turned thoughtful. “It’s possible. We’ll definitely look into it.”
I turned to Akira, my eyes on hers. “You see, Akira? This is why I’m keeping you locked up. It’s not safe out there.”
Akira’s face schooled a frown, but she knew I was right. For now, she was stuck in my chambers, whether she liked it or not.
Just as Zephyr was about to leave, I turned to follow him out of the room. But as I reached the door, I bumped into Elder Thorne, one of the oldest and most respected members of our pack’s council.
“Kael, I need to speak with you,” Elder Thorne said, his voice low and laced with urgency.
I hesitated, not wanting to delay my search for the missing females and pups. “Elder Thorne, I’m afraid this isn’t a good time. I have a situation to attend to.”
Elder Thorne’s eyes narrowed. “What situation?”
I sighed, not wanting to go into details to avoid getting the talk. “Some of our pack members have gone missing. I need to go look for them.”
Elder Thorne’s eyes went wide in shock. “I see. Well, in that case, I won’t keep you. But Kael, this is important. It can’t wait.”
I shook my head. “I’m afraid it will have to, Elder Thorne. I’ll come find you as soon as I can.”
Elder Thorne looked like he wanted to argue, but he nodded. “Very well, Kael. But don’t forget, this is important. The future of this pack may depend on it.”
I nodded and pushed past him, Zephyr following close behind. As we walked away, I could feel Elder Thorne’s eyes on me. I knew he had something… something of value hence he would not come here by himself.
“Zephyr, let’s move,” I said, quickening my pace. “We don’t have much time.”
Zephyr nodded and kept walking beside me. “I’ve got the team ready, Kael. We’ll find them.”
“But… I think Elder Thorne has something he wants to tell you…he looks worried.”