Jade’s pov:
Naturally, because luck was never on my side, the first thing I had to deal with, upon reaching the pack, was the elders.
Though I had expected some kind of confrontation, I didn’t believe I was ready for one just yet. I needed time to process everything that had happened over the course of the past 24h, and had many things on my plate already.
But they weren’t lenient enough to allow me the time to even breathe.
“Let’s talk in the conference room,” Jeremiah, the most daring one in my opinion, let out without so much as a preamble.
I didn’t like the way he formulated his sentence, but now wasn’t the time to be a nitpicking wolf.
“The luna has just arrived,” Luc spoke up at once, beating me to the punch… and it was for the best, because the scathing answer I had at the tip of my tongue would land me in nothing but trouble. “Surely the meeting can wait.”
“It wasn’t a request,” was the retort we received.
I raised an eyebrow, and felt my tiredness fade away as anger washed over me.
“Whatever it was, you bunch are not my top priority at the moment,” I told the man without batting an eyelid, my voice even.
“Just who do you think you are?” He bellowed, obviously angry at the disrespect, his eyes glaring daggers at me.
My eyes stung as they darkened… My wolf, not pleased with his tone, was willing to show claws and draw blood.
I had to inhale deeply, so as to get back the control I needed.
“I am the Luna of the pack, and you would do well to remember that,” I deadpanned, the ghost of a smirk touching my lips.
“Some Luna you are!” He hissed through gritted teeth. “You have been nothing but trouble since the day you first stepped into this pack…”
“Keep messing with me, Jeremiah, and I will show you just how troublesome I can be,” I didn’t hesitate to shoot right back.
Anna, the little one who had been a little ray of sunshine despite her shyness and awkwardness, approached me and tugged at my hand.
I crouched down to her level, completely dismissing the fuming man who was hissing and cursing to the moon and back, and she said in a soft voice, “They can help.”
“Who?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Kade. Cherry,” she said, tilting her head in a confused frown manner even as she said the two names.
Sherry had grown to be a friend, and I had kept in touch with her over the past weeks.
“Thanks, sweetie,” I nodded at her gratefully, as she had reminded me of the vital advice Alex had given me before he was taken away by the guards.
“What’s another witch doing on the territory?” Jeremiah snarled as his eyes finally focused on Paulina and Anna. “Haven’t you had enough?”
“You’re dismissed, Jeremiah. I will get back to you as to when it will be most convenient for a meeting,” I let out in a tone of finality even as I patted Anna’s head affectionately.
“You cannot dismiss me,” he growled, putting emphasis on the word dismiss, as if I had just said the worst blasphemy possible.
Only I wasn’t in the mood for the elders’ nonsense just yet. I needed rest from the trip, and also needed to contact Alpha Ian and Alpha Kade.
“Luc, Trevor,” I then let out. “Have someone make sure that both Paulina and Anna are well settled. They protected me at the most dire time, and now it is our turn to protect them. As for us, we have calls to make.”
“Yes, Luna Jade,” they said in unison.
Jeremiah, along with the three elders who had remained silent, huffed but soon enough left not before telling me, however, that I would regret this affront.
Luc approached me just as I sighed heavily, and said in a grave tone of voice, “How about you rest first, Luna Jade?”
I couldn’t allow myself to rest though. I had great responsibilities. Alex had entrusted me with the pack’s safety. And truth be told, if I were to rest, I would be crying and now wasn’t the time for tears.
“I am okay,” I assured him with a smile. “Some water and fruits would be welcome though.”
Seeing the desperation in my eyes, neither Luc nor Trevor objected further, and we were soon heading to the office, where Alex and I shared so many beautifully memorable moments.
** ** ** ** **
Alex’s pov:
I was surprisingly put in a rather decent cell. It was a no-brainer that I was interrogated and tortured, but I still appreciated the fact that I could feel the light on my skin, and could still count the days.
I wondered what my beloved Jade was up to, if the pack was still treating her well, or if their behavior had changed because I was no longer by her side. I knew the elders would give her trouble, but I also knew that both Trevor and Luc would have her back.
I wished the fates hadn’t done us dirty this way, but it was what it was, and I didn’t regret any of what I had done to protect her if I were to be honest.
The fact that I kept saying the same things over and over again, almost like a broken record, but with a deep penetrating gaze, upset the interrogator in more ways than one. But facts were facts, and I wasn’t going to change my version to fit well with their agenda.
I hadn’t done anything wrong. I knew that much. Hell, they too probably knew it as well. But they couldn’t allow an attack on royal guards to go down without some kind of consequences… I was to pay the price for such an offense.
On the 4th day, the sun had just gone up in the sky, and I was ready to receive the glass of water which I had had for breakfast over the past few days, when someone approached the holding cell with slow measured steps.
These weren’t the steps I was used to, and I wondered if they had changed the morning guard.
One could only imagine my surprise when I realized that it was the Alpha King himself paying me a visit.
Was he here to ask questions? Was he here to finish me off personally?
I wasn’t sure of anything, but I waited with bated breath as I looked at him.