Alex’s pov:
The Alpha King had an unreadable expression as he looked at me, before a smirk broke out on his face. I didn’t know why but the smirk rubbed me off the wrong way. Nevertheless, I couldn’t break our eye-contact.
I was no longer bound by the rules which dictated that I should be mindful of my manners when facing him. But as I remembered my sweet beloved, I averted my gaze, knowing that while he couldn’t go beyond killing me or torturing me to no end, he could hurt Jade.
And that wasn’t an option.
“You’re not broken,” he let out in an even tone of voice. “I am impressed.”
That had the knack to make my eyebrows shoot up in my hairline. Was he taunting me or telling the truth? And to what end was he saying this to me?
The sound of other footsteps soon filled the silence that had stretched between us. And before long, Marc, his beta appeared.
“You’re quite resilient, Alpha Alexander,” Marc let out the moment he saw me. “But what I like the most about you is how quick-witted you are. I must thank you for suggesting that Paulina and Anna are welcome to go to your pack.”
I had seen the way he looked at her, with something quite similar to longing, but I knew the man had lost his mate some time ago… Could it be he had fallen for the witch but had yet to make a move?
“She protected my mate. It’s only natural,” I let out dispassionately as I shrugged.
“Become a royal guard,” the Alpha King then said without so much as a preamble.
I frowned as I didn’t know what he meant by this. I was an Alpha, and was supposed to be tried for treason. Hell, I was even tortured, as I waited for said trial.
“As far as jokes go, this isn’t a good one,” I grumbled, rolling my eyes as I did so.
“You will get your freedom once you gather enough intel for us,” Beta Marc went on, without acknowledging my disrespect. “Our guards aren’t talking for fear of the consequences, and there’s no one who can prove your innocence but yourself. How does that sound?”
“Are you for real?” I was even more dumbfounded than before, and it probably showed too. “You have more than enough power to make the queen talk.”
“Only I don’t wish to use power. She’s still my mother,” the Alpha King deadpanned, looking me square in the eyes.
“Besides, she and her servants never met you. That’s a great advantage you have,” the beta added with a wink, almost as if he was urging me to take them up on their offer.
I thought it through for a moment there. It didn’t take a genius to know that the investigation wouldn’t be without risks, but it was my best shot at being reunited with my beloved Jade.
“Well then, Alexander Bad, reporting for duty,” I soon chuckled dryly, not believing the words that were coming out of my mouth.
“You are allowed one call,” beta Marc then offered me a small smile. “To a person who will need to keep the secret of your wellbeing for the time being.”
“Absolutely,” I nodded, already knowing who I was going to call.
I was given a new phone, decent clothes, and was shown to the guards’ quarters, before I finally made the call. I dialed a number I had memorized for years, and I wasn’t surprised when he took the call within a couple of rings.
“Not a word, Luc,” I instructed as greetings.
I could hear him walk away from the noisy crowd, before he finally said, “How are you, my friend?”
“I am okay. I am calling you to tell you not to worry about me,” I deadpanned, heart heavy that I couldn’t talk to my sweet Luna.
“I trust you, but I am not the most worried one here,” he chuckled dryly.
“I know,” I sighed heavily. “Do take care of her.”
“Naturally.”
“I never called,” I then told him in a meaningful tone of voice.
“Should I be expecting news?” He asked at once.
“No,” I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “But I should be back with you before you know it.”
“Roger that.”
And with that, I hung up without further delay.
** ** ** **
Jade’s pov:
Heavens have mercy, was this torturous day ever going to end?
As if this morning’s meeting with the elders hadn’t been enough to put me in a sour mood, I now had training with Paulina… and it seemed like I was doing everything wrong.
“Focus,” she told me after a beat. “Focus on your heartbeat, and on the breaths you’re taking. Ignore your noisy surroundings, and ground yourself to the nature around you.”
I nodded at her, even though I found it hard beyond words. I sighed after a few attempts and shook my head negatively at her.
“It’s not working.”
“I wish I could tell you it’s okay to rest,” she then said in a soft tone of voice. “But if your doctor’s estimation is correct, we have just one month to make sure you’re ready for childbirth. You and I both know you don’t want to weaken the whole pack when the time comes.”
“True,” I nodded at her.
“What’s on your mind?” She then asked, and I hesitated for a moment as I contemplated how to put what happened in words. “You don’t have to share…” She added almost in afterthought.
“The elders happened,” I told her succinctly.
You’re a disappointment.
You’re nothing but trouble.
The pack is without its Alpha because of you…
I could remember their words all too clearly, and heavens did they hurt!
“There’s this spell,” Paulina began, and I was immediately intrigued, listening to her with rapt attention. “It should clear your mind of everything that’s not a priority at the moment. But the issue is that your priorities might be out of order right now.”
“Absolutely,” I nodded. “I am just waiting for our allies’ arrival right now. I just wish there’s something to be done for Alex. The pack cannot remain united without its leader.”
Paulina’s expression became immediately rueful at that, and she hugged me at once.
“It will be okay, sweetheart. Let’s focus on what you can do for the pack at the moment.”
I inhaled deeply and hugged her back.
“I needed that,” I said in a hushed strangled voice.