Chapter 3: Chapter 3

ETHAN

“~We should see her. I miss her,~” my wolf insists.

“~No. We have work we need to do. Alex will let us know when she wakes up.~”

“~She should have been awake by now. What if something is wrong? We should be there for our mate.~”

“~For the last time, no.~”

“~Why are you always so stubborn?~” my wolf complains.

“~I don’t know. Why do you?~” I counter, and my wolf growls at me in irritation. “~Fine. If we don’t hear anything by the end of the evening, we’ll go check on her. Happy now?~”

“~Yes.~”

The next day, I try to stay busy with reports and paperwork. I haven’t heard about my mate all day, and I’m getting distracted. My thoughts keep drifting to her.

It’s later that evening before I hear an update.

“~Ethan, she’s awake,~” Alex’s voice rings out in my head. “~She is being discharged, and then we’ll take her to the dungeons. Do you want us to wait for you?~”

“~No. Go ahead. I’ll meet you at the cells.~”

“~Okay. We’ll see you there then.~”

We cut off the mind-link, and my wolf speaks out, “~She shouldn’t have to go to the dungeons. She’s our mate. We know she’s innocent.~”

“~We don’t know that. That is why she has to be questioned.~”

“~Then you should be the one to do it.~”

“~No. I can’t. I couldn’t do what’s needed if she hides something.~”

“~She wouldn’t do that.~”

“~YOU DON’T KNOW THAT!~” I growl at my wolf in frustration. This is already hard enough on me as it is. I don’t need him giving me grief and getting in my head.

He whimpers and backs off, realizing that he has pushed me too far. I don’t bother saying anything else as I sigh and cut off our link. I stand up and organize the last of my files before leaving my office to head to our dungeons.

I walk to the lowest level where the empty cells are. Angelo is the only one there, as I ordered him to handle the questioning.

He’s standing against the stone wall opposite the cells with his hands clasped in front of him, looking straight ahead.

When he hears my approach, he salutes me. “Alpha.”

“Angelo. The prisoner is on her way.”

He gives me a gruff nod, and we soon hear the clang of the metal door at the top of the stone steps. The shuffle of feet and the thud of boots fill the air as they begin their descent.

I breathe in and catch the heavenly scent of lavender and honey that my mate gives off, and my wolf purrs.

I can sense him wagging his tail, excited to see our mate once more. When they reach the bottom landing, my eyes immediately meet with hers.

For a split second, her face shows surprise and happiness, but when she notices my stern demeanor, her expression turns to unease and confusion.

I keep my expression hard and cold, but inside, my heart breaks. My wolf whimpers, hating that we’re causing the frown on her angelic face.

I clasp my hands behind my back, straightening myself to my full height as I take a step toward her. “What’s your name?”

She narrows her eyes at me and mimics my posture, ignoring the pain in her wrists from the silver cuffs that bind her hands behind her back. “What’s it to you?”

“I’m the one asking the questions here,” I announce through clenched teeth as I try to keep my temper in check. Alphas don’t like to be challenged.

“Yes. But that doesn’t mean I have to answer,” she states forcefully back, and I feel my irritation with the situation rise.

I take another step closer to her so that she’s forced to look up to meet my eyes. “Answer me! What is your damn name?” I growl using my alpha voice.

“Fuck you,” she spits back, and my eyes widen for a split second, surprised that she wasn’t affected by my alpha aura. Even the guards stepped away uncomfortably, but she held her ground and proceeded to curse me without even flinching.

I glare at her, my breathing a bit heavier as I try to keep myself calm. “Take her away,” I order the guards as I wave to the cells lined up behind me. Alex watches their backs as they pass me, and I don’t bother to turn around.

Instead, I turn to Angelo. “Treat her like you would any other prisoner. I want to know what she knows.”

He nods, and I walk away, stomping up the stairs as Alex swiftly follows me. “Do you want to talk about this?” he asks as he hurries to catch up with me.

“No,” I state through gritted teeth before slamming the door open and walking out into the crisp evening air. My wolf bursts out, and my body shifts before I run off toward a patch of trees nearby. I need to get away and cool off before I lose it.

The forest is my sanctuary. The dense foliage muffles the noise of the world, and I let my wolf take control. His powerful limbs carry us through the underbrush, and the rhythmic pounding of our paws against the earth helps to clear my mind.

After several miles, we come to a stop by a small, tranquil stream. The moonlight dances on the surface of the water, creating a mesmerizing display of silver and shadows.

I shift back to my human form, breathing heavily, my muscles protesting after the long run.

My thoughts drift to my mate—the look in her eyes when she saw me, the way her scent enveloped me like a warm embrace. I want more than anything to just wrap her in my arms and feel the relief of being connected to the one fated for me.

But duty comes first, and I can’t afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment.

I scoop up a handful of water and splash it on my face, the cold shock bringing a semblance of clarity.

I breathe deeply and hear a rustle behind me. I freeze, my senses on high alert. I scan the darkness, my eyes piercing through the trees, but I see nothing. My wolf bristles, ready for a fight.

“Who’s there?” I call out, my voice echoing through the silent woods. I take a cautious step forward, my muscles tense, but the presence seems to vanish as quickly as it appeared.

I shift back into my wolf form and head back to the pack house with the sinking feeling that someone…or something…is still after my pack.