Chapter 45: Chapter 45

CHAPTER 45 I stood there looking at Layla for a long while realizing that she believed that this was also a realm. I knew that she needed to know the truth, I was just dreading having to be the one to tell her the truth. I was about to turn her world upside down.

And she looked so innocent about the whole thing.

“This isn’t a realm.” I say as gently as possible. And she stared at me like I had grown two heads or something.

“What do you mean?” She asked very innocently and confused.

“This is a piece of land that is cloaked by some sort of spell done by a witch or a powerful fae or something. But your ‘ realm’ is still on Earth. It’s not a different realm. He’s just made it look that way.” I explained to Layla. And she stood there looking completely speechless.

“He lied to us. The King has been lying to us?” She asked.

“Yeah. I’m sorry about that. But he has been. Now, where is this castle? I’m going to go and find my mate.” I insisted.

“I can show you the way. But I can’t be seen at the castle. I’m now considered a traitor.” Layla says.

“That’s fine. We can take it from there.” I say.

“Alright. Everyone, stay here. I promise that I will be back as soon as possible.” Layla tells the outcasts.

“Find out about Stefan for me. He lives in the castle. He’s my brother.” A guy said to “Why is he important?” I asked.

“Because he’s Taylor’s friend. But he was acting like he betrayed her and led the warriors here. I don’t believe that Stefan would do that. Please make sure that he’s alright. And don’t kill him.” The guy says almost pleadingly.

“If he’s hurt Taylor, then I make no promises.” I say turning around and leaving.

Layla took us back into the woods and she saw the number of wolves that were there and stopped for a moment to take it all in.

“You don’t intend on losing, do you?” Layla asked.

“I never intend on losing. Now, about that damn dragon.” I say. And she looked at me smiling.

“He’s cute, isn’t he? It was good that you all shifted when you did. If he thought you were a simple fae then he would have killed you. But being a creature like himself, he brought you to me.” Layla says smiling about her dragon.

“Oh. So, that’s why he didn’t kill us.” I say.

“Yeah. It’s the same reason he never killed Taylor. She was in her wolf form when they met.” Layla says.

“How bad is she?” I asked.

“You’re going to have to see for yourself.

Because I don’t know. Now, when we get to the tree line, I won’t be able to take you any further. There is a village at the bottom of the cliff, but it has a stone wall around it, to protect it. You can go around the village and climb up the hill through the woods to get to the castle. It will give you cover but if you all go at once then the villagers will notice the trees moving. You need to be careful there. Go in small groups at a time. No growling or howling or anything like that. That will just tip them off. You need to get to the front door, and it will guarded, but they won’t be hard for you to take out. And then storm the castle. I’m not sure what security is like now since they found Taylor with the outcasts, but before, it wasn’t too bad. And there were only four people living in the castle. The King, the Princess, Eric, who is the King’s right- hand man and Stefan, Eric’s son. And the servants in their quarters.” Layla explained to me while I was trying to keep up with all the instructions as we were walking through the woods together.

“Alright. How big is the castle?” I asked.

“It’s a castle. So, it’s massive. But they all live in the west wing. That’s where you need to get to. And like I said before, I don’t know if Taylor will be in her room or not. I don’t know what they’re doing to her up there.” Layla explained.

“We’ll find her. Don’t worry about that.

And thank you for your help.” I say.

‘I really like Taylor. She would make such a better ruler for this world, whatever this world is, then anyone we have in control right now. Please make sure that you get her out alive?” Layla asked with genuine concern in her eyes.

“Well, that is the plan. Don’t worry about that.” I say absolutely determined to get Taylor out alive.

I just spoke to her on the phone, so I know that she was still alive. And the closer we got to the castle, the more I could feel the mate bond pulling me. I knew that it pulled you to each other naturally, but this was like something I had never felt before. Like Taylor was willing me to be near her or something. It’s like she was calling to me.

We hadn’t marked each other yet but I could feel how she felt. I could feel her desperation, her depression, her determination, her misery, her guilt. It was unbearable. I thought I was going to break down right here.

Layla started heading back to the outcasts and we split up into groups of 20 to get across the clearing outside the village wall and into the woods that climbed the really steep hill to the castle. It took forever just for us to get to the top of the hill because it was 300 warriors split into groups of 20. That alone took two hours. to do.

But by the time we were up the hill we were all in wolf form again and I looked up at this massive castle that you would normally see in a fairy tale or something like that. Not something that you would see in real life.

I walked around to the side of the castle and that’s where I saw the front door. I had four wolves on my flanks as we rounded the corner and there were still only two guards on duty. So, I ordered two of my men to take them out My wolves attacked before the guards even knew what hit them and then everyone got into place. We were all stationed at doors and windows, and we weren’t leaving any room for escape. We were attacking on the bottom level of the castle so that they had nowhere to go.

When I gave the signal we all charged the castle and broke all the windows and doors and we heard a lot of yelling and running inside. Guards were coming at us and the wolves were able to take them out pretty easily. But there was one man that I saw running down the hall to a room and he shut the door on the other side.

I heard men inside the room yelling and I heard the name Eric. So I knew that’s where I needed to go.

I told my men to spread out and find Taylor while I shifted back and with Wyatt and three other soldiers and we put on a pair of shorts and went towards that room at the end of the hallway. I tried to open it using the door handle, but it was locked. So I put my shoulder into it and it crumbled under my weight and us five walked into the office and found two men standing in there.

“What is the meaning of this?” The older man yelled. Obviously the one in charge.

“You must be King Vincent.” I say.

“That’s right. And who the hell are you?” He asked.

“Jackson Cooper. You may have heard of me.” I say smiling at him.

“How the hell did you get here?” He asked.

“Oh, you mean this fake realm that you created on earth? It wasn’t hard when I found a couple of fae’s that really wanted me to put an end to you.” I announced smirking back at him.

“Well, you’re too late. Taylor isn’t here.” Vincent says slumping back into his chair.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“She’s dead. She was with the outcasts yesterday and she was killed in the battle. She was trying to protect a child.” Vincent told me. But that made no sense. I spoke to her only a couple of hours ago. And then I looked at Vincent. 2 “It looks like you wasted your trip for nothing.” Eric said smugly. And I got a mind link from one of my warriors saying that they couldn’t find her anywhere.

They were going to start searching other parts of the castle.

“She’s not dead Vincent.” I say.

“You weren’t here. How the hell would you know that?” Vincent spat at me.

“Because the weaker the shield around this place, the easier it is to get reception. And Taylor still has her phone. I called her a couple of hours ago and she answered me.” I announced to everyone.

And Vincent picked his head up and looked at me like I was crazy.

“Eric. You told me that she was killed. She died two months ago.” Vincent says standing up and looking straight at Eric. 6 “She was. This mutt is obviously lying to you so that we turn against each other. Now is the time to stick together.” Eric says trying to convince the King.

“Wow. You really do want your son to take the throne next, don’t you?” I asked looking at him with a cocky smile on my face.

“That’s not true. The King hasn’t chosen a successor.” Eric says.

“But you want Stefan to take over. Which means you will then have control of the Kingdom. Don’t tell me I’m lying. I know a backstabbing power hungry prick when I see one. I’m an Alpha. I’ve seen plenty of them in my time.” I growled at him. And Vincent stood there looking at Eric.

“Jackson is telling the truth.” Someone said behind us. So we turned around and there was a young man standing there with reddish brown hair that was really messy and who looked like he’d been put through the ringer.

“Stefan, I presume.” I say.

“Yeah. And you’re right. Taylor’s alive.” Stefan says.

“Stefan. What the hell are you doing?”

Eric snapped at him.

“Telling the truth. Taylor is my friend and you had me betray her and then lock her in the dungeon.” Stefan says.

“She’s in the dungeon.” Vincent roared at Eric. And then we heard a crash from upstairs and we looked down the hallway to see several guards falling down the stairs and slowly walking down after them was Taylor.

“She’s not in the dungeon now.” I say as I watch her casually walk towards the office and she stopped at the door.

“Hello Eric.” Taylor says as her eyes went completely black and her wolf took over. Which I knew was not a good sign and I stepped out of the way with the rest of my warriors.