Chapter 48

048 – The Mercenary and The Witch ADAN STONE.

Three days went by swiftly, and I’ve been on high alert ever since Lucy accidentally made her palm glow red with fire. I was certain Lucien would appear out of nowhere, but so far, it has been calm, which is making me more uneasy.

The censor cameras, which had been custom-built to monitor body temperature similar to Lucy’s, had already been installed in every border, including the middle of the forest, which was connected to the neutral forest, and around the packhouse. I had never splurged my own money on something like this, but I didn’t even hesitate to open my bank account this time. All for her.

I had never left Lucy alone, and in cases where I had to be away, my Beta or Gamma would be with her. And two days ago, my parents moved to the packhouse under the pretense that my mother wanted to spend time with her, but in reality, I sought help from Dad.

Two Alphas could protect her better than one. I laid out everything I knew about her, and if there was any doubt in me that my father would consider me crazy for protecting a she-demon, it flew out of the window the moment he said they would be moved back to the packhouse.

And Mom didn’t need to be persuaded. I was half expecting she would ask me if I was planning to make Lucy my Luna, and that my answer would be the basis for whether I could get help from them, but the question never came.

Maybe they knew the answer already.

I watched from the balcony of my office in the training building as my father trained Lucy in the cold weather. They were using different sharp weapons, from the morning stars that she requested to simple daggers. I could see the amazement on the faces of my warriors and other people as Lucy used those weapons with skill and speed.

She was a natural warrior, and I had no doubt that if she could just control her fire, she would be excellent at protecting herself.

‘Alpha, Blade arrived with one female companion. I was assuming it was the witch. He was overly protective of her and stated that he would only respond to you directly after I asked questions about the female.’

‘That sounds like Blade. Did you check the security camera to make sure the body temperature of his companion is not the same as Lucy’s?’

‘I did, even before they reached the northern border. Blade’s temperature was normal, while the witch’s is different but nowhere near Lucy’s body temperature.

‘Good. Let them in. I will meet them at the old packhouse but take them in your car. Leave their car by the border and let the men check it thoroughly. If Blade disagrees, tell him it’s Alpha Stone’s order.’

‘Noted, Alpha,’ Kingston answered, and I immediately cut off our mindlink before opening one to my father and my Beta.

‘Blade arrived with a female. I am assuming it’s the red mountain witch. I will meet them at the ruin. Dad, Collin, I want you to keep an eye on Lucy.’

‘Noted, Alpha,’ Collin answered.

‘Take Collin with you, I can take care of Lucy, and we’re surrounded by warriors. Witches can be deceiving.’ Of course, Dad would disagree and think I didn’t trust his capability to protect Lucy.

‘I have Kingston with me. And I will take a few men as well. I want to secure Lucy, Dad. Don’t argue. Alpha’s order.’

‘Fine. I hope all turns out well, son.’

‘Me too. Keep your mindlink open all the time, and do not say a word to her until I talk to the witch.’ I added before making my way down the building. I checked from afar if Lucy would be able to see me, but it was a good thing that my father moved her position so she had her back to I didn’t waste any more time before I slipped inside the forest line just beside the training building and began running.

I knew it would be faster with Beast, but without Lucy, it would be harder to control him, so I had to rely on my own strength to reach the old building that used to be the pack’s packhouse over a century ago.

‘Any update?’ I connected with my Gamma again.

‘You’re just right on the timing. Blade just finished arguing with me about leaving his car, but we’re good now. We’re heading to the old building. Man, this man hasn’t changed a bit. Still fucking growly and annoying.’

1 ‘I know, but he’s the best man for this job.

‘If I were right, he was overly protective of the female with him. Maybe something brewed while they were traveling.’ He chuckled.

‘Are you telling me he was smitten with an older female? Doesn’t sound like the Blade I know.’

‘Older? Nah! This one looks almost the same age as Lucy.’

‘What the fuck?’ I growled in my head! Who did Blade take with him?’

‘Relax... If it’s a witch, maybe she can disguise herself as a younger version of herself. She looks young, but she doesn’t look like she’s naive.’

‘No, fucking witches are naive. I’m near the building now. I’ll wait for you inside.’

I reached the ruin in no time, and there were already three warriors around it. I asked them to be here even before I left the training grounds. I acknowledged their greetings before heading inside the decaying building. It was empty, and some parts were destroyed, but it was still standing strong. We’ve been using this place as a training ground for combat with weapons until we were able to build a more suitable arena on the other side.

So this place had no use at all, but I let it stand. I actually had no idea why I decided to meet them here, but I wanted to make sure the witch was on our side before I introduced her to Lucy.

It didn’t take long before the sound of an approaching car erupted in the thin air, and I prepared myself to meet them. I hoped Blade brought the right witch because I don’t think I could wait another week to get answers.

Blade’s scent reached me, and I turned in the direction I was expecting them. Loud footsteps echoed around the ruin, and three people came to view – my Gamma, Blade, and a young female with dark plum hair which I believe was shorter than Lucy.

And she looked like she was not even eighteen.

I couldn’t stop the low growl that reverberated from my chest the moment they stopped three meters in front of me.

“What kind of greeting was that? I didn’t travel this far for that animosity, Stone.” Blade grunted.

“I asked you to bring me the witch of the red mountain! Not a fucking teenager!”

He chuckled as if what I was saying was funny, and it didn’t slip my eyes the way the female raised her eyebrows at me.

“She’s the next best option,” he answered as he shrugged his shoulders.

“Correction, I’m your only option. Now, if I’m not needed here, I’ll go. I don’t need to waste my time, it was not me who needed help in the first place.” Her voice was soft but she did have a sharp tongue.

“Who are you?” I asked her directly.

“I’m Althea. Daughter of the red mountain witch as what you’d like to call her.”

“Where is she?”

“Dead. Unless you want to dig her body up and cast spells to bring her back to life, then you don’t have a choice.”

“Since you’re direct to the point, I’ll be as well. Did your mother tell you anything about the demon world?”

“Whoa! Whoa! Are we going to fucking discuss everything here? I’m hungry.

Don’t I deserve decent food after a week of travel?” Blade hissed, his forehead creasing.

“Didn’t you eat decent food on my table?” Althea snapped at him, and Blade opened his mouth only to shut it.

That was new. No one could scare Blade or shut him up.

Blade and I went to the same training, and he was older by two years, but he had been mated and lost her almost six years ago, so the chance of him being feral without a mate was lower than mine. But still, he could be as grumpy as me, and maybe that’s why we remained friends up until now. 1 “I’ll get you some decent food once I’m done talking to her. I just need to make sure I can get her to my side.” I told him after I sent a mindlinked to my Gamma to have someone fix dinner for them.

“And if not, you’ll throw me out of your territory?”Althea asked.

“No. You won’t be able to get out of here alive.” I answered almost immediately.

A loud growl erupted in the air, and it shook the ground. I was in a serious situation, but I couldn’t help but chuckle at Blade’s reaction.

“I overreacted, yes, you’ll be escorted out of the territory. Forgive me for my rude response, Lady Althea. I just wanted to hear the growl from my friend.”

“Fuck you!” Blade spat at me, and I saw he had his fangs out already.

“Stop growling. I can take care of myself. “The witch whispered to him, but my werewolf hearing made it possible for me to hear her. 1 “Lady Althea, will you help us?”

“I don’t know exactly what you want from me.”

“What did your mother tell you about the underworld.”

“Everything she knew and experienced – the abuse, power, and spells they forced her to perform, and how she managed to escape from them. So what exactly do you want from me?”

“Everything you know about it,” I replied, “but what guarantee do I have that you’re on my side.”

“Didn’t you hear what I said? My mother was abused, so anyone against the demons is my friend.”

“My girlfriend is half-demon. And I want you to help her.”

“No! Absolutely not! I was not informed I would be helping a demon!” She threw a glare at Blade, and he just ignored her this time.

“Half-demon,” I stopped myself from growling just in time. I needed her on my side. “She didn’t want to be a demon herself. Her mother was raped by her father in his incubus form. She wanted a way out.”

“I want to meet her to make sure she’s not just acting before I can decide.”

“I will let you meet her if you promise me that if you decide not to help her, you will not tell her directly. You,” I pointed my finger at her before pointing at my chest. “Need to tell me. She’s asking for help, and the last thing I want is for you to crush whatever spirit she still has.”

“Interesting. I didn’t know demons had a soft side.” Her lips twitched into a sarcastic smile.

“I told you, she’s half-demon.”

“And the other half?”

“Her mother was an Omega before she went rogue.”

She nodded her head. “Then I want to meet her. Maybe I will help her. Or not, depending on what transpires at our meeting.”