Chapter 116

Chapter 116: Ayla I watched Theo punch in a code that opened a floor hatch in the cramped utility room. He opened it and guided me down the narrow stairs, going deeper than expected. The place was all stone walls, but I could tell there were additions to areas.

Theo stopped outside a door down the hall where a warrior stood guard.

“Let me go in first, okay?” he told me. “You can watch from there.” He pointed to the dark glass window nearby. “Press the button to hear what’s going on.”

I nodded.

He kissed my head and entered the cell. I moved to the glass. There were two other men in the room with Theo. The one tied to the chair was obviously Randall, but I didn’t know who the other male was. Whoever he was, he was changing out an IV bag attached to Randall’s arm. I had a strong feeling the bag didn’t contain hydrating fluids.

I pushed the speaker button as Theo sat down in front of him. Theo pulled out a piece of paper and set it down on the small table between them, pushing it forward for Randall to see.

“Who is she?” Theo asked firmly.

Randall twitched as he looked at the paper and back at Theo. “You tell me,” he replied with a weak smirk.

“Who is she?” Theo commanded.

“Ayla Garner,” Randal spat.

I tried not to react at hearing him say my name.

“What’s your interest in her? Why are you looking for her?”

Randall started to sputter, every muscle in his body straining fiercely, his veins bulging from his neck. But no words escaped.

“Come on, Randall,” Theo said. “You’ve got wolfsbane flowing through you. You won’t last much longer. Answer my question and the pain stops.”

“Can’t,” was all he managed to force out. It was like he was trying to answer but he physically couldn’t.

“Why is the Waar Pak looking for Ayla Garner?” Theo pressed.

The other male standing behind Randall grabbed the IV bag and squeezed it. Randall screamed, sweat and spit running down his face as his body contorted horribly. This went on with no results.

“Stop,” Theo finally commanded.

Randall’s body went lax in the chair. I didn’t know how he was still conscious.

I turned to the warrior standing guard.

“Open it,” I said, indicating the cell door. He paused for a moment. “Open it.”

He did as I said and let me in.

The atmosphere in the room shifted when I walked in. Theo tensed immediately but didn’t move. The other male just looked at me curiously. But Randall... his demeanor completely relaxed. He looked up at me and started to laugh.

“They were right,” he said weakly.

“Who was right about what?” Theo asked.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Randall sounded. “You don’t get to ask the questions anymore, Alpha.”

“Okay,” I said, stepping in, “who was right about what?”

“Oh, you’ll have to do better than that, beautiful.”

His head snapped to the side as Theo’s fist made contact.

“Watch your mouth,” Theo rumbled.

Randall spat a mouthful of blood on the floor. “So, you’re the true mate,” he said. “That’s good to know.”

“Why is that good to know?” I asked. “What do you want with me?”

Randall shook his head. “Still not good enough.”

“What’s not good enough?” I pushed, losing my patience with whatever game this was.

“If you want information, honey, you’re going to have to command it,” he said.

“What are you talking about?”

“Command me,” Randall said.

“Ayla, get out,” Theo told me.

“No,” I shot. “I want to know what he knows.”

My anger was rising. I felt like Randall was just playing with me, and I wouldn’t take it. Neither would Dasha. She had been right near the surface since we set eyes on Randall. After months, she was ready to come out. I stepped in front of Randall, my claws extending.

“What do you want with me?” I commanded.

Randall smiled. “Nothing.”

I raised my hand, ready to strike, when Theo suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Ayla, wait,” Theo said.

“What?” I yelled, looking back at him.

He looked at Randall. “Tell him to tell you why he was looking for you.”

I was trying not to go off on Theo for stopping me. He sensed my frustration.

“Just trust me, babe,” he said gently.

I took a deep breath and turned back to Randall.

“Why are you looking for me?”

“It has to be a command,” he replied.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, my frustration building again. “I can’t...”

“Yes, you can, Ayla,” Theo said. “You’ve done it before. Now you just have to figure out how to do it without being angry.”

I looked at Theo like he was crazy. He put a hand on the small of my back for support.

“Just breath,” he said. “Focus on him. Think about what you want and make him give it to you.”

I looked back at Randall. His expression was surprisingly blank, but his eyes were..... encouraging?

What the hell was going on?

I huffed but shook out my shoulders and did as Theo said.

“Why are you looking for me?” I commanded, feeling the power in my words again. This time, I started to understand what that power was.

Randall released a long breath. “To protect you.

I snorted. “You really think we’ll believe that?”

リリー “We have to,” Theo said, running a hand through his hair. “It was a command, Ayla. Ask him...”

“That won’t be necessary anymore,” Randall interrupted. “She broke the original command. I can speak freely now. But it would be nice to not have wolfsbane fed straight into my veins. And maybe get the cuffs off.”

Theo nodded to the male still standing behind Randall. He reached over and yanked the needle from Randall’s arm before unlocking the cuffs that bound him. Randall slid down on the chair, stretching out with what strength he had left.

“Is someone going to tell me what the hell is going on?” I said, feeling a bit dumbfounded.

“He’s not with the Waar Pak,” Theo said.

Randall shook his head. “No, well, I’m not on their side, at least. There are a few members who are under the impression otherwise.”

“Is that why you were at the library?” Theo asked, directing me to sit down in the other chair.

“Yeah,” Randall said. “I wasn’t responsible for the murder. She can command me to verify.”

“Oh, she will, Randall,” Theo said. “But first, tell me what the hell is going on and what it has to do with my mate.”

“I actually like Randy better, Alpha,” he said with a weak smile. He sat up straighter before continuing. “You’re aware of the Waar Pak Society, obviously. I’m guessing you figured out they’ve been killing Onyxcrown survivors.”

“Yeah,” Theo concurred. “We got that.”

“Well, you’ll have to speak with Alpha Harden to get caught up on the group I work with,” Randy said. “For now, just know that the Waar Pak received information that the Blessed One exists. I don’t know for sure, but I believe they may know it’s you, Luna.

That’s why I had to break into the packhouse like I did.”

“You had to get caught,” Theo said as if it should have been obvious from the start.

Randy nodded. “I hoped you would eventually bring her here. By the way, tell the young lady she has a great right hook and that I’m sorry scared her. Trust me” – he looked over his shoulder at the wolfsbane IV – “if I could have done another way, I would have.”

“We’ll get you to the infirmary when we’re done here,” Theo said.

“Actually, I’m safer down here for right now,” he replied. “What’s important is that you and Luna know that the Waar Pak is coming for I her. You need to be prepared.