Chapter: nineteen

After getting the latest on the patrols, Ezekiel immediately sought out his queen.

She’d been in the dining room when he’d left, helping mothers feed their little ones so they could eat in peace.

Ezekiel knew the strain of everything was wearing on his mate, but she never let it show to the pack.

After searching for a few minutes, he asked one of the female pack members where she’d gone. “I think I saw the queen head out the throne room door, but it’s been a while, Majesty.”

He tried to reach her through their mind-link, but got no response. Instantly on edge, Ezekiel mind-linked Quill. ~“Get here now! We need to find the queen!”~

~“On my way.”~

In the library, Aylin was engrossed in the pages about the demon in question. Each word she read made her more and more uneasy.

The chapter detailed the battles he’d fought and how he’d killed his victims, but what really caught her attention was how he’d become a demon.

“It’s said that the demon Zagan was once…a werewolf. After his mate rejected him, he made a deal with the Devil himself.

“In exchange, he was given control of demonic forces on this plane with the goal of”—Aylin gasped, reading the next line—“wiping out the werewolf population.”

The sound of heavy footsteps startled Aylin from her thoughts. She quickly closed the book and ran for the door, not wanting anyone to see what she’d been reading.

She opened the door before they could, and a collective sigh of relief filled the room. “What’s the matter?”

Ezekiel clenched his fists briefly before relaxing. He couldn’t be mad at her, not now. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just needed some air.”

“My lady, you can’t just disappear like that,” Quill said sternly.

Softening her expression, she gave her friend a gentle smile. “I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll let you know when I’m going somewhere.”

Aylin couldn’t be mad at Quill for his sternness. The situation was serious, and they were just trying to protect their queen.

“That way, we can have someone go with you.”

“I understand.”

Kissing her forehead, Ezekiel marveled at how well she was handling her duties. So much was happening, and she never let it show. “Want to stay here a bit longer?”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll go back and help out.”

There was something strange in Aylin’s expression. It was as if she’d seen something she couldn’t forget, and it was bothering her.

Rather than press her, he decided to wait and see if she’d talk about it. Taking her hand in his, he noticed she was trembling slightly.

His first priority was to keep her safe and prevent her from being kidnapped.

Quill sent the others out to patrol more, and stayed behind with his brother and Aylin. “I think it’s safe to say I shat a brick.”

“Don’t be crude, Quill,” Ezekiel snapped.

“Oh, tell me you didn’t.”

Closing his mouth, the king looked away. “Exactly. But seriously, don’t do that again, Ay. It’s too dangerous.”

Yawning widely, Ezekiel scooped Aylin into his arms. “Enough, Quill. I think she gets it. I’m taking her to bed. Have someone guard our room.”

“I’ll do it.”

“No, I need you ready at a moment’s notice. If something happens, you can’t leave her alone. Find someone else.”

With a clenched jaw, Quill had no choice but to obey. “Understood.”

***

Laying Aylin down in their bed, Ezekiel tucked her in. He studied her face, noticing the tiredness in her eyes, the slight bags forming underneath.

“Get some sleep,” he said, stroking her hair.

“What about you?”

“I’ll be back in a bit. Just going to check on the patrols. Make sure everything’s okay.”

“Okay.”

It was hard for the king to see his mate so vulnerable. In that moment, all they could do was wait and see what would happen next.

Leaning down, he kissed her forehead. “Rest up. I’ll be back when I can.”

The moment the door closed, Aylin pressed her ear against it, listening to the king’s footsteps fade down the hall. She peeked out into the hallway.

There was no sign of the guard supposed to be there. Quietly closing the door, she darted down the hallway to the library, shutting the door behind her.

She picked up the book from earlier, flipping it open to the chapter. The more she read, the more she tried to piece together the puzzle.

What did he have to do with the attack on Dark Moon? Why was she the target? And what was her mother’s role in all this?

Why would the demon suggest her mother might still be alive? As far as she knew, her mother was a werewolf, not a human.

Then she realized there were so many secrets in the old pack, and no one left alive to confirm whether her mother was human or not.

All the records said she was a wolf, but they could have been altered. Anything was possible.

As she sat in the plush leather chair, Aylin’s eyes started to close. Fighting it was useless. Sleep claimed her.

“Aylin, let me show you.” The same eerie voice filled her mind as she drifted off to sleep.

Feeling weightless, Aylin found herself looking at two people she barely recognized in a place she didn’t know.

“Mom?”