Hunted and Tormented

Chapter 12: At your command

Jem’s POV

I stood in the middle of my office, the debris and shattered remains of my study lying around me. The second I’d realised what I’d done, I’d completely lost it. There were no words to describe how much it hurt. How much I missed her already.

There was a knock on the door. “Alpha Jem?”

My face was buried in my hands. “What is it?”

“Do you want me to send someone to clean this up, sir? It isn't a problem.”

I turned slowly and leveled my gaze with the slightly terrified werewolf standing before me. He gulped and smiled weakly as he shuffled from foot to foot. I remembered him being called something like Aaron. He was young, about fourteen and had only started shifting six months ago. Around that time, we’d had the talk, something an Alpha did with all of the newly changed wolves to settle them into the lifestyle.

“Why are you here?” I grunted. “I did not ask for assistance.”

Aaron swallowed thickly. “Well, you see sir, I heard the noise from the other side of the house and I just wondered if you wanted it to be dealt with quickly. I’m sorry if I’m being too bold.”

I waved him off wearily, more angry at myself than the teenage boy. “That is considerate of you, but I like my office this way.”

Aaron blinked at me. “Sir, everything is broken.”

I grinned at him hauntingly. “But now I know where everything is.”

His mouth opened to speak again, but he was suddenly shoved roughly to the side, hitting the wall with a jolt. Cam stormed past him, followed by Benjamin and a rather exasperated looking Joshua. I growled at him. “Make them leave. No one barges into my office.”

Joshua started to speak but was cut off by Cam. “Where is she?”

“Who?”

His glare intensified. “Eva! Where the hell is she? She’s not in her cell or her room . . . Where have you moved her?”

“Frankly Cameron,” I said stiffly, “she isn't you concern. I don’t see your mark on her.”

“Alpha,” Cam breathed out in a rush of defeat, his wolf bowing to my command, “I just want to know where she is. She has been my friend for years.”

“And yet you brought her here,” I sneered.

His head snapped up, fury blazing in his eyes. “At your command!”

“Enough!” barked Joshua, shoving Cam back a step. “You will not speak to your Alpha like that. Alpha Jem, I am so terribly sorry for this –”

“Alpha, sir,” Benjamin interrupted quietly from where he stood, arms folded, “as her constant guard I think it would be appropriate for me to know her location. After all it is my job to guard to her.”

My shoulders sank, my entire body caving in and my wolf howling inside as I crumbled, putting my head in my hands again. “Eva is gone.”

“What?!” snapped Cam, straining against Joshua’s strength. “You killed her? How fucking dare you –!”

“She isn't dead,” I said, my eyes glazing over, unfocused as I stared into space. “I banished her. I let her leave.”

“Alpha is it wise to assume that she will follow through with your wishes?” inquired Joshua worriedly.

My hands balled into fists at my sides. “She can never defy me. Not even with her gift.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Cam screamed. “She’s your mate and you sent her out there to die when you know the truth! That is exactly what will happen to her out there! What the fuck were you thinking?”

“I was giving her what she wanted,” I replied weakly.

“You think she wanted to be away from you?” asked Benjamin curiously.

“Wasn't it obvious?”

Still fighting Joshua off, Cam stormed towards the door. “I’m going to find her. You can’t stop me, Jem. I will not let her die, not when I have let her down.”

I crumpled to the ground, collapsing in a heap and bringing my knees up to my face as a knife of longing and need stabbed me in the stomach. I needed her. I wanted her. What had I done? This was killing me. A groan escaped me and a trickle of sweat streamed down my temple. This was torture.

“I need her,” I said huskily, my voice morphing into that of my wolf who was taking over. “Bring her back to me. I made a mistake. Bring her back now.”

Cam didn’t need any more encouragement. As I curled in on myself on the floor, Benjamin and Joshua hovering over me, he left without a word.

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