The Rise of the Fallen Queen

Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

The Cradle of Life...

The sound of flies created a low hum as Alec stared down at the body. The heat sped up the rotting of flesh. He made sure that it was his men with him when he went to investigate. The video footage showed a man leaving the marketplace with a young woman in tow. It took every ounce of steel will not to show any reaction to seeing his daughter being dragged away by a lecherous old man.

The corpse's skin was covered in bruises and slashes. Defensive wounds covered the hands and arms. Rage burst into Alec's mind when he thought about his bright happy baby girl being assaulted.

Flashback...

Alec received notice that the front door of Zara's home had opened. He had installed cameras and sensors about so that he would know if something ever happened or if someone was harassing them. He saw a woman, he didn't recognize, enter. Checking the outside cameras, he saw that a strange man lurked nearby. Quickly leaving his office he went around the back way.

The women looked up as he entered. Zara greeted Alec as normal which was far from formal. He then assumed that the strangers were known. Introductions were made and when Alec asked about the man in the front. He felt Zara tense, Zuri hissed, and their mother sighed.

Lucy stood, walked over to the door, and opened it. The man entered hesitantly. He opened his mouth to speak but Zuri held up her hand stopping him.

"We will tolerate you for our mama." She stated before turning her back on him and leaving.

The room was silent. Zara sighed and stood as well. "I suppose you'll be at dinner as well?" she asked without looking at the man who was her biological father.

"He will." Lucy answered for him. She was touched yet sad at her daughters' behaviors but she understood.

Zara nodded and went to the kitchen. Alec followed her.

"Where is Ebanee?" he asked noting the late hour.

"She said that she would be staying a little late at the library to lock up since her boss had to leave early." Zara answered.

Alec immediately felt a nudge of dread. His gut telling him that something was wrong. "The library closed a while ago. She should have been home by now. Curfew ends in twenty minutes."

He cursed when he realized that his cell phone's battery had died and he couldn't check the cameras that only he and his most trusted men had access to. "Damn it!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to go check on her. Don't leave the house." He said kissing Zara's cheek.

Leaving through the back door he headed to the library. The marketplace was already bursting with activity. The loud clamor of men casting lots, engaging in fights, or flirting with women of the night created a cacophony of sounds that grated his nerves. The thought of his daughter being around these heathens was enough to focus his attention in finding his men who would no doubt be around. They hovered on the outskirts of the crowd but not fully emersed in the melee. Information followed as freely as the alcohol and was soaked up by his spies.

None of the other hunters noticed his arrival except for his long-time friend, who had been one of his first trainees. "What are you doing out here Alec?" Charlie Livingston asked.

"Ebanee is late coming home. I'm heading to the library. I need you and the others to look for her discreetly." He whispered.

"You got it."

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As soon as Alec reached his house, he locked himself in his office and plugged in his phone. He was highly irritated. Normally at night, he would walk into his office and take a deep breath. He could smell the spicy clove scent that he associated with his Soulmate. He would then open a private drawer only the two of them knew about and find a letter written by Zara. It would always fill him with both happiness and longing. It didn't matter how late it was, he would always pen a letter and place it in the drawer. Tonight, he could not partake of his ritual. There was something more pressing. His daughter was missing.

The screen brightly lit up as Alec let go of the power button turning the device on. Before he could access his files. The phone rang with an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Hello Mr. Somers. Or should I call you Alec?" A man's voice questioned. "This is Yorick Standish."

Alec knew the traitorous shifter who was once a councilman until he led mercenaries to kill and destroy werewolf headquarters. He had come to meet with Matthew Brush to plan their trip to "rescue" the witch, Ivory White. Alec knew that the werewolf was a big player for the Prime Purity. It was in his best interest to not make the man angry.

"What can I do for you, Sir?" Alec asked with polite indifference as he pulled up security camera footage from his office computer. The spinning icon appeared along with the word, "Loading." Alec clicked his mouse impatiently hoping to make the page pull up faster.

"I was wondering around looking for some amusements. I found a nice young girl with a smooth tight body ready for plucking. She's just the entertainment I was looking for. Her tits are a just big enough to fill my hands and her nice round ass that is going to feel good once I can work my cock in." The man said.

Alec wanted to throw the phone. He didn't want to hear of the dirty old man's conquests. Alec almost sighed with relief when the program loaded and he re-winded the footage in front of the library.

"But you want to know what I find most interesting?"

"What's that?" Alec asked absently.

"She smells sooo familiar."

Something in the way the man said it raised Alec's hackles.

"Did you know, Alec, that werewolves can scent their pups? Those with Alpha bloods have stronger noses and can tell whose pups belong to who. We can tell the paternity of most creatures."

Dread began to fill Alec as he followed his daughter's path from the library to the marketplace.

"This sweet little thing I found has a very familiar scent." Standish repeated deliberately. "She smells like you, Alec."

Alec froze as he watched his daughter being knocked unconscious.

"You've been a very naughty boy and broke the rules."

"Where is she?!" Alec ground out.

"Ah ah... not until I've had my fun."

>Click<

End of Flashback...

A large hand was placed on Alec's shoulder.

"We'll take the body to the morgue." Charlie said quietly. "Why don't you head on home?"

Alec shrugged his friend's hand away. "I can't."

Charlie shook his head as his mentor walked away. At times like these he wondered if it was worth it or was it the reason they shouldn't stop.

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Reminder: Yorick Standish was the Councilmember who betrayed the Werewolf Council. 

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