Of Runt (Redone)

Chapter Thirty~Eight

Besides the fights and meeting the MOA I have never been outside the pack. I definitely have never visited another pack, especially unannounced and uninvited. I can only assume the anger someone known as The Dark Alpha holds when being disrespected.

Hopefully by my name alone it will pacify him enough to get me to speak with me. Showing up unannounced to someone else's pack can be seen as a slight towards them and could risk a war between packs. I just couldn't risk that someone from my and his pack wouldn't sell me out.

We slow as we come up to the boarder, the trees here much more dense then at our home pack and the fog is creepy. I shift back, Shell, Ghost and Catori surround me. I slowly walk forward before a growl echoes. I hold my hands up as if to show I mean no harm.

"My name is Reagan, I'm here on behalf of my alpha, Alpha Archer Acer. I need to speak to Alpha Carl."

  I sniff the air catching wiff of several scents. Following that I am able to spot several glowing eyes in the woods. There's a tense few moments of no nose, not even from woodland creatures, before someone shifts. "You're permitted."

  He tosses a bag filled with robes to me which I then pass out. After the rest of my group shifts we follow after the wolf. The entire walk it seems as if the fog clings to me. Whisping around my body as if it is trying to speak.

I don't know what I was expecting the pack to look like but a fog covered, abandoned looking stone village with a literal castle wasn't it. Dark greens and eeriness is the only decoration of the place.

Alpha Clark earned the nickname the Dark Alpha for several different reasons according to Archer. One of which is he would do anything to protect his pack, he had little to no limits on what he would do. Besides his pack the only person he truly shows loyalty to is Archer. Another reason is that he always has his wolf right under the surface. His eyes seem black because of it.

He was also fearsome in battle. Ruthless and blood thirsty.

  Yet somehow that only makes me accept him as Shells possible true mate. He would protect her with his life, like how she deserves.

"Where is everyone?" Catori asks. The escort tenses glancing to the empty buildings.

"Lockdown," I whisper causing him to tense even more. "Alpha Clark is smart enough to know that if we had issues with vampires they would as well."

"You would be correct," the escort whispers. We walk around the back of the castle where we are lead through what seems like a servants staircase. I'm not sure how many flights of stairs there are but I'm positive we are on one of the highest floors.

Two guard are posted at the door, one opens it. The escort leads us in but comes to a stop. "This is where I wait. He's in the middle room."

The entire castle is made of stone, it's decorated in dark greens. A carpet runner, paintings. There are electrical lights but gas lamps still line the walls. All the doors look thick and heavy. The inside just as eerie as the outside.

My group follows me, Ghost eagerly darting forward to open the door while sending a smirk my way. Catori sends him a low warning growl which takes us both by surprise. The room is dark due to no lights being on. There's an assault of scents but one ever so faintly memorable. I smelled it in the hospital once.

Shell is being usually quiet from behind me. "Alpha?" I call out.

  Slowly candles start flickering on revealing Alpha Clark. "I'm finding it difficult that Archer let you out of his sight yet alone sent you here," he says, black eyes landing on me.

"I said I was here on his behalf, not that he sent me."

  Alpha Clark lets out a loud laugh throwing his head back. "My goddess," he looks between my group, his gaze faltering on Shell. "I knew you'd be trouble when you called me. What do I owe the pleasure Reagan."

"You're speaking to an acting Luna, might want to address her as so," Ghost cuts in.

  The alphas brows shoot up in surprise as he looks to Ghost. A predatory gaze. "Acting Luna?" He muses. "I see Archer finally grew a pair."

"That's not why we are here."

"Obviously if you are Acting Luna that means he's dead?"

"No," I snap. "He's alive, he was just... Taken."

"Taken?" He asks with a scoff turning back towards the candle lit desk. "You expect me to believe someone kidnapped Archer? An Alpha."

"Yes."

"You're adorable, trust me. No one could take him alive."

"But he is," I argue crossing my arms over my chest. "Guys wait outside."

"No," Ghost instantly retorts.

"Now," I point to the door in which the three leave. Once they shut the door behind them I turn back to the alpha before me. "On the phone call I had with you, I discovered something. Archer told me about the goddess and the mate bonds. I think we still have those bonds we just don't know how to look for it."

He laughs again leaning back on his desk so he sits on it. "Of course Archer decides to be with the crazy half witch runt."

"I can feel his heartbeat just like how you can feel Shells."

He stares at me for what must be five, ten minutes. I'm not entirely sure but I know it was longer than it should've. His dark gaze unnerving and unmoving. It makes my skin crawl. "Alpha-"

"You are so fucking weird," he mutters. "First the muttering while you're in a coma, now this. Please tell me how your alpha was taken then."

"I don't know."

The alpha puts his hands on his face dragging them down with a groan. "Then what are you doing here?"

"Ghost knows where he was originally taken. He was taken by the Prophet. However Ghost won't tell me without your help," I explain crossing my arms over my chest.

"Because he doesn't think you're more than capable of taking care of it yourself? If the Prophet is involved I would rather stay out of it."

"Because I won't take his pack of rogues and become their leader so this is our compromise."

  At that he raises a brow before letting out another long groan. It takes me by surprise to be honest but he's clearly frustrated. "My fucking moons, you're as much as an idiot as Archer is. I can tell with that look- godsdamnit."

"Isn't Archer your best friend?" I retort hoping to hit a nerve.

"Yes but Archer would tell me to put my pack first. He wouldn't-"

"But if it were you missing Archer would've done everything he could to help you," I cut him off. My wolf surges forward forcing her own confidence through me. He narrows his gaze but I have a few more cards to play. "Believe me or not, but mine and Vic's best friend Shell, the blue haired nurse that's waiting outside, is your mate. I know for a fact she would rather have a found mate who would help than an Alpha who hid like a coward when his best friend needed him the most."

That did it. I can see his own wolf move behind his dark eyes. His gaze narrows. "You wouldn't."

"I wouldn't have to do a thing," I honestly reply. "It's just you who would fuck it all up."

"I liked you more when you were in a coma." At that I feel my lips tilt up in a smile.

Word Count 1313