His Little Runt

Chapter 13

Caden

I have nothing in my head but death. This man deserves to die. He took my mate and threatened her. Alairia is in trouble because of him. She isn't here because of him. She is being forced into something she undoubtedly doesn't want because of him.

He is the source of the problem, the middle of all my issues, and the roots at which this situation became complicated. He is the instigator, and therefore, he must die.

My troubles will end with him.

My troubles will end right now.

I step forward, my paws scraping on the ground in a movement that promises vengeance.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Nixx yells, rushing to stand in front of me.

I growl, low and vicious, in warning.

He raises his hands in a sign of peace that does nothing to quell the bloodlust inside of me.

"I know what you're feeling," he starts, and I growl louder. "I felt the exact same thing when Noella was in danger. The feeling of someone you love being in danger screws with your head. It fumbles everything you know until all your thoughts revolve on getting them to safety." He walks a little closer to me, but slowly, as if approaching a wild rabbit. "If you kill him right now, you won't know where Alairia. Right know he is our only source to find her. Don't trade in her life in the midst of trying to save it. Think past the anger, and look for the common sense."

He's right, I say to my wolf. But this decision is yours. He threatened our mate, and his life is in your hands.

My wolf nips at the air in anger, snarling loud and clear before shifting control back to me.

I come back into my body and senses with a burst of clarity.

"You will tell me exactly where she is," I say coolly. "Or this mercy will be taken back quicker than it was given."

The human only smiles. "How kind of you to hear me out."

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•
Alairia

I'm almost certain my heart has a backup system that kicked in about an hour ago. A backup system that glitches and stutters at times. It also feels harder to breathe, like every breath I take shoves me closer to my last one. Like I'm on the verge of hyperventilating every five seconds.

I'm not made for this kind of thing. I sit in my silent bakery all day with nothing but my mixing bowls to have conversations with. I have no idea how to fix this situation, and even if I did, I don't have the guts to act on it.

The door slams down with a metal bang that makes me jump as it reverberates through my ears a couple times.

"Up," Aiden demands as soon as he steps into view.

My heart gives a violent lurch as I rise to my feet, and my breathing stutters as he grips my arm and pulls me out of the metal box.

It feels nice to have the air on my skin after being in that confined space for so long. I don't know what day it is or how long I've been here, but the sun is just starting to disappear behind the earth as I look into the sky.

"Where are we going?" I dare to ask.

"My father seems to be off securing his plans, so I'm taking you out of the picture before he notices."

My chest feels like a thousand pounds just dropped on it.

"What do you mean?" I ask shakily. "Where are you taking me?"

He smirks over his shoulder. "You don't have to be scared. It's not like I can feed you to the wolves or anything."

His small chuckle makes me sick.

"Higher authority will find you out," I blurt.

I don't actually know if that's true, but I do think it's a thing. The elders who created the borders between the forest and the human land have to still be a thing. They're immortal, after all.

"That," he starts, moving to the edge of the tree line. "is an interesting theory, but I don't think it's gonna happen."

My steps falter at his words, because I know they might be true. Nobody will save us from the inevitable collapse of Caden's pack. Nobody will rescue all the little children from the orphanage. Everything will be ashes before the end of tomorrow.

A storage container not unlike all the others I've seen looms in the distance, surrounded by dark trees and foliage. Separated from the rest for some reason I don't know. It looks like a cage.

My cage, I realize with a jolt a panic.

"Why can't I stay in your room or someone else's?" I ask, frustrated that my voice wavers.

He grips my arm in a hold so tight I feel it bruising. "My father will look for you in those exact places. He doesn't know about this little gem, though."

A shudder rocks my frame as he unlocks the latch and lets the door fall to the grass covered ground.

"Welcome to your temporary home," he says, swooping in a bow as he gestures inside.

He all but shoves me inside, and a whimper climbs up my throat as I look around the small space.

It's dark, cold, lonely, and everything I despise.

Tears prick my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall with him watching.

"Please don't leave me here," I whisper.

It's a futile plea, but I would do anything at this point. Anything to not have to stay in this place of silence and darkness.

He smiles, and it looks like a hint of regret tinges the edges.

"It won't be for that long," he says, lifting the door back up. "See you in my new pack, Alairia."

He winks before shutting the door, closing me in midnight and loneliness.

I hear the latch click, and I finally let my tears fall.