Delivered from Exile

Chapter Six

chapter six

The door towered over me, its design rustic and beautiful. 

Breathe in, breathe out. Somehow my rapidly beating heart hadn’t leapt from my chest yet, and I intended on keeping it that way. I placed my hand over my chest and closed my eyes. Okay. Calm. I readied myself. I regretted leaving Ayana at home, the little fox always knew how to calm me down.

Knock.

Knock.

Before I could knock a third time, the door opened under my hand.

“Oh uh, hi.” I greeted sheepishly. The man who opened the door was Dante, the beta enforcer, and the one who’d apologized to me in my bookshop for Lance’s behavior.

“Reyes!” He beamed. “I’m so glad to see you.” Like before, he offered his hand to me. This time I took it. Firm handshake. Not bad.

“I’m here to see the alpha.” I told him, glad he was the one to answer the door and not Lance.

His face fell. “I’m sorry, Rey. I can’t let you.”

“What? Why the hell not. What’s the point of being alpha if you’re inaccessible? The Northlands would never-“

“I can’t budge on this, I’m sorry.” A part of me felt bad for him. He did seem genuinely sorry.

“Let her.” A booming voice came from behind Dante and he jumped, skittish. I looked up to meet Lance’s cold stare.

“Lance you know we can’t let her.” I was impressed Dante stood up to him so bravely where everyone else folded beneath him. “He’s not well, and!-“

“ENOUGH.” Dante’s mouth snapped shut at Lance’s bark, but the protest never left his eyes. “Take her.”

Dante looked towards me and I could see the worry in his eyes. I watched as he ran a hand through his hair and sighed. Accepting defeat, he reached his hand out to me again. I took it, and he gently led me through the hall. The alpha isn’t well? We stopped in front of a door, where Dante knocked softly.

I could barely hear the reply. “Come in.”

The alpha’s chambers were gorgeous. His bed was huge and draped in a canopy of cloth. His windows were stained glass, the light coming in through them a blend of purples and blues. I gasped, my hand lifting to my throat.

In the middle of the bed lay a man. He was propped up by dozens of pillows and was reading a book. Hearing us enter, he slid in a bookmark and lowered it, politely giving us his full attention.

“Who is this?” He asked. His voice was weak but I could still hear the unmistaken undertow of authority there.

“Alpha, I’m sorry. Lance insisted I bring her here. She’s the one they’ve chosen for the mission.” The alpha beckoned me over with a wave of his hand. I could feel the waves of tension pouring off of Dante and I felt bad for causing him such worry. He must really love his alpha. He smiled at me apologetically, but it didn’t change his expression.

I approached the bed slowly, not sure exactly how I was going to demand anything from this sick man. I knelt by the bedside obediently.

“You have bright eyes.” He complimented me gently. “And your body is strong. You were a good choice.” I blushed at his words. His eyes wandered my body, but not in the perverted way most men would. He simply regarded me the way he’d size up a warrior, and it flattered me.

“Yes… well.” I swallowed hard, unsure how to continue. “I’d like to accept the mission, though I’d like to make some changes to the arrangement.”

The alpha nodded, encouraging me to continue.

“Lance has told me that if I go with them that I’ll be allowed to live tax free.  I’d like the offer to be extended as well to my best friend and roommate, Trey Lake.” My heart thumped quickly, anxious for his reply.

“I don’t see why not.” He agreed. I grinned happily. “Thank you for your help. My granddaughter is very precious to me… I’m glad she’ll have strong protectors.” Granddaughter?

“GRANDPA!” A tiny voice called from behind me. I turned to see the little girl Dante brought into my shop bound into the room, her arms extended towards him. “Yay! Your door is open I can come in!” She giggled gleefully and rushed forward, leaping onto the alpha’s chest. This drew a pained groan from him and he flinched as he hugged her in return.

“Beta, will you?” He murmured. The alpha stroked his granddaughters’ hair, reverence in his eyes.

Dante immediately aided him, grabbing her from under the armpits, gently lifting her off the alpha and wresting her to the ground with tickles.

“Grandpa! Grandpa!’ Her cries were distorted through her laughter, and she flailed wildly while she begged for assistance from him.

The alpha smiled, though there was sadness in his eyes. My heart wrenched. He loves her so much.

Dante looked towards him, a question in his eyes. The alpha nodded towards the door.

“Come on Katie-bear, let’s go play with your dolls.”

“YAAAY.”

The door clicked shut, the sound amplifying the lonely atmosphere that had suddenly come over the room.

“Your granddaughter is very sweet.” I told him sincerely. I heard him sigh. “She definitely doesn’t take after her father.”

“She’s not Dante’s child.” The alpha pulled himself higher on the stack of pillows, groaning quietly. “She belonged to my daughter. We lost her during childbirth.” The unfairness of it struck me hard and I gasped.

An “I’m sorry” Was all I could offer.

“I’ve taken to raising her best I can, but I’ve fallen ill. She must be passed off to the Northlands. I was very close with the late queen, and seeing as their royal family is all but gone, Katie will be groomed to take the throne when she’s older.

So this was my mission? To escort this little girl to my old home to take over my old pack?  I couldn’t help but feel a little cheated. “It would be an honor, sir.” I told him. “I’ll do my best to make sure the trip goes smoothly.”

The alpha’s lips upturned slightly and he closed his eyes. “Thank you.” He murmured, and I felt his appreciation.

“Reyes.” The warm feeling in my chest evaporated as soon as Lance called my name. “Let us leave my father to rest.” Absently, I wondered how long he’d been standing in the door. I nodded and stood, lookng upon the alpha one last time before turning away and exiting the room. As soon as the door shut, Lance spoke again.

“Let’s talk.”