Unwanted Command

Chapter 23 - Think of Your Heart

Ryder looked over at his Beta and the small bundle he had in his arms. He could see the turmoil in Kylan's eyes, he wanted to put the boy down and hunt whoever was hurting the boys mother but there was another part of him who wanted nothing more than to protect the child he held.

"Marion, take the child so I can speak with Beta Kylan." Ryder tried to sound as soft as he could but he had spent so much time away from Alina no matter what he said he sounded harsh and almost cruel. Kylan looked torn but handed the child to Marion who was whispering soothing words to the him as she left the room.

"He has my mate." Kylan growled. "And yours."

"Who?" Ryder felt Magnar begin to pace around in his mind.

"My mates father."

"Ah, Silver." Aine was smiling though Ryder couldn't see any humour in this.

"Toby said he has Wolfs Bain." Kylan ignored the witch his eyes boring in to Ryder's, he saw the same torment Ryder had been suffering these past 5 months and his heart ached for his friend.

"Tread carefully pups, Silver does not work within the normal parameters of wolf rules." Aine spoke again.

"Pixie, just tell us what you know." It was Quillon that spoke now, though he almost demanded the witch answer questions there was a softness to his tone.

"Just know this, Silver has no boundaries when it comes to what he wants, he will kill whomever he pleases, including his daughter." She stared at Kylan when she said this. "He is however; an ignorant wolf, he has no idea that his grandchild-"

"Watch your mouth witch!" Ryder could feel Kylan's anger as he spoke but Aine did not seem phased by Kylan's outburst.

"Watch your tone Beta." Quillon growled.

"Now, now pups that's enough." Aine laughed. "Tobias is special, a product of rape but special none the less."

Ryder watched as Kylan's face paled at Aine's words.

"Aine." Quillon sent her a warning glare but she wasn't listening.

"It's the truth Quillon!" Aine was pissed now, her silver eyes beginning to change colour. "The only reason that child was born was because his mother was raped, she doesn't let it stop her being a true parent so why should I sugar coat what happened to that poor wolf." The air in the room began to hum with the witch's power. It was the first time Ryder had heard the witch talk about a wolf without disrespect.

"Just stop, please." Kylan sounded like a broken man.

"I'm sorry Beta, but you need to know, no matter what Isabella's father has done to her she is a strong wolf, worthy of you." Aine had taken a few deep breaths.

"How do you know all of this witch?" Ryder asked her.

"Faerie, I am a faerie!" She shouted. "There are things I know that I cannot tell you, my being is tethered to life and to the Goddess, my gift is a gift but a burden, I know things that others cannot." Ryder took a couple of deep breaths he needed to be able to be an Alpha not just a crazed wolf looking for his mate.

"Aine if you know anything-"

"Please Ryder, don't ask me to tell you what the Goddess wants to remain secret." She whispered, hurt flashing through her silver eyes, Quillon stepped toward the witch concern marring his features.

"Quillon if your mate knows more than what she is saying..." Ryder let Quillon come to his own conclusions as to what would happen to Aine if she kept secrets.

"My loyalty is not to you Alpha, it is to your Luna and you would do well to remember that." Quillon growled, Ryder would let that slide after all he had threatened his mate. "I will do everything in my power to serve and protect my Luna, even if that means harming her Alpha."

Magnar was angry with Quillon's words but Ryder felt some form of comfort from them. He knew that Quillon would put Alina first and that was all he needed to know, jealousy or not he needed Alina to be safe, even if that wasn't by him.

"I accept and am grateful Quillon." He nodded toward the warrior.

"I can, if you'll let me, show you where Silver is." Aine stepped toward him, he couldn't help the feeling of unease as she got closer. "Alpha, I know you have no trust for me but know this, I have no intention in ever going against the Goddess so let me help you."

Ryder watched the young looking witch walk toward him he couldn't help the way his back stayed rigid as she got closer, she unnerved him, she was powerful and both he and Magnar knew if she wanted to she could inflict more damage on them than they could her.

"No tricks." He stated toward her.

"No tricks, I actually like your Luna." She winked at him as she stood toe to toe with Ryder, though she was at least a foot shorter. "Not you so much, but Alina, I like her." She giggled and for a second Ryder saw an innocence in Aine he had never seen before. "Okay Lassie, close your eyes and think of your heart." She smiled at him.

"My heart?" He questioned.

"Alina." She smiled again raising her hands toward his head. "Just think of only her and I will guide you to her." She whispered as her cold soft finger tips touched his temples. "You will always find your heart Alpha." He nodded and closed his eyes, flash upon flash filtered through his mind, the first time he had met her, the first time he had touched her, the way she had asked him to please her, he stepped back growling.

"How the hell am I supposed to know where she is from that!" He shouted but the faerie looked more determined.

"Center yourself Alpha, think of only her, not what happened between not what you wanted, just her." She told him sternly. He stepped toward the faerie and allowed her to touch him once again. "Focus on her only Ryder, just Alina." She whispered to him. He closed his eyes the pain almost too much to bear. He had pushed her away, had made her think that he didn't care that he didn't want her to be part of their pack. He felt his eyes begin to moisten with un-shed tears, he had hurt the one person who had been made for him and all for nothing. To protect her! Fuck, he had feed her to the proverbial wolves and now he was suffering the consequences and so was Alina.

"Just Alina." She encouraged him. He couldn't help the hurt he felt, the distress that clawed its way into his mind, the failure, the absolute loss he had felt watching Quillon walk away with her in his arms. "Please Ryder." The faerie in front of him was crying.

"Ryder!" Quillon warned. He couldn't help the way his thoughts seemed to drag themselves to the dark recesses of his mind, to the part where he had felt he had failed her, that he had let her go just to have her taken anyway, the pain was too much.

"Ryder, just focus." Aine pleaded through her sobs. Ryder took a deep shuddering breath. He closed his eyes and began to remember everything he could, her brown eyes, her chocolate coloured hair, the way she laughed, how she challenged him, how she made him feel more whole as a man and wolf than he had ever thought possible.

"I know where she is." He said stepping back from Aine his gaze not leaving hers. "Thank you." The words were barely a whisper but she smiled.

"You're welcome Alpha."  

A/N

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