Scarlet Rogue (Book One)

Chapter Sixteen: Back to Square One

Ayden

She agreed to come back with me. For the first time all week, my mind is clear and Errol is jumping with joy. Looks like Dad was right as usual, without my mate I am a wreck. Of course, I'll have to increase the security around the pack in case Kaelynn tries to harm anyone. Mate or not, no chances will be taken with our pack.

Arriving back at the house, Kaelynn heads upstairs to pack her belongings and I try to find Edon in his office. For the sake of our alliance, I need to break it to him that Kaelynn's leaving with me.

"Edon," I call out when I see him at his desk. "There's something you need to know and it's better you hear from me."

"She's leaving, isn't she?" He sighs knowing the answer then continues, "Our doctor has some pills prepared to help her shift, could you pick them up from my study before you leave?"

Agreeing to his request, I take mental note of directions to the study and make my way to the far end of the corridors walking past at least a dozen rooms. The theme of white walls and furniture continues. I wonder if I should leave the contact details of my interior designer for Edon's sake. Shrugging off the thought, my focus turns to find the study which comes into my view shortly.

Passing a guard stationed in the corridor, I walk straight into the study to the noticeable marble desk. This makes a slight change to all the plain white. My hands rummage through the draws looking for the pills. As luck would have it, the pills are in the final draw I open.

We should leave soon to avoid nightfall.

On Brandos's mind link, the pills are stashed into my pocket and I prepare to leave. I walk towards the door but my eyes get locked on to the wall. Various enlarged family portraits span across the wall acting as an accent wall but there is one particular photo that leaves me unable to move. The Alpha King, Silas, with his arm around a young girl looking strikingly like Kaelynn.

"Guard!" I call out.

"Yes, Alpha?"

"Who is that?" I say pointing to the picture in question.

"That's the late Alpha King of course with his daughter, Queen Kaelynn."

Dismissing the guard, I am left alone to ponder on this new information. Feeling myself heating up with rage, I clench my fists at the realisation that my mate is the reason for the kingdom falling apart.

Suddenly so many thoughts fall in to place. Kaelynn defeating my Beta with ease, being an exceptional archer and surviving seven years of wolfsbane. No ordinary wolf would have survived but she did. Her identity is clear as day, how did I miss this?

Where are you? We need to leave.

The mind link from Brandos has me coming back to reality. Sharp pain emanates from my hands causing me to release my fists to see slashes of blood pooling from the deep nail marks. The marks will heal within minutes, but the damage Kaelynn has bestowed upon the kingdom never will.

Dragging my feet out of the study, I make my way to the front door where Kaelynn is standing. Ignoring her, I go straight to the car avoiding any contact. Taking out the pills from my pocket, I hide them in the glove compartment of the car. It was a mistake to ask Kaelynn to come back with us but it's too late to back out now.

"Hurry up, let's go," I say as everyone arrives at the car.

"Someone's in a bad mood," Avery chuckles but I pay no heed to her.

When the drive starts, my gaze is fixed on the window taking in the surroundings in an attempt to conceal my apparent feelings. At first, the view is uninteresting mostly just residential properties but after an hour we arrive into forest territory. I spot a deer running through the open turf and suddenly I would do anything to be the deer. We can't be more than a thirty-minute run from the pack house.

"Stop!" I say.

Brandos slams on the breaks and everyone in the car gets into a frenzied panic. I don't have time for this.

"I'm running home," I say getting out of the car, avoiding glancing at anyone.

Slamming the door shut, my body shifts immediately. Running as fast as I can letting the wind trail through my fur and the breeze bite back at my bare skin, I'm finally free. My legs carry me across acres of fields through rows of pine trees until the clearing of the house is visible.

Save a few guards on watch, emptiness surrounds me. Shifting back to my human form, my naked body takes strides into the house heading in the direction of my office. Pulling out the top drawer of the mahogany cabinet, I take out a t-shirt and shorts pulling them over myself.

Sitting down at my desk, my muscles relax as I feel the effects of the run. My mind is clear for a minute but that doesn't last long when that picture etches itself into my mind once again. Slamming my hands on the desk, a growl escapes my lips.

The thought of needing my murderer of a mate to keep me sane sickens me. Once the war is over, she will be rejected right away. For now, I will keep myself busy with war preparations and add extra security around Kaelynn.

Kiba, Eric, you are in charge of guarding Kaelynn. Keep Wolfsbane on you at all times and if anything in the slightest happens, you are to report to me immediately.

I mind link my best warriors trying to put Kaelynn out of my mind but considering she defeated my Beta I feel nervous about the whole situation. A high-pitched rumbling outside echoes in my ears and I know Kaelynn has arrived. With my blood back to boiling, I reach for the glass liquor cabinet and pull out a bottle of whisky, swigging back a gulp directly from the bottle. This is going to be a long night.

---

Loud shuffling bombards my ears, my hands move to cover them as I feel my head against a hard surface. Slamming my eyes open, I lift my head to see my oak desk in front of me and Kurt going through my cupboards.

"What the heck are you doing here so early?"

"It's midday, what are you doing sleeping in this late? And at your desk too?"

Huffing, I avoid the question. Instead, looking to the watch on my wrist to confirm Kurt's comment. I see that he is right, I'm not surprised considering I was still doing paperwork when sunlight beamed into the room. Not even remembering when I drifted off, I'm sure it can't have been more than a few hours.

"I'm trying to find some information that might help us with the prisoner since she refuses to talk," Kurt breaks the silence.

"Well, did you find anything?"

"Nothing yet, maybe it is time the Luna spoke to the prisoner."

Ever since Kurt found out that the only time the prisoner spoke was to save Kaelynn, he figured that only she could get information out of the prisoner. It's true that none of our torture mechanisms have worked yet but I don't trust Kaelynn, not to mention that just the thought of her makes me want to tear up everything.

"She is not the Luna yet and the answer is still no," I say through gritted teeth putting an end to this matter.

"I almost forgot, Eric has left a file for you on the desk," Kurt says before leaving for the dungeons.

Stretching my arms out, I reach for the file and grumble upon seeing 'classified' across the top. It's the private investigation file on Kaelynn I had ordered after our interrogation. Not having the strength to find out any more about her, I stash the file into my top drawer out of sight.