Chapter 25

Lorenzo.

With Kai on my heels, I made my way to the cellar...which was directly underground in the mansion.

"I cannot believe you let this happen, Kai. She might not be fully recovered yet."

"I had no idea... Alpha, you know Ellie wouldn't hurt her on purpose. It is obvious..."

I stopped in my tracks, turning to him sharply. He took a step back, "I only meant...Valerie struck her first, and that alone is punished...."

"Are you fucking with me right now, Kai? We both fucking know what Ellie is capable of. I have stressed this time without counting. Valerie is mine! Mine to do as I please, and I would not tolerate anyone laying a finger on a strand of her hair. Do you fucking get that!?"

Kai was being rather insensitive at the moment. Ellie might be my chosen one but there are limits to what I could take. Goddess help me she is safe and intact, or else...

He nodded and I continued my way down the stairs. We eventually got to the cell and my senses were on high alert.

"What's that smell?" I inquired.

It's been a while since I was down here and the pungent smell emanating from it made me recoil.

The guards standing on duty, on seeing me, bowed slightly and stood at the sides.

"Shit!" I heard Kai curse behind me. His eyes were wide like he had seen a ghost.

"What is it?" I grabbed a kerchief covering my nose as I followed his gaze until I was staring at a cell opposite us.

The sight that greeted me made me freeze, my hands fell to my sides. There, in a locked cell, was a figure I could recognize anywhere, chained to her legs and hands.

She was kneeling on the floor, her shoulders hunched low and her head bowed slightly.

Despite myself, a loud growl escaped my lips.

"Get the fucking keys, Kai!" I made my way forward as he came closer, fishing the keys out of his pockets, but I grabbed them from his hands, quickly unlocking the cell door.

I got to her in no time, unlocking the chains on her, and her hands slumped beside her.

My hands immediately went to her neck, sighing in relief as I detected the faint pulse.

"Hey," I lifted her head slightly, "You okay?"

Her eyes were open, but she was gazing into nothingness. On her hands were red marks, obviously from the chains clutched at them.

Ellie had gone overboard this time. This was way beyond the line and she should dread my wrath.

I carefully placed my hands at her back, and under her legs, pulling her up as I carried her bridal style out of the cell.

"Alpha..." Kai's voice was low and edgy as he spoke, but I cut him short.

"Get the doctor right now!" I commanded as I walked past him.

"Her father..." He began and I stopped in my tracks, my eyes widening slightly.

Right! Her father. Eric Williams...

I had forgotten he passed away.

Carefully holding her in my arms, I turned to face Kai who was standing, facing the other side of the cell.

There were two people in the cell, but I couldn't make out their features as it seemed they were both lying on their sides.

On closer inspection, I could recognize Williams's stature, his body lying on the floor.

"Does she know about this?" I asked him, and he shrugged.

Of course, there was no way she wouldn't. His body was right in front of her.

The sudden urge to punch at a wall filled me and rage, undiluted, seeped into my veins, "You are meant to have taken care of this sooner, Kai. Why didn't you?" I growled lowly.

The expression on his face was blank, and I shook my head, "Call the doctor, and take care of this mess."

*****

The Pack Clinic was located just beside the mansion, its building structured at the spot for emergencies like this.

Roberts, the Pack Doctor, a middle-aged man, was in the ward, attending to her while I stood out the door. Pacing.

I had left the ward as soon as she fell asleep, and had sent for Ellie a few minutes past. But she was yet to be here.

The only thing stopping me from stepping out the clinic doors and into the mansion to get her was the fact that I needed to be as close as possible to Val.

I was not letting her out of my sight anymore.

I saw the doors to the ward, open and Roberts, donned in his white overall coat, stepped out.

Making his way to me, I asked, almost immediately, "Is everything okay? "

He nodded, "She is awake, Alpha,"

"Is she stable?"

"I believe so. Aside from the soreness in her arms and legs, there is no sign of internal injury. But.."

My eyes perked up at that, "But what?"

"She seems to be depressed. She is quite shaken up real bad."

I clenched my fists, as I made my way to the room. Opening the door slowly, my eyes immediately went to the bed where she lay, on her side.

I walked in steadily, closing the door before me, and made my way toward her.

My legs halted at the foot of the bed, and I hesitated for a bit, suddenly wondering what to say to her.

I was not supposed to care, but I was probably the cause of her misfortunes. Fuck, even as I hated the guts of her father, I find myself wishing he wasn't lying cold somewhere deep right now.

I made my way to the other side of the bed where she was faced, draped in a hospital gown. Sure enough, she was awake, her eyes opened, but this time, in tears.

I settled in beside her, my presence causing the bed to dip under my weight.

"You okay?"

I knew that was the dumbest question ever, her sudden reaction a confirmation.

"Get out!"

I blinked. No one ever said to me, ever. But I could not indulge in my wishes at the moment.

Unsure of what to do, I responded, "I can not do that, love. I am not letting you out of my sight ag..."

"I. Said. Get. Out," she stood up the bed abruptly, her eyeballs almost popping out of her sockets, as she moved away from me.

I remained still, but her actions caught me off guard.

"Valerie. You need to calm down. The doctor said..."

"Do I care what the doctor said?" She was screaming now and then she pointed her hands to the door, "I need you to leave. Leave me alone, Lorenzo. I do not have any desire whatsoever to see your face any longer. Please leave!"

My jaw clenched at the intensity of her words. Does she know how fucking worried I was, just a few minutes ago?

Does she even know how laid back I was with her?

Her chest was heaving as her breaths came out fast and raspy. She met my eyes and I could see the hurt and...hatred reflected on them.

"Are you happy now?" She asked, her lower lips trembling, "You got what you want, didn't you? You have...you have finally succeeded in taking my father away from me..."

"No..." I shook my head, reaching out to her.

"Yes, you did," She cried out, "You killed my father. You tortured him to your satisfaction until you finally killed him. You..."

She hiccuped, but continued almost immediately, "You are so cruel. You are a monster. A beast, and I curse the day I met you. I curse the day I set my eyes on you."

"He was all I have. All I have left and you...you let him die. You took him away from me. What more do you want...?"

Her hands went up her hair, clenching on it, almost pulling them off.

For the life of me, I could not say a word. I simply stared at her, her tear-stricken face, all red and blotchy.

She was breathing rapidly, her chest rising and falling with each breath she took.

Didn't think much of it, until she clutched at her chest, her eyes going wide in panic.

"Hey...What is it?" I asked.

She didn't reply. She could not reply, but her breathing came out faster and it seemed like she was hyperventilating.

I held her shoulders which were hunched low, "Valerie, what is it? Are you okay? Talk to me!"

Raising her head slightly, I watched as her eyes lulled back almost immediately, and her head fell limply at the side.

I shook her arms softly, "Val? Valerie?"

Shit!