Chapter 56 56
Denzel’s POV
“Call Beta Jahlil and make the request immediately,” I ordered my Delta.
The call should have come from me but I wasn’t stable enough. If I spoke to the Beta myself, I might lose control, say too much, and turn this into something worse for Venessa… and for me. All I could do was hope she was still alive.
Please, Goddess, protect my mate.
I swear I won’t hesitate again.
I swear I’ll claim her properly, treat her the way you intended.
Just bring her back to me.
The prayer lodged painfully in my chest. My vision blurred, tears threatening but I forced them back. Whoever had taken her could never know how much she meant to me. The moment they realized her value, she would become a weapon.
“Make the call from my office, Devon,” I linked him. I needed to hear every word myself.
I headed there immediately. Devon and Tyrell followed, while Rayon stayed behind to handle the security breach. Rayon was the only one I trusted completely. Devon hadn’t given me reason to doubt him but for now, my circle needed to be small.
Once inside my office, I sat behind the desk. Tyrell dropped onto the couch, still reeling from everything that had happened between us.
Devon dialed and put the call on speaker. It rang several times before a voice finally answered.
“Hello.”
The deep, controlled voice belonged to Beta Jahlil son of the Lycan King’s Beta. He had recently assumed his father’s duties, though he had yet to be officially sworn in due to the king’s failing health. This should have been the moment King Jamar’s heir took the throne, but fate had dealt him a cruel hand his Luna had borne no children.
“Beta Jahlil Wright, good evening,” Devon said. “This is Delta Devon Miller of the Blood Moon Pack.”
“How may I help you, Delta?” Jahlil replied.
“Your men crossed into our territory this morning without notice and abducted our pack healer,” Devon said steadily. “As you know, this violates our treaty. We are requesting her immediate and unharmed return.”
Silence followed.
Then, “Are you certain of this?” Jahlil asked.
“Yes, sir. We tracked their scent through our woods to the point where our healer’s trail ended. A vehicle was waiting at the main road. They came prepared. We are not seeking conflict we simply want her returned unharmed.”
“I see,” Jahlil said after a pause. “I will look into this personally. Inform your Alpha that I have no prior knowledge of the incident. The men responsible will be punished accordingly.”
Relief flickered through me but it didn’t settle. What if they were too late? What if she was already dead?
I dismissed Devon and Tyrell so I could think but Tyrell lingered. Devon left first, leaving the room thick with silence.
“What was that about?” Tyrell finally asked, his voice edged with hurt.
I composed myself before answering.
“We may be friends,” I said evenly, “but I am still your Alpha. When I give an order, you follow it. You do not question me in front of others. Rayon is my friend as well and he knows better than to disrespect me that way.”
Tyrell said nothing.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered, though I could tell there was more he wanted to say.
“It’s just us,” I told him. “Speak freely.”
He nodded. “I warned you the Lycans wanted her. They won’t return her. Let it go. At least now they won’t keep circling our territory.”
I smiled slowly.
“If I didn’t know better,” I said, “I’d think you were behind this.”
His eyes widened.
“You’ve wanted her gone for a long time,” I continued.
He nodded. “Yes, Denzel. I have. The pack comes first. The last thing we need is trouble with the Lycans. We’re fortunate they only took her and didn’t attack anyone.”
My hands clenched. All I could think of was what he’d been doing with my wife behind my back.
“Well, it’s a shame you’re not the Alpha,” I said coldly. “Because I want her back. And that’s final.”
He nodded stiffly.
“Sometimes I think the bond between you two never truly broke,” he said.
I turned on him. “That is none of your fucking business, Tyrell. I owe you Jalisa and King Fabian absolutely nothing.”
The door burst open.
Rayon stormed in, rage rolling off him in waves. He crossed the room in seconds and punched Tyrell square in the face. I shot to my feet, rushing to pull them apart.
“What did Venessa ever do to you?” Rayon shouted. “What did that poor woman do to deserve this?”
I already knew.
“The guards confessed,” Rayon snarled. “They said you ordered them to abandon their post. You knew the Lycans were coming. You made it easy for them.”
Tyrell laughed.
“That girl is a disease,” he sneered. “She”
I didn’t let him finish.
My fist connected with his face, hard enough to drop him. I followed him to the floor, straddling him as all restraint snapped. Nigel roared inside me, fueling the violence.
I hit him again. And again.
Rayon tried to pull me off, shouting my name but I couldn’t hear him anymore.
I wasn’t thinking.
I wasn’t reasoning.
I was pure rage.