Chapter 102 Traitor

Chapter 102 Traitor
Scott
"What on earth are you waiting for, Scott?"
Adar, the wolf inside me, was getting proper restless, feeding off the heavy thoughts spinning in my head. I kept pacing back and forth, my boots tearing up the thick carpet across the floor. My chest was absolutely tight with this unbearable anxiety.
A few hours ago, a werewolf from one of the villages right on the border of Emerald Earth territory brought news that completely turned my world upside down. He reported seeing Lulu. And the fact was, she was bloody close to me.
The guilt that had been eating away at my soul for months suddenly turned into a burning spark of hope. After months of pure regret for tossing away my true mate just to please Elder Ruth, tonight I refused to give up.
I was waiting on Erick. He's the only Elite Hunter I could actually trust to track her down without making the Elders suspicious.
My heart was thumping, racing against the clock.
“Where the hell are you, Erick?”
The door to my study flew open without a knock. Instead of Erick, Elder Ruth strode in, looking proper imposing with a sharp glare.
She’s the woman who’d raised me after my dad died was always dead confident whenever she was around me. Behind her, I could just catch a glimpse of Leia standing there with a right miserable face.
"Scott," Elder Ruth’s voice broke the silence, using that bossy tone she always went for. "How long are you going to keep yourself locked away, slacking off on your Alpha duties? You need to sort things out with Leia. Losing the heir was a massive blow to all of us, but this pack needs a bloody successor."
My jaw clenched tight hearing that. Losing the baby was tragic, yeah, but my soul had gone completely numb since the day I found out it was actually Lulu carrying my real child.
"I'm really not in the mood to chat about this, Elder Ruth," I replied coldly, keeping my voice dead flat with what bit of grit I had left.
Elder Ruth let out a massive sigh and popped a silver cup down on my desk. "Drink this. It’s a stamina tonic to get your energy back and clear your head. You look bloody awful."
I stared at the thick gunk in the cup, completely sickened. "I'll have it later, once I'm done with Erick." I stepped closer, giving her a hard look to show her who's Alpha. "Now, leave me be. Get out of my office."
"Scott, I'm so sorry," Leia whimpered.
I didn't even acknowledge her. Leia being there just made me want to get as far away from her as possible.
Seeing the pure rage in my eyes, Elder Ruth finally backed off with an annoyed huff and slammed the door shut behind them.
Just a few minutes after they left, my study window gave a soft creak. Erick hopped right in from the pitch-black night with the slick movements of a proper Hunter. He was panting, looking dead serious.
"Erick!" I lunged forward, grabbing his shoulders, completely losing my patience. "Tell me. What’s the latest on Lulu? Was the word from the village spot on?"
Erick gave a respectful bow before speaking, keeping his voice dead low so it wouldn't carry outside the room. "Spot on, Alpha Scott. I’ve checked it out myself. Luna Lulu... she was spotted in the border village with her son."
"Her son..." That word hit my chest like a massive sledgehammer.
My son. My own flesh and blood had actually made it into the world, surviving the near-death that almost took his mum. A massive surge of excitement and raw emotion welled up inside me, making Adar howl with joy in my mind.
"How is he? What does my boy look like? Take me there right now, Erick!" I barked, my eyes starting to glow proper golden.
But Erick didn't match my excitement at all. His face completely dropped, showing a hesitation that made my blood run cold.
"There's something else, Alpha," Erick said quietly, looking me dead in the eye. "Luna Lulu isn't on her own out there. She's with another male wolf. They... look proper close, getting on really well."
Hearing "another male wolf" instantly set off a mad fire of jealousy, burning away any sense I had. Adar was snarling furiously in my head, wanting to tear apart any bloke who dared touch what's ours.
"Who is he?! I don't give a toss, I'm going to that village this second to take back my mate and my boy!" I turned to grab my cloak, ready to charge out into the night.
"Hold on, Alpha!" Erick bravely grabbed my arm. "You can't go. They left the village first thing this morning. You'll only find a dead trail."
"Bloody hell!" I roared, smashing my desk until the wood split completely. The sheer frustration was proper choking me.
I was too late. Again.
"I'm sorry, Alpha. I did my best to hold them back," Erick hissed quietly, clutching his left shoulder. Slowly, he pulled down the collar of his tactical gear.
My eyes narrowed at the sight. On Erick’s shoulder was a nasty, blistering burn, completely ruining his skin. The faint whiff of burnt flesh hit my nose instantly.
"What on earth happened to you?" I asked, trying to keep a lid on my emotions seeing my best Hunter in that state.
"Got this trying to fight off the guard wolf protecting Luna Lulu," Erick answered, catching his breath through the pain. "I went for the wolf, but I ended up taking a direct hit from Luna's fire magic. I didn't stand a chance against her power."
I took a step back, sinking into my massive chair, completely gutted. My shoulders slumped. All that arrogant, macho energy that was ready to explode just crumbled away, leaving me totally hollow.
I missed her so bloody much. I just wanted to get down on my knees at Lulu’s feet, beg for forgiveness, and hold our boy in my arms. Why the hell was fate punishing me this brutally?
Erick sorted his clothes out, taking a step closer to my desk. His voice dropped to a proper freezing whisper, delivering news that chilled me to the bone.
"Alpha, there’s one more thing I dug up from the rest of the investigation," Erick said, his eyes flashing sharp. "Luna Lulu’s escape and her vanishing act all this time wasn't just a basic run. We've got a massive traitor right here inside the Emerald Earth pack and that traitor is the mastermind behind stealing Luna Lulu's heart."
Hearing that, Adar stopped his low howling instantly. My wolf side snapped awake with a fresh, pure rage.
A traitor in my own home. Someone playing puppet master with everything, making me lose the woman I loved.
I clenched my fists so tight my nails dug right into my palms, ready to spill the blood of whoever ruined my bloody life.