Chapter 63: Composing My Thoughts

Chapter 63: Composing My Thoughts
Dominic Storm's POV:

I narrowed my brows as I pondered this thought a bit more, trying to connect why the Luna of The Rivers Pack would have anything to do with a rogue scrimmage. The only thing that presently came to mind was to cover for her own mate, who was resting in my dungeon, as we are now riding to the border to deal with the rogues in question. He was the Alpha of The Rivers Pack and had recently received his just punishment for his crimes against my mate and the future Luna of this entire kingdom.

She might have been hoping that her efforts might help him go free, but she was poorly mistaken in her foolish attempt if that were the case. However, knowing all of that, he literally had my mate thrown in the mud, stark naked and bare for all to see. It's not just that, but he intentionally allowed all that to happen in the presence of his own pack. It would take me a while to get over this serious concern, and that's if I didn't remove him from his ranking position altogether, which is more than likely going to happen after I set everything straight when we get to our destination.

I still tried to think about all of that. More importantly, I was still having a hard time trying to figure out how his mate, Ramona, the Luna of The Rivers Pack, had anything to do with rogues. Rogues were considered to be outcasts who didn't want to conform to any one Alpha's rule. They were even banned from my kingdom for refusing to follow my rule and order. Could there somehow be a connection there, even if by the slightest remote possibility?

I sat back on my bench and again started to rub the hair on the end of my chin, trying to figure this out entirely before our arrival. "Orion," I called over to him, regaining his attention when I asked next, "How do you know that it may have something to do with The Rivers Pack?"

I needed to figure this out. The well-being of my newly found mate could be at risk if I don't figure this out and soon. I even dropped my hand and leaned forward as I waited for his response.

"The answer is a simple one, My King," Beta Orion said as he looked at me with certainty when he spoke next. "One of the rogues let slip words of something..., something he said had mentioned the name Ramona right along with it. He was rambling on, but the word he spoke was not mistaken by the other Warriors."

"Well, then, that does complicate things a bit, doesn't it. Do they not know about the celebration that is to take place this very evening? And that the location is set to change to my very own castle instead of it being held at The Rivers Pack?" I inquired, leaning forward again and placing the edges of my arms on the tops of my knees just as he leaned back this time.

He did that in order to give me some extra space, as I was a whole lot bigger than most. He furrowed his brows as he leaned back on his bench across from me and pondered this a bit before I added my next questions. I knew it sometimes took him a moment to collect his thoughts before he offered me his opinions.

"My King, there is a lot in the works here that have a lot of moving parts that the Warriors are still investigating," Beta Orion mentioned right then as he reached over and placed him arm on the back of the bench beside him when he crossed one leg other the other one and used his other hand to hold his ankle to prevent it from falling back to the floor of the carriage.

"Also, do you think this has anything to do with the fact that I changed the location of the celebration?" I inquired as I clenched my jaw. I was the ruler of my land and had to right to change any plans that I saw fit. It may have been an honor for The Rivers Pack to host the event, but after what their Alpha did to my mate, I was not going to give them that honor. "Wait, isn't she the one who also had a hand in taking my mate?"

I leaned back on my bench and began to rub my forehead. I tried to recall the memories that my wolf encountered when he read our mate's thoughts. She was taken from me while we were trying to rest for the night at The Rivers Pack. My mate ended up beside my wolf, and he was able to access her thoughts when we caught her in that questionable position. She was then freed, and I carried her back to the carriage as we headed for the safety of my castle instead. How many times will my enemy try to cross me?!

I leaned forward as it was all coming back to me now. I then slapped the top of my legs when I looked at Beta Orion and nearly shouted at him in my commanding tone. "We need to hurry and get there."

"Yes, My King," he responded to me when he turned to move closer to the window. He pulled back the partial curtain that hung there and called out aloud, saying, "Driver! Make haste. We must arrive there as soon as possible!"

"Understood, My Beta," I heard the driver call out as another snap of the reins sent the carriage jerking forward, and the horses began to run even faster now.

"The sooner we put this to bed, the better it will be for everyone involved," I told him as I turned to look out the window. "I don't want any more mishaps before the celebration tonight, is that understood?"

"Thoroughly transparent, My King," Beta Orion said as we continued down the path to our destination.

I leaned back on the bench again as I continued to think to myself. If I knew what Ramona was up to, the sooner I would be able to put an end to whatever plans she thinks she is attempting to get away with. It is one thing to cross your own Alpha of an individual werewolf pack. However, beneficial for me. I am now just a mere werewolf. I am the Lycan King, and with that, they should know they crossed the line in thinking they could cross me in the first place.

We were almost to our destination, and I could hear my mate's thoughts attempting to enter the back of my mind. I knew she had been served, and I wanted her to finally eat something superior to what she may have been used to. There's nothing I wanted more than to be there with her. I was aggravated that I couldn't be, but being the Lycan King meant I had to deal with everything else in my kingdom.

'I am still right in the middle of this, well, this issue,...'