Chapter 179: Now and Beyond

Chapter 179: Now and Beyond
Thorne’s POV

“She had been trying to get out of the house repeatedly for about a week straight and barely ate. And we also noticed whenever she managed to get out, she always tried to eat wild herbs.”  The guard tells me in a solemn, wary voice, his head bowed. “We had barely managed to get her back in the house last night after another escape, only to come at dawn and find her like this.”

And by like this, he means stark naked and completely pale with a trail of blood flowing out from her mouth. There is a cloth draped over her gaunt frame that the guards had the good nature to do upon finding her in that state. 

“From the look of it, it seemed like she had just shifted back.” Carlos remarks from beside me. He had followed me here as soon as he was done at the grounds. He uses his leg to kick away the dried herbs that spread beside her, then leans down to sniff it. “Wild sparrow. That is what she ate.” Carlos studies the poisonous herb without actually touching it.

“It had completely gone unnoticed to us that she had managed to sneak some in while we hauled her out of the woods again.”  The guard confesses. 

I heave a sigh, my palms running over my face. Of all the things I expected to be faced with in this season, Ruelle’s sister killing her self was the last of my expectations. And while I absolutely abhorred her for what she did to my wife and my child, I had no intentions of killing her. Not because I had any sympathy for her whatsoever, but because I know it would make my wife sad. And now, I am torn as to how she would take it.

“Has word been sent to Ruelle already?”  Is the first thing I ask the guard. His face remains bowed for a few beats, and when he finally raises his head, the look on his face is enough to tell me what I need to know. 
Ruelle knows. I let out a groan, running my fingers over my hair multiple times.

“Cover her up.”  I demand, storming out of the small room. Carlos follows me and I order him to send word to the Silvermane clan. 

“Will you go see the Luna?”  Carlos asks after, his cool voice a contradiction to the turmoil in my mind. 

“I figure she might need some time to grieve.”

“Shouldn’t take too long. Seeing as this sister of hers was almost responsible for the death of both her and her child.”  He says and I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. 

“That is what you would expect. But Ruelle is different. She would mourn her as though they had the best relationship when she was alive.” I pause by the line of trees, heaving another sigh and looking up. “That pretty much sums up the kind of heart she has.”

“It must have been quite hard for the Silvermane girl for her to have taken her own life.”  He remarks, staring back at the small house where the guards are currently moving Thessa’s lifeless body. 

“It is not nearly as hard as what I would have done to her if given the chance.”  I find myself spitting out, but immediately calm myself down. Ruelle wouldn’t want me to say something like that. “But yea, it must have been hard.”

She made her bed by allowing herself to be so consumed with hate that she almost killed her own sister. And as far as I am not particularly jolly about seeing her dead, I can’t help but be grateful that she is the one who ended up in that position and not my wife. Believe it or not, it was either or. 

“Ruelle may want to see her family. Her mother and sisters to be precise.”  I announce, stroking my jaw. 

“Should we prepare to have her taken to them?”

“No. Have them brought to her.” I counter immediately, still not entertaining the thought of Ruelle being visible to the eyes of the Council Alphas and their moles, her own father included. 

“To the cabin?”  Carlos asks to specify and I shake my head. 

“We need a meeting point. Not too far from the cabin but far enough that they have no idea that is exactly where she came from. That is where they would meet. If she even wishes to see them that is.”

Carlos nods in adherence and marches on, I follow closely behind until minutes later, we are trudging the path leading to the shed house. 

“Is Nyra safe?”  I ask after the thought of her crosses my mind. I had completely forgotten about her. “Has she been sent back?”

“She refused to leave without seeing you.”  Carlos says and it makes me frown. 

“She say she has something to discuss?”

He shrugs his shoulders, eyes forward. “Not directly and I didn’t bother to ask.”

Of course he didn’t.

As we approach the shed house, the sound of rushed footsteps meets my ears, making me pause. Carlos does too, looking around and showing he heard the sounds as well. My body lowers into a slight prowl, my feet moving quietly between the bushes to trace the source of the sound. 

“Over there”. Carlos mumbles right beside me, pointing to the gates of the training grounds and sure enough, there are two shabby looking boys that definitely do not belong in my army peeping over the fence at my guards who are training on the grounds. 
I try to get a closer look at them, but it is impossible from this angle. 

“Get them.”  I order Carlos, who immediately rises to his full height and bursts into a sprint. The boys are quick at the sound of his footsteps, flying away from the gate as well and taking off. But I know that Carlos wouldn’t return without them so I leave him to it, entering through the gates. 

Hours later, the two boys are kneeling on the floor of my office, their hands folded together in front of them and head bowed. 

“Why were you peeping through my gates earlier today?”  I ask, rounding my desk. I went straight to the point, and therefore expect straight to the point answers as well. Which is why, the moment one of the boys start to stumble around his words, I shake my head with an expression that definitely portrays my intentions for him if he doesn’t give me my answers straightaway. 

He licks his lips, clears his throat, then tries again. “We were asked to observe the guards in the grounds. Their number, if they looked strong and skilled.”

Carlos and I exchange a look. That has to be the craziest mission I have ever heard in my life. It definitely has something to do with the brawl, and it makes me wonder what coward of an Alpha would have them do this. 

“By who?”

“Rhyder of Raventhorn. He… he paid us to bring him the info.” 

I let out a laugh, my fingers stroking my forehead. 

Of fucking course.