Chapter 60 Chapter 60
LUCIAN’S POV
That night, I couldn’t sleep. My wolf wanted to be closer to Ailsa even though I knew she was in the room next to me. I laid in the dark, my jaw clenched tightly. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Damian’s hand on Ailsa. His mouth on hers. I had seen red, I didn’t even realize when my wolf took over. I remembered the look of guilt in her eyes.
My wolf rumbled beneath my skin.
‘She’s ours’ he said possessively. I shoved the thought back.
“She isn’t” We hadn’t laid any claim on her so she wasn’t ours. She would only be ours when she carried our mark. My wolf made a smug sound.
‘Why then did you almost rip his throat out?’
“That was you that did that. Not me”
I dragged a hand through my hair. I still felt her hand on my skin, when she had begged me to let him go. I could still smell her fear and confusion, that was when my wolf seemed to listen. He only listened to her. And it had taken every drop of control not to mark her.
He had gone feral when she was hurt and the only thing we could think about was marking her. Marking her would seal our fate but I knew she would hate us if we didn’t ask for her permission.
‘She wants it too. Why do you think she asked us that question’
“The time is not right yet. We need to control ourselves. We are protecting her by not marking her”
‘Keep lying to yourself. Our mark has nothing to do with her security. She has been attacked twice without any mark’
I exhaled sharply and stood. Sleep wasn’t coming. I found myself in the hallway outside her room before I’d even realized I moved. Her scent was soft and warm and seeped into my bloodstream. My wolf pushed forward, wanting to break the door and take her in our arms just like she’d offered.
I curled my fingers into a fist and forced myself to walk away. I couldn’t keep acting like this. I was the alpha and I needed control but control seemed to be hard these days.
By morning, I had gotten a hold on my control. I got some hours of sleep and I called for a meeting this morning. Aiden eyes me carefully as we stood.
“You called an early morning meeting. What’s the urgency” I kept my voice low.
“No male warrior is to be alone with Ailsa without my permission” Aiden blinked.
“That’s specific”
“She’ll not train with them either. The guards are to watch her at all times. She was attacked recently. I don’t want that to happen again” he frowned.
“I understand the need for protection but…”
“It’s not up for debate” I snapped.
Aiden went silent. He knew better than to argue with me right now. I had to address some issues and I was going to them today. My wolf was satisfied.
We protect what is ours.
“Pass the information. You’re dismissed”
I went to my office and I summoned Damian. He entered stiffly, bowing his head.
“Alpha” I could smell discomfort on him.
Good.
“Look at me” I commanded and he did. I held his gaze.
“You overstepped your boundaries” he swallowed.
“Yes Alpha. I apologize”
“Why did you kiss her?” He winced. I held my anger as I said those words. I wanted to grab him by his neck when I remembered the scene I walked into.
“I did not mean any disrespect Alpha. I liked her and I thought she liked me too. I didn’t know she was yours” my jaw ticked and my wolf snarled.
“I understand my place. I will not challenge you. I will not go near her without your permission” he continued quickly and respectfully. At least he didn’t forget his manners with his Alpha. I would hate to kill one of my warriors.
“Now you know she’s mine. You’ll accord her the same respect you have for me. Don’t go near her again or touch her” I said, my voice low and firm. Damian bowed.
“Yes Alpha” I studied him for a moment making sure my message was clear. His head remained bowed and he didn’t not speak again.
“You’re dismissed” he bowed and left.
The moment the door shut, I felt something coil in my gut. I had just claimed her and there was no going back.
I stood up and left my office, I was on my way to the dungeon. I had unfinished business. I barely rushed the corridor when Dahlia came out from a corner.
“Lucian” she breathed, stepping too close and touching my arm like she had a right. I pulled away instantly. My wolf irritated by her presence.
“What do you want?”
“I-I wanted to apologize for last time. You didn’t even get to hear my own side before condemning me before everyone. I was…” I cut her off.
“I don’t have time for this. If you have something important to report do so or leave my way” i said in a clipped tone.
“I’m sorry for getting you upset. I promise not to do that again. Please forgive me, I don’t like that you are upset with me”
“It’s fine Dahlia. Don’t do that again” I dismissed it. She frowned.
“That rogue has really changed you. You’re pushing everyone away because of her”
“Mind your words” I said calmly. Her Louth trembled but her eyes were sharp with something I couldn’t name.
“She manipulates people and she’s doing that you. I want you to see that before it’s too late. She’s not who you think she is”
“Do you have any evidence?” I asked through gritted teeth. She became silent.
“You of all people know what accusing others without evidence is. I don’t have to tell you the consequences of that”
“I….I swear that I’ll get the evidence. Just listen to me” she was pleading now.
“Leave Dahlia” I ordered. She stiffened
“You’re choosing that rogue over me? Over someone you’ve known all your life?”
“I’m choosing what I know” I replied flatly. Her face twisted and she stormed off. The bitterness rolling off her was thick and my wolf was humming with warning to stay away from her but I didn’t have time to deal with Dahlia now. I had something bigger to deal with.
I went to the interrogation room where the head warrior and Aiden were waiting. They were stacks of paper on the table.
“We found something” Aiden said.
“What?” He brought a button and gave it to me.
“This was found when we searched the area. It must have fallen from the one who ran away. You told me they were five men and not four”
“That’s what Ailsa said. I believe the last person ran away when he heard my voice”
“With this, we’ll be able to find the person”
“That button doesn’t look common. You’ll go into the village and ask about the person that purchased a cloth with that button”
“What if the person comes from this pack?”
“Then it’ll be easier to know who it is. If you don’t find anything here, the person probably comes from a nearby pack. You’ll still need to ask”
“Alpha, someone passed through the hidden tunnel” Lucas, the head warrior said.
“Did you find out who?”
“We are working on it. The person covered their tracks properly so it’d be hard to know from their footsteps” I hummed.
“It’s either two things. Someone used that place to enter into this pack or someone from this pack left through that way” I looked at Aiden. He knew what I was talking about.
“We’ll find out who went in through that route” he assured me.
“The rogues have they confessed who they work with?”
“Two of them died last night. Their wolves couldn’t heal”
“The torture on the other two should be doubled. Since they won’t confess the name of their leader. I don’t think there’s any reason for them to be alive. They’ve sworn not to talk. I don’t want to meet any of them or else death would be too easy for them”
“They said they just came here for the rogue” Lucas said and I clenched my fist.
“She is not a rogue” I snapped
They can’t keeping call our mate a rogue.
“Apologies, Alpha” Lucas bowed.
“Leave! I’ll send for you later” I dismissed him and he left Aiden and I alone.
“The secret tunnel, I made sure to close it after Chase left”
“I have a feeling Chase returned here. I don’t know why I don’t trust him fully”
“Has he asked to meet again?” I shook my head.
“No. I asked him to send it through a messenger. Lorcan is yet to take any step. I’m waiting for him to strike before I take any actions”
“The Alpha’s gathering would happen soon” Aiden reminded me.
“I know. What about the information about Ailsa’s past I asked you to find”
“She isn’t from any nearby pack. My man has confirmed that. The only place we haven’t asked about is the Silver Moon Pack”