Chapter-61

I stood at the head of the table, my eyes searching the room and when they landed on Elysia, she was still and unmoving. She looked lost, conflicted, and for the first time, I felt the full power of the Alpha's connection with my mate.I knew what she was thinking, feeling. The Lycan way wasn't easy to accept, especially for someone who'd only just learned the truth of our existence, and when she turned and left, my chest tightened. However, I had to keep going. The pack needed to hear me, to believe in me, if we were going to move forward from the horrors of Marcus's tyranny.

As I spoke, laying out plans for our new beginning, I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. I had to trust that she'd come around in time, that she'd understand that being an Alpha meant more than just having multiple mates. It was about protecting, leading, and loving those under their care. The bond between her and I was strong, and I was determined to help her see that.

~~

Once the meeting was over, I stepped outside, the cool night air a welcome relief from the stuffy atmosphere that had overtaken the council room. As I stood pulling in the fresh air, the moon, high in the sky, cast a silvery glow over the grounds that surrounded the mansion.

As my eyes scanned the grounds, searching for any sign of Elysia, hoping by some chance she was still around, her scent floated to me on the breeze, a mix of sweetness and strength that was uniquely hers. I inhaled deeply, and a growl of anger rumbled in my chest when I picked up another scent alongside hers—Hartwell's.

I took off at a run, following the trail they'd left behind. The scent grew weaker as I neared the edge of the woods, rage burning in my veins with every step. How dare he take her? He had no right, no claim. She was mine, and he knew it.

The scents grew fainter as I reached the tree line, and I paused, sniffing the air, but the trail ended there. I paced, my mind racing with the possibilities of where he could have taken her, and why.

The anger within me grew, threatening to overtake me. Need surged through me. I had to find her. I had to save her from whatever twisted plan Hartwell had in mind.

Trying to pick up their scent again, I took off into the forest, pushing my legs faster, my senses on high alert. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the distant sound of a car engine. I followed the sound, my heart pounding in time with the rhythm of my paws on the dirt. The farther I went, the clearer the path became.

The forest grew denser, the trees towering above me, their branches casting shadows in the moonlight, and my eyes narrowed as I picked up the scent again, stronger than before. The car had stopped, and as I burst into the clearing I noted a cabin.  He'd taken her into the cabin, and I approached stealthily, not wanting to alert him to my presence.

My heart hammered in my chest, the need to protect her becoming almost overwhelming. I had to be smart, to think like the predator I was. The window was slightly ajar, and I could hear Hartwell's voice, smooth and deceptive, as he questioned her about something, and peering through the crack, my eyes searched the room for Elysia.

The sight that greeted me made my blood boil. Hartwell had her tied to a chair, a knife glinting in his hand as he paced before her. I had to act, but I had to be careful doing it. If he hurt her, I'd rip his goddamn balls off and shove them down his throat.

Taking a deep breath, I formulated my plan, preparing to charge in, my claws extended. But a sudden rustle in the bushes made me pause. Spinning around, ready to face whatever was out there, I watched as a figure emerged from the shadows, and for a moment, I thought it was one of Hartwell's lackeys. But then the scent hit me, and the world seemed to stop. It was a wolf, one I recognized, and one I'd thought to never see again—my sister, Kira.

"Alex," she whispered, her voice low and urgent. "We don't have much time."

I blinked in surprise, a thousand questions suddenly assaulting me. Kira was the last person I expected to see, and instead of reacting as my heart bade me to do, I snapped, "Where the hell have you been?" My voice  was tight with restrained confusion and rage. Then, before she could answer, I shook my head, growling, "Later."

Her eyes met mine, filled with an intensity that didn't surprise me. "You need to listen to me," she urged, her voice a low, urgent murmur. "Hartwell isn't just playing a game. He's desperate, Alex."

As she stepped forward, the scars on her face made my breath jerk in my lungs. Fury pounded through me. "Did Hartwell do this to you?" I snarled, gesturing toward her face, at the deep grooves of claw marks that had yet fully to heal.

Kira nodded, her gaze never leaving mine. "It doesn't matter," she said, her voice steady. "What matters is that we get your mate away from him."

I nodded, the anger at her suffering momentarily set aside. "Tell me what you know," I said, my eyes flicking back to the cabin.

"Hartwell's lost it," Kira said. "He's not just after your pack, he's after the prophecy.."

"Prophecy?" I snarled, "There is no prophecy! There never was."

Kira's eyes searched mine as she slowly shook her head. "That's where you're wrong, Alex. There is a prophecy, and she's at the heart of it. However, as you just told me, we'll talk more about that later. Right now, we need to get Elysia out of there."

My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle that was my sister's sudden reappearance and her cryptic words about a prophecy. But now was not the time for questions. My mate was in danger. We needed to work together, and fast.

"Alright," I murmured, my eyes not leaving hers. "We'll deal with your sudden return and the prophecy later. For now, we focus on getting Elysia away from Hartwell." Even as I uttered the words, I already knew, given the chance, I was killing Hartwell.

Kira nodded in agreement and we both turned our gaze back to the cabin. I could hear Hartwell's voice rising, and the sound of something breaking made me clench my fists. The need to rip the door off its hinges was almost too much to bear. But I had to be smart about this.

Seconds later, we approached the cabin from opposite sides, using the cover of the night to our advantage. I signaled to Kira and she nodded, understanding my unspoken command, then, in one fluid motion, I crashed through the door, my fur bristling and my teeth bared. 

Hartwell's eyes widened in shock, the knife he held clattering to the floor as he took in the sight of us both. He tried to scramble away, but we were too quick and we pounced, our combined strength overpowering him. The three of us tumbled into the room, knocking over furniture, the sound of breaking wood echoing through the cabin.

Hartwell, though taken aback, was not easily defeated, cunningly slipping out of our grasp, he kept himself between Elysia and us. Peering around him, I caught Elysia's eyes, reading the fear in her eyes as she watched us, bound and unable to move or help.

I lunged forward, and as my claws grazed Hartwell's back, he slipped away again. With renewed vigor, I tackled him, pinning him to the floor. His eyes were wild, the madness of his desperation clear. 

We exchanged a series of fierce bites and snarls, our breaths hot and ragged, and after receiving a fierce bite on my arm, my hold momentarily loosened, but it was enough for him. In an instant, he was free and sprinting for the window, then leaping through the shattered glass, he disappeared into the night. Turning to Kira, I hissed "Get her out of here," then with a roar of rage, I went after Hartwell.