Chapter 52 CHAPTER 052
Stone's POV:
"That's how it all happened, Rob," I said over the telephone, my tone low. The next minute stretched with heavy silence. The static crackling on the other end of the line filled my ears.
Alpha Rob's voice came through carefully, as if he was still thinking about what to say.
"And Kannel confirmed that she belongs to Ryle?" he asked.
I took a deep breath.
"I'd threatened her and gotten a handful of information from her. From all I can tell, she has something that can make an Alpha like Ryle restless." I paused, letting the words sink in.
"Ryle wouldn't go after her if it wasn't important. I know him. Keep a close eye on her whilst I get contingency plans…."
The words had barely escaped his lips when the door hinges creaked open. My grip tightened on the phone as my attention snapped in the direction of the sound.
Sierra's voice sliced through the air the moment she stepped into my chambers, a wicked grin tugging at the side of her lips.
She said something about finding met lurking by the door, probably to kill me or something. I was too confused to understand.
My brow creased, my lips folding into thin lines as my gaze locked onto Ari. I exhaled heavily, wondering what offense she has committed again. I felt rage course through my veins at the interruption.
Ari's lips trembled, her face draining of colour. I could feel fear rolling off her body, her breath coming in short, haggard gasps.
"We'll speak when you're less busy, Stone," Rob said over the phone, ending the call.
I felt warmth spread through my chest, my wolf growing a little uncomfortable. Clearly, he didn't like seeing his mate get hurt.
"Don't hurt her," my wolf said.
My mind and body were torn between forgiving her and punishing her. Pardoning her would make me feel weak.
I took a deep breath, setting the phone on the table while I straightened my already furrowed brows.
"What is the problem?"
"I have always suspected she was nothing but a spy. Your plaything had her ears glued to the wall," Sierra paused, letting the words sink in. "For how long?" she chuckled. "I bet we'd never know."
Ari met my gaze for a millisecond before dropping it to the floor, her pathetic form trembling. She couldn't stand the intensity of my gaze.
Good. I'd love to keep it that way.
"Don't tell me the powerful Alpha Stone has gone soft over a stray that specialises in stealing information and sending it out," Sierra said, circling me like a predator that had locked its eyes on prey.
"I bet she'd found out earlier about Kannel's mission, told her pack members and had him treated like a…dog." She paused briefly, her hands resting on my shoulders to massage them.
Slowly, I could feel the tension trapped in my muscles escape through the tendons.
Sierra's thumbs worked slow circles against my shoulder, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
"You know what I think you should do?" she murmured, leaning close enough, so that her breath grazed my ear. "Strip her. Right now. Let every guard in this palace see exactly what becomes of spies who press their ears against the Alpha's door." Her fingers stilled on my shoulder. "Humiliation is the only language strays understand."
I said nothing.
Sierra took my silence as permission to continue her endless chattering.
"Or better yet," she continued, moving around the chair to stand before me, tilting her head with the particular precision of someone who had rehearsed this, "send her back to Ryle yourself. Giftwrapped. Let him do whatever he intended to do with her in the first place." A slow smile spread across her face. "That way your hands stay clean and the problem disappears."
Ari made a small sound, barely anything. But I heard it.
"Or…" Sierra's voice turned almost contemplative, as though the idea had only just occurred to her, though I knew better. "We could be creative. The dungeon cells beneath the east wing haven't been used since your father's time. It's always cold and dark with no windows." She glanced over her shoulder toward Ari with feigned pity. "I wonder how long before a wolfless little thing breaks down there."
"Sierra."
She turned back to me, eyes bright. "There's also the matter of her tongue. If she can't speak, she can't report back, can she? Old packs used to —"
"Sierra."
"I'm only saying there are options, Alpha Stone. Clean options that don't require you to…"
"Enough."
The word came out louder than I intended. It hit the room like a fist against stone.
Sierra blinked.
"I'm sorry, Alpha, if I've spoken out of turn," she apologised, bowing her head slightly.
I rose and walked around Sierra. My feet moved towards Ari and she staggered back, a whimper escaping her lips. Her back hit the wall, sweat trickling down her temples.
I gripped her jaw, tilting her face just so she could see the rage in my eyes. We stayed in that position for a while. I noted the tears rolling down her chin.
Her fear had a way of exciting me. My skin pebbling was the perfect proof.
"Place the food on the table and get the hell out of this room," I said, my voice dropping an octave.
"Y…yes," she stammered, brushed past me and placed the food on the table.
She whirled around, walking briskly towards the door. Just as her grip tightened around the doorknob, my voice cracked through the air like a whip.
"Wait." I ordered.
She froze.
Then, I turned to Sierra.
"Sit," I said, nodding toward the chair beside the table.
Sierra obeyed. She pulled the chair out and settled into it, crossing her legs.
"Feed me," I said, “And when you're done, I want you to get on your knees and please me.“
Sierra's lips curved. She reached for the fork without hesitation, cutting into the meat with the calculated precision of someone who had waited a long time to be useful in this particular way. She lifted it toward my mouth, her eyes never leaving mine.
I ate slowly.
Sierra set the fork down for a brief moment, something flickering behind her eyes before the smile returned, wider this time.
"Whatever the Alpha wishes," she said softly, lifting another forkful.
A sharp sound cut through the room.
I turned.
Ari stood rigid near the door, her fingers white around the hem of her gown. Her jaw was set, her eyes burning with something she clearly had no business feeling.
"Why am I still here? I have no reason to be here," she said.
The words came out softly but they landed hard, like she hadn't fully decided to say them until they were already out.
The room went very still.
Sierra's fork hovered midair.
I looked at Ari for a long moment, letting the silence stretch until she felt every inch of it.
"You don't," I said finally. "That's exactly the point."
I leaned back in my chair, holding her gaze.
"Kneel," I said to her. "Right there. And don't look away.”