Chapter 9 CHAPTER 009
Stone POV:
I stared at the papers in front of me, a glass of scotch dancing under the orange light on the table. It was all a mess. Everything. The formation, traffic, food, and many more. How had I been so negligent?
The dropping numbers glared at me, the red lined charts yelling for help. My illness had worsened over the month so much that I'd neglected every sector of the pack.
I banged my hands on the table. Some packs hadn't even paid taxes for months. How the hell had it gone past me? Bellum didn't seem to know his job any longer.
A knock jolted me out of my thoughts.
"Your highness," came Perri's voice.
"Come in."
The fifty five years old woman was the best healer in all of Ricko. She handled the pack's general hospital where people with all kinds of ailment, mental and emotional inclusive, all went to.
She took a seat across the table after I pointed at it.
"Why are you here?"
"Well," she cleared her throat. "You remember I've been doing a mental evaluation of the street urchin you dragged in."
I leaned back with a frown immediately plastering on my face. I and my wolf didn't like that.
"She has a name, doesn't she?"
"Ari," she chuckled nervously. "Well, she has, um, proven to be quite difficult to read. I don't know why but even after I used my powers, I couldn't tell what she was thinking or feeling. And that bothers me a lot."
"Or, you're just not quite as good as you used to be."
She spluttered. "W—what? I've been in this job for many decades! I know what I'm talking about."
"Did you just raise your fucking voice in my presence?" I was too blinded by anger that I grabbed the glass of scotch and crushed it in my hand, the shards cutting my skin.
Perri flinched, fear evident in those brown soft eyes.
"I would never do that, your highness, I'm sorry."
Leaning back, I grabbed the telephone and punched in some numbers. "Get the cleaning unit in here. And bring Ari into my office as well."
The voice on the other end went static at first and then returned. "I heard she went for a walk."
"A walk?"
"Yes, your Grace. But don't worry, she's with Beta Cook. She can't escape."
The corner of my lips lifted in a smirk as I stared at the walls. What's my Beta doing with my mate?
"Should I still get her to come to your office?"
"On the contrary, never mind." I hung up and stood from the chair, shoving it backwards with much force.
"Your highness," Perri called from behind again.
"If this has to do with fucking psych evaluation, I'm going to fucking lose it."
She smiled, genuinely this time. "I was going to say that I trust you'll do the right thing."
I didn't reply. Instead, I made my way down the hallway, my hand already healing. I found a security guard at the entrance who straightened immediately he saw me.
The gate flung open and I gestured towards the guards.
"Where did you say Harry and Ari were?"
He pointed towards the road that leads to the creek, a serene and beautiful place. I'd meant to take her there later tomorrow morning before the sun was up so she could see how beautiful it was.
Fucking Harry, always acting so soft when he's not on the battlefield.
I made my way towards the creek and although I tried hard not to think about it, only the worst scenarios came up in my head. What if I caught them kissing, holding hands or worse, smashing each other? Easy peasy. I'd tear them both apart and go my way.
But it wouldn't be easy to tear Ari apart. It'd break me as much as it would break her.
The window of the sky that opened up for the sun began to close, draped in a dark blue blanket with scattered stars all over. The moon was slowly announcing it's arrival and the crickets were chirping their harmony in tune with the cold night breeze.
Then, I saw them. Both standing in front of the creek, laughing about something. I didn't like that. My wolf didn't like that and I could tell from how my claws were emerging and retracting simultaneously and my eyes vision was changing colours. I was thirsty for blood as I approached them, wanting to dig my claws into Harry for even daring to look at Ari in the eyes.
"Look at that one." Harry pointed towards the creek, hand guiding Ari's back. "It's called a Green Sunfish."
Ari laughed for the first time and that melodious sound seemed to send a peaceful energy down my veins because I slowed down. That's when she caught sight of me and her smile disappeared.
"Your highness," she immediately bowed, head lowered.
Harry turned to find me standing and he laughed as if he hadn't seen me in years. "Hey, Alpha Stone. You're welcome to join us. I was just lecturing your mate here..."
"Prisoner." I chipped in faster than I could stop myself. "She's a prisoner until the verdict. And prisoners don't get to walk around as they wish."
I turned my gaze towards her and saw that her head was still lowered. She needed to know her place and this was one of the methods I knew how to use best.
"No one is to be associated with her like she's a member of the pack unless I say so," I said, voice lowering as I stepped in closer to Harry who stood his ground although not in a superior way. "Do you understand me, Beta Harry?"
He nodded as if he just realized his position.
"Sure, Alpha."
"Follow me, Ari."
Ari jerked her head up and looked at Harry with concern or maybe fear. Was she that afraid of me that she was seeking protection from Harry? If she was any wise, she'd know Harry couldn't do Jack shit if I did anything to her. Yet, I hated it. I hated how she didn't look at me like that. With such familiarity and tenderness.
What the hell was that?