Chapter 22 22
Lucien pov
"What do you mean Donovan?....how did this happen."
"I..I don't think I'm sure sir..but perhaps someone within this inn didn't just stay for the party."
It couldn't dawn on me sooner,
"There's someone with us... and I think...no...I'm sure they came for the alphas..but who?"
I wasn't exactly furnished to act on this new ulterior motive , especially with an anonymous enemy.
The streams of jammed up sounds had its way of playing into my patience. Time and tranquility was crucial at the moment to think and strategize on who and how invaded this inn and most importantly, coming for the Head alphas,
"Come with me Donovan."
Scanning the room for the exit, it became futile to think clearly in the inn. Already giving up on the 'party house', my hands quickly padded Donovan on his shoulder whilst I swooped through him signalling that we continue our conversation outside.
"We need to find out who or what did that to the horses."
"Yeah..and without our rides.. we can't reach the manor on time." Donovan said as we kept moving, increasing our pace towards the exit.
Then it quickly Crossed my mind.
"Lena..."
"They were already on their way to her". I froze down for a moment grazing my hand through my hair
The realization hit me that whoever was the mind behind knows that I was here and took advantage of my absence to capture Lena.
"Donovan... Listen to me and act on this with immediate response."
"Definitely sir..what can I do?"
"Get to the pack now as fast as you can and protect Lena thornwell...not even a scratch on her... are we clear on that?"
I said with my voice filled with desperation. The disturbing omen of our crippled horses drilled in a worrisome sensation.... a latent feeling locked down and hidden within myself for centuries.
I could almost hear my thoughts fluttered with concerns about her well being and if they had gotten to the pack already.
"Tell the guards to get ready...no lagging behind." I ordered as we stood close to the exit door.
"I'll do my best sir..she's in safe hands." Donovan nods with affirmation and quickly transformed completely to his wolf and darted to the pack.
"I have to find the head alphas and inform them..."
Still under the act of anxiety, it almost slipped my mind how a tall slightly muscular figure grazed my shoulder with his as he tried to slip into the inn.
"Apologies.."
Already ignoring his apologetic gestures as tyhe continued down to the inn, my senses didn't stay relaxed. The whiff of his presence hit differently. It was clear to me that it was a shifter I encountered.
"What.. what's a shifter doing here?"
I tried to put two or two together to figure out what was going on. Subtly watching, I monitored his movements as he navigated to the bar.
The new motion of danger that was about to erupt within the inn was intense. Shifters do not display any act of mercy whatsoever, possessing this necrophilic pattern of slaughtering werewolves.
This unsettling feeling enveloped my mind as I tried pondering if he was the only shifter present.
The death toll on the inn was likely about to grow today. All I knew was that I couldn't let any of them reach the alphas before I did.
Acting on impulse, I dashed towards him trying to close the distance between us.
He was too dangerous not to be within my field of view.
Dodging and dashing through the small crowd of people obstructing my view, I fixed a gaze on the shifter already settled down and placed an order.
He did his best in making it obscure to the surrounding crowd that he meant danger letting out smiles and pulling out multiple pleasant gestures to blend in with the jovial group. It was obvious he was concealing his scent and he concealed it almost so perfectly- displaying his heirachy of power. Shifters were known to be more powerful depending on how well they could blend with werewolves without getting noticed.
And I had a feeling he wanted to be noticed by me.
"2 bottles of what this gentleman ordered..."
Solidifying my entrance, I slammed my hand on the bar counter dropping off a stack of cash. I already started gaining his attention watching as he glared at my entrance.
"On the house..." Extending my hand to the shifter as I offered him a bottle oozing out cool vapour from its body.
"Thanks..." His contemplation was seemingly visible to me while he took his time to study the guy just innocently offering him a drink.
I could almost smell his reluctance as he slowly grabbed the drink without breaking eye contact.
"We don't get many parties over here... Names Lucien.... mind telling me your name or should I just call you anything..."
I couldn't break the jovial character now that he doesn't fully suspect that I'm unto him.
"It's James " he answered with hesitation drowning his voice not fully trusting me.
As I was delayed with small talks, I could begin to trace the familiarity of his shifter scent. It triggered every pulse in my body as I scrambled my memory trying to figure out where this same feeling occurred.
'Vanessa'
It finally hit me. They both shared a similar scent. The shifter's whiff couldn't skip my perceptive ability.
"You alright?"
Drifted out of the ongoing dialogue by my thoughts, I could still hear him call out to me seeing that I wasn't listening.
A disastrous surge of rage within me was kept
tightly bottled up within me, a little protrusion of anger might lead me to claiming this shifters life.
The murder instinct sipped through my body as I stared at the shifter. But I couldn't afford causing a gory scene just as he still indulged me in the conversation.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing in my Territory." I asked as my eyes were peeled carefully on his fallen countenance on hearing the question.
James smirked, a green gleam in his eyes disappearing as quickly as it appeared as he leaned back, tipping a full cup of his drink down his throat. I watched the inhumane movement of his throat as he gulped it down.
His scent seemed to grow much strong, he probably didn't feel the need to hide it any longer perhaps. And judging by the reaction of the other Inn occupants who went about their business without a trace of suspicion it could only mean I was the only who picked up on his scent.
"Interesting. Barely a month with the Polyandrous bitch and you're getting quite stronger Lycan." He purrred, an excited gleam in his eyes. He reached for my cup.
"You're not going to keep pretending you're drinking that- I'll just have It, thank you" with that, he stealthily grabbed it and gulped the contents down.
I felt sick to my stomach. "You've known I'd be here "
"Call it strategizing... " He licked his lips.
"You'll be a fool to attack me." I growl silently.
He raised both brows, looking more amused than surprised. "I know."
It hits me. For sure now I know what is going on. Only, I don't hope I'm too late.
There target is Lena. And they had me where they wanted. Only they used the Head Alphas as baits. I had to save Lena, but I didn't want to leave without warning the rest.
If they got to the horses before Donovan it only they had a cruel intention I had no interest in dissecting. He didn't try to stop me as I dashed up, about to head upstairs.
And suddenly, as if on cue, a maid stepped down the steps leading from the inner rooms. The hairs at the back of my neck stand and my wolf thrash within the restraints of my mine raging to shift, to feel the air coarse its fur and to drag its claw along the skin of some shifters.
The maid held onto Elliot's clothes as she walked past and towards the exit of the Inn.
My chest heaved as I lunged forward, dashing for the rooms, my scarf falling right after I took three steps first up the stairs.
One...
Two...
My nostrils flared as I threw one door open, staring two women who instantly in bed out of bed, revealing a man they were entertaining.
I left them alone in annoyance, banging open the next foor.
Three ..
There were three of them. James, Vanessa. Who was the third one.
I pick the scent of the third one... It's the same as the others, but this one is much more faint, the slightest gust of wind and I wouldn't have been able to pick it at all.
Claws tearing through my boots, my hands sprawled as my wolf began gaining leverage over me, claws sprouting from my fingers, I dashed forward, snarling as I cross several doors before throwing one wide open.
Ad there, Genevieve , in a night gown streaked with her own blood, wrestled arm in arm with a shifter who's completely shifted.
A deformed wolf with arms like a man, the stoutest feet and abnormally larger canniness dripping of so much saliva the sheets were heavy and damp and unsightly.
"Lucien?" She was momentarily distracted, giving the thing leverage and with one move, she flew across the room, almost slamming for the wall if I hadn't caught her.