Chapter 77 77
Alpha Knox~~
“Eve!” I called out to my sister, who had been sleeping. I reached her bed and sat down, then placed my palm on her forehead, and she happened to be running a temperature. “You don't feel so well, but you're already on treatment. What is going on?”
She battled to sit up, and I helped her. “Did you get me a private tutor?”
I nodded, “She will start next week.”
“Then…” she bit her lower lip and continued. “You have to finally give your mate attention. Don't tell me you want to end things with her because of the past that she knows nothing about. She's helped us so much, so it's enough reason to be accepted once again.”
I narrowed my gaze, as I didn't understand why she was suddenly saying that.
She sniffed and wiped her nostrils. “Why don't you go to her instead of waiting for her to come to you? She could be scared of coming closer, and maybe is dying in guilt. You're the one to make her believe that you hold no grudge against her, and both of you could still be lovers and even get married.”
I breathed out and sat up in bed.
Everything about Phoebe had been eating me up. She distanced herself from me, and I decided not to go closer until I was done handling my sister's affair. Then if she still stays away, I would finally go after her. Unless she had originally made up her mind…then I won't force her.
“Do you know what I've been thinking?” Eve’s shattered voice made me turn around. “What if she were attacked on her way out of the pack? I learnt that an attack happened outside our pack, and it's been eating me up if she's even safe…”
I squinted and walked back to her bed. “What are you talking about? Phoebe is in the palace…”
“She's not!!” she screamed and broke into tears. “Even her friend isn't either. The slave mistress told me she escaped, and when her friend couldn't stand it, she went after her. So you want to tell me you don't know about this? You've really made up your mind to reject her?”
I let go of Eve and stormed out of her room. This was one thing I never thought would happen.
Now that she left, where was she planning to go? Did I ever mention to her that she staying in my pack was making me or any of my pack members uncomfortable? How could she take such a brutal decision, and instead of Angeline coming to me, she also left on her own?
When I confirmed by myself that she wasn't in the pack as my sister said, I reached out to Levi and every one of my men. As they all gathered in the underground basement, I explained why I summoned them and what they must do instantly.
“You all must find her and Angeline. Bring them back here alive!!”
“Yes, Alpha!!” they all chorused, and we set up differently.
I left on my own, even though we all left the pack since Eve mentioned something like that. We asked questions about where an attack had just taken place, and we got to the remote land.
Indeed, something brutal happened as they seemed to be recovering from it. But I thought of what could have caused such a thing and ended up with no response to myself.
The residents there didn't even understand what happened to them, as they explained the men who came after them, all wearing masks, checking houses, every nook and cranny, then destroying places that looked hidden and even their market stuff.
I really pitied them, as they were all living by themselves with just a Chairman. Some were even bruised, so the least I could do was give them a free entrance into my pack for better treatment.
We had searched almost all the areas and didn't get a clue about her. I didn't even perceive her scent and thought maybe she hid inside the pack when the attack happened. Not until Levi mindlinked me to come over to the corner where they were.
I reached there with the three men that followed me, and I saw the rest circled.
“What are you all watching?” I asked, invading their circle and stepping into the middle. My eyes popped wide once I saw what they stared at: a dress that looked like a heavy fire had touched it. I picked up the dress and smelled it, then let it slip through my fingers once again. “It has her scent. So where did she go from here? I recall getting her this dress myself…”
They all stood frozen, none of them saying a thing to me.
“Someone should speak or I will force your mouths wide open. Is there anything else? We should track from here and see if she dropped the dress so as not to get caught.”
Levi shook his head, “I hope she doesn't truly own the dress.”
“And what does that mean? I just told you that I…
“Alpha!” someone mentioned from the back. “She was burnt to ashes.”
My jaw dropped in shock. I looked towards where the voice came, "Where's the proof? You can't fucking just tell me that.”
They all shifted to the sides, giving way for me to see what I didn't expect at that moment.
On the floor before me were mortal bones laid on the floor. More like whoever was behind it simply wanted me to see her remains and believe that she was dead. I dashed closer and squatted, staring at the skeleton that was almost burnt, until my eyes landed on its half-fingers.
There, I found the ring she always wore from when we dated, almost black in color.
I shook my head, standing, “It's not true. She can't be the one.” My whole body went tense.
The truth was just before me, yet I couldn't believe it. There was no way I was going to lose Phoebe in this brutal way.
“If she's the one, then what about Angeline? Wasn't she dead, too?” I tried as much as I could not to break into tears, but my wolf was already whimpering and yelping in my head. “It can't be true! Angeline should know where she is.”
Everyone was silent, as though paying her their last respect.
“Why do I think Dean is the one behind the attack? Could he have spied on her to know when she left and searched the whole land until she was found?”
“Then Angeline could be the spy…”
“Lie! She must have been taken to be tortured by them. Do you think Dean will let her live happily after betraying him?”
“You all shut the fuck up. I just said that my mate isn't dead.” I yelled in their faces. “We have to invade Dean's pack in search of her discreetly. If she isn't there, then I'm not fucking caring about any curse, and I'm bringing down that dude.”
As I stepped out, Levi got to his knees. “Please, we don't need the curse back.”
I glared at him, wanting to give him a heavy knock. “Raising my curse wouldn't have been possible without her, so it is useless without her,” I growled and dashed away from them.
By the time I returned to the palace, I locked myself up to cry it all out. I still wanted to believe it didn't really happen, but that dress and the ring… were already proof that it happened truly.
Moon goddess couldn't be this cruel. If this were true, I'd definitely not even think of serving her this time.