Chapter 22 A threat from the rogue
Alpha Elijah Alastair - POV
My eyes drifted to the clock for the nth time, which only made my blood boil in anger.
Where the fuck is he?
I walked to my desk and grabbed the phone to call him when I heard a soft knock on my door. “Come in," I called out when the door opened and Zane walked in with Ralph behind him, who was in a pair of silver cuffs and escorted by my warriors.
“This rogue walked into our territory without permission, and he insisted that you invited him in.” Zane said, but he didn't sound happy to have a rogue in when he took out a small bronze coin from his pocket and placed it on my desk.
“I did invite him.” I clarified as I picked up the bronze coin that I had given to Ralph.
“He is the most wanted criminal right now, Alpha Alastair," Zane said, emphasizing the word "criminal."
“I know what I am doing, Zane. You can leave.” I said in a dismissive tone when I saw that his anger only doubled, but he didn't argue as he turned around and stormed out of my office.
“Remove his handcuffs and leave my office.” I commanded the warriors, who looked a little hesitant, but they didn't argue with me. Once everyone left my office, I gestured for Ralph to take a seat as I walked to the liquor cabinet to pour the drinks.
His clothes were torn and covered in mud, and there were a lot of tiny cuts on his arms, which didn't heal, while a large cut was running down the left side of his face, which didn't look like it was going to heal either. I placed a glass in front of him and took a seat when Ralph finally looked at me.
“So did you find anything?”
“Your suspicions were correct, Alpha Alastair. The witches have something to do with Luna Antonella’s disappearance.”
“Did they say something?” I asked him when he shook his head.
“They refused to speak, so I had to resort to violence, and everything went downhill from there.” He explained when he moved the sleeve of his right arm and showed me a scar that looked fresh. It looked like a shooting star, and the skin around it had turned black.
“What is that?” I asked him, sounding confused, when a mocking smile appeared on his face.
“The price I had to pay for doing your dirty job," he said in a dark tone.
“Get to the point, Ralph.”
“I think I know where Luna Antonella is right now.” Those words made my eyes widen to the size of saucers while my heart skipped a beat.
“Where is she?” I asked Ralph when he gave me a sarcastic smile and leaned back in his chair. He looked around my office and slowly brought his legs up and propped them on my desk.
“The witch cursed me. I only have a few days left to live.” He paused, waiting for his words to sink in before he continued. “I don't know what sort of a curse she cast, but I am already starting to feel its effect.”
“Where is Antonella?” I asked him to start getting impatient. I am a hair's breadth close to finding her and bringing her back to my pack.
“I know about you very well, Alpha Alastair," he continued talking as if I never asked him a question. “You would never care about what happens to those who help you. But I am not going to just give you what you want unless I get what I want.”
“The money you asked for is ready. I will give you the bag the moment you give me the location.” I told him as I got up from my place and walked to my bookshelf. I took out a few books from the middle shelf, which revealed a small door.
I was about to place my finger on the thumbprint scanner when he spoke again. “I don't want the money now.”
“What else do you want?” I asked him as I turned around to face him with a frown on my face.
“I want you to reverse this curse," he said in a nonchalant tone while I looked at him as if he had gone mad.
“I am a werewolf, not a fucking wizard," I asserted.
“I know, but you must know a few witches who could help me,” he stated.
“I will look for someone to cure you.” I promised him when he shook his head.
“First find a cure for this curse, then I will tell you where she is.” Ralph said in finality when he got up from his place.
“Ralph, don't test my patience.” I gritted out while my hands curled into fists as I desperately tried to calm myself.
“I know about you, Alpha Alastair. "I am not a fool," he said with a fake smile on his face. “When you find a cure, come to my place, and I will tell you where your beloved Luna is," he said before he turned around and left my office.
Ralph - POV
The dull pain in my heart gradually increased as I walked out of the pack house and continued walking towards the forest. Every step I took forward felt like someone was pricking the base of my feet with a thousand needles.
Just as I reached the border, I saw Beta Gordon standing beside a tree while his gaze was fixed on me. “Thank you for taking me to Alpha Alastair, Beta Gordon,” I told him.
“Why did you come to meet, Elijah?” he asked me in a monotone.
“I am hired to find Luna Antonella,” I told him when I saw him narrow his eyes in confusion.
“What advantage do you have against us?”
“I am a rogue, Beta Gordon. I can go anywhere I want.”
“Then did you find Luna Antonella?” he asked me when a half smile appeared on my face.
“The answer to that question depends on whether Alpha Alastair would help me or not.” I said in a cryptic tone before I crossed the border and continued walking towards my base.